According to Chinese astrology, the year 2024 is the year of the Dragon. But I think someone made a calculation error, because it is clearly the year of AI.

 

Text: Cynthia Mak

Where Geert Wilders has the ability to determine the social conversation of the day, AI has decided other topics of conversation – at least within the customer contact sector. Until the birth of the baby ChatGPT on November 20, 2022, everyone was busy implementing chatbots in the KCC. But since then, the chatbot last season and I suspect that redundant copies will be donated to developing countries. Pass aside, chatbot. From now on, it's AI-first.

AI for everyone

In 2023, we will have learned at breakneck speed what AI can do for ordinary people, who do not necessarily spend all day coding. Writing texts, creating images, taking work off your hands, and so on. But human as we are, we want more. We would rather have AI do all those tasks with a bit of emotion. Like a human would do, for example. That is convenient, in times of labor shortages. Fortunately, 2024 is the year of the Dragon: the year to pursue existing dreams. In the year of the Dragon, all your dreams get a big kickstart! It is also a Yang year: forget the rest, there is a lot of action going on.

And action, there certainly is. AI is everywhere. Whether we Tegen talk (Hey Mercedes, Hey Alexa, Hey Siri), along talk (conversational AI bots) or over talk (any random event or article in the Netherlands): AI dominates the topic of conversation – that suits a Dragon perfectly.

Back to the Future

The first signs of life from AI were observed on August 31, 1955. John McCarty and colleagues coined the term in a paper called 'A Proposal for the Dartmouth Summer Research Project on Artificial Intelligence'. In it they proposed “an attempt to discover how machines can use language, form abstractions and concepts, solve types of problems now reserved for humans, and improve themselves. We believe that significant progress could be made on one or more of these problems if a carefully selected group of scientists worked on them together for a summer.”

1955 is not only the year of AI's birth, it is also the year of the Goat. This is creative, calm but passionate, a bit unusual, sincere and has a great imagination. In addition, a Goat is also a problem solver and helpful: something that many people will recognize and the AI ​​employee on the work floor. What a Goat does not like at all is in the to be the center of attentionHe prefers to operate a bit in the background, which suits his introverted character better.

AI in 2024

A Goat and a Dragon are therefore quite opposite in some areas. Nevertheless, 2024 looked quite optimistic for the Goat. A wonderful year was promised, of personal progress, new opportunities in the professional field, if the Goat is able to wait patiently. It is important to feed the creative side, by delving into art, music, or other emotional enrichment. mission accomplished.

Is there a future with AI?

Although AI seems to be an indispensable part of our lives, the final word has not yet been said on whether we are dealing with a trend, a fad or a hype. Will we still be working with AI in a few years, or will it be on its way out by then? Will we all decide that Alexa, Siri and Hey, Mercedes no longer have a place in our daily lives? Or will we embrace the Billies, Taylors, Tracy's, Buddies and all those other AI employees so strongly that we can change the nameplates on our doors?

Who knows, but Chinese astrology does offer a glimpse into 2025 – the year of the Snake:

Professionally, 2025 looks favorable for the Goat. While it may be a quiet year without intense competition, there are opportunities to grow and develop new skills. The Snake’s influence helps you solve problems and do your job effectively, which can earn you praise from colleagues and supervisors. Overall, 2025 promises to be a year of growth and inner peace for the Goat. With the support of friends and mentors, you can overcome challenges and take advantage of new opportunities, as long as you are patient and strategic.

Magical Dragons

In the Western world, a dragon is often a dangerous, angry, fire-breathing, and screaming creature. But in the East, they are friendly, happy, magical and cheerful. So it may not be surprising that, in the year of the Dragon, the vision of AI is also changing. From 'scary, exciting, is it taking over my life?' to 'what magic and possibilities can AI also bring to me?'. With one push of a button, or a good prompt, AI can generate texts, images, videos, presentations, and voices. The magic in your keyboard!

So, to return to the question of whether 2024 is the year of the Dragon, or of AI, there seems to be only one answer. AI is the Dragon of our time, and is here to stay. (Ziptone/Cynthia Mak)

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