I am just launching: it feels like ages ago

How much AI should anyone use?

Like any practice, neglect takes you back a few steps. On the other hand, a new tool, a new practice like the use of AI, has a learning curve. The practice coming out of the learning engagement should not be limited to the tool only. Just like learning how to write letters and words serves layers of communication needs, AI’s reach is in its infancy. We are all experiencing a technology that evolves as we ride its learning curve.

Have you ever wondered what AI can do for you? Or what AI can do to you?

Each of the letters and numbers on this board was made with prompts that differed only slightly from one another. For each image generation process, I usually got four variations.

My curiosity takes me through various streams of engagement. I have been exploring AI tools while listening to other sources debating this evolving technology. As exciting as the prospects for the use of AI are, the risks to humanity are even more tangible. Can I assure you that there is nothing to worry about? What are you afraid of? As I am writing this, I have no idea.  The screenwriters’ strike in Hollywood is an interesting cautionary tale. More deadly even is the use of AI in warfare, such as the 2023 October war in Gaza. The use of AI is already in full steam, if anyone had any hopes it was just another bubble or a fad. So, My aim is to share a belief that taking the steps to learn and explore the tool, would benefit both you and society.

The prompt: “naive, child-like drawing of a kid holding a marker in his/her hand, horizontal line for ground, circle with lines around it for sun, other elements in childish expression”

If you are grappling with what AI can do for you, or even worry about its risks, take a moment to breathe, and consider the following steps.

• Talk with people. AI is not only a technical matter, but also a social and cultural one. By talking with people who have different perspectives and experiences, you can learn more about the benefits and drawbacks of AI, as well as the values and preferences of others. You can also share your own opinions and concerns, and engage in constructive dialogue.
• Ask questions. AI is a complex and dynamic phenomenon, and there is no simple or definitive answer to how much AI anyone should use. It is important to ask questions that can help you explore the implications and consequences of using AI. Is there a problem AI solves? How does AI affect me and others? What are the alternatives to AI? What are the trade-offs and costs of using AI? These and other questions are worth asking.
• Express your concerns. AI can raise some legitimate and valid concerns, such as the loss of human agency, the lack of transparency and accountability, and the potential for bias and discrimination. Don’t ignore or dismiss these concerns. Rather express them clearly and look for solutions. You can also seek information and evidence that can help you evaluate the validity and severity of these concerns. Articles in various publications, podcasts and discussion groups are useful channels for inquiry.
• Consider the benefits. AI can also offer some significant and positive benefits, such as the enhancement of human capabilities, the creation of new opportunities and possibilities, and the improvement of quality and efficiency. Avoid overlooking or underestimating these benefits. Find ways to appreciate and acknowledge them. You can also seek information and evidence that can help you assess the value and impact of these benefits, and look for ways to maximize or optimize them.

One of the interesting habits I notice in many of my conversations is the initial focus on concerns. You might not even notice you are doing it yourself. For me, when I hear “Yes, but…”, or “I don’t want to sound…”, the following is usually a description of what my counterpart wouldn’t want to do and what they are not.

Then I try to look at myself and ask “Am I doing the same thing?”

Making images of text is one of the most frustrating aspects of current processes. Whenever I get something correct, I keep it like a gift.

It doesn’t matter what the answer is. Even if I think I am not doing what I see in others, I take the opportunity to imagine myself doing it. This way, my thought experiment expands my inquiry. It allows me to free my concerns into better understanding.

Will the steps above promote an informed and balanced view of AI? I hope so. Let me know if you have other thoughts. You can also revisit and revise your view as new information and situations arise. Keeping an open and curious mind is free to all.

(continues below…)

I think I lost the prompt for this one, but it is obviously something with Steampunk in it.

My explorations of AI involve visuals and writing. I started writing this piece, then dropped it into Bing Chat, then reviewed the outcome and edited until I reached what you have just been reading. I also explore image making as a tool for immediate use, and also to learn what the image generator is capable of. Along with being in constant awe of what is possible, I also experience what is still missing. I don’t share the dismissive voices I notice here and there. What I hear most, is what AI can or can’t do. The issue that I hear less is what we are doing with the tool and how we can train to use it. It is mostly a personal journey. It is an opportunity, and as such, an exciting one.

A hands-on approach seems to be historically relevant. The automobile which became the car we use today went through massive changes from the time of its invention. The trails that were used before evolved into the roads and freeways we know today. Industries, regulations, and laws have been put in place in response to the car’s specific nature.

The prompt: “Close-up, low-density Wireframe 3D draft model of a White Shark, dark space, surrounded by spring fruits decorated porcelain cups and saucers, fog, dim light coming from below, passing through, soft contrast”

Only by using AI, will we be able to fully explore the implications it is bound to have on us. While generating images and putting ideas into words, I am still a long way before fully exploiting the power of AI. I am constantly investing more thought into questions such as the following:

• How do we address human rights, such as privacy, dignity, or autonomy with AI?
• Where could our social relationships, such as trust, empathy, or diversity go?
• What are our moral responsibilities, such as fairness, justice, or accountability while employing the tool?

In conclusion, the use of AI is already offering us many benefits and also poses some challenges and risks. I am trying not to blindly use AI. By exploring it, I see hands-on, what I might want to keep using it for. By talking with people, asking questions, expressing concerns, and considering benefits, I  hope to promote and nurture a more informed and balanced view of AI. I believe we all want to make thoughtful and responsible decisions. Dialogue and debate about AI, should be interesting, fun, and productive. Every day is a new opportunity for that.

The prompt: “messed up kids’ room with walls and cabinets all soiled, teenager shouting ‘WHO CARES'”. (The writing on the wall was slightly Photoshopped; the extra finger… does anyone really care?)