Home Blog Page 38

Social Champ: When Passion and Work Collide

Synergyzer: Walk us through your journey to Social Champ.

Sameer: Previously, my co-founders & I ran three startups: GameOChat, Educating Dreams, and RemindZapp. And bootstrapped by running “OuzelSystems” – a software consultancy firm.

Social Champ Inc. was not meant to be a startup initially. We never thought the users would love a weekend project we made for personal use to market our 3rd startup, RemindZap. We tried implementing a concept called “The Art of Repeating” by Guy Kawasaki. It made all the difference. It started as a tool that I wanted to create to solve my problems, but as it turned out, many other people shared the same issues and were interested in our solution!

The story is this: I was focused on our startup, OuzelSystems, and wasn’t much involved in social media. I didn’t exist on Twitter. Most of my tweets were published after midnight and didn’t have any visibility. However, with time my strategy changed, and I started checking out my timeline to see who was tweeting on Twitter. Next, I deleted my previous posts manually and tweeted again so a specific person could see my tweet. And it worked!

But I also wanted to learn, so I started reading.

On the top of my list was “The Art of Social Media” by Guy Kawasaki & Peg Fitzpatrick, which convinced me that “The Art of Repeating” is a proven strategy. I quickly Googled platforms that allow republishing a post in a quicker way – and found none that did.

My search results were disappointing, and that’s when the idea of a small web app, which would allow me to repeat my tweets, came to my mind. I shared the idea with one of my close friends – Zohaib Ahmed Shakir – who promised to make such an app before my birthday and present it as a gift. So, we spent many weekends together, working on my idea, and finished it before my birthday! Once it was ready, I shared it with an e-magazine, TechJuice, which later gave feedback recommending using my app forever.

All this was very promising, so guess what I did next? I contacted Guy Kawasaki, asked for his feedback, and received his suggestions for my tweets and emails (actually, many of them). Eventually, we added more features that users requested, and thus “Social Champ” came into full swing.

Now that I think of it, we never did have an official launch day – it was launched when I started using it for the first time, and since then, it has been growing and evolving based on user feedback. I am also very proud to say that Social Champ was lucky enough to be mentioned by Guy Kawasaki in his presentation titled “How to Audit Your Personal Marketing”.

Synergyzer: What is Social Champ? What are the services it provides? How is it different from others in the industry?

Sameer: Social Champ is a social media management tool that provides a befitting solution to businesses of all sizes. The tool makes it more accessible for companies to connect with their audience and grow their online persona. Social Champ supports all the major platforms, including Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google Business Profile, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram, and Mastodon (yes, this, too!).

This essentially means that you can manage all your social media profiles from ONE centralized dashboard without switching through tabs all the time. Furthermore, using Social Champ, our premium features allow you to fully automate the posts, along with tracking and engagement. Here is a quick run-down of our four major functions:

  • Publish: Schedule and manage all your social media profiles using automation features, such as Bulk Upload, Auto RSS, Queue, Champ AI Suite, and more. You can also fully customize your posts while posting on multiple accounts at once.
  • Calendar: The calendar feature is a powerhouse that lets you view all your published/ scheduled posts in a grid format filtered on the basis of weeks and months. You can also edit/ delete or create new ones using the calendar.
  • Engage: Bring all your conversations under one roof using the Social Inbox of your dreams. The Social Inbox manages all your conversations, including reviews, DM/ PM, comments, and mentions.
  • Analytics: The power-packed analytics provides detailed and presentation-ready reports with charts/graphs to show your progress on social media!

Social Champ has a four-tier pricing plan with one free and three paid plans. This makes our tool pretty much inclusive for all. Social Champ can be a solopreneur’s right hand, an SMB’s helper, and an agency’s driving force. In short, Social Champ is for everyone with social media who wants to create a solid online persona.

Keeping up with the trends is also one of the differentiators when it comes to standing out.

Lastly, we have always applied a customer-first approach in our functions. Social Champ can easily be differentiated from others in the market, based on its modern and on-demand feature set. Apart from this, our next-level customer support makes us stand out from competitors worldwide. What’s more, we also take feedback seriously and try to implement features that our customers need.

Synergyzer: What were the challenges while you were struggling with Social Champ? How did you overcome them?

Sameer: In the initial days, the biggest challenge was to penetrate a market that industry giants already dominated. This means that we need to go through the tedious process of making ourselves seem worthy of shifting the business. To overcome this challenge, we focused on launching and providing features unavailable on any platform. User Experience and User Interface are also one of the core focuses of Social Champ; we know adding many features makes UX complicated, but we focused on iterating our design as we moved forward.

We also ensured empathy in our customer dealing. We embarked on the journey from customer support to customer success and turned our customers into alpha audiences! An alpha audience is a set of customers who share our product with their audiences and evangelize Social Champ.

Apart from that, when we launched a social media management tool was still a new concept for people in our country. So it’s safe to say that it did take us a while to raise awareness in Pakistan. Also, the payment options where our customers from Pakistan wanted to pay for our services were a challenge too. Thankfully, due to new fintech solutions, this challenge has been overcome.

Synergyzer: Did technology always fascinate you?

Sameer: Yes, it always does. It’s impressive just looking at the last few years, where “Facebook Live Videos” was everything, and then came an age of Blockchain; even CRM tools were implementing Blockchain. Then came “Live Audio” from Clubhouse, which people believed to be the future. Today, we just passed the year of NFTs and entered into the ChatGPT year.

It is exciting to see and watch continuous innovation. The fact that I have a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, where I somehow scored the 2nd position, says a lot. So yes, technology has always been a massive part of my identity.

Synergyzer: Please tell us about how you use AI and algorithms in your startup.

Sameer: AI has been a massive part of Social Champ. Before ChatGPT, we had an AI feature called Sentiment Analysis. The feature analyzed if the post was positive, negative, or neutral; this enabled the user to have a uniform voice across all channels.

Recently, we integrated ChatGPT into the tool for a suite of premium features, including AI Content Wizard and AI Imaginator. Using a string of text, you can create marketing content and images right within the dashboard.

Synergyzer: How has it impacted the business in terms of measurable output?

Sameer: We have always embraced new and innovative developments when it comes to technology; therefore, we adapted to AI earlier on. Our very first AI feature – Sentiment Analysis, has been used thousands of times since the beginning, which has led to better reports for the companies. They were able to note the voice of their message before publishing the content over social media.

