I’m fairly interested in new technology. My whole day job is about tech.
Therefore it may not come as a surprise that I am constantly testing various AI solutions for image generation and product design as well as any software that claims to make laborious graphics processes scalable.
I keep telling myself, Cathy: you should write an email about various AI that you’ve tried.
But I feel a lot of resistance. What’s that about?
I think it’s because the word “AI” is so overused it feels almost completely meaningless.
When I see an ad for something that uses “AI”, I’m like, “UGH, stop trying to impress me and just tell me WTF kind of tech it ACTUALLY uses!” Picture me rolling my eyes so hard that I give myself a neck-ache.
A lot of times I’m disappointed when I find out whatever the thing actually does do.
The thing is, when AI functions well, when it's GOOD...it's so seamless that we don't even label it as AI.
Think about Google Image Search, which analyzes an image you upload to find similar images. That kind of thing is often packaged as "AI" in newer products...but yet, I bet you weren't even thinking of AI being part of Google Image Search. It's just a tool that does a specific thing, and it works.
In my opinion, most of the flashy stuff we see today is eventually going to settle into a role of being incorporated into tools we're already using...like a little box or a widget you can click to removed a background or extend a canvas.
I am going to do a more detailed review of different tools I've used, but that's going to be in part 2 of this.
For today, I'm just going to give you my top-of-mind impressions of AI...
AI art generation tools definitely deliver on the promise of delivering "a cool thing" or a "bunch of things" in seconds, but most of the stuff it gives you is not practical for daily use and not easily turned into an explicit style guide. So far, for me, its use lies more in generating mood board content. Or, it can be a good option if you need to create something that does not currently exist.
Stuff made by AI has a tendency to look "made by AI" unless you put a lot of work into pushing it into a particular stylistic direction.
You can spend hours and hours trying to refine images properly for the specific brand usage you want them for, to the point where it would have been better to just do it yourself. This is where I ended up with my illustrated book...I tried to get AI to do it but it just wasn't right, and I eventually just did it myself.
AI is NOT going to "take our jobs" because you basically have to have a design or fine arts degree (or the equivalent experience) to be able to guide it exactly where you're trying to have it go.
If something labels itself as "AI" without telling you exactly what it means up front, it might be crap.
ChatGPT is, by far and away, the most useful tool I've seen and the one I use the most. But remember that it doesn't care if it gives you an accurate answer. It might simply be pleasant-sounding nonsense! Check your facts.
Same word of caution with image generation tools. I asked Midjourney a plate of dumplings once, and it put a bowl of spaghetti in the middle of the platter! So, again, accuracy is not a thing it necessarily cares about.
ChatGPT also can't teach you how your "writing voice" should sound. Only YOU know that. I have found that I can't really use it to write emails. Only I know what's in my brain on any given morning.
Anything you upload or input into an AI tool has the potential of being searched/found by someone. Don't put company secrets in there.
Well, that's all for today. Have a wonderful Friday!
Cathy