What is Artificial Intelligence? | Free Weekly Webinar Series for Aspiring Virtual Assistants

The webinar is initiated by Blessy, a social media manager at V Philippines, and co-host Glenna, head of recruitment. They greet the participants, emphasize the importance of AI, and mention the generosity of their boss in offering free educational sessions to become a virtual assistant, addressing both beginners and experienced individuals.

Glenna elaborates on the history of V, an outsourcing agency founded in Israel, which expanded globally. It emphasizes the agency's commitment to matching clients' needs with experienced virtual assistants. Additionally, she introduces the webinar's house rules, including the importance of kindness and the procedure for participation.

Blessy introduces the speaker, Jesus Repto Manaka, an expert in digital marketing and business administration. Manaka, a lecturer with extensive training and contributions, aims to impart valuable insights on the basics of artificial intelligence (AI). The webinar seeks to provide practical use cases for virtual assistants.

Manaka begins by asking participants how they use AI in their daily tasks, highlighting its various applications like automation, grammar checking, and content creation. The discussion points to the growing reliance on AI for tasks that require automation.

Manaka explains AI as a simulation of intelligence processes by machines. He describes AI’s need for computer systems and how it improves machine capabilities to perform tasks typical of intelligent beings. Manaka mentions the role of Geoffrey Hinton, the "Godfather of AI," and his warning about AI's potential to surpass human intelligence.

Manaka discusses how AI works through input processing, outcomes, and continuous learning. He gives examples like Google’s voice search and CAPTCHA for traffic lights, illustrating AI’s adaptability through learning from user corrections and interactions.

He provides insight into AI's practical advantages, especially in reducing human error, facilitating faster decisions, being available 24/7, and automating repetitive tasks. He acknowledges AI's role in helping mitigate risks and effectively assisting digitally, like in emails and scheduling.

Manaka highlights AI's advantages in marketing and decision-making due to its ability to process large amounts of data with unbiased algorithms. It leads to cost reduction through efficiency and provides digital assistance for business processes, enhancing productivity and strategic capability.

Challenges of AI include potential job displacement, inhibiting creativity, and lacking emotional bond or transparency. Despite its data-driven nature, AI can lead to redundancy and require updated devices to function optimally, which may incur additional costs.

He emphasizes ethical concerns with AI, such as data privacy and the balancing act of utilizing AI without compromising authentic human creativity. There's an international standard (ISO/IEC 42001) aimed at creating AI management system guidelines to responsibly integrate AI into workplaces.

Manaka touches on responsible AI use for education, data analysis, and administrative tasks, underscoring its role in enhancing, not replacing, human effort. He cautions against using AI for unethical practices or bypassing privacy settings, urging users to be mindful.

He showcases AI tools for various purposes, like Grammarly for writing assistance and ChatGPT for generating ideas, demonstrating AI's role in streamlining tasks but reminding users to critically engage with outputs to maintain originality and understanding.

Manaka discusses how AI tools, such as ChatGPT, can prepare documents and presentations efficiently but stresses the importance of not solely relying on AI as a substitute for hard work or learning. This aligns with fostering critical thinking and personal development.

He demonstrates using AI tools like LinkedIn's job features for enhanced productivity, illustrating AI's integration into professional platforms while emphasizing the correct and ethical application of these tools to support, not replace, human input.

The session ends with a note on AI's safe usage, with Manaka advising to be cautious and uphold ethical standards. He demonstrates tools to ensure proper AI use without compromising on personal skills development, reiterating the balance between leveraging AI and preserving human input quality.

Participants are encouraged to ask questions and engage with the content responsibly. Manaka and the hosts invite participants to further explore AI's potential and challenges, ensuring a collaborative and informed approach to embracing AI in varying fields.