Everyone seems to be talking about Artificial Intelligence and how it will affect those of us working in the horticulture communications industry. Will Artificial Intelligence take my job as a garden communicator?
I recently attended a number of information sessions in the USA regarding AI and how it will affect my work as a garden communicator. Everyone is talking about Artificial Intelligence. It’s the hottest topic of conversation right now.
The Writers Guild of America and SAG Actors (and now the Los Angeles garbage collectors and airport workers as of yesterday) in the USA, are currently on strike. Unions are trying to get a better deal, in respect to AI technology and how it will affect their work and future earnings. This conversation needs to be had and a suitable and fair agreement needs to be met. Importantly, content creators like actors and writers, do need protection which they currently do not have. This is making news around the world and AI technology is advancing extremely fast.
How will AI actually affect those who communicate about gardening and most importantly the people that we service-those who want to learn how to garden well and those who wish protect our environment for future generations?
Here’s my 8 Top Take Out messages about AI and the future for garden communicators, our clients-the home gardeners and also what AI means for the future of the landscape/horticulture industry.
- AI is not going to take your job but someone using it better than you will take your job. Get really good at using AI technology and you will be fine. Knowledge is power.
- Good quality garden advise requires a conversation, which is specific to a location and climatic conditions in a particular geographic location, that at this point in time can’t be replaced by AI technology. AI technology such as Chat GPT scans the entire internet in an effort to provide you with information to answer your question, but it will not reveal its sources. There is no way of knowing if the information that you are receiving from AI is true, only a skilled professional will be able to know the difference between accurate advice and inaccurate information for any given situation. There is a shortage of good zone-based information. AI is not currently linked to weather zones
- You will get better responses if you pay for Chat GPT or the Google-owned, BARD which is connected to the internet, rather than selecting the free service.
- On a positive note: Garden Communicators will experience more upside and less downside from AI than almost any other industry
- On the Down side: AI will eventually outcompete you on gardening tips and people will use it to source gardening information much like some people currently soure their gardening knowledge from Google-it is not always correct.
- Gardeners appreciate content based on experiences as much as facts
- AI excels at facts but can only pretend to have experiences
- CANVA is a great source for images. Images are all computer generated at this point but are getting closer in accuracy all the time. Dall -E-2 is the image generator for Chat GPT
- Get Curious, find out more about AI, play with the resource, consider it as another tool in your toolbox…remember that we are the generation that sourced library information using microfiche before a laptop was even thought of…we’ve got this!
Sources: Peter Wigren https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterwigren/
Katie Elzer-Peters https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieelzerpeters/
