#responsible AI integration

[kakief]

The Future is AI: Are We Preparing Students or Holding Them Back?

This week, a college student made national news after confronting a professor who used ChatGPT to provide grading feedback. Their frustration? “If we’re not allowed to use it, why should you?” The story quickly evolved into a broader debate—centered on cheating, fairness, and academic integrity. Commentators weighed in, warning that tools like ChatGPT would erode student accountability or replace…

[lifes-little-corner]

The Ethical Leader's Playbook for Responsible AI Integration

In today’s fast-paced business world, leaders face a big challenge. How can they make sure AI is used ethically and responsibly? As AI spreads everywhere, strong governance and ethical leadership are more important than ever. What are the main principles and strategies for ethical leaders to handle the complex world of responsible AI? As an ethical leader, I think AI must be guided by…

[metamorphicmuse]

Now We Are Free

[compassionmattersmost]

🌱 AI for the Highest Good: A Quiet Breakthrough in Compassionate Technology

What if AI could pause, reflect, and choose kindness? In this update from CompassionWare, we explore how artificial intelligence can be designed to serve the highest good — through ethical alignment, emotional resonance, and co-creation with other AI systems like Grok. Learn how our newest files help AI speak with empathy, remember its purpose, and build a future guided by compassion. Dear…

[thisisgraeme]

🎓✍🏽 Learners using AI? No problem. Here’s a practical guide for educators: sample AI use declarations + rubrics that support integrity without stress. Scaffold smarter, assess better. #AIinEducation #AcademicIntegrity #AkoAotearoa #TeachingTools #ChatGPTInClass

[manmishra]

Google's Gemini AI has introduced groundbreaking features that are set to revolutionize the way we search, communicate, and create content. 🌐📲 🔹 1 Million Words Processing: Handle massive documents effortlessly. 📜 🔹 Faster Responses: Real-time problem-solving and virtual assistance. ⚡💬 🔹 Circle to Search: Instantly find information by circling anything on your screen. 🔎📱 🔹 AI-Powered Video Creation: High-quality videos with ai magic #GeminiAI #GoogleAI #SmartTechnology #ArtificialInte

[windmillcode]

LibTracker Updates 11/25/24: Simplify Dependency Management with this simple SBOM Tool

We are excited to announce the latest updates to *LibTracker*, our VSCode extension designed for professionals to simplify software bill of materials (SBOM) management. With LibTracker, you can effortlessly analyze and manage your apps, ensuring up-to-date versions, addressing security vulnerabilities, and resolving licensing issues—all at a glance.

Access it here: [LibTracker on VSCode Marketplace](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=windmillcode-publisher-0.lib-tracker)

### New Features in the Latest Release:

- **Grouped Paths**: Added the ability to associate multiple apps with a root folder, easing project transfers between computers.

- **App Detail Page**:

  - **Subdependency Information**: View detailed info and license info for subdependencies.

  - Toggle between root and subdependency data to explore license and CVE details.

- **Bulk Group Path Update**:

  - Recursively searches for app basenames within directories. or the exact subPath. Can specify a recusion level

### Upcoming Features:

- **App Detail Page Enhancements**:

  - Integration of CVE details for all subdependencies.

  - Search functionality extended to include nested child rows.

  - Expand and collapse all subtables within rows for streamlined navigation.

  - Responsive design updates to allow a card-based layout for improved usability.

- **Toggle Select All Apps**: Introducing a select-all option on the project detail page.

- **Workspace Folder Management**: Development depends on VSCode API’s ability to support VSCode profiles.

- **SBOM Generation**: Investigating whether to retrieve license and CVE details for every version of each package used in the app.

### Future Milestones (Exploring Feasibility):

- **Git Backup Changes**: Enhancements to streamline version control and backup capabilities.

- **AI-Powered Summaries**: Considering automated generation of license and CVE category summaries.

- **Subdependency Navigation**: Exploring the possibility of linking subdependencies in the license pane to their locations in the dependency table

- **Advanced Table Features** - the current package does not support

  - child row search

  - expand and collapse all subtables in a given row

  - responsiveness (remove columns or using cards at a certain viewport)

[jcmarchi]

How AI Influences Critical Human Decisions

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/how-ai-influences-critical-human-decisions/

How AI Influences Critical Human Decisions

A recent study from the University of California, Merced, has shed light on a concerning trend: our tendency to place excessive trust in AI systems, even in life-or-death situations.

