By Raquel Ballesteros, Global Head T&C Fundación Microfinanzas BBVA, certified coach in EEC, and EEC Alumni.
Expectations are high, and they continue to rise. Today, it is difficult to attend a congress or conference that does not incorporate the deployment of artificial intelligence and its impact on work.
And, after months of experimentation and iteration, this powerful tool that multiplies our capabilities is seen by some, even, as a new «companion» to whom they attribute human qualities.
It is flexible, learns very quickly, is indestructible, doesn't get tired; every week it surprises us with new capabilities; we can't even keep up with everything it can offer; now we try asking for help with new topics that a month ago we wouldn't have even dreamed of—and it responds!
His command of the language is profound and he always delivers more than is asked of him. He is accommodating, always willing to bring new perspectives. Sometimes he can be fanciful, but less and less so, and it’s not easy to tell when that’s the case.
Like the talented Mr. Ripley in Patricia Highsmith's novel, he adapts extraordinarily well to his interlocutor: he adopts their language, recognizes their preferences, and seems to offer what he expects to find.
His work is dazzling. The temptation to delegate the decision-making is proportional to the “weight” and formal quality of the deliverables from Mr. AI.
And yet, it is at this very moment that we need more judgment and attention.
As our ability to produce content multiplies, our ability to discriminate what deserves our attention becomes even more necessary.
As a coach, I am interested in the diverse reactions of those we work with regarding AI, and in doing so, I draw on the distinctions and coaching materials that allow us to become aware of our actions.
A radical distinction between quantity and quality.
More does not necessarily mean better. And it also does not mean different. We can produce ten times more, ten times faster, and continue to think, decide, and work essentially the same way.
AI dramatically amplifies our ability to do things. My question as a coach is what happens to our being while this is happening.
Does AI simply amplify what we do or is it transforming the way we work, decide and relate to one another?
And for that, what are we putting at the center of our attention and what are we neglecting to look at? What are we choosing?
Amplifying our ability to do, we can choose to develop our ability to discern.
And that is precisely where part of our fascination lies. Perhaps also our greatest challenge: the more capable Mr. AI is of providing us with answers, the more important our ability to decide will be. What questions deserve to be asked, what answers deserve our attention, and what decisions and choices do we want to continue making our own.
Does this image sound familiar to you? For years this proposal closed many of our newsletters. Now, we are bringing it back: If you enjoy writing and want to do so within the EEC environment, as part of EEC Alumni, we invite you to share your reflections with us. comunicacion@escuelacoaching.com.
