Why do people think that AI is here to replace humans? It’s important to note that just as a calculator cannot replace the expertise of an accountant, AI technology is intended to enhance productivity rather than replace human workers.

Here are more productivity tools that will not replace the knowledge, skills, and expertise of human professionals

• ChatGPT does not replace the need for a writer.
• Grammarly does not replace the need for an editor.
• A microphone does not replace the need for a sound engineer.
• A GPS does not replace the need for a navigator.
• Adobe Premiere Pro does not replace the need for a video editor. 
• Google Sheet or Excel does not replace the need for a financial analyst.
• WordPress does not replace the need for a web developer or web designer.
• Hootsuite does not replace the need for a social media manager.
• Hubspot tool does not replace the need for a salesperson.
• MailChimp does not replace the need for an email marketer.
• Asana does not replace the need for a project manager.
• Skillsahre or Udemy does not replace the need for a teacher.
• Odoo ERP does not replace the need for an inventory manager
• A virtual assistant does not replace the need for an executive assistant. 
• Automated customer service chatbots do not replace the need for a human customer support representative.
• Stock trading software does not replace the need for a financial advisor.
• AutoCAD does not replace the need for an architect.

It is important for us to understand that ChatGPT and other LLMs have limitations that humans do not have. Some of these limitations include:

• Biases: LLMs can be biased based on the data they are trained on. This can lead to biased results and perpetuate existing social and cultural biases 
• Generalization: LLMs can struggle to generalize beyond the patterns they have learned from their data. This can lead to errors, inconsistencies, and nonsensical outputs when faced with novel or complex inputs 
• Understanding: LLMs do not have a deep understanding of the world, the meaning of language, or the goals and intentions of their users. They rely on statistical correlations and surface forms of language, which can limit their ability to reason, explain, or learn from feedback 
• Safety: LLMs can pose risks to their users and society if they are not designed and deployed with care. They can generate harmful, misleading, or inappropriate content that can affect people’s well-being, privacy, or security 

Researchers and developers are working on ways to overcome these limitations and enhance LLMs with human-like cognitive skills, such as perception, reasoning, and communication. However, there is still a long way to go before LLMs can match or surpass human capabilities in natural language processing. There is not doubt that technological tools like ChatGPT have an important role to play in enhancing our productivity by enabling us to work more efficiently. However, it’s important to note that they can never replace the irreplaceable human touch in service provision. LLMs can aid us in our endeavors, but they cannot replace the creativity, emotion, and empathy that only a human can provide.

By Francis Waithaka. Founder and CEO of Digital 4 Africa. Certified digital marketer and trainer. Passionate about empowering businesses with digital skills. Mentor and Coach.