“It must possess the knowledge and emotional acumen to engage constructively.”
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Dislike being present in meetings? If a certain AI CEO’s vision materializes, that might no longer be a concern.
Sam Liang, the CEO of Otter—a startup specializing in AI transcription and automated note-taking services—shared with Business Insider his anticipation of a “functional prototype” for an AI-driven work avatar that could stand in for humans in meetings by “later this year.” Liang envisions these AI counterparts not only attending and documenting meetings but actively participating by responding to queries and even posing their own questions.
This futuristic outlook raises questions about the efficacy of replacing meetings with emails, especially in a digital-centric work environment where virtual meetings are already commonplace. The concept of deploying digital replicas to represent individuals prompts contemplation on whether this approach would truly enhance productivity or merely foster further isolation in the workplace.
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Liang envisions these AI bots mimicking the appearance and speech patterns of their human counterparts. The goal, he explains, is for them to address approximately 90% of inquiries from colleagues autonomously. In instances where a bot is unable to provide an answer, it would prompt its human counterpart for input.
Developing such technology poses significant challenges, as acknowledged by Liang in his discussions with BI. He foresees multiple iterative stages necessary to refine these avatars to meet his desired standards.
“It must possess the knowledge and emotional intelligence,” Liang emphasized to Insider, “to engage constructively.”
According to Liang’s perspective, as reported by BI, these avatars could serve as productivity enhancers, liberating employees from the constraints of conference calls to focus on more creative endeavors. While this concept may prove beneficial for individuals burdened with back-to-back meetings, it also raises concerns. Some younger professionals have highlighted the diminishing sense of connection in modern work environments. The introduction of AI avatars could further erode any remaining sense of proximity between junior staff and senior management in remote work settings.
The likelihood of these developments materializing within the year remains uncertain, albeit plausible. In the interim, it underscores the encroaching presence of AI in the workplace and the potential transformations awaiting the realm of work.
