Artificial Intelligence (AI) has captured everyone’s attention with its promise to revolutionize how we work and interact with technology, but is it all just hype?
Is Generative AI All Hype?
The Hype Cycle: Separating Fact from Fiction
AI’s trajectory follows an intriguing curve, characterized by peaks of excitement and channels of disappointment. While technologies like mobile phones took years to reach mass adoption, AI, notably exemplified by Chat GPT, skyrocketed to 100 million users within 3 months of the launch.
Hype Cycle
In general, when new technologies emerge, they often follow a pattern known as the hype cycle. Initially, there’s a surge of excitement and experimentation, characterized by a peak of inflated expectations. Users are drawn to the novelty and may explore its capabilities extensively. For instance, if you’ve ever tried generative AI like Chat GPT, you’ve likely marveled at its abilities but also encountered moments of frustration when it didn’t quite meet your needs.
However, as users realize that integrating the technology into their workflow requires effort and isn’t always seamless, the initial excitement wanes. This leads to a drop in the hype cycle known as the trough of disillusionment. If the technology is useful, users will stick with it and find ways to effectively integrate it into their daily routines – called the plateau of productivity.
What sets Microsoft Copilot apart is its seamless integration into the tools you already use, eliminating the need to disrupt your workflow by going to another tool. By incorporating into your existing processes, Copilot aims to bypass the trough of disillusionment and enable users to leverage its capabilities in a natural and productive manner.
Source: Gartner
Below are the monthly user statistics for ChatGPT. There’s a noticeable spike in interest following its initial launch, followed by a decline around August 2023. As we move into 2024, you’ll observe a gradual leveling off, indicating the onset of a plateau of productivity that closely mirrors the typical hype cycle.
Source: Similar Web
Peak of Inflated Expectations
Today, most individuals have moved beyond the peak of inflated expectations but are still captivated by the wow factor associated with generative AI.
Source: Gartner
Trough of Disillusionment
However, we’ll soon witness individuals entering the trough of disillusionment due to factors such as experimenting with new AI tools independently, leading to instances of “Shadow IT,” loss of control over data and access to sensitive information, receiving outputs that lack specificity or relevance to their business, and investing time and resources in futile attempts to make AI beneficial.
Source: Gartner
Moving Beyond the Hype: The Path to Business Productivity
Ultimately, the goal is to move beyond the peak of excitement and into a realm where AI becomes a trusted ally in business productivity. Microsoft Copilot exemplifies this evolution, offering a glimpse into a future where AI supplements our workflows and enhances our capabilities.
While the hype surrounding generative AI may wax and wane, its potential to transform the way we work remains undeniable. By navigating the hype cycle with discernment and focusing on practical applications, we can unlock the true power of AI and propel our businesses into a new era of productivity and innovation.
WATCH THE FULL WEBINAR
Learn about Microsoft’s new integrated AI tool, Copilot. You’ll learn how to get Copilot, what it can do, and how to implement it the right way. We’ve been experimenting with Copilot within our own business – we’ll share our own experience working with Copilot and the pros and cons so you can determine if it makes sense for your business. Watch the full webinar to learn more.