AI (Artificial intelligence) is here and here to stay. Alexa and Siri answer our questions; Netflix and Spotify recommend movies and music; our favorite retailers use our buying history to suggest new purchases. Email filters out spam, flags important messages, and drafts suggested replies. Chatbots help us navigate customer support questions. And, of course, there’s my current favorite – funny, AI-generated memes and clips. And this is just scratching the surface. Let’s dive in.
AI is quick, easy, and convenient. It can mine vast amounts of data, synthesize it, and almost instantly spit out detailed responses. I’m certainly no expert in AI, but it represents a sea change in how we research, digest information, and communicate.
But it’s not perfect.
For example, I was working on a blog post on the federal rulemaking matrix that governs onshore energy development (more on that later). I wanted to include a graphic showing when the public can engage in the process. I decided to use AI to generate some images as part of my brainstorming but elected to do a test run on something simple. I prompted, “Create a graphic on how a bill becomes a law.” This is what AI generated:
At first glance, the image seemed ok, but it made absolutely no sense on closer inspection. Introduation? The Hoate? Ammactment? Plus, arrows point in the wrong direction for committee reviews, multiple presidential approvals, and incorrect voting timelines. I tried again with more specific prompts:
The second AI graphic was worse. We still have Introduation, but we also have new concepts and arrows pointing to “conferittee vating,” “vebting,” and “vating introduction.” I had a good laugh and longed for the days of School House Rock and “I’m Just a Bill Sitting on Capitol Hill.”
It seems like a no-brainer to let AI sort through the mountains of data and quickly spit out a clear and concise answer. It’s a tremendous, time-saving tool and thought organizer. And yes, it can answer most questions in just a few seconds.
But AI can’t completely replace the human experience. As shown above, AI isn’t quite ready to replace graphic designers (or spell checkers). It’s not a wholly reliable substitute for people who spent decades sorting through rulemakings, drafting language for bills or amendments, researching legislative history, or appreciating the context, priorities, human aspect, or a particular situation.
Like the AI graphics above, the federal energy regulatory scheme can seem out of focus or look like a great big mess. That’s where Charing Cross Strategies excels. I’ve spent the better part of the last three decades working on energy law and policy, and I’ve worn many hats in both the public and private sectors. I’ll make sense of existing and proposed regulatory schemes, help you understand how lawsuits or legal precedents could impact your business, and help you communicate these complex issues without unnecessary jargon or legalese.
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