The Western Association of Chamber Executives recently hosted an enlightening webinar that delved into the world of artificial intelligence (AI) and its application in local chambers of commerce. Hosted by Nick Ortiz, the event featured Zeb Welborn, who earned the association’s Executive of the Year award in 2023. Welborn is seen as a leader in the industry, for his pioneering work in integrating AI into the operations of chambers of commerce.
The Rise of AI
Welborn kicked off the webinar by highlighting the astounding growth of AI tools in recent times. He cited the example of ChatGPT, a machine-learning platform that reached 100 million users within just two months of its launch. This rapid adoption of AI is indicative of its growing significance in the business world. In fact, in 2022, $92 billion was invested in AI, underscoring its potential to reshape industries and economies.
AI’s Impact on Employment
One compelling aspect discussed during the webinar was the potential impact of AI on employment. Predictions suggest that by 2027, AI could lead to a net growth of 69 million jobs. Rather than being a job killer, AI appears to be a powerful tool for augmenting human capabilities and productivity.
Practical Applications
The heart of the webinar showcased practical examples of AI tools in action. Welborn demonstrated how tools like ChatGPT could be harnessed for tasks such as drafting emails, generating content, and even creating imagery. He emphasized that the key to success with AI-generated content lies in making it sound genuine and personalized.
One fascinating tool highlighted during the session was Synthesia, an AI platform capable of generating lifelike videos of a person reading a script. This technology opens new possibilities for creating engaging video content quickly and efficiently.
AI’s Diverse Applications
Welborn encouraged attendees to think beyond traditional use cases and consider AI’s potential in diverse areas, including music creation, health monitoring, and various business applications. The message was clear: AI can be a versatile solution for tackling problems, creating innovative solutions, and streamlining routine tasks.
Efficiency Through Proper Prompting
One key takeaway from the webinar was the importance of proper prompting when using AI tools. By providing clear instructions, AI can yield more accurate and valuable results. Welborn illustrated this with examples ranging from creating presentations and responding to emails to even writing chapters of a story.
Cost-Effective AI
Despite their immense potential, many AI tools, like ChatGPT, are relatively inexpensive, especially when considering their potential utility. Welborn highlighted these tools’ cost-effectiveness, which makes them accessible to chambers of commerce of all sizes.
The webinar concluded with an engaging Q&A session, during which Welborn fielded questions about AI tool costs, their functionalities, and how best to utilize them in the context of local chambers of commerce.
In an increasingly AI-driven world, this webinar served as a valuable resource for chamber executives looking to harness the power of artificial intelligence to enhance their operations, provide more personalized services, and drive innovation.
For more information on the webinar series and the upcoming sessions, please visit waceonline.com.
Disclaimer: Nick Ortiz edited and added to this article, but the core of it was produced through asking ChatGPT to write a newsletter article summarizing the webinar. Ortiz used a ChatGPT extension to create a summary of the video and then asked the program to write an article based on that summary.