#57: Recap of 2023’s Marketing AI Conference (MAICON), Does Sam Altman Know What He’s Creating? and Generative AI’s Impact on Jobs

That’s a wrap on MAICON 2023, and Paul and Mike break down some
common themes, key takeaways, thoughts on what’s next, and much,
much more. And while our annual Marketing AI Conference was top of
mind the most, a story on Sam Altman and more news on generative
AI’s impact on jobs were two topics that needed to be covered. A
recap of MAICON 2023 In case you’ve missed it, it’s been a huge
week here at Marketing AI Institute as we just wrapped up our 2023
Marketing AI Conference (MAICON) last Friday. This event was our
biggest yet by far, with 700+ amazing marketers and business
leaders coming together in Cleveland (our home base) to share,
collaborate, learn, and grow together. We had a spectacular lineup
of speakers, 2+ days of incredible content, and world-class
conversations and connections between some of the top professionals
in AI, marketing, and business. Paul and Mike talked through some
of the highlights. Whether you attended or weren’t able to make it,
we hope this portion of the podcast creates some value for you and
helps you learn more about this unique event in our industry. The
Atlantic posts an interesting story on Sam Altman The Atlantic just
published one of the most comprehensive deep dives into OpenAI—its
history, where it stands today, and where it’s going. And this
article was informed by several in-depth interviews with CEO and
co-founder Sam Altman. Titled “Does Sam Altman Know What He’s
Creating?”, the article looks at how OpenAI went from near-failure
trying to develop rudimentary AI models to GPT-4, which Altman
described to the reporter as an “alien intelligence.” This article
is long but well worth reading in full. The link is below. There’s
too much to summarize in this short paragraph, so be sure to tune
in. You won’t regret it!  Generative AI and another look at
the future of work Will AI take your job? According to some new
research from McKinsey, it’s complicated. McKinsey just released a
report called “Generative AI and the future of work in America.” In
this report, they attempt to forecast AI’s impact on employment in
the U.S. Overall, McKinsey said that employment changes caused by
AI that they’ve been tracking in earlier research “are happening
even faster and on an even bigger scale than expected.” Some of the
research’s key findings include: By 2030, activities that account
for up to 30 percent of hours currently worked across the US
economy could be automated—a trend accelerated by generative
AI.  Generative AI could enhance the way STEM, creative, and
business and legal professionals work rather than eliminating a
significant number of jobs outright.  Automation’s biggest
effects are likely to hit other job categories, which include
office support, customer service, and food service employment. An
additional 12 million occupational transitions may be needed by
2030. As people leave shrinking occupations, the economy could
reweight toward higher-wage jobs. Workers in lower-wage jobs are up
to 14 times more likely to need to change occupations than those in
highest-wage positions, and most will need additional skills to do
so successfully. Women are 1.5 times more likely to need to move
into new occupations than men. The United States will need
workforce development on a far larger scale as well as more
expansive hiring approaches from employers. Employers will need to
hire for skills and competencies rather than credentials, recruit
from overlooked populations (such as rural workers and people with
disabilities), and deliver training that keeps pace with their
evolving needs. There’s plenty more data in this research that is
worth checking out, and this is a segment in the podcast worth
listening to.