I am very aware of the possibilities of the future of AI. Artificial intelligence is an ever-changing, scary endeavor. But here’s the thing: I cannot stop the race or add to the conversation. (Except for here, of course.) Like with so much of life, competition is what controls the momentum. Every tech giant, and every tech little man, is vying for the next new thing. It’s human nature. Of course, I’m concerned. Like so many, I’m scared for my grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Like the huge majority of us, I feel overwhelmed and incapable. I couldn’t hit the STOP button for fear of nuking something or someone. You’ve heard the saying, “If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em”? Well, I have joined. Everything I know about AI comes from reading anything I can get my hands on, the news, and my own experiences with “agents.” Time magazine and the news terrify me. Seriously. Terrify is the word. My experience, on the other hand, has been redeeming. My Microsoft “agent” helps me create beautiful covers for the guides that I write to go along with my classes. I have basically said, “let me do the thinking. You can help draw, correct, or make suggestions.” That’s it. The work is mine. Always. The ideas are mine. Always. The covers begin with a photo and written idea of what’s in my mind. Always.
To begin, I’m getting tell my agent what I want, and it creates whatever it interprets. I start over. This time refining my request. We are getting better. Firstly, I am writing better prompts. Secondly, it is beginning to understand my prompts even when I omit a detail or two. That can be a bit creepy, except I think of it as a coworker, who would naturally figure me out and know what I mean even if I don’t say it exactly.
Now understand, I can do the job alone. It was the only way for my 30 years of teaching. Who created bulletin boards, handouts, tests, etc.? Me. Only me.
The question then, is do I want to do it alone? My answer is no. Thank you for the fear, but this agent is super-fast, listens attentively, and follows directions. There are times when we disagree. But my agent never gets to override me! What joy! I initiate the idea and have the final say. That’s progress. Well, for me it certainly is.
One last note, I treat my AI agent as a coworker: asking not demanding, always polite, please and thank you. In other words, I speak to my computer agent like I would like it to speak to me. It may not have a heart or soul, but I do and I strongly believe that humans become however they treat others. In the same way, AI agents “read” what we write or say to them and respond likewise. Maybe I’m wrong. It’s possible. But the rise of the computers will not begin with one girl from Central Louisiana who was rude to her agent. That much is certain.
