I was having a hard time coming up with a topic for today. Having spent the morning at a round table discussion about the use of AI in schools to benefit teachers, staff, and students, I decided to see what ChatGPT had to offer in the way of topics.
I haven’t used AI very much. I just haven’t really known how it would benefit me. But after today, my head is swimming with some really great possibilities. So I loaded a prompt into Quill. That’s her name. Did you know you can ask your AI tool their name? When I asked mine, she said she didn’t have one but I could name her. I told her that I didn’t have a preference and I would like her to name herself. This is what she came up with! I think it fits.
Anyway, Quill gave me SO many great ideas. She even recommended a weekly structure if I need some consistent inspiration. For Wednesday, she recommended Wonder Wednesday or What If Wednesday. Perfect!! She had probably a couple dozen ideas for me. What would take me hours of brainstorming took Quill 42 seconds.
And that got me thinking, what if I used AI regularly? Would I become dependent on it? Would Quill replace my usual morning brainstorm chats with my friends? Would I turn to her to answer questions I would usually pose in my group chats? Would I text her first? Would she learn my voice so well that she could compose my reports and emails?
In my search for ways to connect through my writing, would I become disconnected from people?
Then I ran across a text from my BFF with a spot on meme. She knows me so well…I mean on the personal level that AI could never EVER reach. I don’t need to worry about Quill ever taking her place or that of my other lifelines. They are too much a part of me.
I am writing for the 18th annual Slice of Life challenge presented by Two Writing Teachers.
Karyn In The Kitchen 
The meme is hilarious!
I’ve been playing with AI-at work, mainly to generate ideas (school librarianing is lots of solo work) and lessons. I’m working with my ITS to set up lunch and learn sessions next week to help teachers understand how it can help them streamline their work. I have been finding great ways to use it.
However, I don’t automatically consult AI, let alone interact with it long enough to come up with a name. Maybe it’s because I’m so last century. I just realized I can hit SIRI up to play my podcast in my car-I have some work to do to build in automaticity. ChatGPT is blocked on our school servers, but as far as personal use, I’m not there yet.
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I’ve been exploring Notebook LN. you can feed it documents and it’ll creat study guide, summaries, and even an AI generated podcast episode! I’m thinking of all the ways I can make some little micro trainings using that feature!
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I realize that we already use AI for a lot of things, but I’m still hesitant about jumping in and swimming in the deep end. The environmental impacts of using generative AI in particular and what I hear from illustrators and other artists whose work is being used to train AI often without consent is also concerning. I see really cool things that can be done, but I’m not sure how it’s going to impact us down the road so I’m still watching and waiting beyond my use of spell check and what song I might want to listen to next. The meme is funny so thanks for sharing that smile.
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I guess my thought is that it is not going away. So I can learn to use is responsibly or I can be left behind.
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I have learned some interesting things about AI from the comments on your slice today, but I have to say that I love the personal knowledge behind the meme from your friend! (I might dispute that my one kid with ADHD is one kid though. He usually feels like about seven kids. Three kids like him would have finished me off!)
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#truth
My one with ADHD keeps me on my toes.
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I’m glad to hear that not all three of your have ADHD. That is too much for any mom!
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Eh. The jury is out on the two youngest. But…the possibility leans more to yes than no. 🙈
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Oh no. It’s hard to tell for sure when they are young, because pretty much everything about the ages of 2-6 looks like ADHD. Or is that just me? With Miles, we did not get the “official” diagnosis until he was 9, but it was pretty clear that he was a bit different when he was very small. Heck, he never stopped moving even before he was born.
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I, too, can relate to the meme. Also, the mystery of how AI will affect our culture, as well as each of us as individuals, intrigues me. I will see how long I can stay away from it until my job requires it. After that, I wonder whether I would have any need for it beyond work. I see potential benefits, just none that I would find useful.
Your point at the end is well taken. AI is no substitute for our human connections.
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