Copilots
#87 - Nov.2023
In aviation, the best copilots are the ones who assist and relieve the pilot from a wide range of tasks. Yet, they are not in command.
Copilots, powered by LLMs, will likely become the next revolution to augment cognitive work. Microsoft Copilot, GitHub Copilot are good examples. As the best plane copilots, they can assist in various tasks - from processing complex data sets, providing supportive context, and allowing advanced automation.
Yet, they are not in command. The quality outputs of any copilot are relative to the quality of your questions (prompts) and available data (context). You continue to be accountable for the outcomes and results. Accountability cannot be delegated.
LLMs - and to that extent, AI technologies - are evolving fast and we will see a constant iteration of these AI assistants. Some of the biggest challenges ahead include handling unpredictable situations or avoiding propagating errors from the learning context.
Having awareness of the benefits and risks is critical when adopting any emerging technologies. The speed for working through copilots can have second-order effects, and you should acknowledge them. Sometimes, it reminds me of the popular saying: 'Dress me slowly, I’m in a hurry'.