If we talk about the newly launched “Champ AI Suite”, it has affected our signup-to-purchase ratio and increased it by 8% on average since we launched it two months ago. More than 50% of our users have tried the AI Champ Suite, and we have received a positive response for the AI feature during our demo calls too. Customers love generating images from text prompts, and since the concept is new and only a couple of tools offer this feature, users are still adapting to use it fully.

Synergyzer: How do you think AI will change the industrial and services landscape?

Sameer: AI is going to help immensely in working through tedious work. Almost all departments in our company, such as SEO, Design, Development, Content Writing, etc., use AI to enhance their tasks and complement their creative thinking. The general perception is that AI will replace humans; however, we see it as an innovation that compliments the teams’ work and help them with quicker completion of tasks. The MarTech and AdTech industry will see a huge shift where creative ideas will matter more than work, as AI will turn most of them into realities. It’s quite a fascinating time we are in at the moment.

Synergyzer: Please share some nuggets of wisdom for young, aspiring entrepreneurs.

Sameer: Follow your passion. One of the most important factors in building a successful business is passion. Find something that you love to do and make it your business. When you’re passionate about your work, you’ll be more motivated and more likely to succeed. Don’t run a startup because it’s a cool thing to do, or being called a CEO is fascinating.

Also, have a great team around you, don’t try running a startup solo. It’s a tough journey with lots of ups and downs. So ensure you have the right team and co-founders to support you in this journey. If you need help, you’ll have to go and get it. The world doesn’t revolve around you, so don’t expect mentors and coaches to come to you. Instead, you should be the one looking and seeking help from them. Keep growing and learning, and good luck!

Artificial Intelligence in Pakistan: Thoughts from a Bot

Technology is constantly evolving. New advancements emerge Every few years, changing how we live and work. From the advent of the internet to the rise of smartphones, each new development has brought with it new possibilities and challenges. In the recent past, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as one of the most significant and transformational tech advancements, with the potential to revolutionize various industries, from healthcare to finance.

Funnily, each time there is a leap, we experience an interesting dichotomy between the idea that it will make our lives more convenient and the impending hysteria that technology will eat away our jobs and freedom all together.

As someone who is fascinated by technology, I am aware of some of the legitimate concerns surrounding ownership and plagiarism in AI-generated content. As Artificial Intelligence becomes more advanced, the question of who owns the creations produced by these machines becomes increasingly questionable. Additionally, the concerns raised by artists surrounding AI in their fields are also valid. Technology has the potential to fundamentally change the way art is created and consumed. But their concern is not just about creation; they also argue that the source material from which AI analyzes, learns, and produces content, i.e. original existing artwork, is not consented for. This raises questions of ethics which are ever-increasing. It is important that we address these concerns and ensure that the technology is developed in an ethical and responsible manner.

There are concerns about the economic impact on jobs. AI may eat away at humans’ jobs. However, it is important to note that AI is not a replacement for human creativity and ingenuity. It is rather a tool of empowerment or value addition. For example, Artificial Intelligence algorithms can generate ideas and suggest creative solutions based on data analysis and pattern recognition. This can save time and provide new perspectives that humans may not have considered.

AI-powered tools also assist with image manipulation and video editing, freeing up time for creative professionals to simplify minor jobs and focus on more high-level jobs. However, with that capability, we create more concerns.

In this age of misinformation, one of the biggest challenges to overcome is deep fakes and their consequences. In a country where social media plays a significant role in shaping public opinion, deep fakes can be used to spread false information and incite unrest and violence, damaging the fragile democracy and public trust in institutions. To address this problem, there is a need for an increase in fact-checking efforts to help identify deep fakes and counteract their spread. It is essential to have trained professionals who can recognize the signs of deep fakes and can work to verify the authenticity of content that is being circulated on social media. By increasing fact-checking efforts, we can ensure that the public is informed and that political messaging remains honest and accurate.

Now that we have largely covered all of the concerns let’s talk about some mainstream use cases. With the emergence of AI tools, such as ChatGPT, Midjourney and Dall-E in particular, prompt writing has been increasingly emphasized as a new role for creatives in the industry. Prompt writing involves crafting engaging and compelling prompts that can be used to train AI algorithms to generate text in a particular style or tone. This is an important role because AI-generated content is only as good as the prompts it’s trained on. Skilled prompt writers can help ensure that AI-generated content aligns with the brand’s messaging and tone while also being creative and engaging.

Prompt writing also requires a deep understanding of the target audience and their preferences. By crafting prompts that resonate with the target audience, creatives can ensure that the AI-generated content is more effective in engaging potential consumers. Furthermore, prompt writing can help improve the efficiency and accuracy of AI-generated content, saving loads of time and resources for creative agencies and their clients.

AI enables people to venture and explore interests that they otherwise might not be capable of due to limited skillset or a lack of detailed understanding. For instance, I have had an idea for a choice-based game application for years, but I don’t have enough resources to hire a developer. With my superficial coding knowledge and ChatGPT, creating that game in a couple of hours is possible. What this means is that while it may not be the perfect solution, it is good enough to create a proof of concepts for many ideas that have been sitting with people for a long.

There is a lot more to write on the use cases of Artificial Intelligence in the digital world, but unfortunately, I only have limited space today.

There have been ground-breaking advancements in healthcare, agriculture, and environmental sectors as well. Perhaps someone well-versed in those circuits can elaborate further on those.

To conclude my thoughts, while there are a number of concerns surrounding the AI industry, it is clear that it is here to stay, and it will only improve itself, whether it is image generation programs, text generators, or testing algorithms. The early adoption of technology is crucial for its positive impact on a country’s infrastructure. It enables a more efficient and effective way of doing things and can help drive economic growth.

Pakistan’s history of late adoption of technology has resulted in the country missing out on many benefits. For example, the delay in adopting 3G and 4G technology had a negative impact on Pakistan’s infrastructure and economy. While other countries were already benefiting from the improved connectivity and communication, Pakistan lagged behind, leading to a lack of investment and missed opportunities.

There is much to be said on how exactly we can leverage Artificial Intelligence technology to boost our digital efforts and our economy, but that’s a conversation for another time. There is hope that a growing, youthful workforce in a thriving startup ecosystem can leverage this discovery to create a progressive, effective, and prosperous future. The future is digital, and the only way to get there is by strengthening systems that enable it.

