Artificial intelligence for micro-entrepreneurs - opportunities, challenges and humanity
On December 5 and 6, 2024, the IAGF took part in the 4th International Conference on AI Research (ICAIR) in Lisbon. The conference, hosted by the Universidade Lusófona, brought together international experts to discuss the latest developments and challenges in the field of artificial intelligence (AI).
In her presentation on "Balancing AI in SMEs: Overcoming Psychological Barriers and Preserving Critical Thinking", Dr. Madeleine Block presented an integrative model for the introduction of AI in SMEs that shows how psychological barriers can be overcome and employee motivation strengthened. One important finding: productivity often drops in the short term during the introduction before it increases again thanks to positive experiences and targeted support. Dr. Block particularly emphasized the importance of critical thinking in order to avoid the so-called "lay-back effect" - a passive acceptance of AI results.
AI offers SMEs great opportunities, such as more efficient processes and personalized customer solutions. At the same time, humanity remains crucial: personal customer loyalty and creative problem-solving make all the difference. In interdisciplinary teams or through regular meetings, employees can scrutinize AI results and develop innovative approaches together. AI thus becomes a partner that complements human thinking rather than replacing it.
