Artificial intelligence (AI) has once again become a hot topic recently, thanks to the widespread attention received by ChatGPT from OpenAI. Within just two months, the user base has already reached one billion, making it the fastest software to achieve such a milestone in history, surpassing TikTok by seven months. 

With the maturation of Natural Language Processing (NLP) and the increasing volume of data for AI learning, ChatGPT has indeed reshaped the public's perception of AI. From merely hearing about it to experiencing its functionalities firsthand, it is natural to feel a sense of threat have reached the top of the food chain due to their intelligence, so it is understandable to fear the emergence of intelligence surpassing our own.  

With the development of cloud technology and big data, it is an undeniable fact that AI has already surpassed humans in specific fields. While the eventual development of a scenario akin to science fiction is not out of the realm of possibility, it is not something we can foresee in the near future. 

ChatGPT has made significant breakthroughs in Generative AI technology, but it is still far from achieving complete General AI. Even with the development of GPT4.0 or 5.0, its essence remains that of a guessing tool. It guesses an answer that satisfies your question, but it does not understand the meaning of the answer itself. We should not jump to the conclusion that it is conscious just because it produces human-like answers. 

Currently, Generative AI as a technology is fairly mature, and there is limited room for groundbreaking developments. We should not expect ChatGPT5 to surprise us more than GPT4 did. However, in terms of application, I believe there will continue to be surprises in the utilization of Generative AI. The market will see a plethora of different applications utilizing AI technology, further optimizing people's work and lives. 

Among the younger generation, various forms of Generative AI are easily accepted and quickly become commonly used tools in the workplace. Therefore, knowing how to use GPT will not have a significant positive impact on our careers, but not knowing how to use it may be seen as falling behind. 

Nevertheless, Generative AI can undoubtedly help us improve the speed of many tasks. It can be anticipated that many types of work will inevitably be replaced by AI in the future. According to research by Goldman Sachs, globally, approximately 25 - 50% of jobs will be replaced by AI, with Hong Kong being one of the most affected regions. However, it is important to note that we are referring to jobs, not occupations. As mentioned before, I believe the AI revolution will not happen too abruptly, and there will not be a significant number of people unemployed due to AI in the short term. 

A society will not blindly pursue efficiency at the expense of stability, and the change in people's mindset is much slower than technological advancements. Therefore, even if AI can replace certain professions and even perform better, this generation still needs professionals to instill confidence. Additionally, this AI revolution is not only targeting low-skilled workers but also professionals in higher social strata. To avoid major structural changes caused by risks, society will self-regulate the influence of AI. 

Undeniably, AI will become the new interface connecting people and technology. The wave is inevitable, whether we like it or not. We still need to take action to cope with it; otherwise, we will be relinquishing control and leaving our fate in the hands of others. In the face of AI, besides being proficient in its application, we should also develop areas that AI cannot reach. 

AI is a tool generated from big data, and its capabilities are limited by the data available. Therefore, there are certain abilities that AI finds challenging to develop within the current system. The Multidimensional Thinking Model proposed by Lipman is an example. This model is primarily formed through the integration of three types of thinking: Creative, Caring and Critical. 

On the other hand, as NLP matures, our communication with computers transitions from code back to language. Mastery of language skills will once again become important. Expressing our demands to AI may require even clearer and more explicit language than communication with a human. Those who can effectively utilize language will have a greater advantage in using AI.

Simon So

Chief Experience Officer of Hantec Group