“Hey, Siri! Take a note!” I shouted from inside the glass shower stall. As usual, she did not listen and required additional prompting, water dripping on the bathroom floor when she continued to ignore or misinterperet my voice commands. Once our communication obstacles were overcome, I continued my dictation with the shower door open. Two days later, I found time to pop the drafted content into ChatGPT and begin framing an article.
As someone often knee-deep in professional and personal responsibilities, I have come to realize that embracing AI is not just an option; it’s a necessity. AI has been instrumental in keeping my life on track, especially during this hectic week. AI is helping me keep the mom-camp shuttle bus running, facilitating time for showers, and ensuring my ideas and learnings reach you all.
The week began with my aforementioned boyfriend and I parting ways. Sadness settled in and the same week my live-in babysitter decided to travel for seven days and gave me just two hours notice, leaving me without backup. I had 2 children to care for and around 80 hours of work to do. Overwhelmed and very sad doesn’t begin to describe my mental state. My mantra, “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can” coupled with some basic AI-support saved the day.
The Unexpected Helper
AI didn’t complete, oversee or lead any of my projects, but it played a crucial role in making my life manageable. It was like having an assistant who could nudge my genius along a bit faster, helping me juggle my responsibilities gracefully (albeit with plenty of mandated Time-Outs).Instead of hiding under bed covers and watching Bridgerton, I used AI tools to help address the wicked problems our sector grapples with and contributed to our collective knowledge.
My experience using AI last week was game changing. (Join one of my training sessions to see just how impactful this tool can be for your daily workflows).
I was reminded of the early days of the internet and web-based research. Accessing special archives used to require traveling to places like Venice, or Cambridge and joining an elite circle of scholars with access to those repositories of knowledge. The internet drove equity, access, and inclusion by making these archives available online; To the chagrin of a few established scholars and research libraries. Many more supported the movement and now most special archives can be viewed from any web portal. Scholars from all corners of the world and all walks of life can weave together knowledge from the perspective of their lived experience and wherever their curiosity takes them.
AI is doing the same for us today, democratizing access to knowledge and tools, and accelerating our ability to excel.
AI and Equity (let’s level the playing field)
This journey has also made me reflect on the broader implications of AI, especially in discussions about equity. AI has the potential to level the playing field, providing regular folks with the tools they need to succeed. It can help us manage our responsibilities more effectively, giving us the ability to achieve excellence in our endeavors. AI is an accelerant and we should proceed with caution, but we must proceed. The tool is here.
I vividly remember the June day I presented at the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers. My friend had advised me to write a script and rehearse multiple times for such events. I didn’t have this luxury. At 9pm the night before the panel presentation – with Jean Westrick, Don Chen, and Dave Cole – I was still writing speaking notes. During our panel, Don emphasized that we can't get caught flat-footed when technology is transforming society more quickly than we can imagine. I did not use an Ai-assistant then, but imagine if I had. I could have made earlier, quicker progress on a script, and deployed Ai-assisted rehearsal training.
I still delivered mic-drop comments. But imagine how organized and on-point we all could be with a little more AI in our lives. With my fellow panelists, we discussed AI’s promise and peril and explored the profound impact it will have on our lives.
Balancing Authenticity and AI
I understand the push back – people want authenticity and extemporaneous speaking. But I can’t be everywhere, all the time, for everyone. Two small children often derail my aggressive timelines and high-performing expectations. I want to share my genius with the sector and help solve wicked problems. Technology tools can help - especially when they are deployed ethically, responsibly, and inclusively.
My experience with AI has been transformative. It provided the support I needed during a challenging week and showed me the incredible potential it holds for enhancing our daily lives. Embracing AI is not just about keeping up with technology; it’s about harnessing its power to improve our quality of life and achieve our goals more efficiently. At its core, using AI is a discussion of equity - who can use it, when, and how - and who decides which uses are acceptable.
The internet revolutionized the way we work and learn, making room for new methods of research and collaboration. In the early 2000s, I loved visiting the stacks in Northwestern’s special collections. Now, I write and research with an ongoing stream of requests, questions and squeals (water, popcorn, a different show, tablet passwords, Why do I work so much? What’s for dinner? Where are all the swim shorts? EEEEEK) as background noise. I’m thrilled that I can access knowledge from my home computer and start blogs from the shower. AI is the next wave of innovation. Will we meet the moment with equity, access, and inclusion at the center of our approaches or will we maintain an elitist stance.
