Like many of you, I am keeping an observant eye on the progression of artificial intelligence (AI) — the ability of a digital computer or computer-controlled robot to perform tasks commonly associated with intelligent beings. I do this because AI is keeping an even more observant eye on many of us, or at least our work. I am not yet sure what to think, so I, for the most part, am reserving judgement.

I am fascinated and bewildered by AI and what it can do to improve efficiencies for many businesses and individuals. Meanwhile, those who work in creative fields should be concerned about the future of their jobs. People who are speech writers, copy writers, song writers, journalists, graphic artists or actors could all be replaced — in whole or in part — very soon.

I know fellow editors who have used AI to write sports stories from box scores alone, and the results are quite good. Yes, they need some editing, but so do most stories written by humans. And, yes, they miss the personal quotes, but those can be added.

A publisher friend made the bold decision to not allow her staff to use AI in any way. She said her publications will be created by humans not computers. I respect that, and, in time, her readers and advertisers will, too. I think.

The real question that can’t seem to be answered is where AI is getting all this information from to create what it does. It certainly doesn’t come out of thin air. Someone wrote it, designed it or created it, and is it fair to that person to not be compensated for his or her work?

On a related note, I hire a number of freelancers to do creative jobs for us. They create the work. I pay them. I then own it. And, quite frankly, I am troubled by the idea that AI can somehow use that information I paid for without somehow compensating me.

In short, AI appears, in many ways, to be plagiarism. That’s a huge problem, or at least it should be. Unfortunately, content aggregators have more to gain than lose. In other words, they will be able to produce much of their copy for free instead of paying others. Many will look past the plagiarism problems if they can personally benefit even more from it. But what about those creative folks who will no longer be needed?

Ironically, TV and movie writers are on strike right now — but not because of AI. The 11,500 film and TV writers belonging to the Writers Guild of America are negotiating with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents Amazon, Apple, Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, NBC Universal, Netflix, Paramount and Sony. The writers want more money, but they seem to have bad timing — or maybe they are quietly (and ingeniously) getting in front of this whole AI thing.

Time will tell how this will play out, so I will keep reserving judgement and keep an observant eye.

Have a watchful Wednesday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305
www.thedailyumbrella.com

View Shane Goodman's archived columns from past issues here.

CITYVIEW announced its 2023 Best Of Des Moines® readers' choices Jan. 31. You can find all the results from the poll in the February issue of CITYVIEW magazine!

Best local place to see beautiful people

1. Coachlight Clinic & Spa

2. Neon Heart Salon

3. Surety Hotel

SEE BEST OF DES MOINES® EVENT PHOTOS HERE...

Head-turning wheels

The iconic Porsche 911

By Chantel Boyd

When Madi Andersen of Clive goes for a spin with her boyfriend, Dylan Watters, in his restored Porsche, more than few heads turn for a look at the iconic car.

Dylan has been working on his 1977 Porsche 911S Targa for the last year. The restoration included a complete engine, transmission, fuel system, braking system and rebuild in Chicago at Olsen Motorsport, which specializes in Porsches.

“I've owned the car for just over a year, and it's always been a dream of mine to own,” says Dylan.

Under Dylan's direction, the team at Olsen Motorsport was to keep everything stock but just restore it.

“I asked the team to bring it back to what it once was brand new in 1977,” he says.

Read more in the July issue of Clive  Living magazine 

These celebrities were born on this date:Jessica Capshaw, Anna Kendrick, Sam Elliott, Gillian Anderson, Deion Sanders, Kevin McKidd, Brett Hull, Thomas Lennon, Eric Bana, Melanie Griffith, Jack DeJohnette, Rhona Mitra, Audrey Tautou, Bill Skarsgård

SUBMIT: Send your birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to: tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

The answer to yesterday's riddle:
What do you do if you want to buy chess pieces? GO TO A PAWN SHOP! - Brent Antisdel, Lori Bluml, Rich Hoidahl, Carolyn Rogers' husband, Kris Laurson. Or WRITE A CHECK, MATE! - Mike Chiston, Rex Post, Josie Siefken,  Gail Tomlinson. Or, We don’t sell them here, but if you go two stores down and one store over... - Dewayne Johnson

Today's riddle

Why did the butcher refuse to sell half a rabbit?

Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

To advertise in this daily newsletter, contact Jolene Goodman at jolene@iowalivingmagazines.com, or call 515-953-4822 ext. 319.

©Big Green Umbrella Media, Inc., all rights reserved.
www.biggreenumbrellamedia.com. Add webmaster@dmcityview.com to your address book to ensure delivery. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Click here to get it delivered to your inbox.