AI as Assistive Intelligence: Empowering Human Creativity and Productivity

In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has become a buzzword across various professions, often evoking images of robots taking over human jobs or superintelligent systems making decisions for us, about us, on behalf or us, and sometimes even instead of us. However, there's a more nuanced and practical application of AI that's gaining traction: "assistive intelligence." This approach positions AI as a powerful tool to enhance human capabilities rather than replace them, particularly in information-intensive tasks.

Assistive intelligence refers to methodically using AI systems to gather, organize, and present information from various sources, creating a cohesive output that humans can then verify, refine, and legitimately claim ownership of. This collaborative approach combines the strengths of both AI and human intelligence, leading to more efficient and effective work processes.

The Information Gathering Challenge

In today's digital age, we're drowning in information. Whether you're a student researching a term paper, a journalist investigating a story, or a business analyst preparing a market report, the sheer volume of available data can be overwhelming. Sifting through countless websites, articles, and databases to find relevant information is time-consuming and often tedious.

This is where assistive intelligence shines. AI systems can rapidly scan and process vast amounts of information from diverse sources, extracting key points and organizing them into a coherent structure. This capability dramatically speeds up the information gathering phase, allowing humans to focus their time and energy on higher-value tasks such as analysis, interpretation, and creative thinking. AI systems don't get tired like we do.

How Assistive Intelligence Works

Imagine you're tasked with writing a comprehensive report on climate change impacts in coastal cities. Traditionally, you'd spend hours, if not days, searching for relevant studies, news articles, and expert opinions. Using an assistive intelligence approach, the process might look something like this:

1. You input your topic and any specific requirements into the AI system.
2. The AI scours reputable sources across the internet, including scientific journals, government reports, and news outlets.
3. It extracts key information, identifying important facts, statistics, and expert viewpoints.
4. The system organizes this information into a structured outline or draft, complete with citations.
5. You receive this compiled information, which you can then review, fact-check, and edit as needed.
6. You add your own analysis, insights, and conclusions to create the final report.

This process leverages AI's ability to quickly process and organize large amounts of information while preserving the human's role in verifying accuracy, providing context, drawing meaningful conclusions, and offering substantive recommendations and/or solutions.

Benefits of the Assistive Intelligence Approach

1. Time Efficiency: By automating the time-consuming task of information gathering, assistive intelligence frees up valuable time for humans to focus on higher-level thinking and creativity.
2. Comprehensive Coverage: AI can process a much broader range of sources than a human could realistically manage, potentially uncovering valuable information that might otherwise be missed.
3. Reduced Bias: While AI systems can have biases, they can also help reduce human biases by presenting a more comprehensive view of available information.
4. Improved Accuracy: With AI handling the initial information gathering, humans can dedicate more time to fact-checking and verifying the most critical pieces of information.
5. Enhanced Creativity: By offloading the more mundane aspects of research, humans have more mental energy to devote to creative problem-solving and original thinking.
6. Scalability: Assistive intelligence can handle tasks of varying complexity, from simple fact-finding missions to in-depth research projects.

Real-World Applications

The potential applications of assistive intelligence are vast and diverse:

Education: Students can use AI to gather information for essays or research projects, allowing them to spend more time on critical analysis and developing their own arguments.

Journalism: Reporters can quickly compile background information on breaking news stories, enabling them to ask more insightful questions and produce more comprehensive articles.

Business: Analysts can use AI to gather market data and competitor information, speeding up the process of creating reports and presentations.

Healthcare: Medical professionals can access the latest research and treatment options for specific conditions, helping them make more informed decisions.

Legal: Lawyers can use AI to gather relevant case law and precedents, streamlining the process of building legal arguments.

Scientific Research: Scientists can use AI to compile literature reviews and identify gaps in current research, accelerating the pace of scientific discovery.

