Artificial Intelligence: Don't Be Afraid of ChatGPT & Co.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is widely regarded as one of the defining technologies of our time. Large companies are already making extensive use of it—but how can small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) leverage AI to their advantage?

Today, AI has become an integral part of everyday life. Voice assistants such as Siri and Alexa use AI to understand our requests, answer questions, and perform tasks. Online retailers and streaming platforms analyse our behaviour and preferences to recommend products and content tailored to our interests.

AI also plays a key role in image processing—for example, in smartphone facial recognition and surveillance technologies. Modern machine translation tools, search engines such as Google, and navigation systems all rely heavily on artificial intelligence.

The Ability to Learn

Defining "intelligence" is not straightforward, which is why many experts prefer the term machine learning when discussing AI.

Artificial intelligence is based on artificial neural networks and algorithms that are trained using data. By analysing large datasets, these systems learn to recognise patterns and make decisions based on those patterns.

A truly human-like artificial intelligence remains theoretical. Today's AI systems operate solely on programmed algorithms and training data. While they can learn from new information and adapt over time, they do not generate independent thoughts or original ideas.

Using AI in SMEs

Implementing AI can provide businesses with significant competitive advantages.

Routine administrative tasks—such as document management, email processing, and meeting scheduling—can be automated, allowing employees to focus on higher-value activities.

AI can analyse vast amounts of data in a short time, identify trends and patterns, and support more accurate and efficient business decisions than traditional manual analysis.

Digital assistants and chatbots can provide customer service and internal support around the clock, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

In the field of cybersecurity, AI helps identify and block potential threats before they become serious security incidents.

For employees, AI can create more flexible ways of working, contributing to a healthier work-life balance. Intelligent systems can adapt to individual preferences and personalise everyday workflows.

AI is also becoming increasingly valuable for employee training. Today, a wide range of e-learning platforms already use AI-powered technologies, making personalised learning accessible not only to large corporations but also to SMEs.

However, businesses should not underestimate the challenges associated with AI, including data protection requirements, dependence on technology, and the ethical considerations surrounding its use.

Success Factors for an AI Project

Successful AI implementation begins with clearly defined objectives.

Before starting a project, ask yourself questions such as:

• What should AI actually achieve?
• Which business processes should be improved?
• What data is available?
• How will AI be integrated into existing workflows?

The available data should be sufficient in quantity and, above all, relevant, accurate, up to date, and readable for AI applications.

Your technical infrastructure is equally important. Reliable computing power and adequate storage capacity are essential for AI solutions to perform effectively.

Finally, businesses should recognise that implementing AI requires investment. Successful AI projects demand not only financial resources but also careful planning and ongoing commitment.

ChatGPT as an Example

AI can also be used to create written content.

However, the quality of ChatGPT's responses depends largely on the quality of the prompt—the instructions you provide.

Be as specific as possible, include relevant context, and where appropriate, provide examples. The more precise your prompt, the better the AI can understand your request.

It is also helpful to assign ChatGPT a specific role (for example, "Act as a marketing consultant"). At the same time, avoid wording that could unintentionally introduce personal preferences or biases into the generated content.

Source: Treuhand | Suisse