Generative AI as electricity

I attended a conference last year, where a speaker compared generative AI to electricity. The analogy stuck with me. Just as electricity transformed every industry in the early 20th century, generative AI is about to revolutionise how we work across all sectors.

Before widespread electrification, factories relied on central steam engines with complex systems of belts and pulleys to power their machinery. The introduction of electric motors allowed for more flexible, efficient, and distributed power systems. Each machine could have its own motor, operating independently when needed.

Similarly, before generative AI, many creative and analytical tasks required centralised teams of specialists. Now, these capabilities can be distributed throughout an organisation, with individual workers having access to powerful AI tools that augment their abilities.

Electricity didn't just make existing processes more efficient. It enabled entirely new categories of products and services. The same is happening with generative AI. We're not just automating existing tasks, we are discovering entirely new ways of working, creating, and solving problems.

At the same time, like early electrification, we're still figuring out the best practices and safety measures. There are valid concerns about reliability, security, and proper implementation. But just as we wouldn't dream of running a modern business without electricity, I believe future organisations won't be able to compete effectively without embracing generative AI.

How this will look in practice is still taking shape, and we are all part of the process of figuring it out.