AI: Let’s cut out the BS.
Introduction:
The discourse around Artificial Intelligence (AI) often revolves around fear-inducing questions like "Will AI take my job?" or "Will AI replace humans?". It's time to strip away the sensationalism and return to the basics. AI is a tool, and like any tool, its effectiveness depends on the skill of the user.
Historical Perspective:
AI is a revolutionary and disruptive technology that will inevitably reshape the employment landscape. However, this kind of disruption is not unprecedented. The introduction of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in 1450 revolutionized the production of books. The 18th century witnessed the global spread of the industrial revolution, mechanizing many manual jobs. More recently, the advent of the World Wide Web and mobile phones has transformed our communication methods. AI is simply the latest in a long line of disruptive technologies that will eventually become part of our everyday lives. Yes, some jobs will become obsolete, but new ones will emerge, just as they did with the rise of web designers and app developers in the past couple of decades.
Understanding AI:
AI is only as effective as the person using it. Interacting with AI should be approached as a conversation, not a command to a robot. Unlike traditional computer programming, AI involves building response models. These models are constructed using plain text questions, similar to how you would converse with a human. The quality of the AI response depends on the skill of the AI model builder, who draws upon their subject matter expertise and qualifications. At ComplianceAide, our AI model builders a.k.a ‘Prompt Engineers’ are experts in their fields, ensuring high-quality responses.
For instance, if your car breaks down, an average person might check the battery connection or fuel level. A mechanic, however, would consider additional factors like the car's fuses, the alternator's functionality, and common faults in specific car models. Similarly, the quality of an AI response depends on the expertise of the person asking the question.
AI Styles:
AI comes in several forms. For example, ChatGPT is a "language model (LM) AI" that provides a linear chain response. It offers a single response to a question, which can be limiting in tasks requiring exploration or strategic foresight.
To address these limitations, a new framework for language model inference, "Tree of Thoughts" (ToT), has been developed by Princeton University. ToT allows language models to consider multiple reasoning paths, self-evaluate decisions, and make global choices by looking ahead or backtracking when necessary. This approach has significantly enhanced language models' problem-solving abilities in tasks requiring non-trivial planning or search.
Conclusion:
AI will inevitably replace some jobs, but it will also create new ones. The quality of AI depends on the skill of the model builder and the type of AI model used. Different AI models yield different results, so understanding the expertise of your model builder is crucial.
Consider a court case analogy. The accused represents the problem, the defense and prosecution represent the model builders, and the judge and jury represent the AI model. Everyone hears the same evidence, but the verdict depends on the skill of the lawyers (the AI model).
The ComplianceAide, designed using a combination of the techniques described above, is built by CTO Randy Blasik, a veteran of cybersecurity and compliance regulations. His expertise ensures that the models for the security frameworks we provide are of the highest quality.
Our AI vs. GRC Platforms:
One question we often encounter is how our AI differs from Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) platforms, including automated ones like Drata. Here's our stance: automated tools, including GRC platforms, are limited in their capabilities. A GRC platform serves as a central repository for all your information. It may offer some cross-integration, but it essentially functions like a library.
On the other hand, our AI takes the information you have and builds a model that provides a reactive response based on the goal you're trying to achieve. It's the difference between reading a book (GRC platform) and watching a movie (our AI). The latter is live and interactive, offering a more dynamic and responsive experience. This is the line in the sand that distinguishes our AI from automated GRC platforms.