Ethical Considerations and Human Oversight

While the benefits of assistive intelligence are clear, it's crucial to approach its use ethically and responsibly. Here are some key considerations:

1. Verification is Essential: Users must critically evaluate the information provided by AI systems, fact-checking key points and ensuring the reliability of sources.
2. Transparency: It's important to be transparent about the use of AI in information gathering, especially in professional or academic contexts.
3. Avoiding Over-Reliance: While AI can be incredibly helpful, it shouldn't replace critical thinking and original research skills.
4. Privacy and Data Security: When using AI systems, it's crucial to consider the privacy implications and ensure that sensitive information is protected.
5. Addressing Bias: Users should be aware that AI systems can perpetuate existing biases and take steps to identify and mitigate these issues.

The Future of Work: Human-AI Collaboration

As AI continues to evolve, the concept of assistive intelligence represents a promising vision for the future of work. Rather than fearing AI as a replacement for human workers, we can embrace it as a powerful tool that enhances our capabilities.

This collaborative approach combines the strengths of both AI and human intelligence. AI excels at processing vast amounts of data, identifying patterns, and generating initial outputs. Humans, on the other hand, bring creativity, emotional intelligence, ethical judgment, and the ability to understand complex contexts.

By leveraging AI as an assistive tool, we can create a symbiotic relationship where technology amplifies human potential rather than diminishing it. This approach not only boosts productivity but also allows us to tackle more complex problems and push the boundaries of innovation.

Conclusion

Assistive intelligence represents a practical and powerful application of AI technology. By streamlining the information gathering process, it empowers humans to focus on what they do best: analyzing, creating, and innovating. As we continue to develop and refine these AI systems, we have the opportunity to reshape how we work, learn, and solve problems.

The key to success lies in striking the right balance between AI assistance and human oversight. By embracing AI as a collaborative tool rather than a replacement for human intelligence, we can unlock new levels of productivity and creativity across various fields. As we move forward, it's crucial to approach the development and use of assistive intelligence thoughtfully, ensuring that it truly serves to enhance human capabilities and contribute positively to society.

No Widespread Voter Fraud?

We have all heard claims about widespread voter fraud, and how it is going on, and/or how it is not going on. Here is an interesting quote I found:

"The U.S. Census recorded more than 19 million adult non-citizens living in the U.S. during 2022. Given their voter registration rates, this means that about two million to five million of them are illegally registered to vote. These figures are potentially high enough to overturn the will of the American people in major elections, including congressional seats and the presidency."

The White House claims there’s no need to require evidence of citizenship to register to vote because “it is extraordinarily rare for noncitizens to break the law by voting in federal elections.”

IN FACT, a recent study found that about 10% to 27% of non-citizen adults in the U.S. are now illegally registered to vote. Furthermore, multiple attempts to debunk the study have fallen completely flat.

SOURCES:

White House Claim

https://x.com/SpeakerJohnson/status/1810394458334310744

Study: 10% to 27% of Non-Citizens Are Illegally Registered to Vote

https://www.justfacts.com/news_non-citizen_voter_registration

Critics Fail to Debunk Explosive Study on Illegal Voting by Non-Citizens

https://www.justfactsdaily.com/critics-fail-to-debunk-explosive-study-on-illegal-voting-by-non-citizens

Academic Freedom Doesn't Mean Tech Chaos

The principle of academic freedom is a vital one that allows college and university professors to teach controversial subjects and voice unpopular opinions without risk of institutional sanction. It is also a cherished principle that empowers faculty members to pursue knowledge, research, and teaching without undue interference or censorship. However, the concept is often misinterpreted by faculty to extend far beyond its intended scope into the realm of technology choices. Some professors assert that academic freedom gives them the right to reject their college's officially supported learning management system (LMS) and other educational technology tools in favor of using entirely disconnected, unsupported and redundant third-party applications and services.

This pseudo-libertarian stance on institutional technologies often creates chaos and inefficiencies for students, faculty, IT support staff, and administrators alike, often unnoticed by the instructor causing the issues. When professors stray from the college's unified digital ecosystem, students get a fragmented experience bouncing between different tools for each class. Providing IT support across these dispersed technologies is a nightmare, and leaves students seeking help with a rogue software tool out in the cold. I have known of students dropping classes, and experiencing anxiety over losing financial aid because their instructor has implemented an unsupported technology, and can't or won't offer support for it! Also, colleges lose out on economies of scale by being unable to standardize on a core set of integrated platforms.

