Weighing in on the AI Debate

I recently woke up one morning to a notification filling the entire screen of my phone, showing that an update was ready and asking me to install immediately or schedule it for later.  I don’t know why, but, for once I actually read the overwhelming majority of what was included in it.

You won’t be surprised when I tell you that a lot of what was in there had to do with AI features that they were adding.  It amazed me how the tone of the writing was rather presumptuous, both that us users had wanted these features and that we, of course, would be using them.

For the record, I let the phone install the full update immediately – but only because I was about to get in the shower and thus wouldn’t be needing the device during that time.  I will also tell you, however, that whereas that was maybe two weeks ago, nothing has changed about my use of my phone.  Whatever they added I have not interacted with.

I’m tempted to put the word ‘yet’ at the end of that, but it would have to be with a question mark after it.

I had to laugh a few months ago on an episode of my weekly “Now Hear This Entertainment” podcast when the guest, Nashville-based singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist Chris Bullinger said to me, “I'm not as big a believer in AI as some folks.  Actually, I think it's neither artificial nor intelligent.”

And that last word is why the jury still seems to be out with a lot of people.

I remember in late 2022 giving AI a test drive on a blog I was writing for a sports league’s website.  What it generated was not at all accurate.  I was both surprised and disappointed and thus immediately dropped into the category of being a skeptic.

Bullinger isn’t alone.  I’ve heard other guests come on my show and talk about their doubts and what they don’t like about AI.  As someone who regularly deals with songwriters, filmmakers, authors, and other creatives, you can appreciate that I hear a lot of conversations about automation as it relates to the craft that these folks put their blood, sweat, and tears – their livelihood – into.  And rightfully so.

I also had the opportunity to sit through a presentation that someone did a few months ago where they were showing the features and benefits of AI.  While yes, it can and does generate some good things, for now my feeling has been – eventually.

Meaning, all I hear about is “If you give it the right prompt” and about how there are specialists who will help you write better AI prompts.  Those who are strong proponents of AI will tell you how much time it will save you.  And to that I say, “Really?  Look at how much time you’re wasting just trying to get the prompt right, never mind reviewing the output and then having to tweak and tweak and then tweak again until it gives you what you want!  By that point I would’ve been better off doing it myself the way that I always have."

Let me be clear that I am someone who loves technology.  I’m giddy about advances that get made and the things that can be done today compared to ten or 25 or 50 years ago.

However, more recently, I have tried some AI platforms for generating a picture that I could use with my weekly blog.  The results were less than impressive.  In fact, one reader even contacted me to make a joke about the image that I ran (acknowledging that clearly it was AI-generated).

Yes, I also know that, like anything else, you get what you pay for.  I contacted the person who put on the aforementioned presentation and when he sent me samples of images he got from AI that were photo quality, it was because he’s paying for the use of that site/service.

But for a songwriter to sit in a session with, say, two other colleagues, and say, “I don’t know, I’m coming up empty.  Let’s ask AI,” you just know would elicit both laughter and dirty looks.

Perhaps one of these weeks I will take AI for another test drive and ask it to write my Monday blog and see if it wins me over.  For now, though, you can appreciate why I have not been in any hurry to do so and why I’m not going to be really optimistic going into such an exercise.  I hope when that time comes it will prove me wrong.

For twenty years I have been helping indie music artists, actors, entrepreneurs, podcasters, filmmakers, small business owners, and more.  What challenges are you having in your creator career that I can lend some insight to?  Let’s get on a short call together so you can take advantage of all my experience, and I can help and keep you moving forward.