Designing with extended intelligences

Reflection on seminar
During this reflection, I will explore three significant areas: the accessibility of AI for designers, my most recent experience with prompts, and the ethical considerations associated with incorporating new AI and automated systems.

Our seminar on Artificial Intelligence, focusing on 'extended intelligences,' served as my initial introduction to the intricacies of this complex field. As a designer, the idea that such a sophisticated system was within my reach had never crossed my mind. The subsequent seminar, 'Designing with Extended Intelligences,' not only reinforced the feasibility of using this tool but also brought its practicality into sharper focus. The examples and exercises conducted over three days used technology within our grasp, making the learning experience playful and accessible. This brief training not only prepared us for the upcoming Micro challenge but also brought a greater sense of comfort with the subject matter and hands-on application, even for those with limited coding knowledge.

This exposure motivated me to further experiment with ChatGPT prompts, such as attempting 3D modelling in Blender. With the assistance of ChatGPT in generating Python code for Blender, I successfully produced shapes with correct geometry. While ChatGPT performed admirably for simpler shapes, I recognised the importance of prompting one code modification at a time to avoid misunderstandings. Despite these minor challenges, the overall performance of ChatGPT3 was good. Additionally, it's noteworthy that both ChatGPT3 and ChatGPT4 encountered issues when merging two Python codes into one. Despite clear explanations that the codes were identical, differing only in the type of 'speculative shape' generated, challenges persisted. It's possible that I didn't prompt it with enough specificity. Ultimately, I sought assistance from one of our teachers to successfully merge the two codes.

Through the ongoing discussions held throughout the year, I've developed a deeper understanding of the ethics surrounding data usage and the power dynamics it entails. Contemplating the implications of a higher power controlling data versus a community being in control of their data has made many questions emerge. The technologies we're developing inevitably raise ethical questions: What information are we willing to provide to an automated system? Do I comprehend how this data is utilised? What potential impacts might arise? These are just a few of the ethical considerations we struggle with in our technological pursuits.