Exploring the Pros and Cons of New Technology and AI

With technology moving faster than ever, the recent progress of artificial intelligence (AI) has everyone talking. And rightfully so—it’s an exciting advancement that will bring efficiencies to workflows, asset creation, and business‌. Just look at how much AI has grown in the past month, even the past week! We are on the precipice of huge strides in how we develop, deliver, and deduce data, but as quick as we are to adapt, we need to be vetting these technologies for safety and security.

In fact, at Fidelity, we currently have a company-wide ban on AI.

AI is an undeniably innovative advancement for business, but until we as a company firmly understand and vet the security of these programs, we cannot, in good faith, use them for our company and clients. As programs such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Bard gain traction, it is crucial for us to know that the security and the kinks have been taken care of before utilizing it for business, especially in the title insurance and real estate industry where I am dealing with sensitive financial information from many parties. 

I find myself in a similar place as Fidelity. As a Millennial, I am no stranger to tech advancement—I’ve seen it all from the Nokia “brick” phone to the first iPhone, which was and still is a literal computer in the palm of your hand! I am intrigued, yet cautious of these new technologies. As FNT East’s Director of Sales, I am always looking for growth opportunities and technology affords many of them, but I am also looking for balance. Balancing the benefit of new tech while maintaining the personal touch and relationship with my clients. There is importance in human connection, especially in sales, and I strive to make a concerted effort for balance between technology and real, human interaction and connection.

When I moved to Jacksonville, I gained a better understanding of this balance. I began utilizing technology—social media to be more specific—to be “omnipresent” to my clients. I interact with clients’ content on Instagram, staying current on their latest shares and updates, while Facebook helps to remind me of upcoming birthdays and I make a note to send personalized celebrations. I also share my own content to establish a genuine presence in their lives as well. All of this technology has helped me reach out and create connections on a deeper, more human level. 

I won’t deny that technology does not play a significant role in our sales process and allows for efficiency, which, if you know me, is something I am very passionate about, but I will always err on the side of cautious optimism before fully adopting new programs of technology. I have heard of too many instances where companies have rushed to adopt new technologies without fully understanding the consequences and their hasty adoption has led to unforeseen issues and compromised user experiences. So, while it might seem “old fashioned” a cautious approach is not just necessary, it’s business savvy.