Debunking AI Myths: How I Use AI (and How I Don't)

My mom nearly choked on her coffee when she heard 'The Real Slim Shady' blasting from my room when I was 15. AI seems to be having a similar effect on society, my mother's look of horror seems to be plastered on the face of every boomer. EVERYONE is obsessing over it - you can't scroll through LinkedIn for five seconds without seeing another article about it. While AI promises to deliver out of this world experiences, it's natural for human nature to kick in and drive our anxiety through the roof (especially us millennial moms out here glazing Kendrick Lamar for his latest rap battle with Drake). AI isn't going to replace us anytime soon, just like the introduction of the MP3s didn't kill Slim Shady's career. Like any technology, AI's impact - for good or for ill - depends entirely on how you use it. You have the power to make AI your bish, you just have to do so in an ethical and responsible way. So, pop in your headphones, turn on your favorite J.Cole beat and let's get into it, yuh.

Myth #1: AI is going to do all my dirty work – all the data crunching, content creation, and customer service that goes into running a business. Can it handle the tasks? Sure. But it can't grasp the heart of your brand – the things that make you, you. AI won't understand why you give a free hot cocoa to the kid without mittens. Why you proudly display a trans flag is beyond its comprehension, nor can it offer a comforting hug to a grieving customer. Personally, I treat AI like a collaborative partner for tasks like researching industry trends and brainstorming content. I like to think of it like having a super-efficient assistant who can turn my brain dump into a prioritized to-do list. But, and this is crucial, the strategic direction, the brand positioning – that's a human endeavor, driven by our partnership and my expertise. While AI's potential for automation is undeniable, its ethical limitations are equally important to consider.

Myth #2: AI is biased and unethical. Is AI biased? Will it make unethical recommendations? These are totally valid concerns. It's pretty much just going to spit back to you whatever it was trained on. So if that information is skewed, you're going to end up with some pretty skewed results, hence the middle-aged white dude every time you try to generate a corporate image! And it's not just images; prejudice AI can show up in hiring practices, loan applications, and even the criminal justice system. AI can't really be unethical, but you can. If you are using it to help Drake make a weak attempt at a comeback at K-Dot...that's on you, not the tool. While AI can perpetuate inequities, it can also be a tool for identifying and correcting bias in existing datasets and decision-making processes. The key is awareness and responsible use. Beyond the ethical concerns, it's essential to recognize the limitations of AI's understanding and judgment.

Myth #3: AI Has All the Answers (Including, Apparently, About Scrotal Health)- er, ummmm but I mean-but for real, I was testing out an AI feature, expecting it to help me thoroughly research every aspect for this very article. I stared at the screen, blinked a few times, looked around and wondered if my 18 year old son was trolling me - here is what I was met with:

Now, aside from this being one of the funniest things I've ever seen an AI produce, this is a perfect illustration of AI's lack of common sense (Sorry, AI, I know it's not your fault...) It can definitely process information but it is completely incapable of actually understanding it. So while AI can be a super effective tool, it's really not meant to replace human judgement or common sense (I mean, there are a few humans whose judgment we wouldn't mind it replacing).

In conclusion, AI is merely a tool. It will not be replacing us anytime soon. I encourage you to stop blindly accepting the first option that chat spits out and start really thinking about how we can embrace its full potential while maintaining our human values and critical thinking skills, just watch out for the extra arms and keep it away from your balls...

P.S. Thanks for sticking with me to the end! If any of this resonated with you – made you laugh, made you think, or even just made you slightly less terrified of AI or AI myths – I'd be thrilled if you'd share it or drop a comment. And yes, Taylor Swift, that includes you.