The hidden dangers of your fancy AI tools.
Can't get enough of ChatGPT? There might be a few things to think about before going on your next prompting spree.
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So…what are some drawbacks of using AI products, such as ChatGPT, in the tech’s current state?
The obvious but worth noting is: Data Security and Quality Control can be sketchy.
Most of us have newsfeeds and Substack Notes with all kinds of ChatGPT / AI-related things. One of the stories that hit the news over the past couple of weeks was regarding three Samsung employees leaking sensitive data to ChatGPT. Talk about a career-limiting move.
Based on how easy it is to pull up tools like ChatGPT in your computer browser, you may be inclined to build some of my past examples or other examples you’ve found interesting and try to work them into your day-to-day. Does it have PII? Is it a proprietary process related? Are you going to be leaking any company secrets - especially in the public sector? If yes, I would err on caution before you get hardcore into using these tools.
Additionally, it’s worth noting that ChatGPT's outputs may not always meet your quality expectations. Establish a process for monitoring and refining its performance and have human oversight to ensure accuracy and relevance. Although you can go back and forth with the tool until you have an acceptable answer, relying 100% on it now may not be your best bet.
You could be building impersonal experiences.
While ChatGPT has revolutionized customer support by streamlining processes and handling high inquiry volumes, it may not provide the personal touch and empathy that human-driven interactions offer.
In today's market, customer experience is a significant differentiator (think…Amazon), and businesses must weigh the potential impact on satisfaction when implementing AI chatbots. ChatGPT's limitations in adapting to unique situations, cultural nuances, or complex concerns can result in customer alienation or frustration, leading to decreased brand loyalty and retention.
By striking the right balance, businesses can leverage AI's and human-driven support's strengths, ensuring customer satisfaction remains a top priority.
Overreliance on AI
While ChatGPT offers various benefits in streamlining tasks and providing quick solutions, overreliance on AI can hinder critical thinking and creativity within a team. Product folks/companies need to strike a balance between leveraging AI technology and nurturing human-driven problem-solving and idea generation, ensuring their team members remain engaged and their skills continue to develop.
If your company is baking in AI tools like ChatGPT, you should be considering how to ensure that you are maintaining some levels of critical thinking. Fostering a collaborative environment that combines the efficiency of AI with the insights and adaptability of human intelligence (or human brains, as I like to refer to them) promotes innovative thinking, enriches decision-making, and empowers teams to tackle complex challenges, ultimately contributing to overall success confidently.
Final Thoughts
Data security, quality control, and the potential pitfalls of overreliance on AI tools like ChatGPT should be at the top of our minds when we’re thinking about relying more heavily on ChatGPT in our day-to-day.
While ChatGPT offers numerous benefits, such as streamlining customer support and providing quick solutions, it may lack the personal touch and empathy of human interactions. Additionally, excessive dependence on AI can hinder critical thinking and creativity within a team, and you should figure out how to maintain the human side of things.
It is crucial for product folks to strike a balance between leveraging AI technology and nurturing human-driven problem-solving and idea generation, which can help create a more collaborative environment.
Have you encountered any issues with ChatGPT or other AI technologies that made you hesitant to adopt them fully?
I would love to hear from you about them. Please consider sharing your perspectives in the comments below.
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Yes yes yes! It’s a tool! And as Amy Mitchell said above - it’s there to supplement our knowledge. Automate SOME of the work so we can focus on other important things.
Finally an article that doesnt talk about how people are falling behind if they’re not using chat gpt.
Excellent article about the need to use critical thinking with ChatGPT. It is good to supplement your knowledge on complex topics but can’t substitute for good product management.