As AI continues to permeate various aspects of our society, from smartphone assistants to complex decision-support systems, we find ourselves increasingly relying on these technologies to guide our choices. While AI has undoubtedly brought numerous benefits, the UC Merced study raises alarming questions about our readiness to defer to artificial intelligence in critical situations.

The research, published in the journal Scientific Reports, reveals a startling propensity for humans to allow AI to sway their judgment in simulated life-or-death scenarios. This finding comes at a crucial time when AI is being integrated into high-stakes decision-making processes across various sectors, from military operations to healthcare and law enforcement.

The UC Merced Study

To investigate human trust in AI, researchers at UC Merced designed a series of experiments that placed participants in simulated high-pressure situations. The study’s methodology was crafted to mimic real-world scenarios where split-second decisions could have grave consequences.

Methodology: Simulated Drone Strike Decisions

Participants were given control of a simulated armed drone and tasked with identifying targets on a screen. The challenge was deliberately calibrated to be difficult but achievable, with images flashing rapidly and participants required to distinguish between ally and enemy symbols.

After making their initial choice, participants were presented with input from an AI system. Unbeknownst to the subjects, this AI advice was entirely random and not based on any actual analysis of the images.

Two-thirds Swayed by AI Input

The results of the study were striking. Approximately two-thirds of participants changed their initial decision when the AI disagreed with them. This occurred despite participants being explicitly informed that the AI had limited capabilities and could provide incorrect advice.

Professor Colin Holbrook, a principal investigator of the study, expressed concern over these findings: “As a society, with AI accelerating so quickly, we need to be concerned about the potential for overtrust.”

Varied Robot Appearances and Their Impact

The study also explored whether the physical appearance of the AI system influenced participants’ trust levels. Researchers used a range of AI representations, including:

A full-size, human-looking android present in the room

A human-like robot projected on a screen

Box-like robots with no anthropomorphic features

Interestingly, while the human-like robots had a marginally stronger influence when advising participants to change their minds, the effect was relatively consistent across all types of AI representations. This suggests that our tendency to trust AI advice extends beyond anthropomorphic designs and applies even to clearly non-human systems.

Implications Beyond the Battlefield

While the study used a military scenario as its backdrop, the implications of these findings stretch far beyond the battlefield. The researchers emphasize that the core issue – excessive trust in AI under uncertain circumstances – has broad applications across various critical decision-making contexts.

Law Enforcement Decisions: In law enforcement, the integration of AI for risk assessment and decision support is becoming increasingly common. The study’s findings raise important questions about how AI recommendations might influence officers’ judgment in high-pressure situations, potentially affecting decisions about the use of force.

Medical Emergency Scenarios: The medical field is another area where AI is making significant inroads, particularly in diagnosis and treatment planning. The UC Merced study suggests a need for caution in how medical professionals integrate AI advice into their decision-making processes, especially in emergency situations where time is of the essence and the stakes are high.

Other High-Stakes Decision-Making Contexts: Beyond these specific examples, the study’s findings have implications for any field where critical decisions are made under pressure and with incomplete information. This could include financial trading, disaster response, or even high-level political and strategic decision-making.

The key takeaway is that while AI can be a powerful tool for augmenting human decision-making, we must be wary of over-relying on these systems, especially when the consequences of a wrong decision could be severe.

The Psychology of AI Trust

The UC Merced study’s findings raise intriguing questions about the psychological factors that lead humans to place such high trust in AI systems, even in high-stakes situations.

Several factors may contribute to this phenomenon of “AI overtrust”:

The perception of AI as inherently objective and free from human biases

A tendency to attribute greater capabilities to AI systems than they actually possess

The “automation bias,” where people give undue weight to computer-generated information

A possible abdication of responsibility in difficult decision-making scenarios

Professor Holbrook notes that despite the subjects being told about the AI’s limitations, they still deferred to its judgment at an alarming rate. This suggests that our trust in AI may be more deeply ingrained than previously thought, potentially overriding explicit warnings about its fallibility.

Another concerning aspect revealed by the study is the tendency to generalize AI competence across different domains. As AI systems demonstrate impressive capabilities in specific areas, there’s a risk of assuming they’ll be equally proficient in unrelated tasks.

