Generative AI has gained in popularity over the last few years. People use it to write code, create automated workflows, and write papers for school.
Since AI has gained in popularity, you may wonder if you need a virtual assistant. When you compare the fact that AI can work none stop and doesn’t make a many mistakes, using AI makes sense. There is one major benefit to having virtual assistant: we have life experiences that help us empathize and be creative.
AI doesn’t have empathy
PsychologyToday.com describes empathy as, “The ability to recognize, understand, and share the thoughts and feelings of another person…” It’s the reason you get sad when a friend is going through a rough time or feel happy when someone you care about receives good news.
How it helps you
Imagine you have an unsatisfied client and they want to meet with you to complain but your calendar is booked and busy, which does not make them happy. Enter your empathetic virtual assistant.
Your VA imagines herself in both your and the client’s shoes to remedy the problem. First they contact the client and let them know they understand how frustrating it is when it seems like someone can’t/won’t make time for you. This helps settle the client because they feel someone is listening to them. Because your VA knows how important the client is to your business, they work their calendar magic and are able to find time to schedule the meeting. The client is happy and you’re happy.
AI is limited in creativity
AI is a lot of things but being creative isn’t one of them. Because AI is “trained” it can only provide you results on a limited number of things. For example, I tried using AI to create a meal plan using specific parameters and it kept giving the same result no matter how much I tweaked the prompt.
Humans by nature are constantly experiencing new things. We try new foods, go to different places, see a new type of flower, etc. These new experiences help expand how we think which improves creativity.
How it helps you
In a previous life I was a photographer. I like to see how light interacts with objects and also see how changing my perspective changes the picture.
Imagine you are a cake decorator and you can never seem to get the perfect picture of your cakes. The angle is too high and the light is too flat. Because of my experience with photography I can offer a new perspective (pun intended) on how you can best take the pictures.
The result is amazing images for your advertising needs and you become the next Cake Boss.
Final Thoughts
I can already hear people saying, “well AI can find space in a schedule and compile tips on how to take amazing pictures of cake,” and yes, that may be true, but there’s a human element that’s missing. AI can find the space in the schedule but can’t make a dissatisfied client feel seen. AI can provide tips on photography, but can’t encourage and give real time feedback.
At the end of the day we’re human and want some type of connection. We want to know our feelings are valid and that our lived experiences helped to create something amazing. Does AI have its place, yes, but should it replace the human element, no.