I’ve often thought being an early adopter is an advantage some are luckier or smarter to have, but I hardly find myself being an early adopter of anything. I fit in the average, and I think that’s OK!
Speaking in 2024, when information has reached new depths through AI, almost anything can be learned with a few voice commands. But AI has probably been around for a decade, and I wasn’t fascinated by it—nor scared. In fact, I was just busy learning coding and enjoying making things automated, a little more efficient! Looking back, I think if I had been an early adopter, I would have invested in AI much earlier. But nonetheless, I believe my knowledge and expertise are finding their medium in this new era.
I recall in 2010 when APIs were just becoming available to integrate with Excel, Google Analytics, and Google AdWords. That’s when I started automating reports. With tools like ChatGPT and Copilot now allowing file uploads and already understanding general SEO knowledge, I couldn’t wait to upload my first Webmaster Tools file and ask questions! What are my top-performing keywords? What are the low-hanging fruits? What is a good strategy to focus on? Suddenly, I was saving hours every day!
These days, I’m so excited to teach people how to use AI. I think it’s crucial to integrate now as an average consumer to upgrade our craft and translate our jobs into this new era.
More recently, I’ve been asking candidates about their use of AI and their perspectives during interviews. I still encounter resistance, especially from the creative side, where many feel their jobs are threatened. This is a similar reality we’ve faced during past evolutions, and we only have the power to influence and help correct its course! Think Abacuses to Calculators to Excel. Typewriters vs. Computers and Now AI!
As a mainstream consumer of technology, somewhat in the tech field I find venues of change that we are part of and we are quickly refining the way we process our information, from spell-checking our grammers to find the next place to travel or making our investments.
However, with the generalization of AI and the influx of convoluted ideas that aren’t ours, I’ve decided to stick with my voice and not use AI for writing my content, as I find that distracting for my future self. I prefer to be able to look back and know what I was thinking, even for the smallest of matters.
The greater realization is that we all know we’re in an era of change. Similar to cryptocurrencies that transformed many people’s futures, we are witnessing fast-paced progress in changing our habits and social exchanges through the force of AI. We may question every message we read as others use AI—and consider how we would respond if we choose to be ourselves, while also not falling behind the norms, not losing our jobs, or avoiding the need to do something uninspiring as a result of the rapid AI transformation.
In past being an early adopter in such speed wasn’t essential or perhaps even practical given our focuses. Even in skilled jobs as an Engineer, an Artist, or an Accountant, most of us are dedicated to our daily jobs and have spent years studying and practicing our professions. I think the easiest way to integrate AI into our lives is by using it to learn and accomplish what inspires us more efficiently. Perhaps, if you’re in research, you’ve had the chance to test AI much sooner—similar to how search engines became a necessity for accessing information. But for many other industries, AI can be the key to staying ahead or excelling in their businesses during this wave of change.