There are many reasons, experts say, to worry about artificial intelligence (AI): It can take over jobs and steal people’s likenesses and voices to create potentially misleading video and sound clips. A recent report by a US think tank has found that AI can even be used to plan bioweapon attacks, and three European bodies have put out a statement asking the EU to regulate the technology before it is used to undermine democracy. For the ordinary office worker, however, plagued by unrealistic deadlines and an anxiety-inducing stack of unread emails, all of the above doomsday scenarios may be cancelled out by the news that AI can attend virtual meetings on their behalf.
In the nine-to-five, and more, office grind, few things are as unpopular as the mandatory meeting where much is said and little is achieved. Which is why the announcement by companies like Google and Microsoft, that their new AI assistants can take the place of humans in meetings, comes as a promise — not just for reluctant participants, but also for the organisers of these meetings. Unlike a human worker, AI will turn up on time, not derail discussions with segues and monologues; it will keep diligent notes and provide a summary at the end. AI can also be used to enforce meeting etiquette — as some companies are reportedly now doing in the US, “meeting bots” can be programmed to point out when some participants are dominating discussions or interrupting others.
Despite the rapid pace of development, though, humans will have to continue braving ennui and burnt coffee at physical meetings for a while yet. If there is any truth to what the Cassandras of technology have been predicting, the day is not far when AI will take over the planet. Before that, could it please take over all the meetings?