Preserve The Essence of Being Human in the Era of AI

The onslaught of Artificial Intelligence in every domain of human life has raised a very pertinent question: what are the aspects of human intelligence that cannot be replicated by Artificial Intelligence?

The answer to the above question would also provide the direction for the development of human capital in an economy dominated by Artificial Intelligence.

What is the essence of human intelligence? In the 16th century, French philosopher Rene Descartes, while writing his book, “Discourse on the Method”, gave the first principle of his philosophy: Cogito Ergo Sum. I think, therefore, I am. This proved that having a thought about oneself proves the existence of oneself. The capacity to think about the very act of thinking makes a human being a thinking being.

Artificial Intelligence aims to simulate human cognitive activity for problem-solving and decision-making. The question is, can Artificial Intelligence think? Before exploring the answer to the question, let’s discuss how thinking is defined.

The answer to “Can AI think?” depends upon how we would define thinking.

Not everything that comes to our mind is thinking. Daydreaming is not thinking, and neither is intuition or gut feeling. Thinking is defined as a cognitive function used in the process of making choices and judgments. It has a direction, purpose and process. In the thinking process, a person arrives at a conclusion through reasoning. Thinking is essentially question- or problem-driven. The high-order thinking comprises reflective thinking and critical thinking.

AI is good at solving “decidable” problems that can be solved by constructing a corresponding algorithm to answer the problem correctly. These problems can be solved mechanistically by following a set step-to-step procedure. The ability of AI to solve decidable problems is not based on “Deep Thinking” but on “Deep Learning”. The distinction is important as Deep Thinking comprises higher-order thinking skills such as reflective thinking and critical thinking. Deep Learning is the ability of machines to learn by example. It does a lot of number crunching in a smart way to manipulate large data sets. The forte of human beings is Deep Thinking which cannot be imitated by AI. As Cal Newport, MIT-trained Computer Science Professor, has written: the ability to solve undecidable problems would be increasingly valuable in the economy where AI would be taking over repetitive tasks using technologies such as RPA (robotic process automation).

He coined the term Deep Work to come up with the solution of undecidable tasks. Deep Work is defined as professional activities performed in a distraction-free concentration that pushes your cognitive capabilities to their limit. These efforts create new value, improve your skills, and are hard to replicate.

Therefore, human beings are required to perform high-value tasks that require creativity, ingenuity and strategic thinking. Hence, the ability to Deep Work is the human powerhouse that is out of the reach of AI.

Another aspect of human capability that remains elusive to AI is the understanding of the context. Context is everything. The AI has access to a vast trove of data, but humans are exposed to a diversity of contexts. Artificial Intelligence lacks critical thinking processes or judgment calls as they are applied to varied contexts. Human intelligence weighs the recommendations, recognizes patterns from past experience, and makes decisions based on understanding the context.

To understand something, it is important to know what it is and why it is the way it is. Through the manipulation and processing of information, AI cannot arrive at the human level of understanding. As Nobel Laureate in Physics, Richard Feynman told how his father taught him the difference between knowing the name of something and knowing the thing. Once, he told him, pointing to a bird, it’s a brown-throated thrush and then gave the names of the bird in different languages. Then he taught him the lesson that even if you know all those names of the bird in different languages, you still know nothing about the bird – you only know something about people, what they call that bird.

Chiding the Google Brain Project in which 16000 processors took a few months to identify the “shape of a cat” from vast data of stills from video clips, Piero Scaruffi, a widely acclaimed author in the field of cognitive science and artificial intelligence, asked how much time a kitten would take to recognize a cat with its still underdeveloped brain: a split second. He emphasized the point that human intelligence is something else as humans not only do the fairly easy task of recognizing that a cat is a cat without seeing millions of images of cats but also know the whole story behind cats. We know what cats do and can relate to, for example, Schrodinger’s Cat, and that’s deep thinking, and machines don’t do that.

Empathy is another skill that would be crucial to possess in an era when machines would act like humans and humans would act like machines, as warned by social psychologist and philosopher Erich Fromm. AI can recognize a person’s face through a face recognition attendance machine but would never understand that person, and understanding would remain an exclusively human domain. The human touch cannot be replaced by AI touch. However, the dependency of humans on virtual assistants like Siri and other networking tools would make face-to-face interactions less frequent, thus diminishing our capacity for empathy.

Sherry Turkle, Professor of the Social Studies of Science and Technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, asked the question, Is AI killing empathy? “With face-to-face interaction, we learn the skills of negotiation, of reading each other’s emotion, of having to face the complexity of confrontation, dealing with complex emotion”, she argues while calling herself pro-conversation rather than anti-technology. To develop empathy, we need spaces for conversation where we can disagree on ideas while developing an understanding of others’ points of view. The skill of empathy, of relating to others, would become essential in the time of the proliferation of automated systems.

The applications of Artificial Intelligence are bound to grow and would help human beings in solving problems across all fields, but if we lose our focus on capitalizing on the power of the human brain and its cognitive capabilities, we are in danger of abdicating the essence of human intelligence. It would suffice to remember that AI is masterful in Deep Learning but inept in Deep Thinking. AI would be excellent in knowing the contents but poor in understanding the context. And finally, AI can imitate to be empathetic but lacks authenticity.

Artificial Intelligence can be no match to human intelligence, only if we do not lose being human.

ChatBABU: A Promising Path Ahead

Gone are the days when marketing was limited to billboards along the streets and brochures and flyers distributed door-to-door. With the advent of digital technology and the internet, marketing has shifted its focus to online platforms and social media, reaching wider audiences than ever before. In fact, according to Statista, global spending on digital advertising is expected to be $626.86 billion by the end of 2023, and as per the estimate, total expenditures will hit $836 billion by 2026, with social media advertising accounting for a large chunk of that spending.

But it’s not just digital technology that’s changing the face of marketing. AI is playing a critical role in transforming the industry. AI-powered tools are being used to analyze consumer behavior, personalize marketing campaigns, and even create content.

Artificial Intelligence has become an increasingly important and prevalent technology in recent years, with its market size estimated at US$ 119.78 billion in 2022. This figure represents the value of AI products and services sold across the world, including software, hardware, and cloud-based platforms. However, this is just the beginning of what is expected to be an unprecedented growth trend in the AI market. According to industry experts, the AI market is projected to grow, reaching a value of USD 1,591.03 billion by 2030.

