AI is not looking at a cow’s behind

WHEN I was growing up AI meant something to do with cows. It usually happened with a visit from a man with a pair of rubber gloves and a magic fluid from a bull, which kept the farmer happy when it came to the Mart and the selling of calves. I guess you know what I mean, the birds and the bees etc. The new AI (artificial intelligence) is something equally as confusing to that young boy staring at the behind of a cow and the behind of a vet and a farmer in a cowshed somewhere in the hills of Llanelli.

Today, AI refers to the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, particularly computer systems. AI has various applications, including expert systems, natural language processing, speech recognition, and machine vision.

To implement AI, specialised hardware and software are required for writing and training machine learning algorithms. AI systems work by analysing large amounts of labeled training data, identifying patterns and correlations, and using these insights to make predictions about future situations. Furthermore, generative AI techniques are rapidly improving and can create realistic text, images, music, and other forms of media.

Although we were initially hesitant to try AI, we decided to experiment with free trial AI plugins to enhance our daily writing tasks. Many writers are protective of their work and prefer to rely only on grammar and spell checkers. However, our experience with AI was surprisingly positive. It was like having a great writer and thinker in the room, someone you could look up to for the perfect turn of phrase or captivating sentence that elevates a story or headline.

Businesses are extensively using generative AI techniques to create a wide range of content types, from photorealistic art to email responses and screenplays. It is clear that AI has the potential to become an integral part of our daily workload. Some may perceive it as a shortcut, but from our experience, using AI requires just as much effort, if not more, to ensure the output meets our expectations and stays true to the original content.

While many AI tools offer free trials, most of them come at a cost. Prices typically start from around £10 per month, allowing you to input approximately 25,000 words per month. In the field of journalism, this word count can sometimes be considered a weekly rate. Personally, I believe AI could be beneficial in schools, especially for creative subjects. While some may argue it is a form of cheating, I think it becomes more acceptable if students first generate something remotely intelligent before using AI to enhance it. In this way, students can learn and improve their skills by collaborating with an AI expert.

In conclusion, AI has evolved significantly and offers many possibilities for improving various aspects of our lives. While there may be debates and concerns surrounding its use, incorporating AI as a tool can lead to improved productivity and creativity, pushing the boundaries of what we can achieve.

Article produced with the help of AI