Genuine Scrutiny: The AI Edition
Working in content development, I experienced the power of artificial intelligence recently in a way that really opened my eyes.
I was asking “the machine” — yes, I like to call it that — to summarize an interview I’d had with a pair of commercial insurance underwriters.
The response came in under two seconds, and I’ll admit it was super impressive. All the details, all the key points were there.
Given that sort of experience, one might be tempted to turn off part of their brain, relax and say, “Let the machine do the work.” But of course, one should not.
Many times, I’ll look at an AI-generated piece of content that looks good, only to discover, on closer examination, that it isn’t good at all. The machine has produced something that uses recognizable language.
But it isn’t specific enough. It repeats worn phrases. It’s not a writer. Or at least not a good one.
The same would be true, I expect, of underwriting. The machine may digest data and spit out a summary that uses well-known industry phrases. It might “look good,” but I’d bet a veteran underwriter could look at that output, and, relying on their intuition, say to themselves, “Yeah, not quite.”
As AI advances, my takeaway is that we should still be bringing the best part of ourselves to our work. Lean into your experience, don’t abandon your standards.
Those who use AI to complement their talent and their hard-won experience can expect to thrive. Those who rely too much on AI and start mailing it in are opening themselves up to risks that may prove detrimental to their careers. &