Artificial intelligence is on everyone's lips: In recent weeks and months, there have been almost daily articles in the press, media and social networks about artificial intelligence (AI) and ChatGPT in particular.
What does this mean for Schunk?
AI has gained importance in many industries. We at Schunk are also dealing with AI in digital product development, for example in the context of the intelligent pantograph Schunk OnTrack in the Business Unit Transit Systems. With Schunk OnTrack, we will be able to identify anomalies in the catenary of rail vehicles.
Another use case is the use of chatbots, which are being used more and more in private and increasingly also in professional environments. A chatbot is software that is able to receive text messages and respond to them in an automated manner. One of the most advanced chatbots is ChatGPT. ChatGPT can understand and produce natural language and use it to simulate conversations with humans. Its range of potential applications is very broad. The chatbot can make work more efficient especially where text or speech data is available. For example, in research work or in customer interaction.
ChatGPT is not a panacea and its use is subject to certain limitations and risks. Also, ChatGPT responses are not always correct!
It is therefore important that we at Schunk handle the use of ChatGPT responsibly. We must ensure that we do not make confidential company data available to an artificial intelligence, and if we do, then only via secure channels approved by IT.
For this reason, ChatGPT's public-facing website will be released to employees on an as-needed basis upon request, after ensuring that existing privacy and information security policies are noted and applied. Personal information is not to be provided to ChatGPT or any other AI under any circumstances.
At the same time, an internal working group headed by Dr. Alireza Tavakoli with colleagues from the holding company and the BUs is beginning to look at the possible applications and opportunities as well as risks of ChatGPT and the artificial intelligence behind it for Schunk.
The goal is to develop further technical and organizational support for the use of ChatGPT in the Schunk Group in the next three months.
Like many innovations, AI offers opportunities, but also risks. There is a lot for all of us to learn on this topic. At Schunk, we want to ensure that we take advantage of the opportunities offered by AI and use them for our company. At the same time, we want to minimize the risks and ensure that no disadvantages arise for our company from the ill-considered use of AI.