AI, eh? I’ve heard some people say that it’s changed their lives, others who think it’s the devil incarnate and a certain section of society that don’t even have a clue what the two letters stand for (artificial intelligence, if you’re one of them).

But one thing’s for sure, AI – like football’s much-maligned VAR (Video Assistant Referee) technology – isn’t perfect, but it’s here to stay. I have to say the first time I’ve intentionally used ‘generative AI’ (getting a machine to create some copy) in my working life was about two minutes before writing these very words. I ‘asked’ ChatGPT to ‘Write a 300-word introduction for Fleet World magazine’. I have to be honest, there was no chance I was going to use what it came up with because a) It could potentially do me out of a job and b) It was sh… ort of the high standard that I pride myself on in this column (no comments, please, I know what you’re thinking!). Oh – and it produced just 288 words, as opposed to 300 I requested. First rule of a commission (stick to the brief): failed!

‘Welcome to Fleet World, where the pulse of the automotive and mobility industries beats with innovation, efficiency, and evolution’ was its opening gambit. I mean, it’s broadly correct, but without all the flowery language. I don’t even think like that, let alone write or talk like that! Also, this pedantic editor writes: industries don’t HAVE a pulse! (There’s also a bizarre mix of plural and singular in there, but that’s another matter).

But some of it was pretty convincing. ‘At Fleet World, our commitment to excellence is unwavering. We leverage our network of industry leaders, thought-provoking insights, and in-depth research to deliver content that goes beyond the surface, providing actionable intelligence that propels businesses forward,’ is pretty much the intention of this publication.

For fleets, I would say don’t be afraid of AI and future technologies, because they can help your business in different ways (as outlined in the pages of this magazine), even if they don’t get it right every time. However, I would approach with caution because every fleet is different, with specific requirements, plus human and tangible intricacies that no cloud-based computer system would be able to appreciate.

Enjoy the issue or, as ChatGPT put it: ‘Join us on this thrilling journey as we unravel the mysteries… etc, etc, etc’.

John Challen Editor