Week #5 – MBA 6101 – Surfing the Tsunami, Chapter 5: Level 2: Adopt AI

According to Level 2: Adopt AI, the fifth chapter of Todd Kelsey’s Surfing the Tsunami, adopting artificial intelligence is the next logical rung for those that have adapted to AI.  Adopting artificial intelligence involves incorporating “AI-related tools and platforms” as an initial step towards “managing” artificial intelligence. 

The alternative is to “ignore, resist, [and ultimately] reject AI.”  Even from a realist’s standpoint, Kelsey argues, the integration of AI is crucial to achieving and maintaining a competitive edge for the organization and the individual.  From a long-term perspective, ignoring, resisting, or rejecting the role of artificial intelligence is untenable and unsustainable for an organization.  For the individual, a bearish outlook on AI and could be the “difference between employment and unemployment.” 

Artificial intelligence can be viewed, reasonably, as a potential threat.  For example, as automation has evolved and taken on different roles in the workspace, jobs have been eliminated.  However, automation has the potential to create new employment opportunities.  For example, as Kelsey cites in Surfing the Tsunami, it is practical to assume that critical roles will need to be created to manage the implementation and application of artificial intelligence and machine learning in the workspace.   

It's difficult to precisely forecast market demand for AI professionals.  However, based on the ubiquity of technology and how quickly new technological innovations come, it's reasonable to speculate that artificial intelligence and machine learning will mushroom as their applicability becomes more sophisticated.