We’re hearing and seeing a tremendous amount of conversation in various forums lately about AI. Specifically users are trying to figure out what the impacts are from different tools, circling the question…
What AI Tool Should I be Using?
I LOVE seeing this question, and I think it’s a really great place to start. Because like so many things in life, the answer is 100%: It depends.
Many companies – especially those in the mission-driven space – are questioning the environmental impacts of using AI. It’s still a challenge to understand the true cost of using AI, especially in contrast to the value. And there’s a different equation when considering video or image generation AI tools.
Meanwhile a publication from OpenAI shared that they’re seeing increasing hallucinations in their newer models, and in some cases those increases are considerable. The o4-mini model hallucinates at a whopping 79%, up 35% from the earlier o1 model.
Regardless of your priorities, there’s lots to consider when selecting your AI tool. What is your budget? How’s the user interface? Does it work well for multiple team members? Is it heavily biased? Will it integrate with the other tools you use?
Amplifying Efforts
Since generative AI hit the market we’ve seen a range of opinions on the skills required to use AI, everything from experts-only (hire a Prompt Engineer!) to no training needed (Just Do It!). More groups now seem to embracing dedicated time, training, and strategy for applying AI in your organization, with your team.
Which is GREAT. While you can get started with AI on your own, we believe you’re going to have much more success with some support. That’s why we’ve announced a new class, Going AI: Selecting the Right Tool.
This is a two-part class. Part one will be a group training on the impacts and use cases of various AI tools to help you pick the right one for your business. Part two will be a scheduled follow-up 1-on-1 with you (and your team, if you wish) to evaluate the tool you’re using and give you a boost in implementation.
The first class will take place June 4. If you can’t make that time and are interested in another cohort, please reach out!
Sign Up for ‘Going AI: Selecting the Right Tool’| 2025 Web AIM (Accessibility) Report | ||
| 10% decrease in errors per page | 7.1% increase in page complexity (#of elements) | 94.8% Home pages with WCAG 2 errors |
Global Accessibility Awareness Day
Thursday is Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD)!
We often overlook accessibility, but the value of improving the user experience for disabled users has been shown over and over to be worthwhile for ALL users.
Low contrast text continues to be the top offender, causing issues for 79%+ of the top 1 million home pages tested in the Web AIM 2025 Report. Check your site’s contrast with this website, or download this Chrome extension for quick contrast checks.
And if you want to learn more about Accessibility, check out GAAD Raleigh event taking place on the SAS campus this Thursday!
GAAD RaleighOut and About
AI Café
This month’s topic: using “please” and “thank you” with your AI tools.
May 13; noon-1PM Online!
Check out LinkedIn for more information & conversation.Where to Find Us
Open Office Hours at Blush Cowork in Cary, May 14
AI in Action: Everyday Tools & Prompts at ReCity Network in Durham, May 15
All Upcoming Events
What We’re Reading
Mmmm… reading.
- In what may turn out to be the most valuable thing about AI, it turns out the technology can be really good at reducing conspiracy beliefs. This is an academic article, but it’s worth a look — https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/h7n8u_v1.
- It’s not just you. NC-based readers may find this INDY article on our intense spring allergies validating: https://indyweek.com/news/north-carolina-pollen-boom/
- This guy decided to pay off some of the lunch debt that had backed up at his local Utah school. It took him down a rabbit hole.
- I’m reading three books at once right now, but I’m counting the one I read to my daughter each night. In honor of Mother’s Day, today’s quote comes from ‘The Wild Robot.’
“But I do not know how to act like a mother.” [said the robot]
“Oh, it’s nothing, you just have to provide the gosling with food and water and shelter, make him feel loved but don’t pamper him too much, keep him away from danger, and make sure he learns to walk and talk and swim and fly and get along with others and look after himself. And that’s really all there is to motherhood!”– Peter Brown
