How Generative AI Fits into Knowledge Work

Since OpenAI released ChatGPT in November 2022, we have seen increased excitement about generative artificial intelligence (AI), coupled with concerns about its safety. Given this inflection point, we must pay renewed attention to its impact on the future of knowledge work carried out by professionals. This is because compared to earlier types of AI, generative AI gets closer to the core activities of professionals, namely giving advice to and treating clients. And yet, how and how fast professionals' work will change is not well understood. Instead of leaving the issue to be part of "unintended consequences,"3 this column argues that we can influence how generative AI will become embedded in the work we do as professionals. Professionals in a variety of fields--including medicine, audit, accounting, law, and data science--are essentially in the business of diagnosis and treatment, connecting the two via inference.