The Classic Humorous Storytelling Premise
As a person that loves a good laugh, I started this blog by asking ChatGPT for original jokes about AI. I was more than underwhelmed by the response. If it is true that a sense of humor is a primary criteria that many people seek in a relationship, then ChatGPT may have a hard time finding a life partner. Actually, that might be best for all of us.
Being a resourceful guy recognized for having a fair amount of wit, I decided to start with a classic humorous storytelling premise and develop my own AI comedy material.
A manufacturing executive, a duck and generative AI are sitting at a bar…
The executive says, “The secret to success is, ‘Fake it until you make it.’ I have made a successful career, even in areas where my knowledge was limited. Ultimately I was able to accommodate for any shortcomings as a quick learner with a belief in a bias to action. If you are 100% ready and qualified for any particular task or job, then you are overqualified.”
The duck responds with, “The secret of my success is all about, ‘Never let them see you sweat.’ I can sit on a lake or stream and give the appearance of controlled stability. I appear motionless and in control as if I was a wooden decoy. Meanwhile my webbed feet below the surface of the water are frantically thrashing about to adjust to every change in water depth and nuanced current. No one needs to know the effort necessary for me to deliver results.”
Generative AI responds to his drinking buddies with, “I can’t tell if what you two are saying is true or if I am hallucinating again.”
The Current State of AI for Manufacturing
I am nearly certain that most of you would tell me to hold on to my day job before jumping to a full time comedy gig. However, I do think there is some real truth in this three-way conversation.
Let’s start with our “Fake it until I make it” executive. Our entire culture is inundated with AI hype. At any given moment I am bombarded with product advertisements claiming some sort of AI advantage for the full gamut of products. Pitches about dietary supplements, insurance policies, pillow design, and nearly every imaginable product attempt to entice me with some perceived AI advantage. The world of products supporting manufacturing is much the same. Every industrial and automation event that I have gone to this year is full of vendors leaning heavy on AI messaging. The hype encompasses not just technology vendors in the automation, hardware and software spaces but even includes products such as industrial floor mats and work gloves.
The hype and AI-washing can be exhausting, and I admit having protested against it in previous blogs. However, I think the hype is a necessary part of the process. We should be excited about the potential and celebrate anything with such promise. Many of these vendors really are “faking it” in terms of actually embracing the technology as a sustainable differentiator. Much of what they are describing as AI is not much different than previous generations of their technology. Consumers will ultimately vote with their investment in those vendors that are truly able to deliver incremental value based on AI. We won’t move the industry forward without stretching ourselves a bit so let some of the hype push us along.
I also think our mallard friend is on to something. Technology consumers are driven by achieving outcomes and associated value. Do I care if the underlying technology that results in a fantastic ROI is driven by AI or subaquatic web feet? There is a long history of valued technology providers changing and evolving the underlying capabilities with their products. Why would AI be different? Certainly no one would suggest that the AI capability available to be embedded at this moment will compare favorably to those available five years from now. I have no idea or even interest if my smartphone is using 5G, 6G or G-squared. I do know it’s better and more reliable than 2 years ago.
It is inevitable that product vendors will lean on AI technology when it becomes a better approach to solve problems than existing approaches. End users buy desired outcomes. The AI need not be exposed to the end user and in many cases it’s preferred that it not be. I will take faster, better, stronger and/or cheaper by any means possible. AI already paddles away under the surface of much of the internet and for the most part that is just fine.
Finally we have Generative AI sitting at the end of the bar. A willing companion, Generative AI still knows his limitations. There is great promise in the unprecedented insights that the technology can provide. However, even the most ardent believers will admit that we still don’t want AI in the control loop. The protection of life, environment and even corporate profits are not ready for autonomous AI control. AI should be considered a brilliant confidant and advisor. Decision makers can rely heavily on the AI input but ultimately need to balance that with good old fashioned human intelligence.
A Pragmatic Approach to AI
Does this all mean that manufacturers aren’t interested in exploring AI? AI’s adaptability and versatility allow it to tackle a myriad of problems, making it a solution in itself. Manufacturers are starting to invest in the resources necessary to explore the use of this tool.
Both intellectually and emotionally, most manufacturers covet being part of the growing AI momentum. A pragmatic engagement around AI solutions with a specific outcome may be the most reasonable path to greater AI capability. Manufacturers should engage in the immediate-term with software vendors or consultants who can deliver.
How Can Manufacturers Start to Embrace AI Solutions?
QAD is actively engaging with global manufacturers around pragmatic AI solutions with proven outcomes. We’re using AI to assist humans, deliver outcomes and amplify intelligence. Champion is QAD’s embedded generative AI assistant that helps businesses with product classification, process intelligence, language translation and other tasks throughout a set of enterprise offerings. Additionally, QAD Process Intelligence is a data mining and AI analytic tool that is being adaptably applied to common business processes and can be expanded as a true AI assistant for continuous improvement.
The growth of AI is as inevitable as it is intriguing. Who knows, maybe it will even get better at jokes. That might be worth buying me another round at the bar. I will be the guy sitting next to the duck.
