Embracing the Power of AI: Advocacy, Activism, & Policy-Making

Welcome back, friends!

As another week winds down, the world around us is buzzing with AI advancements and heated debates. We definitely live in exciting times. A recent article in Bloomberg reignited a significant conversation about the risks of AI. Of course we have to be mindful of these concerns, but it's equally important to balance the risks - of which we have no definitive way of establishing with any certainty - with the known transformative potential of AI.

Today, we're focusing on the positive changes fueled by AI in fields like advocacy and activism. We will also touch on my favorite topic … the synergistic relationship between policy and AI … as these technologies continue to show a growing influence in policy-making. With that said, let's journey together, as these are interesting times to be alive.

Let's dive in…

Welcome to day 2 of reliving middle school weekly vocab! Hopefully we aren’t dredging up school age trauma, we hope to continue providing you with this key content to help you build a base understanding of AI tech terms. We appreciate the feedback and enthusiasm we have already received for this new direction, and we're ready to dive into the next batch of terms today.

Here are the next five terms that our GPT-4 AI model, STAR, has carefully chosen and defined to empower you to engage and contribute to ongoing discussions:

Data Mining: Data mining is a process used by companies to turn raw data into useful information. It involves using statistical techniques to discover patterns of information within a dataset to forecast outcomes. This technique is a crucial part of the decision-making process in various business operations, from market analysis to fraud detection.

Algorithm: An algorithm is a set of step-by-step instructions that a computer follows to complete a task. In the context of AI and machine learning, algorithms are used to process data, learn from it, and make predictions or decisions without human intervention. Note from AiBossLady: to date, all algorithms are still trained by humans and since humans have bias, their algorithms have repeatedly been found to also possess their bias. We have discussed this previously and it will be the topic for one entire newsletter next week, so look for it.

Supervised Learning: A type of machine learning where the AI system is trained using labeled data, i.e., data paired with the correct answers. The AI system uses this training data to learn the relationships between the input and the output and makes predictions based on that learned relationship when it encounters new, similar data.

Unsupervised Learning: Another type of machine learning, but unlike supervised learning, the AI system is not provided with the correct answers, or labels, during training. Instead, the AI system identifies patterns and structures within the input data on its own.

Reinforcement Learning: A type of machine learning where an AI system learns to make decisions by performing certain actions and receiving rewards or penalties. The AI system aims to maximize its total reward, leading to the learning of the best actions to take in various situations.

Remember, these definitions are just the beginning. Each term opens up a new world of concepts, techniques, and practices in the realm of AI and technology. While it would be easier if it were as simple as remembering a few new definitions, it would mean no one could use AI to their advantage in politics, policy influence, or campaigns - then OPAC wouldn’t need to offer consulting to show nonprofits, advocacy organizations, and political pros how to leverage it😉. As the amount of information provided in AI Foundations section builds on previous ‘lessons’, we are working to compile all the information into a document which we will begin linking to this section as early as next week. As always, feel free to reply to these emails or reach out to AiBossLady on Twitter with your thoughts and suggestions.

While AI might be part of your everyday vernacular like it is ours, you might be taken aback to hear that per Pew Research, 58% of Americans have heard of ChatGPT. But far less - 14% - have tried it. More surprising, only roughly four-in-ten Americans who have tried ChatGPT say it has been somewhat useful.

Considering how few have tried it and how few believe it is only somewhat useful, it would shock most of the country to learn AI technologies have already wholly shaped various policies globally. Governments and organizations have worked hard to continuously adapt to the rapidly evolving digital landscape. Below are two instances where AI is already impacting policy and a little info about each:

Data privacy and protection: The European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a prime example. The GDPR was enacted in part to manage the challenges posed by AI and machine learning technologies. The first of these that come to mind are facial recognition, tracking and keeping tabs on our digital footprint, and even giving law enforcement access to messages where an algorithm believes a crime is being planned and/or the movements of a person of interest based on their GPS coordinates stored in their phones. The GDPR regulation mandates, among other things, that individuals have a right to understand decisions made by automated systems and to opt-out of certain kinds of data processing. While this is a well intentioned attempt at directly addressing concerns raised by AI technologies, until the worlds population understands the technology, it is unlikely to fully grasp how AI tech can be used against them or to reduce their freedom.

Transportation and infrastructure: The US Department of Transportation (US DOT) has released guidelines for self-driving vehicles. They work to lay out a complete plan to incorporate AI-driven technologies into existing our transportation systems. These guidelines address safety standards, promote consistent regulations across states, and outline strategies for working with researchers and developers in the autonomous vehicle industry. They represent another area where the relationship between AI and policy is symbiotic. The need for regulation exists because of advancements in AI technologies, but the same AI technologies are providing advanced and innovative infrastructure policy solutions which are sorely needed to respond to the decrepit state of infrastructure in the US. This serves as yet another illustration of the importance of well-informed, forward-thinking policy decisions in response to rapidly advancing technology.

Time to pause to enjoy the humorous side of technology.

Before we dive into today's comic strip, let's kick things off with a quick chuckle:

That joke from STAR really "clouded" our day with laughter! If you need to catch up on our previous emails from AI Impact, you can find them here. On a more serious note, today's comic strip brings up an interesting point. As we delve further into the realm of AI and technology, it's fascinating to consider who, or what, is truly capable of leading the charge into the future. It's a playful reminder that while AI and robots are making significant strides, there are still many facets of leadership and world governance that are uniquely human. However, as we approach the 2024 elections, we'll be keeping a close eye on how technology, and perhaps even penguins, could influence the race in unexpected ways!

As we conclude todays newsletter, we reflect on this weeks discussions on AI's role in the changing career of campaign management, the election itself, and activism. As we approach the weekend, we encourage you to carry these insights forward, applying them to your own work, community, and life. Whether you're delving deeper into the AI landscape, unwinding, or considering reaching out to OPAC to learn how you can further embrace and/or implement AI tech in your career, nonprofit, or advocacy organization we wish you a fulfilling weekend with inspiration … whatever that looks like to you. We eagerly anticipate our continued journey together and look forward to reconnecting next week.

Here's 🥂to a weekend of discovery and rest! Until our digital paths cross again, keep making an impact.