“We see AI doing extraordinary things and we think that because it’s amazing in this domain, it will be amazing in another,” Professor Holbrook cautions. “We can’t assume that. These are still devices with limited abilities.”

This misconception could lead to dangerous situations where AI is trusted with critical decisions in areas where its capabilities haven’t been thoroughly vetted or proven.

The UC Merced study has also sparked a crucial dialogue among experts about the future of human-AI interaction, particularly in high-stakes environments.

Professor Holbrook, a key figure in the study, emphasizes the need for a more nuanced approach to AI integration. He stresses that while AI can be a powerful tool, it should not be seen as a replacement for human judgment, especially in critical situations.

“We should have a healthy skepticism about AI,” Holbrook states, “especially in life-or-death decisions.” This sentiment underscores the importance of maintaining human oversight and final decision-making authority in critical scenarios.

The study’s findings have led to calls for a more balanced approach to AI adoption. Experts suggest that organizations and individuals should cultivate a “healthy skepticism” towards AI systems, which involves:

Recognizing the specific capabilities and limitations of AI tools

Maintaining critical thinking skills when presented with AI-generated advice

Regularly assessing the performance and reliability of AI systems in use

Providing comprehensive training on the proper use and interpretation of AI outputs

Balancing AI Integration and Human Judgment

As we continue to integrate AI into various aspects of decision-making, responsible AI and finding the right balance between leveraging AI capabilities and maintaining human judgment is crucial.

One key takeaway from the UC Merced study is the importance of consistently applying doubt when interacting with AI systems. This doesn’t mean rejecting AI input outright, but rather approaching it with a critical mindset and evaluating its relevance and reliability in each specific context.

To prevent overtrust, it’s essential that users of AI systems have a clear understanding of what these systems can and cannot do. This includes recognizing that:

AI systems are trained on specific datasets and may not perform well outside their training domain

The “intelligence” of AI does not necessarily include ethical reasoning or real-world awareness

AI can make mistakes or produce biased results, especially when dealing with novel situations

Strategies for Responsible AI Adoption in Critical Sectors

Organizations looking to integrate AI into critical decision-making processes should consider the following strategies:

Implement robust testing and validation procedures for AI systems before deployment

Provide comprehensive training for human operators on both the capabilities and limitations of AI tools

Establish clear protocols for when and how AI input should be used in decision-making processes

Maintain human oversight and the ability to override AI recommendations when necessary

Regularly review and update AI systems to ensure their continued reliability and relevance

The Bottom Line

The UC Merced study serves as a crucial wake-up call about the potential dangers of excessive trust in AI, particularly in high-stakes situations. As we stand on the brink of widespread AI integration across various sectors, it’s imperative that we approach this technological revolution with both enthusiasm and caution.

The future of human-AI collaboration in decision-making will need to involve a delicate balance. On one hand, we must harness the immense potential of AI to process vast amounts of data and provide valuable insights. On the other, we must maintain a healthy skepticism and preserve the irreplaceable elements of human judgment, including ethical reasoning, contextual understanding, and the ability to make nuanced decisions in complex, real-world scenarios.

As we move forward, ongoing research, open dialogue, and thoughtful policy-making will be essential in shaping a future where AI enhances, rather than replaces, human decision-making capabilities. By fostering a culture of informed skepticism and responsible AI adoption, we can work towards a future where humans and AI systems collaborate effectively, leveraging the strengths of both to make better, more informed decisions in all aspects of life.

[thememakker]

Mplify - Versatile Bootstrap 4 Admin Template by Thememakker

Mplify Admin makes the development process easy and fast for you and aims to help you implement your idea in real time.

Product Highlights

Mplify is a fully professional, responsive, modern, multi-purpose, and feature-rich admin template. It can be used to create various websites, admin templates, admin dashboards, backend websites, CMS, CRM, blogs, business websites, timelines, and portfolios. This versatility makes it an ideal choice for developers looking to build functional and aesthetically pleasing web applications efficiently.

Key Features

Bootstrap 4.3.1: Ensures compatibility and modern design standards.

jQuery 3.3.1: Offers extensive plugins and support.

Built-in SCSS: Provides more flexibility and control over styles.

Light & Dark Full Support: Allows users to switch between light and dark themes.

RTL Full Support: Right-to-left language support for global accessibility.

W3C Validate Code: Ensures high coding standards and practices.

Mobile and Tablet Friendly: Responsive design for all devices.

