Artificial intelligence (A.I.), particularly generative A.I., has garnered significant attention for its innovative applications in consumer-facing products, such as DALL-E’s creativity in imagemaking and ChatGPT’s ability to generate passable essays. However, Victor Basta, CEO and founder of DAI Magister, believes that A.I.’s most exciting applications will be in the realm of business-to-business (B2B) operations.
Basta describes A.I. as the “Amazon Web Services [AWS] for human effort,” drawing a parallel between the transformative impact of A.I. and cloud computing services like AWS. Similar to how cloud computing revolutionized IT departments by eliminating the need for costly physical servers and reducing expenses, A.I. has the potential to reshape business operations in ways that might not be immediately apparent.
Basta points out that AWS democratized access to computing power, enabling even small startups to scale rapidly and efficiently without requiring massive financial investments. Early startup clients of AWS, such as Stripe, Lyft, and Airbnb, were able to leverage the computing power to become successful companies. Basta believes that A.I. has the potential to do the same for workforces and tasks that currently demand substantial manpower, which early-stage companies often struggle to afford.
By utilizing A.I., CEOs can expand their businesses without the need for extensive capital, while simultaneously improving the productivity and accuracy of their employees. Basta envisions a future where routine administrative tasks like financial accounts, transaction analysis, contract summaries, and employee tracking are effortlessly automated, only requiring a few individuals to review the outputs.
Basta emphasizes that A.I. should not be viewed as a means to replace workers entirely, but as a tool to enhance their existing work. Drawing an analogy to chess masters who practice with A.I. programs without being replaced by them, Basta highlights how A.I. can assist but not replace human workers. In the software development field, for example, A.I. can write code and check for bugs, allowing developers to focus on system design and high-level architecture.
While A.I. adoption may lead to a decrease in certain job roles, Basta believes that it will also create more rewarding careers for those who can adapt and enhance their skills using A.I. technology. Reports from Goldman Sachs and the World Economic Forum support the notion that A.I. will have substantial economic implications, including potential increases in GDP and the creation of new jobs.
In conclusion, Basta sees A.I. as a powerful tool that will democratize workforces, boost scalability for startups, and empower employees to excel in their roles with the aid of A.I., ultimately reshaping the modern business landscape.