Academic freedom absolutely allows professors freedom in how they construct curriculum, manage classroom discussions, and express ideas - even controversial ones. But it doesn't give faculty carte blanche to arbitrarily ignore established institutional technologies and processes. After all, professors don't have the "academic freedom" to stop submitting grades or stop holding class sessions on the authorized schedule and location.  

So what can college leaders do to realign faculty behaviors with the true definition of academic freedom? A few key action points:

• Have a clear, unambiguous acceptable use policy that circumscribes academic freedom to matters of curriculum and classroom instruction - not institutional needs and requirements such as adhering to the authorized and supported Learning Management System.
• Ensure the LMS and approved ed tech tools have rich functional versatility so faculty don't feel constrained. The technology itself should support diverse pedagogical approaches and student learning needs.
• Provide initial and ongoing training and support by offering comprehensive training sessions, workshops, and resources to familiarize faculty with supported technologies and demonstrate their potential benefits for teaching and learning. Additionally, establish channels for ongoing technical support and troubleshooting to address faculty concerns and promote confidence in utilizing institutional platforms. College employees who are required to use a given technology to earn their paychecks should also be paid to attend training on those tools. Training doesn't cost, it pays.
• Involve faculty governance bodies in the process of evaluating and selecting core technologies. This will build more buy-in.  
• Highlight costs and risks of ad hoc technology adoptions - security vulnerabilities, missed ops/procurement discounts, support staffing sprawl, etc.
• Engage faculty and student support personnel in the conversations and decisions. They make their living working hands-on with a variety of educational technology tools, and quite often have experiences and insights nobody else on campus has. Also, they are the ones faculty and students will be turning to for troubleshooting and ideas on how to use the technologies effectively and efficiently. This will build even more buy-in.
• Facilitate cross-departmental collaboration. Foster interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge-sharing among faculty members, support staff, coaches, advisors, student help desk personnel, etc. to explore innovative uses of technology across academic disciplines. Encourage the formation of communities of practice focused on leveraging technology to address shared challenges and enhance the overall quality of teaching and learning experiences.
• Survey students regularly on their technology experience and usage to identify rogue tools. Share this data with IT leadership and faculty as a prompt for change.
• Celebrate and provide high visibility to "model" faculty who are creatively using institutional technologies in innovative ways while respecting policy.

Ultimately, college and university faculty need to understand that a cohesive, standardized technology architecture benefits everyone - including themselves through easier training, support and collaboration. Ad hoc tech fragmentation becomes its own pernicious form of chaos, inhibiting the very academic freedom it purports to protect.

With pragmatic policies, economically smart tech selection processes, faculty and support personnel input mechanisms and consistent leadership communication, colleges can realign the academic freedom principle with its original intent. The credibility, effectiveness, reputation, and sustainability of the institution depends on it.

On LinkedIn

Introducing the Hole-In-The-Wall Cafes Google Maps List

I stumbled into a Facebook group recently called Hole-In-The-Wall Cafes where members can post about their favorite hole-in-the-wall cafés and diners. No franchises allowed, and the same goes for bars, saloons, taverns, etc. If a restaurant happens to serve adult beverages, that's cool, but it's supposed to be more about good food than primarily a drinking establishment. I got to thinking about how people might find it useful to have all of those locations on their mobile devices as they travel, along with an app that most people either already have or can get easily, and, of course, Google Maps came to mind. I reached out to the Facebook group owner, and we have collaborated on this awesome new list to which we will be adding locations from member posts and elsewhere. Here is a direct link to the list. Be sure to save and share it!