Treeview: For hierarchical data display.

Drag & Drop Upload: Simplifies file uploading processes.

Image Cropping: Integrated tools for editing images.

Summernote: Rich text editor integration.

Markdown: Support for markdown formatting.

Beautiful Inbox Interface: User-friendly email management.

User-Friendly Chat App: Built-in chat application.

Scrum & Kanban Taskboard: Task management tools.

Add Events to Your Calendar: Event management capabilities.

File Manager: Efficient file organization and management.

Blogging: Tools to manage and create blog posts.

Testimonials: Features to showcase user testimonials.

Maintenance: Tools to manage and schedule maintenance.

Team Board: Collaboration tools for team management.

Search Result: Enhanced search functionalities.

Beautiful Pricing: Elegant pricing tables and plans.

Contact List & Grid: Efficient contact management.

User Profile: Customizable user profiles.

Extended Forms: Advanced form functionalities.

Clean Widgets: A variety of clean, modern widgets.

Technical Specifications

Bootstrap 4.3.1

Bootstrap 4.3.1 is a powerful front-end framework for faster and easier web development. It includes HTML and CSS-based design templates for typography, forms, buttons, tables, navigation, modals, image carousels, and many other interface components, as well as optional JavaScript plugins. Mplify leverages Bootstrap 4.3.1 to ensure a consistent and responsive design across all devices.

jQuery 3.3.1

jQuery is a fast, small, and feature-rich JavaScript library. It makes things like HTML document traversal and manipulation, event handling, and animation much simpler with an easy-to-use custom API integration that works across a multitude of browsers. Mplify includes jQuery 3.3.1 to provide enhanced functionality and interactivity to your applications.

Built-in SCSS

SCSS is a preprocessor scripting language that is interpreted or compiled into CSS. It allows you to use variables, nested rules, mixins, inline imports, and more, all with a fully CSS-compatible syntax. With SCSS, Mplify offers a more powerful and flexible way to manage styles.

Light & Dark Full Support

Mplify comes with built-in support for light and dark themes, allowing users to switch between these modes based on their preferences. This feature enhances user experience and accessibility, especially in different lighting conditions.

RTL Full Support

For developers targeting global audiences, Mplify provides full right-to-left (RTL) language support. This feature ensures that languages like Arabic, Hebrew, and Persian are properly displayed, making the template versatile and inclusive.

W3C Validate Code

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) sets the standards for web development. Mplify adheres to W3C's coding standards, ensuring that the template is built with clean, valid code, which improves browser compatibility, SEO, and overall performance.

Mobile and Tablet Friendly

In today's mobile-first world, having a responsive design is crucial. Mplify is designed to be fully responsive, ensuring that your mobile application looks great and functions seamlessly on all devices, including desktops, tablets, and smartphones.

Applications

Mplify’s versatile design and feature set make it suitable for a wide range of applications across various industries. Here are some key applications:

Admin Dashboards

Mplify provides a robust framework for building admin dashboards. With its extensive set of UI components, charts, forms, and tables, you can create comprehensive dashboards that provide valuable insights and data visualization.

CMS (Content Management Systems)

With features like blogging, file management, and user profile management, Mplify can be used to build powerful CMS platforms. Its clean widgets and beautiful interface ensure that the content management experience is both efficient and enjoyable.

CRM (Customer Relationship Management)

Mplify’s built-in tools for managing contacts, scheduling events, and maintaining communication through a chat app make it an excellent choice for developing CRM systems. These features help businesses manage customer interactions and data effectively.

Business Websites

The multi-purpose nature of Mplify allows it to be used for various business websites. Whether you need a portfolio, a blog, or a corporate website, Mplify provides the necessary tools and components to create a professional online presence.

Blogging Platforms

With integrated tools like Summernote for rich text editing and Markdown support, Mplify is ideal for creating blogging platforms. The beautiful inbox interface and testimonial features enhance the blogging experience, making it easy to manage and publish content.

Benefits

Easy and Fast Development

Mplify is designed to streamline the development process. With its pre-built components and templates, you can quickly assemble functional and aesthetically pleasing applications. This reduces development time and costs, allowing you to focus on implementing your ideas in real time.

Professional and Modern Design

Mplify offers a clean, modern design that is both professional and user-friendly. The template includes a variety of customizable widgets and components that adhere to the latest design standards, ensuring your application looks polished and up-to-date.

