AI usage has always been an issue at Doane since I’ve been here. Granted, this is my first year at Doane, but seriously, the amount of pure AI slop I’ve seen thus far has been absolutely insane. Whether it’s people using ChatGPT instead of their brains for assignments, or clearly AI-generated posters being approved and put up around campus, I don’t think this school being so tolerant of AI usage is a good thing at all. Especially for an institution so into the environment and developing critical thinking skills, which AI in general is quickly diminishing.
So imagine my surprise when I go to the caf, as one does, and there have been some new posters put up. They’re placed right above the dessert station, truly huge eyesores that are clearly generative AI. If you look closely enough, you can see misspellings and errors on the ice cream one. It’s very hard to miss the closer you look. Seriously, what are “coppings”? I’m mad. If you have a keen eye for clocking AI stuff immediately like I do, it’s very clear with one glance that there is absolutely no thought behind those posters.
The various posters that Doane organizations have put up around campus could have easily been done on Canva rather than slopped together like they were. I don’t understand the thought process at all. Especially with knowing the environmental impact of generative AI, you’d think they’d stay away. Is it that they don’t know it hurts the environment? Well, now you know!
This also raises a concern of mine. We have art and graphic design majors/minors. They are actively studying to make posters like that as a career, so why is this school using something that is actively threatening their future jobs? If you love doing their jobs for them, why offer it as a major? I really don’t think Doane using generative AI for everything and very clearly being okay with it is a good look at all. To a large portion of the campus who are artists, designers or critical thinkers, it looks horrible.
What’s the next step? Take down those posters and get on Canva. Put some thought into what you’re creating. Better yet, ask campus to design things for you. There are so many artists and designers looking for opportunities and I’m sure if given the chance, they’d make something better than AI slop. Next, let’s stop approving clearly AI-generated posters for clubs/events. Approving these and putting them everywhere shows that Doane thinks this is okay when it isn’t! But if Doane doesn’t want to change their ways, just stop offering art and graphic design majors/minors altogether. There is clearly no care for them or what they are going to do with their futures.
The longer we allow low effort on the things we put out, the more tolerance we will have for it. Generative AI is killing creativity and the planet. If you are contributing to this issue, it’s never too late to change your ways and make your world a better place.
