Presentation of System 4: The Concept of Artificial Intelligence

So this chapter is now about artificial intelligence, that is the use of technologies that can mimic or augment human intelligence. The development of artificial intelligence has progressed rapidly in recent years and is increasingly being used in companies to automate processes, evaluate data and make decisions. There are many opinions and quotes from experts on this topic. One of them is from Kai-Fu Lee, a well-known Chinese investor and entrepreneur in the technology industry. He once said: “Artificial intelligence will change the world, more than anything else in the history of the human race. More than electricity.“ (Paz, 2020) The other quote from Ginni Rometty, former CEO of IBM, which introduced this section, emphasises more the way work is shared. What needs to be taken care of when we change the principle on which the organisation of work is based through the use of artificial intelligence? Both quotes show the importance of artificial intelligence for the future of humanity. However, while Kai-Fu Lee emphasises the revolutionary power of artificial intelligence, Ginni Rometty focuses on the fact that artificial intelligence is not a panacea, but merely a new technology that changes the way we do our work. In the context of this book, Ginni Rometty’s quote fits better, as the book looks not only at the potential of artificial intelligence but also at its limitations and impact on the workplace and society. It is about how the manager can effectively use these new technologies to increase the effectiveness of the knowledge worker while keeping people and the environment in mind.