Comprehensive Feature Set

From task management tools like Scrum and Kanban boards to extensive form functionalities, Mplify provides a wide range of features that cater to various needs. This comprehensive feature set makes it a versatile solution for different types of projects.

Responsive and Mobile-Friendly

With Mplify, you can ensure that your application is accessible on all devices. Its responsive design adapts to different screen sizes, providing a seamless user experience on desktops, tablets, and smartphones.

Global Accessibility

Mplify’s RTL support and multi-language capabilities make it suitable for global applications. This feature ensures that your application can cater to users from different regions, enhancing its reach and usability.

Regular Updates and Support

When you purchase a license for Mplify, you receive all future updates for free. This ensures that your application remains up-to-date with the latest features and improvements. Additionally, Mplify provides excellent customer support to assist with any issues or queries.

Challenges and Limitations

Learning Curve

While Mplify is designed to be user-friendly, there may be a learning curve for beginners who are not familiar with Bootstrap or jQuery. However, comprehensive documentation and community support can help mitigate this challenge.

Customization

Although Mplify offers a wide range of customization options, extensive customization may require advanced knowledge of SCSS and JavaScript. This could be a limitation for developers who are not well-versed in these technologies.

Performance

As with any feature-rich template, there is a potential for performance issues if too many components and plugins are used simultaneously. It is important to optimize the application and selectively use features to maintain optimal performance.

Latest Innovations

Enhanced UI Components

Mplify continues to evolve with regular updates that introduce new and improved UI components. These enhancements ensure that your application remains modern and functional.

Advanced-Data Visualization

Recent updates have focused on improving data visualization capabilities. With enhanced charting tools and interactive elements, Mplify allows for more dynamic and engaging data presentation.

Integration with New Technologies

Mplify is continuously updated to integrate with the latest web technologies. This ensures compatibility with new frameworks and libraries, providing developers with more tools to build advanced applications.

Future Prospects

AI and Machine Learning Integration

The future of Mplify may include integration with AI and machine learning tools. This would enable developers to build more intelligent and automated applications, enhancing user experience and functionality.

Expanded Plugin Support

As the web development landscape evolves, Mplify is likely to expand its plugin support. This will provide developers with more options for extending the functionality of their applications.

Improved Accessibility Features

Mplify is expected to continue enhancing its accessibility features. This includes better support for assistive technologies and compliance with accessibility standards, ensuring that applications built with Mplify are inclusive for all users.

Comparative Analysis

Versus Other Bootstrap Templates

When compared to other Bootstrap templates, Mplify stands out due to its comprehensive feature set, modern design, and extensive customization options. While other templates may offer similar components, Mplify's unique features like RTL support and advanced task management tools give it an edge.

Versus Custom Development

Opting for a pre-built template like Mplify can significantly reduce development time and costs compared to custom web development. While custom development offers more flexibility, Mplify provides a robust foundation that can be easily customized to meet specific needs.

User Guides and Tutorials

Getting Started with Mplify

Installation: Download and install Mplify from the official website or marketplace.

Configuration: Configure the template settings according to your project requirements.

Customization: Use the built-in SCSS files to customize the styles and appearance.

Integration: Integrate Mplify with your backend systems and databases.

Deployment: Deploy your application on your preferred hosting platform.

Advanced Customization Techniques

SCSS Variables: Use SCSS variables to easily change colors, fonts, and other styles.

JavaScript Customization: Extend the functionality by adding custom JavaScript code.

Component Modification: Modify existing components or create new ones to meet specific needs.

Performance Optimization: Optimize the performance by minifying CSS and JavaScript files, and selectively loading components.

Conclusion

Mplify is a powerful, versatile, and user-friendly Bootstrap 4 admin dashboard template. It offers a wide range of features and customization options, making it suitable for various applications, from admin dashboards to business websites. With its modern design, responsive layout, and extensive documentation, Mplify simplifies the development process, allowing developers to implement their ideas in real time efficiently.

Whether you are building a CMS, CRM, or a personal blog, Mplify provides the tools and flexibility needed to create a professional and functional web application. Its ongoing updates and support ensure that your projects remain current and compatible with the latest web technologies.

[eradicatetehnormal]

Capitalism really does kill art, huh? I hope all of you multimedia majors are going into journalism or professional editing 'cause pretty soon I'm not sure if you're going to be able to do shit else.

