Roundup: AI and the Resurrection of Usability – Substack

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Mays product announcements by Google and OpenAI emphasized a number of embedded audio and visual capabilities, but none were more important than the faster processing times and conversational voice interfaces they enable. With these products, AI takes a dramatic step toward an almost natural interaction between users and systems, and thats critical improving usability and, along with it, effectiveness, adoption and business results.

This isnt so much about AI so much as its about UI. Users are sure to see natural language and more important, spoken natural language as a simpler, flexible and more useful approach to advanced technology. As AI Business wrote, they shift a products focus toward the consumer rather than the loftier goal of developing artificial general intelligence or an AI that thinks like a human.

This is important because usability directly affects business results. The great majority of enterprise software errors 92% are related to users, design or processes, according to research by in question Knoa Software. When users have less to learn about how a UI works, they complete their work more quickly and efficiently while requiring less training and support.

And todays UIs do require a certain amount of knowledge in order to make them do anything. This button prints a document, that button saves work to disk, for example. But the rules governing even simple tasks vary: To close a window, the Macs operating system requires clicking a red dot in a windows top left corner. Windows wants you to click an X in the top right. To capture a screen shot, Mac users enter command-shift-3. Windows users enter WindowsKey-shift-s.

By introducing more sophisticated voice interfaces, AI developers are moving toward an environment where each user can develop their own approach. To resume a paused video, one user might say OK. Keep going, while another says resume play. Some might say set a timer for 45 minutes while others say wake me at 2:45.

When it comes to increasing efficiency, every little bit helps.

Last edition, we asked about brand recognition in AI. Sorry, Google, but OpenAI got the most attention, named by 75% of our readers. The rest said they followed somebody else.

AI: Perception and Reality with Author and Analyst Geoff Webb [Podcast]

Author, industry leader and analyst Geoff Webb discusses AI and how vendors market it, along with reskilling and some of the unexpected challenges that go along with it. [WorkforceAI]

AI and Assessments, With PDRI's Elaine Pulakos [Podcast]

I speak with Elaine Pulakos, the CEO of PDRI by Pearson. She spends a lot of time thinking about AI and its impact on assessments. Theres a lot of questions in the space, covering everything from AIs role in best practices to how it can help develop assessments themselves. We cover that and more. [WorkforceAI]

Why SMBs are Good Prospects for the Right AI Solutions

Large employers get most of the attention, but small businesses present a solid opportunity for solutions providers who are developing AI products. For one thing, SMBs are heavy users of technology. Nearly all of Americas small companies have put at least one technology platform to use. Plus, the market has room for growth. Although they recognize the value of AI, most SMBs have yet to jump in. [WorkforceAI]

HR Departments Believe in AI, But Most Have Yet to Adopt

More than two-thirds of HR professionals have yet to adopt AI, and only a third believe they understand how they could incorporate the technology into their work, according to research by Brightmine. Nearly a quarter of HR departments havent been involved in discussions with executives about the technology and its use. The company says demystification is needed. [WorkforceAI]

Generative AI Leads in Business Adoption

Generative AI is the most frequently deployed AI solution in business, Gartner said, but concerns about measuring and demonstrating its value is a major barrier to adoption. Embedding generative AI into existing applications is the most-often used approach to leveraging the technology, with some 34% of respondents calling it their primary way of using AI. [WorkforceAI]

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Roundup: AI and the Resurrection of Usability - Substack