The Knitter and the Robut Should be Friends
If that title makes you hum the Farmer and Cowman song from the musical Oklahoma! I don’t blame you one bit. In fact, here’s a YouTube video of the whole song if you need it:
Some of us have a special sort of condition that needs the closure of hearing the whole song through to completion. I see you, friends.
Politics Is for Lightweights
I learned an absolutely fascinating point of disagreement at my last large family gathering.
We’re a pretty diverse group when it comes to political and social opinions and proclivities. We share plenty of common ground so there’s no shortage of stuff to talk about, but as you’d expect from any large group spanning multiple generations (four!), there are also a few areas with some strong differences of opinions.
Thankfully, I’m related to people who are willing to tactfully avoid poking at each other (with the exception of my stinky little brother now and then). We can navigate around known strong differences of opinion when the occasion calls for it.
But every now and then, we discover one where we never knew it existed. This summer? The big one?
AI.
That’s right. Artificial Intelligence.
No one came to blows or even shouted. We’re far too well-behaved for that. (Well, most of us, anyway. I can hear the snickers, family.) But I was surprised by the depth of feelings some of my family members had on this topic, and how it reflects the current debates going on in academic and artistic forums.
Mental Hives
I can confess to having an instinctive distrust and dislike for the general idea of using AI in creative and academic fields. That’s my default, especially coming from a Humanities academic background.
I know I have this default because Greg, who works in an industry that actively looks for ways to embrace and harness the potential of AI, sometimes suggests using “The Robut” (my name for ChatGPT and things like it) for something and I immediately experience this weird sort of mentally itchy revulsion that feels 2 parts cheaty and 3 parts allergy. If there was such a thing as Mental Benadryl, I’d take it.
After all:
- I grew up watching reruns of The Jetsons. The kids were not allowed to ask The Robuts to do their homework, right?
- I’m pretty sure plagiarism is one of the seven deadly academic sins, and am I wrong in assuming that was all ChatGPT is capable of doing?
- And for the love of the Energizer Bunny, have you SEEN The Matrix?! The Terminator?! Do we really want thinking Robuts?
That was my starting point with AI.
The Downside
My AI-opposed family members had some more rational-sounding arguments. Apparently, there’s a significant environmental impact that comes along with the computer power needed to support generative AI.
One person described logical problems that can result in AI generating lists of things (including books, sources, etc.) that don’t actually exist. Oops.
And then there are the times when it’s just flat wrong. Here’s an example for your enjoyment.
I was knitting a hat for my mother, inspired by a stitch she saw on a pillow cover. I worked out the cable pattern, gauge, and everything required to design the hat up to the decreases at the top of the hat. I wanted to try and work them symmetrically, if possible, with perfectly even spacing. I knew that I’d have to fiddle with the stitch count a bit to make that happen, and it would involve a good bit of mathing.
AHA! I thought. What better use for a souped-up calculator than a whole bunch of relatively simple math?
I typed in all my requirements, multiple of x, divisible by y, total stitch count near z, etc.
The Robut gave me options. It discussed the merits thereof. It offered to write a beginner-friendly pattern of whichever one I chose (pass the Mental Benadryl, please).
It also told me that 157 was closer to 150 than 160.
I just don’t even know what to do with that. It’s simply not allowed.
And then there’s what happened when we asked The Robut to help us with a logo for Mr. Darcy the Sheep. We were hoping for a Valais Blacknose Sheep holding a pair of knitting needles.
This is what we got.
I’m not terribly concerned about the Robuts taking over the world yet.
The Upside
Metaphysical debates and mental hives aside, I have grown to appreciate AI and The Robut more in the last few months.
First, I recognized that I’m using AI all the time without even realizing it. “Hey Siri” on my phone, voice recognition in the car, and predictive text on my emails are all forms of AI.
Second, do your “Google” (or other) searches look like mine do now? I used to get a first page full of websites. Now I get an AI summary, and the actual websites don’t show up until further down the page or on the next page.
Both of these facts make me realize I’m already using AI more often than I might have thought, and there’s much more to it than copying and pasting someone else’s paper off the internet.
When my car engine blew up and had to be replaced, I asked The Robut to help with the research for the replacement, including searching mechanics’ forums, consumer websites, and other sources I wouldn’t have thought to look for. It’s a powerful research tool.
While we were preparing for a road trip, Greg asked The Robut to note local yarn shops along the route. (We double checked operating hours and if they were still in business!)
I think I will still use the The Robut as a souped-up calculator/math helper when it comes to pattern design. I’ll just be very careful to check the accuracy of the math! I’m also excited about the potential of using AI for experimenting with color in design and seeing if AI is helpful in predicting yardage requirements for patterns I design.
My more immediate step is to ask The Robut if it has any ideas for how I can save a whimpering Peace Lily from the lip of the abyss of eternal darkness. I don’t think Mental Benadryl can save it.
How about you? Are you comfortable using AI?
Happy knitting,
Kiersten J
