Artificial Intelligence

Friend, foe, or both...

With all of the media attention given to artificial intelligence lately (including work by fellow Iowa Writers’ Collaborative member and friend Doug Burns at The Iowa Mercury), I couldn’t resist looking at some of the applications and seeing how they did. The above image was generated by Night Cafe, screenshot below.

It’s simple enough, you pick a style and then tell it what you want. For the top image, I asked it to “create an image of 20 reporters interviewing a presidential candidate in an Iowa cornfield.” You can see it missed the mark, but it’s still interesting. Lots of meaning to unpack if it were a human effort--the size of the politician and the pending confrontation with sticks and clubs, for example.

The well-known problem with programs like this is they are scouring the web, appropriating artists' intellectual property. Not good. It will also likely cause artists to lose some commissions. But since all art is derivative, some smart lawyer will probably make the observation in court that the AI is just another tool like a paintbrush.

In photographic mode, I asked it to “create an image of three reporters interviewing a presidential candidate in an Iowa cornfield.” Not great. Who’s the presidential candidate?

I know few reporters who look like this. And we have microphones, cameras, and notepads. These people look more like they gleefully escaped out of the backdoor of a small town community center during a dull Rotary meeting in August. And why is the woman arching her back so oddly?

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Since I have no musical talent, I decided to try to make a song with AI using Boomy. You have a number of options, as you can see above.

Below is the song I created after selecting some options randomly. It asked me if I wanted to add lyrics, and I added the first lyrics that came to my head, strangely enough, “Oh give me a home where the buffalo roam, and the deer and the antelope play…”

Sorry about that.

I could see us using this at radio stations and for podcasts to create the “bumper music” for intros and outros for programming and for ads. This could result in the loss of business for musicians. I suspect it already has.

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I’ve been playing around with the AI writing program ChatGPT.

I asked it to write an essay on the pros and cons of Education Savings Accounts in Iowa schools. Here is the result.

Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) are a type of school choice program that provides families with funds to pay for education-related expenses, such as tuition for private schools or homeschooling expenses. In Iowa, ESAs have been a topic of debate, with supporters and opponents each offering compelling arguments for their views.

Pros:

1. Increased Choice: ESAs allow families to choose the type of education that best suits their needs and beliefs, whether that be public, private, or homeschooling. This provides a wider range of options for parents to choose from, which can be especially important for families with children who have unique needs or learning styles.

2. Empowerment: By giving families control over the education dollars, ESAs can help empower families and communities to make the choices that are right for them. ESAs allow parents to use the money on items or services that they believe will best benefit their child’s education.

3. Potential Cost Savings: By using ESAs, families may be able to reduce their education expenses, including tuition costs, transportation, and extracurricular activities.

Cons:

1. Inadequate Funding: Critics argue that ESAs are often underfunded and do not provide enough money to families to make a meaningful difference in the quality of education their children receive.

2. Lack of Accountability: ESAs do not have the same accountability measures as public schools, which can lead to concerns about the quality of education and teacher qualifications.

3. Negative Effect on Public Schools: ESAs can take funding away from public schools, potentially reducing resources and leading to a decline in quality for all students.

In conclusion, Education Savings Accounts have both pros and cons in Iowa schools. While ESAs offer families increased choice and empowerment, they can also lead to inadequate funding, lack of accountability, and negatively impact public schools. Ultimately, the decision on whether ESAs are right for Iowa schools should be made based on careful consideration of all the available evidence and with the best interests of students in mind.

I can see why teachers are worried. 

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Most of the sales people at KNIA/KRLS radio, where I work, don’t like writing radio ads, and some of them aren’t very good at it (and they know it).

I wondered if the AI Chat GPT could do a better job, so I asked it to write a 30 second radio ad for the boutique Soul Full in Indianola that features women's clothing, hair products and gifts:

"Ladies of Indianola, it's time to treat yourself to a little retail therapy at Soul Full Boutique! Our carefully curated collection features the latest in women's fashion, hair products, and unique gifts. From flowy dresses to stylish accessories, you're sure to find something that fits your personal style. And with a wide selection of hair products, you'll leave our store feeling confident and refreshed. Don't settle for just any ordinary shopping experience. Visit Soul Full Boutique today and discover the difference for yourself. See you soon!"

I think this is outstanding. It took about five seconds, and it would have probably taken a sales person an hour to write, and it likely wouldn’t have been as good.

Trying again, I asked it to write a 60 second radio ad for Bertrand Monuments on how to make a lasting memory for your loved ones:

"Losing a loved one is never easy, but preserving their memory can bring comfort and peace. At Bertrand Monuments, we specialize in creating lasting tributes to honor the memories of your loved ones. Our expert craftspeople use only the finest materials to create custom monuments, headstones, and memorials that are as unique as the individual being remembered. Don't let time erase their legacy, visit Bertrand Monuments today and make a lasting memory for your loved ones. Contact us now to schedule a consultation."

