This blog describes some recent personal experiences with AI and, with an element of humour, explains why AI and humans need to interact.
AI work experience
I have recently taken up a new position as a Senior Software Engineer at a company that is turning a prototype HR system used internally at a parent company into a commercially available cloud-based SaaS (Software as a Service) system.
Now, some architectural changes are required, and we need to establish working practices within GitHub (for source control) and a newly introduced Kanban board (by me), linked to the GitHub repository, to control the project flow as we move the prototype to a commercial-standard system.
Now, some of the automated controls I wanted in place for code branches in the repository and code merging in the integration I knew were possible to implement. But, in previous positions, these were handled by a DevOps Engineer. Now I had to implement them myself. So, I turned to an AI tool for assistance.
Great, it gave me everything I needed: the YAML files to place in the GitHub repository, the branch control rulesets, and everything else. When it came to testing it all out with the developers working in Visual Studio, there was a problem. Visual Studio was not aware of GitHub workflows but attempts to check in blocks of code changes failed. A single-file change was possible via GitHub, but not practical because developers need to check in changes to multiple files.
The problem was that AI had given the correct instructions but told me to apply them at the wrong level in the branch repositories branch hierarchy. So, I had to adjust the workflow definition.
AI side hustle experience
As a side hustle, I have an Etsy store that was born from my experiences as a self-publisher. The store has grown from the original concept to include digital downloads, general apparel, gifts, in addition to the book merchandise for which it was originally conceived. Now, 57% of sales come from digital downloads, mainly colouring pages, and this also represents 90% of all sales to people I have no connection with.
So, I asked AI what I might do to improve conversion rates. It told me to concentrate on digital downloads and split the shop up for everything else because the product mix was too confusing on Etsy. The problem with this suggestion is two-fold: 1) I would have doubled the Etsy fees for having two shops, and 2) I would lose history, favourites and reviews for any items I moved to a second shop. Neither was acceptable to me.
So I asked again about the shop structure and was advised to hide all sections apart from the digital downloads and link the other sections from my website. The theory being that Etsy would see the shop as a digital downloads niche shop, which would help Etsy recognise the niche and, as a consequence, make it more discoverable on Etsy. The rest of the lower-sales-rate items would be hidden on Etsy but still available if directed to from other channels, such as my website and other social media.
The problem here is that AI was advising on a process to hide shop sections from Etsy, which is no longer available on the platform. The best real-world compromise solution is to use only digital downloadable items as featured items, move that shop section to the top of the sections, list, and reorganise the other shop sections based on their performance, whilst still providing external links to specific sections from my website. Hence, I am developing a new “Shop My Designs on Etsy” page on my website.
Human fallibility
But humans are equally as fragile as AI. Today, I did some gardening at around midday. When I had finished, I thought I would prepare my Sunday lunch. Beef brisket, roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, and vegetables. I had everything prepared, ready to cook at the right times and so on. Whilst the food was cooking, I thought I would have a glass of red wine. Lovely Jubley! The food was ready after a second glass, so I topped the glass up one more time and enjoyed it. When it came to putting the dishes in the washing-up, I noticed something in the oven…I had left the roasties behind!
Conclusions
So, considering these experiences:
- AI is only as good as the data it receives from humans.
- That data can become out-of-date with time.
- Humans are fallible.
I conclude that to get the best out of AI, humans and AI tools need to interact. AI is great at speeding up the mechanics, but humans are still needed to validate it. AI redefines human roles, but it does not replace them!
J K Mullins
The Book Hook Online
April 26, 2006
