Three Must-Read 2024 AI and Analytics Books with Jeremy Kahn, Sol Rashidi, and Bernard Marr
Sep 18, 2024
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Jeremy Kahn, an AI history expert, shares insights on the lessons learned from the Turing Test and cautions against deskilling due to technology. Sol Rashidi highlights the challenges of AI implementation, emphasizing the need for cultural and relevancy ROI alongside financial metrics. Bernard Marr discusses making AI understandable for society, addressing its impact on jobs and personalization in healthcare. The trio reflects on the balance of harnessing technology while promoting human collaboration and resilience.
Jeremy Kahn emphasizes the importance of learning from AI's history to establish ethical guidelines and prevent cognitive deskilling.
Sol Rashidi advocates for a comprehensive approach to measuring AI ROI beyond finances, incorporating cultural and relevancy aspects.
Bernard Marr highlights generative AI's transformative role in healthcare while stressing the need for ethical oversight and human involvement.
Deep dives
The Necessity of Lifelong Learning in Data and AI
In the rapidly evolving fields of data and artificial intelligence, continuous learning is a fundamental necessity for personal and professional success. The podcast emphasizes the importance of prioritizing education through various means such as reading, listening to podcasts, or engaging in hands-on learning experiences. This commitment not only enhances individual competencies but also positions data leaders to stay ahead in a competitive landscape. Notably, having a learning mindset equips professionals to effectively navigate the complexities and innovations brought about by advancements in AI.
Insights from Key Authors on AI
The podcast features insights from three prominent authors in the realm of data and AI, each bringing unique perspectives to the conversation. Jeremy Kahn discusses the historical context of AI, referencing Alan Turing and the implications of the Turing test on our understanding of machine intelligence. Saul Rashidi highlights the real-world challenges faced during AI implementations, advocating for a human-centric approach in an increasingly automated landscape. Bernard Marr explores practical applications of generative AI in various industries, emphasizing its transformative potential while also cautioning against overreliance on these technologies.
Understanding the Turing Test and Its Implications
Jeremy Kahn elaborates on the Turing test, critiquing its focus on deception as a measure of machine intelligence. He argues that viewing AI as a mere substitution for human capabilities diminishes its potential effectiveness and poses ethical concerns, especially regarding transparency in AI outputs. Kahn introduces the 'ELIZA effect' as a reminder of the human tendency to anthropomorphize machines, which can lead to misinterpretations of AI's true capabilities. This discussion calls for a reevaluation of how society perceives AI and urges a shift towards considering AI as a complementary partner in human endeavors.
The Transformative Impact of Generative AI
Bernard Marr emphasizes the far-reaching applications of generative AI across various sectors, particularly in healthcare. He discusses the potential for AI to democratize access to medical services and facilitate more effective diagnosis and treatment plans. By reducing the burden of mundane tasks on healthcare professionals, generative AI could allow them to focus on critical aspects of patient care. Nonetheless, Marr urges caution regarding the ethical implications and trustworthiness of AI systems, advocating for a balanced approach that emphasizes human oversight.
Preparing for the Future of Work in the Age of AI
The conversation underscores the need for individuals and organizations to adapt to the changing landscape brought about by AI technologies. Many jobs will experience moderate to significant impact due to generative AI, compelling workers to develop new skills and embrace lifelong learning. The podcast advocates for a proactive approach where data professionals pivot towards more strategic roles, leveraging AI to enhance their contributions to decision-making processes. Furthermore, it encourages organizations to foster a culture that prioritizes agility and adaptability in the face of technological change.
The history of AI: the Turing Test and the Eliza Effect with Jeremy Khan (1:50)
Jeremy’s view on how we can learn from lessons of the past (9:00)
It starts with data and people: leveraging AI to increase productivity (16:00)
Sol Rashidi
Sol Rashidi on failing to succeed in AI (31:00)
The need for rogue executives (37:00)
Sol’s view on prioritizing GenAI use cases and measuring ROI (42:50)
Bernard Marr
Bernard Marr on demystifying AI (60:02)
Is society ready for AI’s impact on augmenting jobs? (66:00)
AI’s impact on personalization of medicine, treatment and drug discovery (72:00)
Key Quotes:
Jeremy Kahn
“We're in a position where we can take action while this technology is still being shaped, to try to set some sensible guardrails. If we do that, we will see a lot of benefit from this technology. If we wait, we’re going to be in a situation like with social media. We will have a deskilling of essential human cognitive abilities.”
We don’t talk enough about how to train people to use AI software. The organizations that think hardest about that are going to be very successful.”
Sol Rashidi
“Usually I start the conversations of how ROI shouldn't just be a financial measure. There's three ROI's in my opinion. There's a financial ROI, there's a cultural ROI, and there's a relevancy ROI.”
“I am adamant that business value is not the number one marker. Everything needs to be scored and graded by criticality and complexity. And your criticality is a measure of ‘what is the impact if we don't do this?’”
Bernard Marr
“What we are seeing is we will see an augmentation of pretty much every single job. I can't think of many jobs that will not be augmented by GenAI. We need to really expect change as individuals.”
“We must create a world where education is seen as something that never stops, that carries on. I believe that we are currently entering a hyper evolution cycle, with artificial intelligence right at the center of it.”
Jeremy Kahn is an award-winning journalist for Fortune magazine, where he covers AI and other emerging technologies. Previously, he wrote about technology, including AI, for Bloomberg. His writing on a range of subjects has also appeared in The New York Times, Newsweek,The Atlantic, Smithsonian magazine, The Boston Globe, The New Republic, and Slate. An Ohio native, he now lives with his family in Oxford, England.
About Sol Rashidi
With 10 patents granted and winning numerous awards that include: 'Forbes AI Maverick & Visionary of the 21st Century', 'Top 100 People in AI', 'Global 100 Power List', 'Top 75 Innovators', 'CAO of the Year', 'Top 5 CDO's', 'Top 65 Most Influential Women', Sol Rashidi is an seasoned executive, leader, and influencer within the AI, data, and technology space. Sol’s experience comes from real-world deployments where she has had to roll up her sleeves and do the work, while keeping the strategic intent in mind. Sol is currently Head of Technology for Startups, North America, at AWS.
About Bernard Marr
Bernard Marr is a multi-award-winning and internationally best-selling author of over 20 books, who writes a regular column for Forbes and advises and works with many of the world’s best-known organizations. He has a combined following of 4 million people across his social media channels and newsletters and was ranked by LinkedIn as one of the top 5 business influencers in the world.
