AI Impact
Oct 20, 2023
Enough talk about Generative AI. What are people actually doing with it?
At TalentGenius we are continually monitoring the usage of thousands of AI tools, with a specific focus on the elite 1-30 club – comprising tools boasting a minimum of one million active users and delivering productivity gains exceeding 30%. This stringent criterion sets a high standard, distinguishing substance from mere noise in the AI landscape.
So what’s the scoop? Five key insights:
Developers and Marketers are leading the charge
AI has the potential to transform all knowledge jobs but the current rapid adoption is in technology and marketing. For developers, code generation assistants are all the rage, and notable 1-30 club members include:
There are a few more “up and comers” that have crossed the 30% productivity threshold but have yet to cross the million-user mark. Notable are Cody by Sourcegraph (taking an open source approach) and Kite (with a Python focus). This field has really heated up, to the benefit of all developers.
For marketers and designers it’s all about automated generation of images, websites and presentations. 1-30 leaders include:
Other functions are rapidly adopting AI, with the most notable being: customer service, product development, finance, supply chain and legal services. However, these categories are solidly behind technology and marketing in AI adoption and don’t yet have multiple 1-30 breakthrough tool leaders.
Multi-Tool Usage is the Norm
Interestingly, we observed a noteworthy convergence within the 1-30 club. For instance, numerous developers utilizing Copilot are concurrently tapping into Tabnine’s capabilities. This combined usage is understandable given that the AI tools market is still undergoing a Cambrian explosion, characterized by multiple point solutions rather than comprehensive product sets. Users are in the experimental phase, striving to discern the most effective tools for their needs.
The Potential Power of Vanilla AI in the Enterprise
What about the use of vanilla platforms such as ChatGPT and Bard in the enterprise?
A recent study by Boston Consulting Group showcased how 758 BCG consultants, selected at random, using ChatGPT4 in their daily work experienced substantial benefits. The results? “Consultants using AI finished 12.2% more tasks on average, completed tasks 25.1% more quickly, and produced 40% higher quality results than those without.” Does that get above our 30% productivity threshold? Not yet, but just imagine what those improvements will be when built for purpose tools are formally harnessed within AI-tailored workflows. (The full report can be found here: https://www.oneusefulthing.org/p/centaurs-and-cyborgs-on-the-jagged)
Contractors are moving faster than Enterprises
A considerable gap in AI adoption rates separates independent contractors from corporate professionals. The reasons are clear: contractors have substantial individual incentives to harness AI (e.g., faster delivery, higher quality, greater revenue), while Fortune 500s grapple with internal concerns about “renegade AI” and associated liabilities. The epicenter of innovation has shifted from well-funded corporations to the agile, external landscape – a trend that shows no signs of abating.
The “Cliff Notes” effect is universal
Remember when students preferred 10 pages of Cliff Notes to plowing through 200 pages of Dickens? So many of your classmates had that yellow and black pamphlet, yet almost nobody admitted it. A similar phenomenon is afoot in the world of AI tools: many are using them, few are talking about it. It’s an interesting psychology, but with such rapid adoption the mindset on leveraging AI will pivot from “cheating” to “default.”
In conclusion, it’s time to stop talking about what Gen AI might do and focus on what’s actually happening, and the 1-30 club is showing us the way. Stay tuned, as we continue to track all AI tools to monitor what is state of the art for your role. To view individual tools, and discuss their merits with your peers, please check out our AI Toolbox.
