Debunking common misconceptions about AI in business
Table of Contents
By: Thomas Broderick, Edited by: Rebecca Munday
Published: April 22, 2025
In 2022, AI entered the public consciousness with the release of DALL-E, ChatGPT, and other software suites. The advancements led to many misconceptions and AI myths, such as that chatbots have a soul or AI will make humans obsolete. These myths led many business executives to predict a near future when AI, not people, would perform the majority of professions.
Explore some of the most common AI myths and discover the technology's potential impact on the workforce.
AI, machine learning, and deep learning are all the same thing
Many AI terms sound interchangeable, especially to people without a background in computer science or data science. However, key differences exist between what industry leaders call AI, machine learning, and deep learning. Knowing how these and other terms relate can help you gain better insights into AI's potential impact on business.
Most people interact with AI by speaking to their smartphone's voice assistant or using a customer service chatbot. Although sometimes impressive, these forms of AI lack true intelligence or consciousness. Instead, machine and deep learning let AI understand natural speech and answer simple questions.
What is AI?
AI, also known as artificial intelligence, refers to a computer system that can mimic human intelligence. Researchers in this field hope to create artificial general intelligence (AGI), an AI system that can learn and act independently of programmer inputs.
What is machine learning?
Machine learning is one way AI researchers can program AI. AI software uses human-developed algorithms to review data and find answers that align with user queries. Most simple AI systems use machine learning as their foundation.
What is deep learning?
Deep learning builds on machine learning fundamentals. Instead of algorithms, artificial neural networks resembling the human brain allow AI to make predictions and find patterns like people do. Researchers hope that breakthroughs in deep learning will lead to AGI.
AI will make human labor obsolete
Goldman Sachs projects that AI may impact 300 million jobs worldwide in the coming years. However, not all of these impacts may lead to job losses, as AI can make workers more efficient at the tasks people perform better than AI alone. As a result, AI will not make all human labor obsolete.
Rather than replace workers, companies can empower their workforces with human-centered AI. This term refers to a philosophy of putting people first when developing AI applications. Human-centered AI systems can:
- Provide workers with new tools
- Increase productivity
- Offer valuable services to consumers
AI systems are "black boxes" or impossible to understand
One persistent AI myth is that not even AI developers understand how these systems operate. This misconception promotes the idea that AI may soon gain self-awareness and run amok. However, machine and deep learning fundamentals drive all AI processes, making AI much less complex than most people assume.
At its core, AI uses advanced algorithms and networks to produce human-like text and speech. AI learns to perform these tasks by reviewing large amounts of data. However, as it exists now, AI cannot operate outside its programming.
Learn more about how AI works by taking an edX program or course.
AI is approaching human intelligence
In 2011, IBM's Watson AI shocked the world by beating the two best Jeopardy! champions in the game's history. However, like its successor, ChatGPT, Watson did not have anything close to AGI.
A holy grail of AI research, AGI refers to an AI system that can learn, reason, and act just like a human being. The term does not imply true consciousness, just perfect mimicry. However, if achieved, this breakthrough could lead to businesses replacing human workers with AI software en masse.
Some industry leaders claim that AI's current abilities meet the standard for AGI. However, without a single definition for human intelligence, researchers cannot accurately say whether AI has caught up to or surpassed human intelligence. The many types of AI also make developing a single definition of AGI more challenging.
AI will only replace mundane jobs
You may have heard the myth that AI will replace only simple or mundane jobs. Yes, AI may reduce the need for some workers, such as customer service representatives and salespeople. These roles feature many repetitive tasks that AI can already accomplish.
AI advances may also reduce the need for entry-level computer programmers. However, the widespread adoption of AI throughout the tech industry could increase the demand for human database administrators. In other words, AI may replace some jobs while increasing demand in others or creating new ones.
You can gauge AI's potential impact on the job market by researching the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) job growth projections for different careers.
| Career | Projected job growth |
|---|---|
| Accountant | +6% |
| Computer programmer | -10% |
| Customer service representative | -5% |
| Database administrator | +8% |
| Retail sales worker | +0% |
Businesses don't need AI strategies
Even if you work in a technical job, you may believe the AI myth that it will not impact all businesses. Although no one can predict the future, adopting AI strategies can insulate your company or organization against any sudden impacts AI may have on your field. It can also help you contend with competitors who implement AI in their businesses.
No matter your professional role, you can start your journey by learning AI fundamentals. Doing so can help you develop ethical AI policies for your employees, customers, and other stakeholders. Other benefits include practicing with AI systems and finding those that align best with your company's needs.