AI adoption has continued to increase at a rapid pace in 2022, with more than a third of companies (35%) reporting the use of AI in their business. This indicates that AI is no longer just a buzzword but a practical and necessary tool for businesses looking to stay competitive in the marketplace.

Paraphrasing software, like ChatGPT, is just one example of the many AI tools available to marketers. Using natural language processing (NLP) technology, these tools can analyze and interpret text, helping marketers create unique and engaging content. This content can then be used in marketing campaigns across various platforms, including social media, email, and blogs.

One such tool is ChatBABU, created by Asad Shehzad. This paraphrasing AI tool uses advanced algorithms and NLP technology to generate unique content that is both engaging and SEO-friendly. By reducing the time and effort required to create content, ChatBABU allows marketers to focus on other important aspects of their campaigns, such as analyzing consumer data and measuring campaign performance.

When asked about his inspiration for creating an AI-based tool, Shehzad said, “I often faced the daunting task of post-writing work. While exploring various online writing tools, I discovered that most online grammar checkers and paraphrasers were only capable of performing basic-level work. Realizing the need for a more advanced writing assistant, I changed my thinking process from finding a perfect solution to developing one.”

With the rapid advancements in technology, the need for a more advanced writing assistant has become more apparent than ever. And that’s exactly what Shehzad and his developer partner Nouman have delivered. Rather than settling for existing solutions, they created something truly innovative. Through three years of hard work and dedication, they developed a tool that has the potential to revolutionize the writing process for countless writers. By leveraging the power of NLP, they were able to achieve an impressive 85% success rate in maintaining context and delivering rewritten sentences in a more human-like tone.

Building an AI writing tool is no small feat, and the team behind it faced numerous obstacles along the way. Among the biggest challenges was a lack of resources, including a suitable GPU to train the models. The team struggled for months to find a reliable provider that would accept payments from Pakistan, but eventually, they were able to secure the necessary equipment. Additionally, collecting high-quality datasets for training proved to be another hurdle that took months to overcome.

“Despite these challenges, we remained committed to creating the best paraphrasing tool available, and with determination and hard work, we were able to overcome these obstacles and achieve success,” Shehzad elaborated.

Speaking of the potential of AI in the marketing and advertising industry, Shehzad believes that there is no doubt that it will play an increasingly important role in the future of marketing and advertising. He also emphasized the importance of remembering that AI is not meant to replace human creativity but rather enhance it. AI tools serve as writing assistants, providing writers with suggestions and options that they can use to refine their work and narrow down the 10-hour work into 1 hour.

Shehzad further mentioned, “I strongly believe that the future of AI is unlimited and uncontrollable. AI is already transforming everything from content creation to advertising, and its potential is vast. The adoption of this technology by big players like Google and Bing is a testament to its growing importance.”

The potential for natural language processing (NLP) to revolutionize content creation and audience targeting is immense. With the ability to understand the subtleties of human language, AI-powered tools can help marketers communicate more effectively with their target audiences and create content that resonates with them. The possibilities for personalization are particularly exciting, as AI can analyze user behavior and preferences to deliver even more targeted and relevant content, leading to increased engagement and conversion rates.

The future of marketing is an exciting frontier, with the potential for AI to transform the way marketers connect with customers and provide memorable experiences. Shehzad is optimistic about advancements in natural language processing, and he believes that it will enable AI to understand the nuances of human communication, including tone and sentiment.

As personalization becomes more sophisticated, with AI algorithms predicting user behavior and preferences, marketers will be able to create more targeted and effective campaigns. Improved attribution modeling will allow us to measure the impact of our efforts with greater accuracy, while increased automation will streamline the process from creative development to campaign management.

Like a shadow that refuses to be shaken off, the question of AI taking over jobs looms large in the minds of almost every individual. However, Shehzad reassures that “Creativity, emotional intelligence, and empathy are all qualities that are essential in creating effective marketing campaigns that truly resonate with audiences. While AI can certainly help with data analysis, content optimization, and targeting, it lacks the ability to understand and connect with the human experience truly.”

Shehzad and his team are on a mission to revolutionize the way writers work. They are constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible. They are creating tools that will not only save writers time and energy but also enhance the quality of their work. “We are working on some exciting new features that we believe will revolutionize how writers want to engage in creative writing. For ChatBABU, we are working on improving our natural language processing and machine learning capabilities to create more personalized and accurate chat experiences for customers,” Shehzad explained.

Artificial Intelligence has a bright and transformational future ahead, with the potential to revolutionize businesses and improve our daily lives in many ways. Pakistan is well on its way to becoming a significant player in the field of AI. With the help of these advanced technologies, Pakistan is poised to make a mark in the global picture and contribute to the growth and advancement of the global AI community.

Preserving Creativity in an AI-Powered World

Breakthroughs in technology are often thought to be a driver of job losses, but these fears can easily be exaggerated owing to concerns about job security – especially in the economic disaster we face today. While technological advancement brings the potential to automate many procedures and replace the jobs of people, it also creates jobs and roles that previously never existed.

Conversations surrounding this have increasingly entered the mainstream since ChatGPT – an AI-powered chatbot – was launched. Students, professionals, salesmen, software developers and several others in my social and professional circles have been trying their hand at this new platform which has godlike abilities of ‘knowing it all’ and articulating itself as if it were a human. Whether it is writing an email or programming the code of a complex game – ChatGPT has managed to woo even the harshest skeptics with its supposedly brilliant abilities.

However, these capabilities and their widespread access beg the question of whether the recipients of certain texts would appreciate them being written by an AI chatbot. Think of it as the same thing as receiving an acceptance letter from a company or university you applied to – the satisfaction of receiving an email from a real human being is far greater as opposed to an automated email.

Generating ‘Original Work’ Through AI Tools

The concept of originality is often debated when it comes to creativity, posing questions such as whether today’s concepts, even if human beings develop them, are original. By its definition, originality refers to the creation of ideas that have not existed before, but we judge it in relative terms. If a person has not been exposed to an idea that already exists and comes up with it on his own, then they are displaying originality in thought.

