On Monday, Microsoft announced a multiyear, multibillion-dollar investment in ChatGPT-maker OpenAI.
While Microsoft did not disclose the terms, media reports claim the software giant has infused as much as $10B into OpenAI. The intention is to "responsibly advance cutting-edge AI research and democratize AI as a new technology platform" per Satya Nadella, Microsoft chair and CEO.
Tech giants seeking to cash in on the AI gold rush is a worrying trend. Microsoft's multibillion-dollar investment signals that users are at a disadvantage if they're not using AI. While ChatGPT certainly acts as a powerful demonstration of what AI can do today, if artificial intelligence begins doing the creative jobs of human beings, it could render millions of jobs useless.
AI tools will boost human productivity, increasing economic growth and the wages for minimum-wage jobs. Many software developers and companies leverage AI-based technologies to boost employee productivity, unlock efficiencies, and increase job satisfaction. Instead of betting against AI technology in fear that it will steal their jobs, businesses and employees must embrace the technology to ensure they remain effective and competitive in their respective fields.