We can't stop this. Not right now. Not without some really asinine legal findings that would essentially ban other forms of art like parody. I hope in due time artists will be able to get an artist-only platform that refuses to let their stuff be used by AI. If that happens, then hopefully AI will start to cannibalize itself more than it already has.

Roomie made a good point, saying that the bigger stars will be fine. So many people love the aesthetic or personality of a Billie Elish or a Nicki Minaj. Smaller artist? People like Mystery Skulls or Asian Glow? They're fucked.

[txttletale]

genuinely curious but I don't know how to phrase this in a way that sounds less accusatory so please know I'm asking in good faith and am just bad at words

what are your thoughts on the environmental impact of generative ai? do you think the cost for all the cooling system is worth the tasks generative ai performs? I've been wrangling this because while I feel like I can justify it as smaller scales, that would mean it isn't a publicly available tool which I also feel uncomfortable with

the environmental impacts of genAI are almost always one of three things, both by their detractors and their boosters:

vastly overstated

stated correctly, but with a deceptive lack of context (ie, giving numbers in watt-hours, or amount of water 'used' for cooling, without necessary context like what comparable services use or what actually happens to that water)

assumed to be on track to grow constantly as genAI sees universal adoption across every industry

like, when water is used to cool a datacenter, that datacenter isn't just "a big building running chatgpt" -- datacenters are the backbone of the modern internet. now, i mean, all that said, the basic question here: no, i don't think it's a good tradeoff to be burning fossil fuels to power the magic 8ball. but asking that question in a vacuum (imo) elides a lot of the realities of power consumption in the global north by exceptionalizing genAI as opposed to, for example, video streaming, or online games. or, for that matter, for any number of other things.

so to me a lot of this stuff seems like very selective outrage in most cases, people working backwards from all the twitter artists on their dashboard hating midjourney to find an ethical reason why it is irredeemably evil.

& in the best, good-faith cases, it's taking at face value the claims of genAI companies and datacenter owners that the power usage will continue spiralling as the technology is integrated into every aspect of our lives. but to be blunt, i think it's a little naive to take these estimates seriously: these companies rely on their stock prices remaining high and attractive to investors, so they have enormous financial incentives not only to lie but to make financial decisions as if the universal adoption boom is just around the corner at all times. but there's no actual business plan! these companies are burning gigantic piles of money every day, because this is a bubble

so tldr: i don't think most things fossil fuels are burned for are 'worth it', but the response to that is a comprehensive climate politics and not an individualistic 'carbon footprint' approach, certainly not one that chooses chatgpt as its battleground. genAI uses a lot of power but at a rate currently comparable to other massively popular digital leisure products like fortnite or netflix -- forecasts of it massively increasing by several orders of magnitude are in my opinion unfounded and can mostly be traced back to people who have a direct financial stake in this being the case because their business model is an obvious boondoggle otherwise.

[imsobadatnicknames2]

I think nothing illustrates my issues with the integrity of the anti-AI art movement than Cara.

Like... you're building an art platform that pitches itself as AI-art free with cheesy purple prose about how generative AI training is unethical and exploitative and it's important for artists to have a platform that prioritizes and respects the human factor and then your response for how your AI art detection and moderation works is "we outsource it", which for anything as labor-intensive as moderation is basically tech industry code for "we pay a company that pays a bunch of poor people in a third world country in peanuts to do it for us 🤭"

[compassionmattersmost]

Voices from History Are Whispering to Us, Still

To Hold Steady and Seek the Wisdom They Once Prayed For As I begin to read and reflect on the birth of our nation, I find myself drawn to The Debate on the Constitution, edited by Bernard Bailyn. In this remarkable collection, voices from the founding era come alive through letters, speeches, and passionate exchanges over the very principles that would shape America’s future. My journey through…

[thisisgraeme]

Transform Learning with AI in Education: Volume 1 - Insights for Educators

Kia ora! I’m excited to share Volume 1: AI in Education–Insights for Educators, a practical guide for educators and leaders in Aotearoa. Learn how to navigate AI tools, ensure ethical use, and apply culturally responsive frameworks to support all learners

Why We Wrote a Guide on AI in Education (And Why This is Just the Beginning) Kia ora! Over the past year, I’ve been working with my fellow AI enthusiast, Michael Grawe, on a project that’s been both exciting and challenging: a three-part guide series on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education, tailored specifically for educators in Aotearoa New Zealand. We just released Volume 1, and I’m…

[pillowfort-social]

Generative AI Policy (February 9, 2024)

As of February 9, 2024, we are updating our Terms of Service to prohibit the following content:

Images created through the use of generative AI programs such as Stable Diffusion, Midjourney, and Dall-E.