I think this is outstanding for a radio ad. Certainly a start to tinker with. Our sales people agree, and three or four of them are using it to write ads daily. They will be more productive and happier. They can service their clients better, make more sales, and the ads are better. It’s a win, win, win.

Unlike for a school paper, using AI this way isn’t cheating.

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Finally, I asked it if it could come up with anything approximating the work of friend, fellow Iowa Writers’ Collaborative member, and Pulitzer Prize winner with the Storm Lake Times Pilot, Art Cullen. Here were my instructions:

Write an opinion piece against the use of Education Savings Accounts in Iowa in the style of Art Cullen.

Education Savings Accounts: A Danger to Our Public Schools

It's no secret that the state of Iowa has struggled in recent years to fund its public schools adequately. So when proponents of Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) come along and offer a new way to pay for education, it might seem like a good idea at first. But look closer, and it becomes clear that ESAs are a threat to the very foundation of our public education system.

First, let's start with what ESAs actually are. They're essentially private school vouchers by another name. Parents receive state funds that they can use to pay for private school tuition, textbooks, and other educational expenses. On the surface, this might seem like a good way to help families afford the education they want for their children. But the reality is that ESAs drain resources from our public schools and undermine their ability to provide a quality education to all students.

When state funds are diverted to ESAs, public schools are left with fewer resources to meet the needs of the students who remain. This can lead to larger class sizes, reduced support for special needs students, and a lack of resources for programs that help children succeed. Public schools are already struggling to make ends meet, and ESAs will only make the situation worse.

But the dangers of ESAs go beyond just the financial impact on public schools. ESAs also undermine the democratic principles that form the foundation of our education system. Public schools are supposed to be open to all students, regardless of their background or family income. They are a cornerstone of equal opportunity and a level playing field for all children.

When state funds are used to support private schools through ESAs, however, that equal opportunity is threatened. Private schools are free to select the students they admit, and they often admit only those who come from more affluent families. This exacerbates existing inequalities and leaves the most vulnerable students behind.

Finally, it's worth mentioning that there's little evidence to suggest that ESAs actually improve educational outcomes. In fact, many studies have found that students who use vouchers to attend private schools perform no better, and often worse, than their peers in public schools.

In conclusion, ESAs are a threat to our public schools and the democratic principles they embody. They divert resources from public schools, undermine equal opportunity, and fail to deliver on the promise of improved educational outcomes. We must reject ESAs and instead focus on investing in our public schools to ensure that all Iowa students receive the quality education they deserve.

Not even close. No heart, no soul. No sense of place, no character, no protagonist.

Here is Art’s excellent column on the topic. Check it out.

So Art, clearly, your job is safe (for now!)

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Here are my fellow Iowa Writers’ Collaborative columnists, in alphabetical order:

Laura Belin: Iowa Politics with Laura Belin, Windsor Heights

Doug Burns: The Iowa Mercury, Carroll

Dave Busiek: Dave Busiek on Media, Des Moines

Art Cullen: Art Cullen’s Notebook, Storm Lake

Suzanna de Baca Dispatches from the Heartland, Huxley

Debra Engle: A Whole New World, Madison County

Julie Gammack: Julie Gammack’s Iowa Potluck, Des Moines and Okoboji

Joe Geha: Fern and Joe, Ames

Jody Gifford: Benign Inspiration, West Des Moines

Beth Hoffman: In the Dirt, Lovilla

Dana James: New Black Iowa, Des Moines

Pat Kinney: View from Cedar Valley, Waterloo

Fern Kupfer: Fern and Joe, Ames

Robert Leonard: Deep Midwest: Politics and Culture, Bussey

Tar Macias: Hola Iowa, Iowa

Kurt Meyer, Showing Up, St. Ansgar

Kyle Munson, Kyle Munson’s Main Street, Des Moines

Jane Nguyen, The Asian Iowan, West Des Moines

John Naughton: My Life, in Color, Des Moines

Chuck Offenburger: Iowa Boy Chuck Offenburger, Jefferson and Des Moines

Barry Piatt: Piatt on Politic Behind the Curtain, Washington, D.C.

Macey Spensley: The Midwest Creative, Iowa

Mary Swander: Mary Swander’s Buggy Land, Kalona

Mary Swander: Mary Swander’s Emerging Voices, Kalona

Cheryl Tevis: Unfinished Business, Boone County

Ed Tibbetts: Along the Mississippi, Davenport

Teresa Zilk: Talking Good, Des Moines

To receive a weekly roundup of all Iowa Writers’ Collaborative columnists, sign up here (free): ROUNDUP COLUMN

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