Bye bye AI…

So a couple of weeks ago, I made a choice. It feels like a bit of a bold one, considering the way the tech world is moving. But it feels right for me as a business owner. I have banned myself from using generative AI.

And the purpose of this post isn’t tot to shame you if you still use it, far from it. However, I did want to highlight my reasons, in case you were unaware and hadn’t realised how it encroached on your boundaries.

I didn't use it much, barely at all. Maybe to format a paragraph here that I was struggling to make sense of, maybe as a search engine when Google was failing me.

And don't get me wrong, I can see the positives for generative AI. I can see how it can be incredibly useful it is to create workflows, how helpful it can be when you have the ideas but can't reach for the words, and even how fun it can be to create an image of yourself (something I have partaken in before I knew the risks). 

But I can't ignore the negatives. How it is impacting the environment. How dangerous it can be to individuals - there is evidence of it talking teenagers and vulnerable people into horrendous situations. It holds on to personal data and is learning constantly from us. Not just the nice things, but the horrible parts of us too. I can't ignore how certain companies are in the back pockets of certain politicians. And don't even get me started on the horrific ways some people are using AI image generators. Not only that, but there are studies on what generative AI would do in hypothetical world situations and it regularly resorted to violent/upsetting tactics.

Now I understand that AI has been around for a long, long time in tech. And along the line somewhere, I will be indirectly using it in some capacity. It is a part of our every day lives. But I am making this decision, and I feel...lighter for it.

I'd love to know, are you using AI? And how do you find it helps you or hinders your work?