In the tenth episode of El Periscopio about artificial intelligence, we spoke with Oleguer Sagarra, co-founder and co-CEO of Dribia, about AI from a realistic and reflective perspective that allows us to pause and think about the possibilities of this trending field.
Dribia: More Than Just Data
Dribia is a data science innovation studio. It consists of about 32 people who create custom solutions for their clients, solving problems through data exploitation.
The Two Faces of ChatGPT
The AI tool is making headlines everywhere, and while it is impressive, Oleguer tells us that we only see the successful experiments. He warns about AI: "These are very interesting and powerful tools, but they are also very new and have many limitations."
"They are machines that sound human, but they are not," says Oleguer.
Just because the result sounds human doesn't mean the process behind it is the same. ChatGPT says things that sound great, but often contain subtle mistakes.
Sagarra believes that AI will have many uses, but it's unclear which will succeed. He stresses the importance of AI being both useful and safe. Otherwise, it won't be viable for critical applications.
Scaling Processes with Artificial Intelligence
Our guest defines AI as the ability of a computer to process data and successfully complete very specific tasks with minimal external assistance.
He says that the key to AI technology is scaling processes. With AI, we try to scale processes that humans perform more slowly, in a way that mimics our approach but at a much faster rate.
However, that doesn't mean computers do things better than humans. "We tend to underestimate ourselves, but our brains are capable of astonishing things," Sagarra points out.
The Best of Tools
"Artificial intelligence will not replace us."
It will allow us to accomplish more in less time. AI will handle low-value tasks for us. If used correctly, it will boost our productivity.
He also adds that only we can shape our knowledge and interactions with the real world. We have senses and perceive our environment, but machines lack a causal model of the world. They can generate many things independently, but we must be there to validate them.
Additionally, behind every technology, there is a human. Sagarra stresses the importance of assuming responsibility for the technology we create. The responsibility for what an automated process does lies with the people behind it.
Data, Data, and More Data
Many companies believe that collecting data is the best approach, but it's expensive. Data involves lawyers, data protection laws, technology, and more. If not used effectively, data becomes an asset that only incurs costs.
Oleguer talks about data quality and says that people obsess over it. However, he emphasizes that data only needs to be good enough for the intended use.
The real test comes when the data is put to work.
A False Democratization
On the topic of democratizing technology, Sagarra acknowledges its benefits but states that it's misleading. While everyone has access to AI, only five companies in the world have the resources to develop and implement it at scale. It's a monopoly.
The Value of Technology
Technology can provide great assistance in low-value-added processes. Prototyping is a prime example: ideation remains a human task, but when it comes to executing a prototype, technological advancements make a massive difference.
It's well known that humans provide useful feedback and finalize ideas when they can physically interact with them. Prototyping is a crucial stage in creative processes where both technological and non-technological processes can have a significant impact.
"AI will not replace you. Someone using AI will." Oleguer reminds us. We should not fear technology-we should use it wisely.
A Request
Sagarra doesn't ask anything of AI itself but rather of the people who use it. We've become accustomed to seeing ourselves as consumers of technology, but we are actually users.
As users, we adopt tools because we understand them-maybe not entirely, but enough to trust them.
He urges us not to give up our understanding. Instead, he encourages us to ask the right questions to demand transparency and the necessary trust in the technology we use.
