During my time at IBM in the 1980s, I was tasked with assisting in the development of an early CRM application. However, the collaboration between the IT department (formerly known as MIS) and myself proved to be quite challenging. The resulting application fell short of expectations, requiring more effort and causing frustration due to a disconnect between my requirements and the delivered product.
This scenario was not unique, as many IT professionals at the time lacked a deep understanding of the business domain. Their decisions were made without sufficient input from users, resulting in applications that didn't effectively streamline manual tasks as intended.
However, the landscape is now evolving with the emergence of AI. It holds the promise of empowering users by gradually enabling them to take on the role of programmers. Microsoft, for instance, is leading the charge by integrating AI capabilities into Windows, Office, and the Microsoft Store, aiming to bridge the gap between users and technology.
let' s delve into the ways in which Microsoft AI is set to enhance collaboration and user experiences. Additionally, we'll conclude with my Product of the Week , featuring a unique set of headphones from Dell's Alienware division that promises to be unlike anything you 've encountered before .
The Bad Developer Joke
According to a Facebook post, enabling users to collaborate with AIs for coding purposes would require users to clearly articulate their intentions, implying that users' jobs would be secure. The underlying concern is that users often struggle to express their desires accurately, and granting them direct AI interaction may lead to unfavorable outcomes. However, both personal experience and humor highlight the fundamental issue of limited collaboration skills between programmers and users.
The divide stems from the typical lack of interest programmers exhibit in business operations, while operations employees typically show little enthusiasm for coding. With neither side willing to delve into the intricacies of the other's domain, user dissatisfaction and programmer frustration are common outcomes.
AI holds the potential to address this problem by continuously advancing and gradually gaining a deeper understanding of users. Over time, AI can provide outcomes that align more closely with users' actual needs.
However, it is important to note that even with AI, there is a challenge. Users often struggle to fully conceptualize their requirements during the app development process. It is only after seeing the initial version that they realize their desires differ significantly from what they received.
AI circumvents this issue by lacking personal emotions such as irritation, anger, or frustration. It learns through iterative processes and remains committed to iterating indefinitely to approach fulfilling users' unmet needs.
Nonetheless, users and programmers must still develop proficiency in utilizing the AI tool. Otherwise, they may become frustrated with the seemingly endless iterations caused by the users' inability to fully articulate their desires and, in particular, what they don't want in the new application.
Windows 11 Baseline
Microsoft is taking a significant step by integrating generative AI into Windows, which will prompt users to learn how to effectively collaborate with AI to achieve better outcomes. Users will be compelled to articulate their needs more precisely, reducing the number of iterations required for the AI to comprehend their requirements. Moreover, users will need to develop the skills necessary to understand and communicate their desires effectively.
While we have seen mixed results in similar endeavors in the past, such as the utilization of Boolean logic for internet searches, it is evident that the main challenge lies in users' willingness to acquire the skills that enhance their efficiency. Although the adoption of Boolean logic allowed certain individuals to obtain desired results more swiftly, a substantial portion of web users has not embraced it, indicating a reluctance to learn the necessary skills.
However, the introduction of AI brings a significant difference. AI has the capacity to bridge the knowledge and experience gap by adapting to each user's unique characteristics. Unlike static Boolean logic, AI evolves into a personalized interface for users, significantly diminishing the need for users to possess specialized AI communication skills.
Users who invest time and effort in learning how to effectively collaborate with AI will gain an advantage, especially considering that AI will be integrated into the operating system, providing ample opportunities for practice. Consequently, much of the communication burden is expected to shift from the user to the AI itself, as demonstrated in Microsoft's Windows Copilot introduction video.
Wrapping Up
The integration of AI into various aspects of Windows is set to bring about a profound transformation in the user experience. Just as we transitioned from the command line interface to the graphical user interface (GUI ) , we are now embarking on a journey toward an AI interface. With each transition , the aim is to enhance productivity, reduce user frustration, and bring the development process closer to the associated applications it is intended to assist.
It's important to recognize that we are still in the early stages of this technology 's evolution, and as with any nascent innovation, there may be some growing pains along the way. However, this represents a significant departure from the traditional approach to technology, where users had to acquire new skill sets to fully harness its benefits . Instead, we are now focusing on developing AI systems that learn how to collaborate with users, effectively flipping the dynamics and leading to more interesting and, hopefully, less frustrating outcomes.
While concerns regarding AI exist, at present, Microsoft' s moves in this direction pose minimal risk and hold the promise of substantial improvements in productivity and user satisfaction.