#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.