AI Upgrades Daily. Do You?

/

Studying generative AI is chasing a moving target. The technology shifts daily, and yesterday’s “latest model” is already old news. However, people change, too, just not always at the same speed. What happens when machine learning outruns human learning? Let’s compare the recent pace of AI upgrades with the pace of real human uptake — and I’ll try to convince you of two things:

  • Your organization needs to spend more on supporting the “Humans-In-The-Loop.”

  • You need to spend more time supporting your own application of these tools to your work.

Original chart, anthropic; augmentation, author

Let’s start with the pace of generative AI. Anthropic offered the AI data above in June of 2024. The chart plots benchmark capabilities of leading generative models from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google. When I share this data in class, I show a ChatGPT-created image of the different genAI platforms as frogs doing what frogs do, leapfrogging (join me in our new AI Empowered Leadership program and you can see this fine image.)

I’ve augmented the original chart with Wharton and Slack's human usage and comfort data, respectively. 

How About the Humans?

Wharton’s 2024 AI Adoption Report offers a stark contrast when you compare support for the Humans-In-The-Loop to the sharp upward trend of genAI capabilities and use. “[J]ust over half of companies currently provide courses on AI, hands-on access, and internal projects or pilots” (p. 47). Most organizations offer tools, but few provide structured opportunities to reflect on how to use them in real work. 

It’s like handing out electric bikes but no helmets, paths, or charging stations. (Cheers to ChatGPT 4o for this simile)

Slack’s Fall 2024 Workforce Index adds another angle. Their survey of global knowledge workers finds that while 99% of executives spend money on AI, almost half of desk workers are uncomfortable admitting to management that they use AI. Framing this in 5T Thinking, we’re offering the technology but not the technique — or the slack time — to integrate AI in a way that works for the talent.

We Can Keep Up

If you're in leadership, support the humans-in-the-loop across the 5Ts of Talent, Technology, Technique, all aligned to a Target and our Times. 

If you’re an individual contributor, stop waiting for perfect training. Spend a few minutes everyday trying something new: Ask a chatbot to rewrite a report summary, analyze a dataset, help prep for a meeting, or create an image for your next presentation. You’ll get the time back as you learn to augment your work.

Small experiments lead to capability gains — even if the first few are flops. If you tried something last week, you may get a different result this week or with a different tool.

To be sure, AI isn’t Robin to your Batman. It’s a quickly evolving toolset. Our human performance won’t upgrade overnight, but like savings interest, our capabilities can compound — if we treat ourselves and our teams as learners, not just users. The big genAI platforms are spending millions on training the AI. Spend a little time on yourself.

So yes, AI upgrades daily. But the more interesting question is: how will you?