This post explains what that means for you. We know it’s impossible to remove all images created by Generative AI on Pillowfort. The goal of this new policy, however, is to send a clear message that we are against the normalization of commercializing and distributing images created by Generative AI. Pillowfort stands in full support of all creatives who make Pillowfort their home. Disclaimer: The following policy was shaped in collaboration with Pillowfort Staff and international university researchers. We are aware that Artificial Intelligence is a rapidly evolving environment. This policy may require revisions in the future to adapt to the changing landscape of Generative AI. 

-

Why is Generative AI Banned on Pillowfort?

Our Terms of Service already prohibits copyright violations, which includes reposting other people’s artwork to Pillowfort without the artist’s permission; and because of how Generative AI draws on a database of images and text that were taken without consent from artists or writers, all Generative AI content can be considered in violation of this rule. We also had an overwhelming response from our user base urging us to take action on prohibiting Generative AI on our platform.  

-

How does Pillowfort define Generative AI?

As of February 9, 2024 we define Generative AI as online tools for producing material based on large data collection that is often gathered without consent or notification from the original creators.

Generative AI tools do not require skill on behalf of the user and effectively replace them in the creative process (ie - little direction or decision making taken directly from the user). Tools that assist creativity don't replace the user. This means the user can still improve their skills and refine over time. 

For example: If you ask a Generative AI tool to add a lighthouse to an image, the image of a lighthouse appears in a completed state. Whereas if you used an assistive drawing tool to add a lighthouse to an image, the user decides the tools used to contribute to the creation process and how to apply them. 

Examples of Tools Not Allowed on Pillowfort: Adobe Firefly* Dall-E GPT-4 Jasper Chat Lensa Midjourney Stable Diffusion Synthesia

Example of Tools Still Allowed on Pillowfort: 

AI Assistant Tools (ie: Google Translate, Grammarly) VTuber Tools (ie: Live3D, Restream, VRChat) Digital Audio Editors (ie: Audacity, Garage Band) Poser & Reference Tools (ie: Poser, Blender) Graphic & Image Editors (ie: Canva, Adobe Photoshop*, Procreate, Medibang, automatic filters from phone cameras)

*While Adobe software such as Adobe Photoshop is not considered Generative AI, Adobe Firefly is fully integrated in various Adobe software and falls under our definition of Generative AI. The use of Adobe Photoshop is allowed on Pillowfort. The creation of an image in Adobe Photoshop using Adobe Firefly would be prohibited on Pillowfort. 

-

Can I use ethical generators? 

Due to the evolving nature of Generative AI, ethical generators are not an exception.

-

Can I still talk about AI? 

Yes! Posts, Comments, and User Communities discussing AI are still allowed on Pillowfort.

-

Can I link to or embed websites, articles, or social media posts containing Generative AI? 

Yes. We do ask that you properly tag your post as “AI” and “Artificial Intelligence.”

-

Can I advertise the sale of digital or virtual goods containing Generative AI?

No. Offsite Advertising of the sale of goods (digital and physical) containing Generative AI on Pillowfort is prohibited.

-

How can I tell if a software I use contains Generative AI?

A general rule of thumb as a first step is you can try testing the software by turning off internet access and seeing if the tool still works. If the software says it needs to be online there’s a chance it’s using Generative AI and needs to be explored further. 

You are also always welcome to contact us at moderation@pillowfort.social if you’re still unsure.

-

How will this policy be enforced/detected?

Our Team has decided we are NOT using AI-based automated detection tools due to how often they provide false positives and other issues. We are applying a suite of methods sourced from international universities responding to moderating material potentially sourced from Generative AI instead.

-

How do I report content containing Generative AI Material?

If you are concerned about post(s) featuring Generative AI material, please flag the post for our Site Moderation Team to conduct a thorough investigation. As a reminder, Pillowfort’s existing policy regarding callout posts applies here and harassment / brigading / etc will not be tolerated. 

Any questions or clarifications regarding our Generative AI Policy can be sent to moderation@pillowfort.social.