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Artificial intelligence (AI) is discussed everywhere, from news headlines to conference halls and even casual dinner conversations. This rapid development presents a unique challenge: established processes and our understanding of AI haven't caught up to the technology yet. While Throughliners dive into the exciting daily developments of AI capabilities, we also recognize the need for an intentional, well-informed approach to adoption. In this edition of Working Visually, we share how our teams are building foundational knowledge of AI, continuously assessing validity and use cases to responsibly expand our creative abilities.
Overcoming creative roadblocks is a familiar challenge in the worlds of communication and human-centered design. Some Throughliners have found that AI tools, such as ChatGPT, can unlock faster content development cycles through introducing new perspectives on existing information. However, our Content Strategists flagged that it is crucial to remember that AI-generated information can be inaccurate and biased. This bias stems from the data it is trained on, requiring any user to be aware of potential shortcomings. To mitigate this risk, Throughliners never use AI verbatim, always ensuring it is used only as a jumping off point or inspiration. Additionally, all information coming from any AI tool needs to be thoroughly fact-checked through verifiable, non-AI sources.
At Throughline, much of our work involves taking incredibly complex information and communicating it in a concise, impactful way. This involves the artful skill of identifying key messages, data patterns, and thematic lines buried in sometimes hundreds of slides or hours of interviews. AI tools like Miro Assist allow Throughliners to efficiently conduct a first pass through the multitude of information gathered and suggest potential groupings that could be used. While far from the final derivation, this can jumpstart the synthesis of large qualitative data sets and allow faster delivery of client insights. Like the brainstorming example, this AI-powered organization requires review and adjustment for accuracy. Equally as important: Throughliners never store any client or identifying information on third-party servers used by AI. While AI tools are helpful, data privacy is always the priority.
The creative field is another area where AI is making waves as many designers use it to help visualize ideas and concepts. Rather than drafting tens or hundreds of ideas by hand to communicate your vision with others, Generative AI can be a great time-saver for Throughliners as they create initial mood boards and rough visual models to spark client feedback. However, transparency is key as copyright disappears under AI-generated work. Transparency and open communication build trust to ensure everyone is fairly credited for their contributions. To maintain up-to-date awareness of potential red flags in this space, our designers thoroughly research the tools and sources used while ensuring no client products or visuals are introduced to AI through their work.
The truth is: the world of AI is constantly evolving. What's fact today, might be outdated tomorrow. That's why it's crucial to bridge the gap between this rapidly advancing technology and the educational material attempting to keep up. The most important thing we can do as individuals is stay informed through the many platforms available to help you learn about AI and its ever-changing landscape. By becoming informed users, we can harness the power of AI responsibly and navigate the ethical considerations that come with this powerful technology.
‘Til next time,
The Throughline Team