Essay-The Growing Impact of AI on Corporations

More and more corporations are suffering hits from AI like ChatGPT. Chegg, a site providing answers to quizzes, has slumped 99% in the past four years (partly because of the pandemic). Stack Overflow, an IT forum focusing on problem-solving, also inflicted a 1/2 fall in 2 years. 

More and more corporations are facing challenges due to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. For instance, Chegg, a platform known for providing answers to quizzes, has seen its value plummet by 99% over the past four years, partly due to the pandemic. Similarly, Stack Overflow, an IT forum focused on problem-solving, has experienced a 50% decline in activity within two years.

 Some are mainly victims and their defeats should be celebrated. Chegg is infamous for enabling students to just copy answers for their homework. It was widely criticized, but the demand still propped it. Then ChatGPT, which answers quicker, more detailed, and is almost free, appears, and Chegg-like business is nearly smashed. Compared with just copying, students now need to learn how to prompt the , and organize as well as check the answer in case AI hallucinates. These procedures can help students develop skills for adapting to the gen-AI age while finishing their work. They can also push teachers to reform their ways of teaching.

 Some companies, like Chegg, are arguably deserving of their downfall. Chegg has long been criticized for enabling students to simply copy answers for their homework, undermining genuine learning. Despite this, it remained in demand until the advent of ChatGPT, which provides quicker, more detailed answers for free. With ChatGPT, students are now required to learn how to craft effective prompts, organize information, and verify responses to avoid AI-generated errors. These processes not only help students complete their work but also cultivate essential skills for thriving in the AI-driven era. Furthermore, they compel educators to rethink and reform traditional teaching methods.

 Cases like Stack Overflow are more complex. Programmers are using more and more code-writing assistants like Copilot instead of the forums to write code and debug. But the forums are also indispensable. It constructs an atmosphere for team share. With the help of functions like comments and ratings, forums help the best answers stand out and form a community of experts and users with high quality and trust, which is invaluable under the misinformation of genAI. What’s more, forums like Stack Overflow themselves are crucial sources for AI. The existence of the forums is directly related to the future of GenAI.

 The situation with Stack Overflow is more nuanced. Many programmers now rely on AI-powered tools like Copilot for writing and debugging code, reducing their dependence on forums. However, forums remain indispensable. They foster a collaborative environment where users share knowledge and expertise. Features like comments and ratings help highlight the best answers, creating a trusted community—a critical asset in an era rife with AI-generated misinformation. Moreover, forums like Stack Overflow are valuable resources for AI training. Their survival is intrinsically linked to the future development of generative AI itself.

Corps need to adapt. Similar to the past technology revolutions like mobile, net, and cloud, GenAI doesn’t give direct conclusions. Companies need to adapt, innovate, and strengthen their strong points. Take Stack Overflow for example, they are cooperating with AI companies for data access to build synergies. Forums are making themselves partners, instead of victims, of AI. Duolingo, a language learning app, unveiled video chat features with AI-generated characters in September, which made investors swoon. It used AI to strengthen its focus selling point: happy learning, instead competed with AI on basic learning tasks. Companies shuddering before AI should take their lessons.

Corporations must adapt to these shifts. Like previous technological revolutions—such as mobile, the internet, and cloud computing—the rise of generative AI demands innovation and strategic evolution. Companies must focus on their unique strengths rather than directly competing with AI. For example, Stack Overflow is collaborating with AI companies to leverage its data and build synergies. Rather than becoming obsolete, forums are positioning themselves as partners to AI. Similarly, Duolingo, a language learning app, introduced AI-generated video chat features in September, which delighted investors. By enhancing its core value—engaging and enjoyable learning—Duolingo demonstrated how companies can harness AI to complement their offerings rather than compete with it.

The lesson is clear: businesses intimidated by AI must embrace adaptability and innovation. Success lies in leveraging AI as an ally while strengthening their unique value propositions.