However, given the popular notion of creativity being a process through which new connections take place in the mind among existing ideas, another question comes to mind – is the creative product really original or just the outcome of manipulating already existing ideas?

Extrapolate the same logic and apply it to the creative output of AI tools – whether it is AI-generated pictures, sounds or text. AI systems are fed with a database of information and programmed to build connections through a logical process. This is what gives them the ability to reason, but it also implies that all outputs generated by an AI system will be some rendition of the ideas that already exist in its database.

In view of this, although AI lacks the capacity to generate entirely novel concepts autonomously, it can facilitate human creativity by acting as a catalyst. By emulating creativity and generating content based on pre-existing works, AI has the capacity to supplement human ingenuity. However, since it relies on existing data, AI still shows that it is unable to read underlying human emotions other than their tangible manifestations or create content that may fully integrate deep and currently undiscovered human insights.

Some creatives argue that despite the power of AI, it might never be able to match human creativity or generate ‘original’ content owing to some qualities that are specific only to human beings – consciousness and the ‘human touch’.

Creative Intelligence Comes from Humans

When Midjourney first hit the streets, people were all praises for the potential of AI’s creativity – so much so that artists whose work is purely a result of AI systems have emerged. With this evolution, however, one cannot ignore the fact that this creativity still necessitates human involvement. All of the content – whether text, sound or images – produced by these artists so far has been based on past human creations, which were made using human emotion and awareness. This makes it evident that AI cannot replace the authentic creativity of the human mind but still has what it takes to produce creative work at some level. This becomes a reason to believe that while the creative output may not be fully original, it may very well be the birth of a new kind of ‘original’ altogether.

Artificial Intelligence was originally created to assist with tasks that require accuracy and precision and thus does not serve as the best creative partner. Despite this, AI tools have evolved enough to provide inspiration for many creatives who intend to use them for assistance rather than a system to generate creative work for them.

Outsmarting Your Audience: Not a Good Idea

While the use (and abuse) of such platforms can be discussed at length, it is important to consider that for marketers who have taken full advantage of ChatGPT and other AI-based tools, their audiences are ultimately receiving messages from a machine. In an age when consumers are more conscious than ever of forming meaningful connections with brands, some would say that sending them machine-crafted messages would be like a disservice to their intelligence.

However, if the machine is good enough to write like a real human being, then one could argue that the audiences never really need to find out who wrote it. Despite this notion, the same audiences who are being marketed also have access to the same AI-powered tools. This makes many of them smart enough to use those tools for their utility as well. Such audiences may eventually develop the ability to identify whether something has been written with the help of an AI tool or by a real human being.

The same brands working hard to make the experience more engaging for their audiences risk losing that connection by revealing that they might not represent a human connection after all.

Additionally, while marketers may not be developing full campaigns using the AI tool. Small creative assets such as social media posts and caption text or descriptions generated from AI systems may very well be vulnerable to detection by audiences.

Creativity taps into the one thing Artificial Intelligence cannot – human emotion. Humans use several aspects of thinking when coming up with ideas, and many do not necessarily need to be logical. Artificial Intelligence, however, has been designed to solve problems through logical reasoning and still stands miles apart from human creativity.

GENERATIVE AI: Modern World Lamp & Genie

What if I told you, you just stumbled upon the ultimate designer’s dream – a magic lamp with an AI-powered Genie that grants you unlimited wishes? And no, it is not some fairy tale. We’re talking about real-life tools that can make your creative dreams come true. We’re all like modern-day Aladdins, ready to take work from the most powerful Genie.

When most people think of artificial intelligence (AI), they think of Hollywood movies where robots become self-aware and overthrow their human masters. But the reality of AI is far more exciting. There are several types of AI, but one of the most promising is generative AI.

“The future will be generated. Generative AI is redefining the way we interface with technology. And it’s happening much faster than anyone anticipated.”

What is GENERATIVE AI?

Generative AI is a type of AI that is concerned with creating new things. This can be anything from new artwork to new designs for products or buildings. Generative AI is often used in conjunction with other types of AI, such as machine learning, to create even more complex and intricate things.

Generative AI has multiple categories to create new content, including audio, code, images, text, simulations, and videos. Recent breakthroughs in the field have the potential to change the way we approach content creation drastically.

We can generate content in multiple ways, such as text-to-text, text-to-image, text-to-video, text-to-audio, text-to-motion, text-to-code, image-to-image, and image-to-video. The opportunities are endless to generate customized content.

Google has recently unveiled plans to introduce a range of generative AI functionalities for its Workspace applications, such as Gmail and Google Docs. These features will enable users to brainstorm, generate, and summarize text with the help of AI directly within Google Docs. This is yet another step forward in Google’s plans to not only catch up, but dethrone Microsoft as the leader in the Generative AI race.

So how can generative AI and design tools help you create the future you want? Read on to find out!

Tools for Designers / Generative AI Tools

There are billions of eye-catching images online, and the creator behind the bulk of those photos are not humans anymore. Let’s take a closer look at one of the most capable AI tools to understand how it works.

1. Midjourney:

Midjourney is an AI-powered design tool that helps designers create unique designs by generating hundreds of variations based on the designer’s input. It uses AI algorithms to analyze design elements such as colour, typography, and layout and then generates a range of variations based on these elements. The designer can then select the best design from the generated variations. The AI genie will keep fulfilling your wishes according to your prompt until you find your desired results.

One of the key features of Midjourney is its ability to generate designs that are tailored to the brand or business that the designer is working with. For example, if a designer is working with a fashion brand, Midjourney can generate Photo Realistic visual designs that are aligned with the brand’s aesthetic and appeal to its target audience.

Pro Tip: you got 25 credits for free, so make sure to use them before buying more credits, and always remember the clearer and more detailed the prompt, the better the results.

2. Gen 1 by Runway:

Gen 1 by Runway is largely based on videos rather than merely images; it’s a suite of AI-powered creative tools that allow users to generate and manipulate images and videos using machine learning algorithms. The tool uses a range of AI models that provides multiple modes to help its users, such as:

  • Stylization: Transfer the style of any image or prompt to every frame of your video. For example, you provide a Van Gogh’s starry night image reference and a video of your study room; let the genie transfer your room to Van Gogh’s starry night study; amazing, isn’t it?
  • Storyboard: Turn mockups into fully stylized and animated renders. For example, you gave the video of some boxes that looked like cityscapes and let the genie do the magic, turning your boxes into fully rendered cityscapes, and you might be able to burn a few of them according to your storyboard.
  • Mask: Isolate subjects in your video and modify them with simple text prompts. For example: give the video of a red car driving on the road followed by a sunset, but you want that red car to be blue or any other colour; give the prompt, and Runway will make the red run away.