Dad Is A Badass

My 23-year-old son called me when I was leading a group ride along this road between Steens Mountain and the Alvord Desert in southeast Oregon. I answered the call through my helmet comm, and immediately told him to look up "Alvord Desert" in Google Maps. He asked if that was where I was, and I said, "yep, that's where I'm at, and I'm riding at 80mph, standing up on my pegs, enjoying the breeze." When he didn't answer, I asked if he was still there, and he said, "yeah, Dad, I'm just getting my head around that. Dad, you are such a BADASS!

Google Maps Route to GPX File

 This screencast video is all about how to create a GPX file from a Google Maps route you have created. Trying to use Google maps on a trip where you may go in and out of cell coverage is risky, because if and when you flip away from the Google maps app to another app on your mobile device, and come back, you risk losing the route out there, which, of course would be a bad thing in the middle of nowhere. This process shows you how to lock down your route on a GPS receiver or GPS app so it doesn't matter if you go in and out of cell coverage. This method is admittedly not the simplest method available, but it is one that opens the door for additional features you may get into once you step into the wonderful rabbit hole of GPS and GPX file manipulation. Enjoy!

The Lone Wolf or the Pack: Adventure Motorcycle Group Trips vs Solo

As an avid adventure motorcyclist who loves exploring backroads and discovering new places and vistas, I often deliberate the question: Should I join a multi-day group ride or strike out on a solo journey? Both options provide immense satisfaction, freedom, and sights that renew my soul. However, group expeditions and solitary sojourns each offer unique perks that merit consideration.

Hitting the road with a group of fellow riders builds camaraderie and support unmatched on solo trips. Long days in the saddle can be grueling, but good company makes the miles fly by faster. Groups also afford more flexibility should issues arise - if your bike breaks down, there's likely another rider who can help or shuttle you into town. Plus, sharing costs for hotels, fuel, or other expenses can ease budget constraints. However, group dynamics aren't always harmonious, and ill-matched speeds, riding styles, or personalities can dampen the mood. And you lose autonomy over daily routes, pace, and overnight stops when others’ preferences differ from yours.

Conversely, solo adventures enable following your own whims wherever the compass leads without compromise. I alone choose whether to rise early to chase sunrise vistas or sleep in if heavy rains fall. I set my pace foraging backroads rather than worrying about trailing or leading riders if I’m quicker or slower that day. Stopping for photos, snacks, or simply to soak in an overlook’s ambience isn’t problematic without antsy cohorts impatiently waiting. The stillness and self-reliance of solo travel builds confidence and serenity. Yet the utter solitude also leaves little margin for mechanical problems or minor crashes without backup support. 

Ultimately, sharing the open road and a cold beer at day’s end with like-minded riders creates bonds difficult to replicate solo. But escaping regularly into the wilderness alone fosters self-trust and inner tranquility. Thus the best path forward, in my eyes, lies in balancing group trips that nourish the soul through friendship with frequent lone adventures to renew my personal reservoirs of resilience and confidence. With this dual fellowship-and-solitude approach, adventure motorcycling shall continue fulfilling my yearning for the open road for years ahead!

Coming Soon: Ancient Knowledge & Wisdom

We are on the verge of being able to read scrolls that were buried and charred in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. A collection of 1,800 scrolls were discovered in an ancient Roman villa near Pompeii during excavations in the 18th century. However, attempting to unroll and read these fragile scrolls has proven extremely difficult over the years.

Recently, researchers have been using a new X-ray technique called “phase-contrast tomography” to virtually unroll and decipher the scrolls. This allows them to see inside the scrolls and read the ancient Greek and Latin texts without physically unrolling them. So far they have had success reading a few scrolls, including one discussing the Greek philosopher Epicurus.

The researchers believe there may still be hundreds of scrolls that could provide insight into ancient philosophical thinking and day-to-day life during that period. However, the scrolls are very delicate and the technology is still in early stages. The work requires scanning the individual scrolls in very small pieces. Nonetheless, this work marks an exciting advancement in reading these long-lost ancient texts.

“Scholars have long faced a choice between attempting to read concealed texts (and potentially destroying them in the process) or conserving them unread. Brent Seales’ technology is removing that dilemma.”

It is a long read, but well worth it.