If you want it done right...
janonladder
Jan finishing a waterfall mural
Hi!
See that lady on the ladder?
Yep, that's actually me. My assistant took that picture as I put the
finishing touches on a waterfall mural 20 feet up above a client's
fireplace.
That was awhile back and I no longer do work that takes me higher than
my 3-step ladder will let me reach.
But that didn't stop someone from using AI to add a "Free" business
listing to their contractor platform on my behalf without consulting me.
Then they sent an email early this morning congratulating me for
capturing their auspicious attention and invited me to check out 'my'
listing. They clearly gleaned Facebook images of me performing tasks I
don't do anymore.
Thankfully, they also allowed me to remove the listing, but not before
they offered to use AI to manage my business for me...just pay them a
'modest' fee to do it all FOR me. I wouldn't have to lift a finger,
said they.
In my humble experience, nothing good ever comes of letting someone
else (let alone a rogue algorithm) do it all for you, especially when
they claim to be able to think and talk like you.
They can't because they aren't you!
They don't have the same precise interwoven set of experiences that
influenced the person you've become.
Ahh...
So now you know the theme of this week's letter. It's a bit off the
beaten trail, but I think this is as good a time as any to address this
as it relates to an artist's business practice.
Let's be clear. I'm not completely against AI as a brainstorming or
research tool. But I do not and will never let it speak, think, or act
FOR me.
A tool's potential for good or harm lies with the one using it. So Ai
is neither good nor evil in itself. But it sure can cause trouble in
the wrong hands.
Something similar happened before AI became so common.
A number of years ago, before I built my website using FASO, I tried
another web builder called Weebly. Here's how THAT went:
They assigned me a fellow who was to use the writing and images I would
provide and arrange it all in an attractively packaged website with top
notch SEO so people looking for mural services were sure to find me and
beg to hire me.
If something sounds too good to be true, it nearly always is...
But I was busy and thought I would try anyway.
I suppose that could have worked IF that guy had waited for my images
and written descriptions. I had 30 days in which to get that to him and
was told I would have the option to ask for edits and sign my approval
BEFORE it went live.
Instead of waiting, he pulled together a site for me while I was out of
state on a mural project. Then he sent me an email congratulating me
that it was now live. This was 26 days before the deadline.
Startled that they went live without my consent, I looked at his work
on my behalf. Here's what I found.
website intro
Can you seriously see me painting this?
website meet artist
Does this LOOK like my hand to you?
The images were of exterior murals, not even close to my style and
clearly from many different artists, most on massive highrise city
buildings. Yikes!
My name was misspelled repeatedly throughout and the guarantee made
lavish promises I simply would never even consider offering.
But the real shocker was when I clicked on the word Contact. The image
was of a crumbling wall with graffiti and gunshot holes.
To the side there was a bush.....and sticking out of it was a human leg
lying on the ground with a bullet hole in the ankle and blood pooled up
around it. Wish I'd gotten a screenshot of it at the time, but I was
too horrified.
Of COURSE I clicked 'unpublish' and requested a refund, which they
issued grudgingly and only a very small part. Had I checked Weebly's
reviews, I would never have gone with them.
My friend, I hope these two very real examples encourage you to use
great caution the next time someone offers you any sort of
'done-for-you' service.
So you will never see AI generated artwork or writing from me.
When I do use it, it is ONLY for brainstorming and research.
I'll do my own writing myself, thank you. When I teach people to write
their stories, I may co-write, ghost-write, or offer feedback, but will
never attempt to do your thinking for you.
You have my word!
Now go get you some birdsong!
Jan
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