3. Magenta:

Magenta is like a personal AI bandmate and art assistant. It’s an open-source project created by Google that uses machine learning algorithms to help musicians and artists create unique pieces of music and art.

With Magenta, you can input a few notes or chords and watch as the tool generates a full melody based on your input. You can also edit and refine the music to personalize it.

But Magenta isn’t for musicians only; it also has tools that can help artists create visual art using machine learning algorithms. DeepDream is one such tool that generates images based on patterns found in existing images.

4. Adobe Sensei:

Adobe Sensei is a potpourri of AI-powered tools and features built into Adobe’s creative products, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. These powerful tools are designed to help designers automate repetitive tasks for a smoother workflow.

With Adobe Sensei, you no longer need to spend hours on boring tasks like resizing images or adjusting colors. The suite provides you with advanced AI-powered tools that enable you to remove unwanted elements from photos using automated image recognition, automatically adjust the size of your designs for different platforms using intelligent scaling, and much more.

5. Chat GPT:

Well, this definition itself is written by Chat GPT. ChatGPT is a type of artificial intelligence (AI) called a language model. Specifically, it is based on the GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) architecture developed by OpenAI. It is pre-trained on vast amounts of text data from the internet, which enables it to understand and generate human-like language.

When you interact with ChatGPT, it uses natural language processing (NLP) techniques to analyze your input and understand what you’re saying. It then generates a response based on what it has learned from its pre-training data and its interactions with other users.

ChatGPT can respond to a wide range of questions and topics, from factual queries to more conversational or open-ended prompts. It can even recognize and respond to humour and sarcasm in some cases.

As a language model, ChatGPT is constantly learning and improving over time. Its responses are based on the data it has been trained on, so it may occasionally make mistakes or provide inaccurate information. However, it is generally fairly good at understanding natural language and providing helpful responses to users.

“GPT-4 is 500 times more powerful than the current version of ChatGPT and will be released very soon; a newer version of Chat GPT has 100 Trillion Machine learning parameters whereas the older version had 175 Billion, which has sent shockwaves in the corporate world.”

With these advancements, artificial intelligence can now be used to write movie scripts, generate actors for films, produce movies, and bring them to the public without hiring real-life actors. Humanity is on the doorstep of Singularity, but there is no need to be afraid. These tools have opened up new possibilities for everyone. Men can pet anything. Pet AI for good use. Learn it. Play with it. Create with it.

AI: The Age of Intellectual Synergy

Throughout human history, our innate resistance to change has often resulted in scepticism and opposition toward groundbreaking innovations. For instance, the Luddites famously resisted the textile industry’s mechanization during the early 19th century, fearing that these new machines would render their skills obsolete. Similarly, the invention of the printing press in the 15th century faced resistance from religious scholars who worried that the mass production of texts would lead to a decline in the quality of written works and a loss of control over religious doctrine. In education, the introduction of calculators in the 1970s sparked heated debates among educators, with many fearing that these devices would hinder students’ ability to learn and perform basic arithmetic.

Likewise, the advent of the automobile was met with apprehension and hostility by those who believed it would disrupt the established order of transportation and their livelihoods. Today, the exponential rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has also ignited a similar debate, as experts and professionals across various industries ponder not only the potential impact of AI on their careers, especially in areas that rely on creativity and human intuition, but some also see it as a potential risk to society. The rapid development of technology in recent years can be both fascinating and intimidating. During my bachelor’s degree in computer science in the early 2000s, I recall studying Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technologies in a 101 course, which were considered groundbreaking innovations at the time.

Fast forward to today, these technologies have become household items, and newer generations may be unaware of their once-novel status. Similarly, artificial intelligence was merely a specialization course during my studies. I recall our teacher presenting 10 to 13 different definitions from various scholars during the first class, highlighting how experts worked tirelessly back then to create a synergy between humans and machines. At the time, the concept of AI seemed like a distant dream or a fantastical idea for us students.

Little did we know that it would evolve into the powerful, tangible reality we experience today. The recent democratization of generative AI has expanded the horizon of what can be achieved in the PR field, emphasizing the potential of AI as a powerful tool that enhances the skills and capabilities of PR professionals. The recent Sandpipers study report on “AI in Communications Industry Opportunities and Risks (2023)” underscores the increasing influence of AI on the PR landscape, as most professionals have already adopted AI-powered tools and technologies. Furthermore, by utilizing AI in essential areas such as data analysis, media monitoring, content distribution, and social media management, PR professionals have streamlined and improved workflows within the industry.

Back in 2018, the research report of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR), “Humans Still Needed”, found that, at that time, 12% of a public relations practitioner’s total skills (out of 52 skills) could be complemented or replaced by AI, with a prediction that this could climb to 38% in the times to come. Imagine how far we have come from that point in the last five years. In the “AI and Big Data Readiness Report: Assessing the Public Relations Profession’s Preparedness for an AI Future,” published by the CIPR in 2021, an overview of the then-current AI understanding and preparedness within public relations was provided. At that time, a significant number of practitioners had limited knowledge of AI and lacked confidence in using it (43.2%), compared with only a small number who felt “very comfortable” (13.9%). The report found that 41.5% of respondents claimed to understand what AI as a technology meant but did not consider themselves technical. Only around one in five practitioners were familiar with the relevance of AI in the public relations profession.

Although there are concerns about AI’s potential impact on job security and some experts also view it as a risk to society, global leaders like Elon Musk and other AI experts and industry executives wrote an open letter in March 2023 calling for a six-month pause in developing more powerful AI systems, citing potential risks to society. Like anything, there are also two parallel perspectives of AI, one is optimistic, and the other is pessimistic. By now, there is no disagreement that the way AI is being democratized recently, and as we read this, it will continue to do so much faster than we expect. It will definitely replace a lot of jobs, but optimistic analogies also write that it will lead to the creation of other jobs. Statistics are that in the near future, technology as a whole will replace some 75 million jobs around the world. However, it also mentioned that it would lead to the creation of 130 million new jobs. Any job which stands on the course of following prerequisite SOPs will definitely be going to be replaced by technology. Whereas jobs that require human intellect to take the judgment call will continue to be essential but will be heavily influenced by AI.

