Empower AI as Humans, with Documentation
Today is a case for documentation! Hang tight, and discover why it’s going to matter so much more than you imagine for your AI.
Documentation Is For Humans
Consider two individuals, A and B, in different scenarios:
Scenario 1: A and B are software engineers, both with the same raw skills, and both looking to add a feature to the same software. However, A has access to documented code – for example, comments are present in the code itself – while B only sees the code without any comments. Who will be more efficient at creating the new feature?
Scenario 2: A and B are marketers joining a new company, both with the same raw skills, and both tasked with creating messaging for a new campaign. However, A has access to brand and messaging guidelines, historical campaigns launched, and more, while B isn’t provided with any of that information. Who will provide the best on-brand campaign messaging?
In both scenarios, A has a clear edge. With similar skill sets, B stands no chance to perform as well as A.
Yet, We Don’t Like Documenting
Our first behavior when we don’t have the answer to a problem is to look for a place containing that information:
We often use the open web for support with general information.
However, only internal company systems will have business-related information and context.
Limited access to documentation will lead to interpretation, time waste, mistakes, etc.
And yet, it’s in our nature to try to save time, leading to engineers not commenting their code or marketers not consolidating guidelines.
Documentation is for AI
So far, documentation has been prepared for human beings. Computers follow instructions, but they can’t read documentation.
Here's the breaking news: this is going to change!
With the development of GenAI, your documentation won’t just benefit you and your team directly. It will also benefit your AI. The better the documentation, the more context, the better the AI, just like you as a human.
When you hear again, "AI is only as good as the data," keep in mind the invaluable context provided in different forms of documentation such as metadata around your marketing campaigns or comments in your code.
🔑 Start documenting today. Add comments, context, descriptions, clear labels, etc. Today, your team will thank you. Tomorrow, your AI will thank you, your company will thank you. You will gain a unique competitive edge.