Earlier this November, our founder, Naz, spoke on a panel at the inaugural Vancouver Island WEDO Summit in Comox Valley. She spoke alongside other industry leaders, including Lourdes Gant, one of the west coast’s most influential businesswomen in sustainable aquaculture, and Heather White, a dynamic lawyer practicing in the areas of real estate, privacy, corporate and commercial law.
The Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization (or WEDO) is a global grassroots movement dedicated to educating, supporting and empowering women entrepreneurs. Since 2016, WEDO has organized Women Entreprenuership Summits worldwide, shining a light on women entreprenuers and celebrating the incredible achievements of women in business.
The theme of the summit was RISE WITH HER: Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in the Tech & Digital Age. The theme underscored the significance of empowering and supporting women entrepreneurs to succeed in the dynamic and ever-changing tech and digital sectors.
This was the perfect opportunity for Naz to share some of the ways we’ve been looking at how to incorporate artificial intelligence, or AI, into our work at 50th and our commitment to building capacity with our clients, especially in the marginalized community space.
AI is no longer just a buzzword or something confined to the realm of science fiction. It’s already here and it’s transforming every industry it touches! Photoshop’s generative AI, the ChatGPT chat box and meeting assistants are all popular examples of how this innovation is already having a huge impact on how we do our work.
Research by Provoke Media and Sandpiper found that 86% of communications professionals see the proliferation of AI as an opportunity, not a risk.
At the same time, a survey from WE Communications and the USC Center for Public Relations showed that only 23% of agencies and independent consultants are incorporating AI into the way they work.
Research by Provoke Media and Sandpiper found that 86% of communications professionals see the proliferation of AI as an opportunity, not a risk.
At the same time, a survey from WE Communications and the USC Center for Public Relations showed that only 23% of agencies and independent consultants are incorporating AI into the way they work.
We’re entering a new age, and we know it’s going to shake things up, but we’re still not entirely sure in what way or to what extent. With this in mind, let’s dive into some of the key reasons why AI is poised to revolutionize every industry.
AI is very powerful in supporting tasks that we as communications professionals use daily. This can be a valuable tool for supporting research activities, analyzing and reporting complex information or identifying engagement patterns and social media behaviour of large audiences using demographic data. AI can quickly extract insights and present them in a user-friendly format.
Furthermore, there’s a great array of software options, like Grammarly, that use AI technology for copy editing and review. You can also train a system to proofread your work with a very specific tone, language and goal in mind. For example, we can have AI software proofread our work to ensure it’s tailored for a broader audience on Facebook and easy to understand by those with no formal education. The program enhances the process by providing fast, accurate and actionable insights—making it a powerful tool for optimizing copy creation.
Creativity blocks can be challenging, but AI offers a powerful solution for exploring ideas, themes, and options across various creative fields, from design and copywriting to campaign strategies. For example, AI can generate color palettes that align with an organization’s brand philosophy or create drafts of how branding would look when applied to different products. Additionally, AI is already integrated into popular tools like Adobe Creative Suite, where it can assist with tasks such as photo editing or generating graphic elements simply by providing a prompt. This capability helps streamline the creative process and unlock new possibilities.
Mind you, not everything is smooth sailing when it comes to AI. There are several concerns that we at 50th and communications professionals need to consider when using AI, including the environment, intellectual property, privacy and biases.
As a B Corp, we consider the importance of the environmental factor and will always strive to make impactful change. AI isn’t particularly eco-friendly, as the data centres that power it have significant impact on the environment. This is due to the large quantities of raw materials and electronic waste generated from producing the necessary hardware required to power these AI systems and store the ever-increasing amount of data. Additionally, they consume vast amounts of water for cooling and demand substantial energy resources. It’s crucial that we recognize this environmental footprint, collaborate with tech companies that prioritize sustainability and advocate for policies that address and reduce AI’s ecological impact.
AI models are trained on vast databases, but the specific data they use and how they process it can vary between systems. This is significant because AI may use information or images without proper legal rights. There have been cases where AI generated images that closely resemble the work of human artists without permission. Additionally, AI can combine elements from different artworks or texts, raising legal and ethical concerns. It’s important to understand how the AI we use is trained and what we can and cannot do with its outputs.
AI models trained on Indigenous art without the creator’s permission is also an issue we need to navigate. Indigenous artists and communities have unique cultural traditions and intellectual property rights that should be respected. When AI systems are trained on the artwork of these artists without permission, it violates their creative rights and removes their control over how their cultural expressions are used. This can lead to situations where the work is reproduced or reinterpreted by AI without any compensation for or acknowledgement to the original creators.
This is not the only way that AI can burden marginalized communities. A key apprehension is its potential to perpetuate harmful biases that disproportionately affect vulnerable groups. For instance, if an AI model is trained on data that has come from a specific demographic or social group, it may make decisions or generate content that disproportionately favours that group. This is especially concerning when AI is used in critical areas like hiring, where biased algorithms can unfairly disadvantage vulnerable populations, such as people of colour, women or individuals from lower-income households.
This is all uncharted territory and we are just beginning to understand the impact that AI may have on the industry, but we need to approach this with responsibility and openness. Looking toward the future, AI can make a significant impact in improving outreach and communication efforts for smaller organizations, not-for-profits and community groups with limited resources. By harnessing AI-powered tools, these organizations can enhance their effectiveness, expand their reach and create more meaningful connections with their audiences.
Furthermore, AI can be a powerful tool for empowering marginalized communities by increasing access to resources, opportunities and decision-making processes. However, we realize this potential requires a commitment to equity, inclusivity and transparency in how AI models are designed and implemented. When done right, we believe that AI can help address existing inequalities and create a more inclusive future for everyone.