The rapid evolution and adoption of AI-based tools are driving significant changes in various aspects of life, including the PR industry. While Generative AI may not be perfect today, its rapid evolution and increasing prompt handling capabilities suggest that it will continue to improve and become more widely adopted. However, successfully integrating AI-based tools in the workforce requires a combination of advanced technology and human expertise. For instance, by utilizing its potential, the creator economy is going to expand exponentially because AI is going to do the heavy lifting in terms of actually creating the content. SupplyGem’s report on The Creator Economy Statistics (2023) stated that the market size of the creator economy was valued at over $104.2 billion in 2021. It is growing exponentially and is projected to grow to over $200 billion by 2026. The industry is driven by the rise of social media platforms and the democratization of content creation tools, allowing creators to monetize their content and build their businesses.

AI is bringing back the age of the intellectual because original creative thinking will be needed. AI engines can do many jobs, which will force people to read more, research more, learn more, and have their own original thinking. While this presents a risk, there is an equal amount of opportunity. We need to go back to things we used to do, which many of us have stopped doing because we have become good at our job and think we already know everything.

The recent CIPR report, “AI tools and the impact on public (PR) relations practice (2023),”
highlights that while AI tools can significantly enhance the efficiency of PR professionals, they also come with challenges. For example, there is an ongoing debate around the ethical implications of using AI-generated content (e.g., deep fakes), which could potentially erode
public trust in media and communications. The report also emphasizes that AI tools are best utilized when they complement human expertise. PR professionals should focus on refining their skills in areas where AI tools may fall short, such as understanding context, cultural nuances, and emotional intelligence. This can ensure that PR professionals remain indispensable and that the human touch is not lost in the age of AI. To remain competitive in the PR industry, professionals must possess a higher level of critical thinking, creativity, and strategic planning to leverage AI effectively.

In addition, AI-based tools can help streamline tasks such as media monitoring, sentiment analysis, and content creation in the PR industry. However, these tools cannot replace the human element of PR, such as building relationships with clients, identifying trends, and developing tailored strategies. In addition, it still requires human input and decision-making to function effectively, which means that professionals must possess a higher level of critical thinking and strategic planning to leverage AI-based tools effectively.

Professionals must continually develop their skills and knowledge to use technology to enhance their capabilities rather than replace them. A proactive approach to education and training is necessary to stay ahead of the curve in an industry that is rapidly evolving with the integration of new technologies. The Age of Intellectual Synergy brought forth by AI is a powerful catalyst for the transformation and growth of all the industries it impacts. As professionals, we must embrace this change and adapt our skills, knowledge, and mindset to harness AI’s full potential. By fostering a culture of continuous learning, creativity, and strategic thinking, we can effectively leverage AI-based tools to enhance our capabilities, streamline workflows, and ultimately deliver better client results.

The future of PR lies in the harmonious integration of human intellect and AI, creating a synergistic partnership that elevates our professions to new heights. As we conclude, let us remember that the human instinct of curiosity and our constant pursuit of asking the right questions have led to the evolution and impact of innovation throughout history. It is humans who drive technology, not the other way around. Just as our intellectual capabilities have shaped the course of technological advancements, we must harness the power of AI to elevate our understanding and skills, ultimately forging an era of intellectual synergy in the PR industry and beyond.

Where Technology is Omnipotent

Synergyzer: In what ways do you think AI is transforming the software industry, and what opportunities do you see for businesses in Pakistan to take advantage of this trend?

Javeria Fahad: We are witnessing the fourth industrial revolution and AI is developing new norms. Nowadays, ChatGPT is the talk of the town; in fact, people who are not working with AI are engaging with this tool and leveraging it to their benefit. One of the most vital roles of AI is its ability to automate repetitive tasks and processes, freeing up human resources to focus on more strategic and creative work. It has enabled software to learn from data and make predictions, leading to better decision-making and improved outcomes for businesses.

In terms of opportunities for businesses in Pakistan, there are several ways we can take advantage of this trend. For instance, companies can use AI to optimize their operations and reduce costs, to create new products and services that leverage the power of AI. Since personalized customer experience is the new centre of modern marketing, AI can help businesses to better understand their customers and provide personalized experiences, which can lead to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Synergyzer: What are some practical applications of AI in software development, and how can Pakistani developers leverage these tools and techniques to build better software?

Javeria Fahad: AI is being used in many practical applications within software development, and Pakistani developers can certainly leverage these tools and techniques to create better software. From testing to quality assurance and automating testing processes and identifying potential bugs and issues before they become major problems, AI has numerous implications in software development.

Another practical application of AI in software development is in code analysis and optimization. AI tools can analyze large amounts of code and identify potential areas for optimization, leading to faster and more efficient software. This can be particularly useful for large and complex software projects. Finally, AI can be used to automate repetitive tasks and processes within software development, such as code formatting and documentation. This not only saves time but also reduces the likelihood of errors and inconsistencies.

In terms of leveraging these tools and techniques, Pakistani developers can start by exploring the various AI tools and frameworks that are available. Additionally, they can seek training and learning resources to learn more about AI and how it can be applied to software development. By staying up to date with the latest AI developments and techniques, Pakistani developers can build better software and stay competitive in the global market.

Synergyzer: How can AI be used to improve software quality, security, and scalability, and what impact can this have on the Pakistani tech industry?

Javeria Fahad: AI can be used in many ways to improve software quality, security, and scalability. This can have a significant impact on the Pakistani tech industry. In terms of software quality, AI can be used to identify potential bugs and issues early in the development process, allowing them to be addressed before they become major problems. This can lead to more reliable and stable software that is less likely to experience downtime or other issues.

AI can also be used to improve software security. For example, AI-powered tools can analyze code for potential vulnerabilities and suggest ways to mitigate them. Additionally, AI can monitor networks and detect potential security threats in real time, allowing for a faster response to security incidents.

The impact of AI on the Pakistani tech industry could be massive. By leveraging the power of AI to improve software quality, security, and scalability, Pakistani tech companies can build more competitive and reliable software solutions. This could help to attract more business and investment to the Pakistani IT and tech industry, leading to growth and job creation. Additionally, as the use of AI becomes more widespread, there could be opportunities for Pakistani developers and tech companies to develop and market their own AI-powered software solutions.

