When I hear the word ‘Artificial,’ I automatically think of something unnatural—whether it’s chemically processed food or the latest cutting-edge technology that’s rapidly transforming the world. While I can only speak for myself, it’s fair to say that anything we can’t fully understand evokes a sense of fear. This confusion or fear can create chaos and panic. Artificial Intelligence can and has done just that. My first experience with AI (Artificial Intelligence) was being warned of its dangers in high school. My teachers threatened us not to use it when completing schoolwork, they would find out and we would be penalized. However, as I began using AI, I recognized its abilities, and I found that this sense of panic and confusion was merely the consequence of not informing myself. Basing my judgment on a concept I didn’t understand, from other’s experiences, and my own preconceptions.
In the Article, AI Snake Oil, the authors Arvid Narayanan and Sayash Kapoor make a comparison about AI that assisted me in digesting the actual concept usages. “AI is no threat to education, any more than the introduction of the calculator was” (AI Snake Oil). Change is often uncomfortable and similar to the way we stay updated on current events to better understand the changing world around us, research is imperative to form our opinions. This analogy of the calculator helped me to realize that there was a time when people did not understand the way they worked. Fear of the unknown, that calculators would replace the long-standing traditional ways of doing math. This is similar to how concerns about AI replacing human jobs and human education. But as time passed and research was done, calculators became integrated into daily usage. So much so that we forget there was a time when they weren’t accepted.
Exposing myself to the full capabilities of Artificial Intelligence has led me to realize its abilities stretch way further than I could have ever imagined. Whether it’s accommodating students with disabilities such as dyslexia, ADHD (Attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder), or its ability to assist in diagnosing skin conditions/ rashes (although its accuracy/ confidentiality is still being debated). These abilities can be life-changing for those who use them. “Ross, who has attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and uses they/them pronouns, says they’ve more than doubled their productivity by using AI for almost everything: to create content using specific frameworks, to prepare for tough conversations, to help with project and strategic planning, and to determine impact” (Meet the ‘super users’ who tap AI to get ahead at work). As someone who struggles with ADHD, productivity is of the essence. Struggling with the conception of ideas, staying focused, and time management can be detrimental to a productive day. Deciding when and how I’m going to tackle my tasks at hand frequently results in more time than the actual completion of said tasks. Personally, reading about how Ross used AI to structure tough conversations comes especially helpful to not only myself but my friends as well. Planning conversations in my head can take up time that I don’t have but also can result in negative connotations that deter me from having these discussions at all. “Kanika Khurana also finds AI to be a timesaver. The 30-year-old former head of design at ProCreator, a design agency in India, uses it for research, to help write up meeting minutes from AI-generated transcripts, and to summarize her dictated thoughts after job-candidate interviews, then format them for human resources” (Meet the ‘super users’ who tap AI to get ahead at work). Kanika’s experience with AI is another example of the way this newfound tool can be used. Tasks can be simplified allowing for more productivity especially for those in similar job positions to Kanika. I think it’s important to note that this method of ‘help’ doesn’t just save time but can help alleviate the emotional frustration that I, and so many others deal with when having to structure a schedule or organize thoughts. These statements provide a promising future for not just those who struggle with productivity but for anyone willing to explore the capabilities.
Additionally, AI has even begun positioning itself in many aspects of the medical field. Scribing, the way providers write/fill out any and all documents for their patients has become intertwined with AI. This can be seen in all environments, whether it’s a simple primary doctor visit or inpatient in hospitals. I discussed this with my sister, a certified physician’s assistant who discussed her thoughts on this. While she believes it has made great advancements in the efficiency of seeing patients she calls its accuracy and motives into question. Furthermore, companies/ apps have recently launched software that is designed to provide information on skin conditions/ rashes using the help of AI. Aysa is an app that claims to provide “personalized guidance and helpful information to aid in your discussion with your healthcare provider” (askaysa.com). While this offers hope for people who may not have ready access to healthcare, it’s important to stay informed on the privacy policies and limitations of utilization. It is also vital to acknowledge the disparity that is apparent in artificially created algorithms currently used in the healthcare field. Algorithms that make decisions such as transplant lists and treatment plans could stand in the way between life and death. According to HealthAffairs, “Despite their ubiquity, medical algorithms’ fatal flaw is that they are often built on biased rules and homogenous data sets that do not reflect the patient population at large. Patients should never have to worry that an algorithm could prevent them from receiving an organ transplant, yet this is the reality for many Black patients on transplant lists” (Medical Algorithms Are Failing Communities Of Color). These algorithms whether done out of good or bad faith are resulting in the neglect of communities. It’s vital to address these flaws before more AI is introduced to the medical world to ensure that all people across the spectrum, regardless of race, class, sexual, orientation, culture, etc. receive the same adequate care.
AI has genuine potential to boost productivity and efficiency and create outlets of accessibility for those who seek it. The discussed examples highlight just a fraction of the ways that AI can and is currently being utilized in society. There is significant work to be done in many aspects of AI itself and its integration.