In-class Activity No. 1

Austin TaskPro Solutions LLC is located in Austin, TX. The company has a medium-sized office space with a warm, collaborative atmosphere. It has 9 employees, a mix of full-time and part-time workers who have been with the company for years. They are often seen assisting each other. And there is a strong sense of community among them.

The Workforce:

The employees at TaskPro are skilled in tasks such as basic accounting, legal advice, data entry, graphic design, market research, and customer support. They pride themselves on accuracy and efficiency. Most of the work they do is repetitive and follows a set of well-defined procedures.

The Services:

TaskPro offers services such as basic bookkeeping, legal document preparation, routine data entry and analysis, creating basic market reports and presentations, updating company websites, and handling customer inquiries. They have built a reputation for reliability and have a loyal customer base. In fact, during 2022, they had served 17 local customers and 45 online customers. However, their last tally suggests that, despite a strong local economy, the demand for their services has declined during 2023.

The Challenge:

With the emergence and increasing popularity of generative artificial intelligence, TaskPro faces a significant challenge. These advanced AI systems are capable of automating many of the services that TaskPro offers. For instance:

1. Generative AI can efficiently handle routine bookkeeping as well as data entry and analysis. It is also extremely useful in basic report generation.
2. Similarly, generative AI can also be used to prepare basic legal documents.
3. Generative AI can efficiently handle graphic design, often with creative outputs beyond the capabilities of TaskPro's employees.
4. Similarly, generative AI can also be used for coding a company website and updating it when needed.
5. Finally, customer support can be revolutionized with AI chatbots, which can handle inquiries around the clock without human intervention.

The Impact:

TaskPro started to feel the impact of generative AI on its business as their clients began exploring their AI options in 2023. In fact,  as noted above, they already notice a gradual decrease in demand for their services. The management and employees have become seriously concerned about the future of their jobs and the viability of the business model.

Question:

How do you think they should respond to the declining demand and the challenges that generative AI introduces to their business model?