Alright you lot, I’m here to talk to you about AI.
From the gushing articles written about how AI can enable major scientific breakthroughs, reduce administrative burdens for teachers and make our lives more efficient so we can spend time on what gives us meaning – to the horrifying ones about its role in the genocide in Palestine, existential questions about what it means to be human, disturbing psychological effects for some users, and the wholesale theft of artists’ work to train AI – this is no small subject.
Is she qualified to talk about this?
Honestly, yes and no. Let’s just get cracking on the journey together, eh?
After months of procrastinating writing this, the best starting point I could come up with is a PRO/CON list a la Gilmore Girls. Here’s a slightly more nuanced version of what I wrote in my exercise book at 8:20pm Monday night:
PRO:
- Efficient tool
CON:
- Values (lack of)
- Human rights
- Connection
- Joy
P.S.
Garbage foundation -> Anything in -> Garbage out
Expand a lil’ more~
(I’ve slightly rejigged since Monday’s outburst)
The PROs
Incredible piece of technology to:
- Simplify, speed up, or eliminate time-intensive (mostly) computer-based tasks
- Support or enable scientific breakthroughs in things like healthcare, and the preservation of our planet
It feels scary-exciting to be on the precipice of SOMETHING BIG. Which brings me to ~~
The CONs
- Largely owned and controlled by massive tech companies, and lack of willingness for Governments to meaningfully regulate them
- IP theft (unconsented, unpaid collection of writers', musicians', painters' etc work)
- Contribution to media decline (facing an already wiped-out ad spend, in part due to tech giants, AI sweeps media sites and presents the information to readers in the search page, meaning users don’t click through to the original article, further reducing media revenue)
- Climate change acceleration (excessive energy and water use to power servers, as well as the potential for spurring even greater levels of mass consumption by reducing production times)
- Eradication of entry-level jobs (as typically more “junior” tasks could be done by AI, removing the pathway to career development)
P.S. Garbage foundation -> Anything in -> Garbage out
In the case of AI, we are most definitely a global community. And it seems to me that we don’t really know how to BE a global community that prioritises human rights, connection, or joy. This global community is so big that the easiest / default set of values coalesced around are profitability.
That’s what I mean about garbage. The foundation that AI is built on is profitability, not human rights, connection or joy.
For The Atlantic, Charlie Warzel writes about it much my ably than me, for example:
“To scan the AI headlines is a daily exercise in trying to determine the cost that society is paying for these perceived productivity benefits”
/ and /
“It is the sinking feeling of a societal race toward a future that feels bloodless, hastily conceived, and shruggingly accepted. Are we really doing this? Who thought this was a good idea?”
Gift link is here if you would like to read the full article.
SO, are WE at RUBY really doing this?
Short answer, yes.
Longer answer is:
CURRENTLY
Testing Co-Pilot’s usefulness in data collation and individual time management
LOOKING INTO
Nosto to suggest “complimentary pieces” on rubynz.com, based on customer browsing history
Virtual stylist such as Fytted to provide personalised fit and style recommendations based on customer-provided information
Klaviyo + Nosto connection to curate RUBY Mail content based on information customers have inputted
Semrush to track RUBY’s presence in AI conversations
Live Chat automation for FAQs
HOW WE OFFSET
People, and our communities, are the core of what makes RUBY strong. How we balance continuing to support them while at the same feeling that we would be disadvantaging ourselves if we don’t meaningfully engage with AI tool is a hot topic at the Exec table let me tell you.
Here are a few examples:
Our RUBY Internship programme is back for another year! Launching in September, we offer paid internships to people who want experience in retail, helping to break the self-fulfilling prophecy of no experience? no job, so therefore no experience, so therefore no job.
Public AI (like ChatGPT) is not used for anything that includes customer, supplier or team information
AI is not used for creative idea generation (for example clothing and graphic design, or marketing concepts)
Speaking at community events like this week’s Mindful Fashion’s panel discussion at NZFW Kahuria: Redefining Fashion in Aotearoa in an Age of Speed
General team things like last Friday all full-time staff had the day off (paid) to be physically present in the world, and are eligible for paid community service days each quarter.
We are in the process of writing formal Guiding Principles on AI use. The New Zealand Film Commission has this one which I think is a good starting point for us.
HOW YOU AS INDIVIDUALS CAN OFFSET
My suggestion would be to support organisations that work in areas that are important to you, for example:
Climate Change:
Community Building:
Palestinian Action:
- Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa’s event calendar
Email Ministers to demand action
Local Media:
Lastly, NZFW Kahuria is on this week! We’re coming together my bbs! I wish everyone who is participating all the very best for a joyful and successful time. There are lots of things that are open to all – take a look at the schedule here.
As you can probably tell, this topic is a real Thinker for me – genuinely keen to hear your thoughts and suggestions – you can contact me directly at emily@rubynz.com
X
Em
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