Chat GPT Mania: AI Introduction vs Intrusion
F1 is a highly dynamic, tech-intensive, political, and lucrative business. In many instances, it can be compared with the AI race for the purpose of this article only.
Apart from core hardware F1 tech, it involves all sorts of digital and software masterpieces involved in its operations: digital twinning, AI, cyber security, data analytics, predictive telemetry, etc.
Every time technical regulations change in F1 (on average every 4-5 years) it sets up a new environment for creativity in the constraints established by the regulator of the sport - FIA.
From that point, it is a race off the track. Race of thought leadership: engineers, team strategists, aerodynamics specialists, and ultimately pilots work as a super crew to design, simulate, test, and put the car on the track. When the car has been deployed into the season of racing, development at the factory carries on with continuous improvement iterations and with upcoming years and new regulations in mind.
In 2022, the current set of regulations was put in place and it has become a major challenge for F1 teams, including very experienced ones: Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes. For at least half of the season, cars have been suffering through the aerodynamic phenomenon called "porpoising" - cars bouncing in motion while the wheels stay grounded.
Despite all the tech put into the "new shiny toy" very experienced pilots physically struggled and it affected their health and performance. Also, it has proven the flaws of the high-tech equipment in real-track conditions.
AI transformation is not tech
Recent obsession around tools released to the AI market, especially Chat GPT, instigated many experts to irrevocably announce that AI is here and it is time to accept the new reality. Multiple discussions evolve around bald assumptions on immediate disruption and almost wreckage of certain practices in the sensitive areas such as law, healthcare, education etc.
Indeed, the new reality is here, and it is exciting. However, what is disturbing is that (using the F1 analogy) we lack responsible "human" pilots, "human strategists - ethicists" and "designers" to shape up organizations for the adoption.
As a result, we have a group of "shiny cars" released at someone's factory and pushed to the track these factories know little about. The track starts with layers and layers of people - process engineering and org design simulations allowing everyone to stress test the "new shiny toy".
Smoothing the "porpoising"
When the new car bounces off the track and hits the human pilot, damaging the equipment on the way and disrupting teams' strategies - it is not creating an enjoyable sports environment.
Chat GPT has multiple times bounced off several parts of the track: ethics, legal, cyber, risk, reputation, healthy employment market etc. Do we need to stop (or as they say "retire") the car and other similar cars to prepare them better for the long season or keep pushing until something or someone fails?
Do we need to bring the right composition of the team that can address the realities of the track, aerodynamics of ethics, and potential risks of the structural elements, and avoid highly probable failure to accurately and responsibly deploy the resources of the investors, sponsors, and the team itself?
In 2022 - 2023, some teams (Mercedes, Aston Martin) tried to "jump" into the season with a new "glossy Chat GP (t)" chassis and ultimately failed to fundamentally grasp the balance in the concept of the new tech adoption.
There were others (McLaren, Ferrari), who incrementally worked on the concept, allocated and hired great minds, established good practices, and believed in the longer, sustainable horizon and now they are the true riders of the adoption.
Starting with values, and people, designing the new ops model + process will create a great abundant environment of AI adoption. Be like McLaren and Ferrari.
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