We’re living through a shift that feels as big as the early days of the internet.

*AI enters the chat* You talking about me?

Yes, and we’re just starting to see what you can do. Especially with those trickier, more creative tasks.

Let’s evaluate the possibilities of an AI-driven workplace while analysing the risks.

After all, the one thing humans have over machines is our knack for healthy debate.

We won’t know AI’s full impact on creative work for a while. It’s still learning to walk.

However, we’re already seeing advanced AI models – often called “generative AI” – pop up in tasks like:

• writing
• coding
• designing images
• making videos
• voice acting
• composing music

Text generators like GPT-4 can produce whole articles or poems. Image tools like DALL-E turn written prompts into art. Audio platforms such as Suno create music or voice tracks, and video generators like Sora craft footage from a few typed instructions. And new things pop up every couple of days.

That’s exciting, but also unnerving if you earn a living from your ideas! Some say AI could outsmart or outrun us, which isn’t a comforting thought.

Others who use AI for creative work, or just prefer an upbeat outlook, say it hasn’t robbed the fun parts. They still do the critical thinking: is this right, does it speak to the audience, is something missing?

There’s a sensible middle ground. AI needs guidance from a creative expert who’s honed those skills over many years. Without that, it all starts to look like the same machine-stamped work. But how do you hone your skills if you don’t DO them anymore?

It depends on how much time you spend around AI. If you’re knee-deep in it, you spot the patterns right away. Like extra fingers on a digital hand or the same phrases and grammar popping up in copy.

Once you know the signs, it’s not hard to figure out which parts are machine-made. AI loves predictable patterns.

If you let AI handle every part of your creative work – be it words, code, images, videos, voice acting or music – you lose your unique style. It will make mistakes too. Accuracy can be a problem.

Some claim it can copy any voice or flair, but it can’t. Not yet. It stumbles on emotional nuances and veers off track if you push it too far. No matter your creative work, that uniqueness comes from you, not the machine.

AI tackles the routine parts of creative projects, freeing you up to focus on the exciting bits. But consider whether AI SHOULD do the work.

Ask yourself:

• Does the job need specialised knowledge you don’t have?
• Will AI improve things enough to justify the effort?
• Who’s on the receiving end – your own team or paying clients?
• How many steps are involved and how easy is it to implement AI here?
• How much time and money does AI save compared to doing it manually?

If these points line up, it might be a good idea to let AI help. Because of AI’s capabilities, it’s useful in many areas of business.

• It can spot patterns in customer behaviour and personalise campaigns (if you set it up right)
• Use it to map user journeys and sales funnels
• Let it automate social posts scheduling and track performance
• Have it research topics, jump-start creative brainstorming, churn out a robotic first draft – then let a real writer finish and finess

• Screen candidates (to a degree…), automate parts of recruitment, send generic emails
• Track key performance indicators (KPIs) for individuals and teams
• Combine data from different departments so HR and leaders can see the bigger picture

• Let chatbots handle basic queries or guide people through the first few steps – but don’t let it get in the way of human interaction!
• AI can propose solutions or problem-solve simple issues. But always offer a way through to humans for more complex problems.
• It can analyse feedback to help you improve your service

• AI can read market trends and social chatter to find new needs and opportunities
• It can help designers by providing simulations and virtual prototypes, so you can tweak ideas fast
• Let it dig through customer usage data and preferences for hidden gems
• It can forecast how new products or features might perform – however take that with a pinch of salt as you might end up with a lot of middle of the road suggestions.
• You can use AI to automate product testing, quickly spotting flaws or areas to improve

AI is a clever, shiny tool. But it doesn’t come with a mission unless we give it one.

Just remember – like any tool, you need to use it safely.

Using AI to process any kind of personal data, like customer information or internal HR details? You need to follow the same strict guidelines.

Strip personal details wherever possible. When testing marketing copy, remove real names or addresses. Even in a breach, nothing sensitive appears. Store any personal data behind strong encryption. Keep software patched and remind staff that security isn’t optional.

Always check the available privacy settings and turn off things like sharing your input to train the algorithm.

Decide how long your AI needs the data, then delete it. Old files can become a liability if they hang around forever.

Write up a company policy – the simple act of just starting this document will make you aware of a lot of things to consider. Do you want to share sensitive company information to help with financial predictions? How would you enforce any policy in the first place? Does your team need training and guidance?

Microsoft surveyed 1,500 senior leaders across UK businesses and the public sector. Over half admitted they have no official AI plan. Around the same number see a widening productivity gap between staff who use AI and those who don’t.

If you want people to benefit from AI, you need a plan. And that plan should include proper training, not just an expensive software license.

The hard part is choosing the right training programme. There are countless AI courses waving for attention, so focus on what your team actually needs.

If you’re not sure, ask them. Find out which tools they’re using and why. Then pick a course that matches their goals.

You might even test it yourself first. A little homework can save you from buyer’s remorse.

Like most clever tools, AI gets smarter (or in some cases dumber!) over time. Make continuous learning part of your AI budget (and time!).

AI training covers more than learning the tool; it also focuses on the results and how to use them. Telescopic follows a clear rule: never act on AI output until you’ve read it, checked it and grasped its meaning.

AI can handle the dull steps – yes, even the ones that kick off a creative process – so you can do the real artistic heavy-lifting. We’ve seen its ups and downs, but there’s no denying it can lighten your load.

Some forecasts paint a drastic picture. The internet could collapse, pushing us back to in-person interactions. That shift might even shake capitalism. Big possibilities, but they sit outside our control today. Let’s focus on the levers we do hold.

Handled well, AI elevates your work; left unchecked, it just cranks out sameness.

If you want to explore AI without losing your human touch, Telescopic can help.

We guide you in deciding if AI really fits your business. And if it does, we’ll help you use it in a way that feels natural, not forced. Because technology should support you, not overshadow you.

Want to get cosy with the robots?

Make it happen.