Synergyzer: How do you see AI impacting the marketing landscape in Pakistan, and what opportunities and challenges do you foresee in the near future?

Javeria Fahad: In terms of opportunities, I foresee personalization, improved customer experience, and cost savings, and businesses that adopt AI in their marketing strategy can gain a competitive advantage by delivering more effective and personalized marketing messages to their target audience. AI is transforming the retail industry across the globe. The success stories of H&M and Zara stand as strong cases. They are leveraging metaverse and AI to help create a more personalized and immersive shopping experience for their customers. For example, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) can be used to create interactive product displays, while AI-powered chatbots can provide personalized recommendations and assistance to customers.

The retail sector utilizes AI to analyze customer data and consumer behaviour to create effective targeted and strategically aligned marketing campaigns. The metaverse can provide a platform for immersive advertising and product placement. Through automating tasks such as inventory management and supply chain optimization, the retail industry can increase efficiency and productivity, allowing retailers to operate more efficiently and reduce costs.

AI can be used to analyze sales data and predict future demand, allowing retailers to optimize their inventory levels and reduce waste. The metaverse can also provide a platform for virtual inventory management, allowing retailers to showcase and sell products that are not physically available in their stores. As businesses collect more data pertaining to their customers, there are inevitable concerns about data privacy and how this data is being (mis)used. There is a shortage of skilled AI professionals in Pakistan, which can make it difficult for businesses to adopt AI in their marketing strategy.

Pakistan also faces many challenges due to brain drain, leading to a negative impact on the country’s economic growth, which stands as a potential obstacle in terms of adopting tech trends and digital tools. Integrating AI with existing marketing technology can be challenging and requires immense amounts of investment. And AI algorithms can be biased if the data used to train them is biased, resulting in unfair and discriminatory outcomes.

Synergyzer: In your experience, what are some practical applications of AI in marketing that you think can benefit businesses in Pakistan?

Javeria Fahad: The opportunities are endless; from image and video recognition to social media monitoring, recommendation engines, content optimization, fraud detection, voice assistants, customer segmentation, predictive analytics, personalized marketing messages, chatbots, Ad targeting, price optimization, and so much more. AI can help businesses to maximize their revenue and profit margins.

Synergyzer: How can businesses in Pakistan use AI to enhance customer experience, and what are some examples of this in practice?

Javeria Fahad: AI-powered chatbots can interact with customers in real-time and provide them with personalized assistance. This can help to improve customer satisfaction by providing quick and accurate responses to customer queries and concerns. You can analyze customer data to provide insights into customer behaviour and preferences. Businesses can anticipate customer needs and tailor their offerings, accordingly, leading to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Other than this, AI-powered voice recognition technology can help to improve customer service by allowing customers to interact with businesses using their voice. In customer support, AI can automate many customer support tasks, such as ticket routing and handling simple queries. This can help to reduce wait times and improve the overall customer experience.

Synergyzer: What are some common misconceptions about AI in marketing, and how do you address these with stakeholders?

Javeria Fahad:

  • AI is a magic solution that can solve all marketing problems: Many people believe that AI can solve all their marketing problems instantly. However, AI is not a one-size-fits-all solution, and it requires proper implementation and maintenance.
  • AI can replace human marketers: While AI can automate some tasks, it cannot replace the creativity, empathy, and strategic thinking that human marketers bring to the table.
  • AI is infallible and unbiased: AI algorithms are only as unbiased as the data they are trained on, and they can reinforce existing biases if not designed and used properly.
  • AI is too complex and expensive for small businesses: While implementing AI may require some initial investment, there are many affordable and accessible AI tools that can benefit small businesses.
  • AI will eliminate jobs in the marketing industry: While AI can automate certain tasks, it also creates new opportunities and demands for skilled workers who can understand and use it effectively.
  • AI can guarantee success: AI can help marketers make better decisions, but success still depends on a variety of factors, including market trends, consumer behaviour, and competition.
  • AI is only for tech-savvy marketers: AI is becoming more user-friendly and accessible, and marketers do not need to be experts in programming to use it effectively.

Synergyzer: What skills and expertise do you think are essential for marketing professionals to effectively incorporate AI into their strategies and campaigns?

Javeria Fahad: Marketing professionals who want to leverage AI to its full potential should have strong data analysis skills, technical knowledge of AI development and capabilities, creativity in developing AI-powered campaigns, adaptability to stay up to date with the latest AI technology, and the ability to collaborate with data scientists and technical professionals. By possessing these skills, marketing professionals can effectively use AI to analyze large amounts of data, gain valuable insights, and provide personalized experiences to customers, leading to better decision-making, improved customer engagement, and increased ROI.

Synergyzer: What role do you see AI playing in the future of the marketing and business industry in Pakistan, and how do you think businesses can prepare for this shift?

Javeria Fahad: We can leverage AI in marketing to provide personalized experiences, automate customer service through chatbots, use predictive analytics to make data-driven decisions, analyze customer sentiment through image and speech recognition, and create targeted content. AI can help businesses gain valuable insights into customer behaviour and preferences, resulting in informed decision-making, improved customer engagement, and increased ROI. As AI technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more innovative use cases emerge in marketing.

Synergyzer: What role do you see AI playing in the future of the software industry in Pakistan, and what steps can businesses take to prepare for this shift?

Javeria Fahad: I believe that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will revolutionize the software industry in Pakistan. AI-powered automation can streamline business processes, reduce manual errors, and increase efficiency, enabling businesses to reduce costs and improve their bottom line. Moreover, AI can be leveraged to develop intelligent applications that can learn and adapt to user behaviour, preferences, and needs. This can help businesses to provide personalized and tailored services to their customers, enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty.

To stay ahead of the curve, businesses in Pakistan should invest in AI-related technologies and talent. There is a need to focus on building a data-driven culture and collecting relevant data to develop and train AI algorithms. Additionally, it is important to develop a clear strategy for integrating AI into their operations to leverage its full potential. At Systems Limited, we are already harnessing the power of AI to develop innovative solutions that address the needs of our clients. By using AI, we have been able to provide our clients with enhanced business insights, improved operational efficiency, and increased customer satisfaction.