The Importance of Human Connection in an Automated World

Welcome back to the Consulting Success podcast. I'm Michael Zipursky, and today, we are continuing our exploration into a force that's not just changing how businesses operate, but really how we as consultants need to think and adapt. And yes, that is AI - artificial intelligence. I'm pleased to say that we have Michel Fortin joining us again. Our last conversation on AI, I know, was valuable and helpful, insightful maybe. So we're going to pick up where we left off. We're going to explore some new ground. We're going to look at, you know, how all this applies to you as a consultant or in the world of consulting.

And just to reiterate a point that I think is really important, we're not suggesting that you as a consultant need to become an AI specialist. That's not the goal, but what we do believe is that every single consultant needs to get a handle on what AI is, what AI can do, how it's going to affect your work, how it's going to impact your clients and the marketplace and the landscape that they work in. So from content creation to streamlining your operations and beyond in terms of your client and the industries that you serve, today we're going to get into some really interesting areas. 

We're going to start by looking back at an idea from John Naisbitt when he talked about this concept of "high tech, high touch" and then see how it mirrors what's actually happening today in AI. And then as technology, right, becomes more advanced, what does it actually mean for our need for genuine human connection? And then we're going to talk about how AI is shifting the goalposts for things like trust and authority, especially when it comes to the content that we create. And Michel has some thoughts on how Google's E-A-T - so that's E-A-T - that framework of expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness, is evolving into what he calls E-A-T 2.0, which stands for empathy, authenticity, and transparency. So we're going to unpack that and what it means for consultants. 

And as always, we want to make this very practical. So how can you use AI to be more efficient? And how can you actually use this to be more effective in your consulting work? How do these blend together, right? These powerful tools, how can you use that in your own unique way, and how can you bring the human experience? How can you bring in and leverage AI within your area of expertise, regardless of where that is and where in the world that you are and the work that you do? 

So if you're looking to get a clear picture on how to navigate the AI landscape and position your consulting practice for the future, then you're in the right place. 

Mentioned in this episode:

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