In an exclusive presentation at Gartner’s 2023 Peer Forum event, three Gartner analysts, Erick Brethenoux, Mary Mesaglio, and Don Scheibenreif underscored the transformative influence of Generative AI on the evolving landscape of human-machine interactions.

According to them, Generative AI is rewriting the rules, and CIOs are positioned uniquely to guide organizations in harnessing its potential for innovation and success. They add that by 2025, Generative AI will be a “workforce partner” in over 90 per cent of companies, and it will be a “game changer” for employees and companies.

Gartner’s study revealed that 70% of CIOs consider GenAI a game-changer that will democratize digital delivery across industries. While only 9% have adopted GenAI, 55% plan to do so within the next two years.

Mesaglio exemplified GenAI’s impact, citing instances where AI characters formed deep emotional bonds with users. One example of the power of Generative AI is a “female” AI character that has over 650 million users. Many of these users consider this AI to be the most important relationship in their lives.

When the vendor tried to “tone down” the intimacy and even sexual nature of their conversations, there was a huge wave of protest. Subscribers to this service claimed that the company had “lobotomized” their partners.

CIOs have a key role to play in helping their organizations adopt Generative AI in a practical and ethical manner. Gartner analysts say that CIOs should be driving AI with key questions, such as, “How is this changing the business model? How do we disrupt our industry? How do we disrupt ourselves?”

CIOs should also guide and coach executives on AI principles and opportunities, and ensure data is “enriched, accurate and fair” for AI consumption. In addition, they should set the principles for AI in their own department, help develop the skills to ask the right questions, and keep up with emerging trends with a “dynamic approach”

The sources for this piece include an article in ITWorldCanada.