I refuse to use AI for this one thing.
Thinking.
I read a Forbes article yesterday that AI is making leaders weaker. I could relate to it this because I have spent this month conducting learning science research on a topic that I am particularly interested in: engagement. I did the reading, the analysis, the writing, and determination of how the science applies to our work today. When I was finished I realized I had just invented a new model. I literally invented a new model. 💡 I shared it with Scott Anderson and together we are formulating how we can change lives in learning.
How did that make me feel? So, many things. Excited, proud, and fulfilled. That feeling of fulfillment can’t be artificially generated. Sure, I used AI to format all my references and to make the article look professional, but AI did not replace thinking.
This is a time in the history of our society that we have to look at how we engage and how engagement impacts safety, retention, company culture and more. We have to understand the intersection of engagement and happiness. Just as screens impact how we feel, AI has the potential to impact how we think and as a learning scientist, I know the impact. And I am glad that I use my brain to innovate. But I DO use AI for some things. I used to teach web programming/design at the University of Dayton back over two decades ago! I have some general html, css knowledge. I have my personal website and have been wanting to update it. I use Word Press for it. The program uses widgets, blocks, etc. Not true code writing, but there is code in it the program writes for you.
Yesterday, I had so much fun as I worked on my website, but couldn’t figure out how to even do simple things in Word Press, like copy blocks, move images, etc. With my team on a long weekend and off next week, I wanted to make the changes. I used AI as an assistant to help me along the way update it. I copied in questions to my assistant. I made the decisions what I wanted it to look like, and I still used my brain to review code to make sure it was correct, ask questions, but it truly was my assistant. I felt accomplished, proud, and am so happy that I could update my website myself.
Same feeling I had as writing my research and innovating something new! So, to me the question about AI is not whether to use or not to use it, but recognizing the type of work we give it and recognizing the impact it has on people and connection. Just as phone screens create atrophy and depression, learning scientists are interested in on the cognitive and emotional impacts of AI.
I can’t wait to share how AI impacts education in October 28 at the PMTA Safety Management Council’s Safety Day Conference. Carlisle, PA Topic: AI in Education. ♥️
It will be an interesting exploration. I can’t wait to share the importance of significance, happiness, and connection in learning. Where will we find significance when some of the things that once made us feel valuable can suddenly be done by a machine?
For years people have found significance through the skills they built. I don’t think the essential question is IF we use AI or not, but how we make our employees feel valued.
We all search for significance.
It is our responsibility to continue to show employees how we value them. We must invest in our people.
If someone see’s their unique value and significance through a skill set that AI can replace, it is our responsibility as leaders to show them their value was their curiosity, their kindness, their judgement, their courage, their capacity to grow.
Because learning is truly about connection. This is one reason I started Ripples of Sunshine. ☀️My goal is to create a community of people that know their value is more than their skills. We want to give sunshine to anyone that needs it, because after all sunshine is FREE. Leave your message today to share it with someone that needs to hear it today.