It's been an entire year since Anders and I had our last conversation about artificial intelligence, and a lot has changed—or has it? In this follow-up interview, we sit down again to discuss AI's progress, challenges, and future prospects, diving into its impact on businesses and everyday life.
Let's take a closer look at how Generative AI has evolved over the past year!
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The hype vs. reality
Was there a Generative AI revolution, and did it live up to the hype? According to Anders, the answer is mixed. While there have been incremental improvements in AI models, such as the advancements from GPT4 to GPT4.o, the leap to more sophisticated models like GPT-5 has not yet materialized.
Anders noted, "There are more powerful language models to choose from now, such as Claude3 and Google Gemini but their capabilities for common tasks are fairly similar to what we had a year ago."
Photo: Anders Leander, Digital Advisor Columbus
Incremental improvements
Despite the lack of a groundbreaking new model, other areas have significantly improved.
“There have been advancements in music and film generation and now you can create customized music quickly and efficiently.” Says Anders.
Similarly, the quality of AI-generated images has slightly improved, though the changes are not always immediately noticeable to the casual observer. For example, AI-generated faces still occasionally suffer from uncanny imperfections, but overall, the technology is making steady progress.
Content filtering and quality
A notable point Anders brought up is the impact of content filtering on AI performance. With increased content moderation to avoid inappropriate or nonsensical outputs, some models have seen a dip in perceived quality. This trade-off between safety and creativity is an ongoing challenge in the field of AI.
Adoption and practical use
When it comes to the adoption of generative AI, Anders observed that there hasn't been a dramatic increase in usage among workshop participants. "In a typical workshop, maybe 10-20% of attendees use Generative AI in their work, while a significant portion has only dabbled in it or haven't tried it at all," he explained. This slow uptake highlights the gap between technological potential and practical implementation in everyday workflows.
Photo: Anders Leander and his colleague Magnus Glader after an AI workshop
Top-down vs. bottom-up adoption
Interestingly, the adoption of AI appears to be more of a bottom-up process rather than a top-down mandate. Anders described it as a "slow but steady revolution," where individual users and smaller teams begin to integrate AI tools into their work, gradually influencing larger organizational practices. This grassroots approach contrasts with other digital transformations that top-level executives often drive.
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Future prospects
Looking ahead, Anders is optimistic about the continued integration of AI into various sectors. He anticipates that as more people experience the benefits of AI, its use will become more widespread and sophisticated. Moreover, while large-scale AI-driven overhauls like those seen at companies like Klarna and their customer service are still rare, smaller, incremental changes are quietly reshaping how businesses operate and compete.
Favorite AI tools and where to learn more
How can you learn more about AI? There is a massive number of AI tools out there, some free and some you need to pay for after trying it out a couple of times. How should you navigate the AI jungle?
“Don’t fall into the time-consuming trap of trying all the different tools and models on your own to compare them against each other. Let someone else do the evaluation - there are many videos on YouTube for this. New models and tools are released every month and there is no point in everyone trying new tools and staying updated on everything – it will become a full-time job for you.” Says Anders. Check out the Top AI tools, begin to try them out, and pick a few that make you more productive and/or have more fun – it will save you a lot of time.
There has been a slight shift in Anders's favorite AI tools, but ChatGPT 4.o is still his favorite, and now uses Suno for music and Midjourney for images.
TLDR? Here’s the summary
In summary, the past year in AI has been characterized by steady progress rather than dramatic breakthroughs. While the hype may have outpaced reality in some respects, the ongoing improvements and gradual adoption of AI technologies suggest a promising future. As we continue to explore and refine these tools, the true impact of AI will become increasingly apparent in both subtle and significant ways!
➡ Stay tuned as we keep track of these exciting developments and what they mean for our personal and professional lives. If you are interested in exploring AI in your organization – reach out to Anders.
If you are interested in working with Anders and our Data & AI team, you should explore our career site and Data & AI for available positions.
