I’m going to start by making what will sound very much like three almost science-fiction predictions (and I’ll then explain why I’m confident that these predictions will come true).
- PREDICTION #1 – Artificial intelligence will be our generation’s moon landing, yet unlike the moon landing, it will dramatically impact all of our lives.
- PREDICTION #2 – Every industry will be majorly impacted by artificial intelligence, and it will replace the large majority of all jobs (yes, that includes yours and mine … eventually).
- PREDICTION #3 – Nearly everybody is not prepared for what is about to happen over the next several years, which creates an immense opportunity for those of us that are ready.
Although the above may sound more like science fiction than fact, I implore you to read this article.
I believe that it’s the most important piece of content that I’ve ever written (and this will become even truer over the months and years that follow).
First of all, let me start by explaining what artificial intelligence (AI) is:
You may have heard this term being thrown around, but many people don’t truly understand the magnitude of what is happening.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a branch of computer science that focuses on creating machines that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as learning, problem solving, perception, and decision making.
Whereas traditional computer programming operates within the defined intelligence developed by a human, AI continually improves itself on its own at a rapid speed.
Essentially, the cat is out of the bag and it’s learning, developing, and improving on its own at a speed that we’re struggling to keep up with.
Where is this going? What will happen? How quickly?
It’s going to impact everything.
Although it’s been rapidly evolving in the background for the past few years, the first consumer-facing system that utilizes AI was released in late November 2022.
It’s called ChatGPT and it went from zero to one million users in just five days.
For comparison:
- Netflix took 3.5 years.
- Twitter took 2 years.
- Facebook took 10 months.
- Spotify took 5 months.
- Instagram took 2.5 months.
Essentially, it’s a chat system that is heavily backed by Microsoft.
You ask it questions, ask it to do a task, or ask it to write something for you and it will instantaneously respond with a very intelligent, well-considered reply.
It’s scarily good.
It could write a full, well-researched book on any subject within minutes (better than most humans could), and it learns from every question/engagement that you have with it to further improve.
But what’s horrifying is that it’s still in beta, and this is only version one of the system.
Remember when the original iPhone was launched? It has since gone through 14 new updates/developments over the past 22 years to almost be unrecognizable today.
ChatGPT and AI are going to go through the same improvements/developments but much quicker, as they are self-developing rather than waiting on humans.
One of the most respected experts on the topic, a guy who previously was the chief business officer at Google X — their moon-shot innovation arm of their business — recently shared that by 2045, the difference in intelligence between AI and humans will be equivalent to Albert Einstein and the fly (we’ll be the fly).
It’s predicted that AI will be “billions of times smarter” than humans within the next 22 years.
Urghh!
What Does It Mean Practically? What Will Happen over the Next Five Years?
Well, it’s going to replace jobs and do them far better than humans could.
If you asked AI experts a few years ago, they’d have predicted that it would start by taking blue collar manual jobs, yet what has actually happened is that it’s majorly impacting the roles of creatives.
ChatGPT can write strong copy, tools like MidJourney can develop incredible imagery/art, and tools such as ElevenLabs can mimic any human voice to a scary level of detail (which will impact music, audio, sales, customer service, telemarketing, etc.).
Expect that AI will take the role of professionals such as doctors, lawyers, and accountants in the future and be able to diagnose medical conditions with more accuracy, understand the law with more accuracy, and file returns with more accuracy.
It will also come for blue collar jobs once machinery becomes affordable enough to mass produce.
I assure you that it won’t be too long until you’re phoning a business for help/support and asking them if you’re speaking to a human or AI … AND be annoyed if you’re speaking to a human, as AI will be able to resolve your problem with more accuracy.
This is going to dramatically shake up our world.
And this is not an opinion or an IF … it’s a when.
Seriously.
Arghh! So, What Will Happen over the Next 20 Years? [This is the Scary Part.]
This is where it becomes even more frightening.
We’re already seeing robots that look like humans, can communicate like humans, and act like humans … and we’re in the very early stages.
A great example of this is Tesla’s Optimus robot, which Elon Musk has labelled as a “Humanoid.”
Matched with the ever-evolving AI, we ARE going to see robots that appear as human as you and I.
Yet the difference is that they’ll be far smarter, far stronger, far better looking, and far superior in every way.
These will not only take over much of the manual work that humans do now (and do it far better with no requirement for sleep/rest) – but expect them to also impact markets such as sex/relationships where humans will be falling in love with “perfect” robots to their exact preferences and even be given roles of incredible power and trust.
Could This Turn Bad/Nasty?
It’s the biggest concern of all the experts.
Imagine a world where we’re the flies and AI is the superior-intelligent being … if they see us as a threat or even irritating to them, then they could potentially decide that it’s easier to remove us from the equation.
It sounds like science fiction … but this is very much the truth and why it’s so controversial.
After reading this, you may be feeling as horrified as I was when I first started to research/study artificial intelligence.
It may feel like it’s easier to give up, as the future is doomed.
So, let me pull the positives and big opportunities out of this.
How Will This Impact the Hearing Care Industry?
There remains a large number of questions marks around this.
But based on what is being predicted, it would be crazy to believe that this is not going to dramatically impact our industry over the next decade.
However, I see this as a very positive thing.
Here’s why:
- The way patients schedule appointments
- The way that prospects search for hearing care solutions (Google is in trouble, we’ll save this for another article).
- The way that you manage your schedule
- The way that you operate the operations of your clinic
- The way that hearing testing is conducted
- Your need of internal resource/staff
- The way that devices are programmed
- The way that hearing technology works
However, I don’t believe it will replace:
- The hands-on fitting process
- The support/training/education given to patients
- The high levels of care to help patients achieve better hearing
- All the magical experience touches that turn patients into fans
Therefore, I believe that it’s going to dramatically change how our industry works in the near future, but the only people that will find themselves being negatively impacted by AI are the clinics that do not do a great job at the hands-on fitting, support and education to patients, and/or the clinics that don’t accept these changes and decide to do things the “old way”.
There are two ways that you can look at AI:
- It’s here to replace me.
- It’s here to supercharge me.
Both perspectives are likely to be right if you believe them.
AI is going to allow you to do far more of what makes you brilliant and far less of the day-to-day tasks that aren’t the best use of your time. It’s going to enhance productivity 10 times over and give you capabilities that you’ve never had before.
There’s going to be a period over the next few years where the rest of the world is ignoring this/not aware of it, and there will be an immense opportunity to capitalize and use it.
My final encouragement is to not ignore this.