Have you explored Artificial Intelligence or AI? It’s something Earl Ingram, host of The Earl Ingram Show is curious about, and it’s why he decided to team up with tech strategist Patrick McGarry to learn more, and understand how it could impact jobs, society, and you. Listen to the full conversation.

“I’ve been hearing all about it, but when you are my age, sometimes you don’t comprehend what it really is,” Ingram says. “AI is already having an impact so let’s call this Artificial Intelligence 101.”

Ingram’s guest is a long-time employee on the tech scene and is often asked to translate highly technical things into something easy for anyone to understand. 

“AI is not new technology,” McGarry says. “But it’s recently gaining a lot of momentum in the ways it can help people in their daily lives. Basically, it’s a smart robot and an algorithm that non-tech folks can use to get things done faster, more efficiently. There’s a set of steps to easily help you get a task completed or to get an answer to a topic. AI is just the next step in the evolution of technology as we know it.”

Ingram brings up an issue he says has people concerned. Will AI take away jobs?

“There certainly will be some people displaced by AI, but it’s not to the level everyone thinks,” McGarry replies. “The real concern should be losing your job to someone who wants to do your job, but do it with AI.”

“So, if you aren’t using AI, you should probably start learning about it?” Ingram asks.

“There’s going to be a pool of new jobs with roles that include AI right along with it,” McGarry says. “Sales, marketing, customer service, to name a few. These jobs will have the ability to leverage AI to do their work faster and maybe even better. The good news, there are tons of resources to learn more about AI. But the thing to understand is, this technology is not going away.”

Well, It certainly is the drumbeat of progress,” Ingram replies. “The next generation is being raised on all of this, and it just becomes part of their everyday lives. Tech is advancing and as it does, it becomes more approachable and easier for all of us to use it. At least I hope so!”