We are impacted every day, whether we know it or not, by Artificial Intelligence (AI). Last night, the Alexa device in my kitchen asked me if it was time to re-order dog food from Amazon. It was time, and I did. That is one of the more innocuous intrusions of AI, and it made my life easier. I know many people will warn me about even having Alexa in my home, but it is a choice/risk I have accepted. In making those choices, it will become more and more difficult to discern what AI is appropriate and what is predatory.
In 2024, researchers Koshy and Chappell studied how the use of AI affects relationships with advocates, allies, and donors of organizations like Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch. One of their big recommendations is that organizations tell folks straight out how and when they are using AI in their communications.
I got all excited because I was going to write this email about how I absolutely do not use AI in writing this weekly email about the goings-on at the Ranch. I wanted you to know that I sit at my keyboard and personally write each and every word of the stories of the children, the staff, the professionals, and the prayers that happen at this place. All are true, and all are mine.
But, I caught myself.
I use a program called “Grammarly” to check my spelling and sentence structure. (My dad, a horrendous speller, used to say, “Don’t trust a person who can’t spell a word more than one way.” I have found most people don’t like that approach.) If I am using a quote or a research study, like I did above, I use Chrome to double-check my sources and accuracy. If I’ve used the same word repetitively, I use an online thesaurus to help me find alternatives.
I think that’s ok. I hope you do, too. It makes sense to me that my letters to you be the clearest and cleanest they can be. Their message is important.
However, in these letters there is no AI in the stories of the children, the content of our work, or the words that are spoken in healing and compassion. Frankly, the children’s stories are more profound than any AI could create. The people I work with have so much depth and spirit that any Avatar construct looks silly by comparison. Their kindness can’t be “digitally generated.”
Thank you for reading, and for your prayers and support for the staff and children at Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch. We know those are real, too.
In His love,
Joy Ryan, President/CEO
Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch
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