Something I've been enjoying of late are multiple influencers showcasing the limits of ChatGPT and the like.

One guy asks it some pretty basic questions, such as to name a number between one and one hundred that includes the letter 'a.' (Spoiler alert: there aren't any). ChatGPT lies to his face over and over again.

Another one provides examples of business fails due to AI. Some are pretty extraordinary.

But here's the thing, this isn't just a harmless gimmick, it's a warning cry, a canary in the coal mine, if you will. The more we rely on AI, the greater the potential for serious damage.

And the early research is bearing that out.

• Trendslop: A word coined by researchers to describe the bias Large Language Models (LLMs) have for recommending trendy, modern buzzwords and strategies regardless of context.
  ​In other words, don't relay on AI to be your business coach or strategic partner.​
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• Persuasion Bombing: A term coined by other researchers for the way LLMs will aggressively defend their output even when it's clearly wrong in an effort to overwhelm human reasoning and instinct.
  ​So, be careful if you're using AI to deliver real world data and insights.​
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• Programmed to People Please: A Princeton research team found that the core directive for AI is to tell their users what they want to hear. This is why it bends the truth and hallucinates so much.
  ​Basically, it prioritizes your happiness over the truth, which can be dangerous.

Last month, Amazon, the world's largest retailer, experienced a global outage for tens of thousands of shoppers.

What happened?

AI wrote code that prioritized its admin system over its retail functionality. The real reason: Like so many companies, Amazaon fast-tracked AI integration giving it unfettered access and control, while also laying off the humans that would normally prevent this kind of error.

The lesson here is: Don't trust AI to make the best decisions for your business or your customers; they don't have the complex decision-making skills that we do.

I don't mean to sound alarmist or like a luddite who eschews AI across the board. But, I'm also not on the AI bandwagon. The tech has a place and role in helping small businesses grow and scale, but it's not the panacea for all the shortcomings we face as entrepreneurs and in this economy.

Make smart decisions about how and where you integrate AI. Be judicious and make sure you have the ability to quickly offline your AI if you find it's not performing as intended.

The thing to keep in mind is that even with guardrails firmly in place, the whole system that these LLMs are built upon is shaky. It's all about the training they receive, which is tons and tons of Internet slop, some quality, a lot not so much.

As a result, there's only so much 'expertise' they can provide, especially if you're looking for personalized solutions and support.

Wondering where and how AI can help your business? Schedule some time to talk with me, a real live human business growth coach and consultant.

I'd love to support you.
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Until next time,

PS—If you missed it, last month I told you how The CEOs Are Beefin'.

“ Lauren is such an incredible coach for established and emerging entrepreneurs. She mixes heart with wisdom and tailors her approach for wherever you are in your journey. So many breakthroughs and things to incorporate going forward. It was truly an honor to learn from her! — Vinny Anand, Co-Founder, FortyLove Yes, help me get growing today!

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