Stella Love Meets AI

As most of my readers know, the core of my work life was a career with the University of Michigan in Information Technology. After some undergrad course work in Info Tech and a year of Accounting at a community college (after my M.A. degree in Near East Studies at UC-Berkeley), I pursued a bifurcated career of teaching Biblical Hebrew and managing the administration of a non-profit. When I arrived in Michigan, I continued that bifurcation teaching adult Jewish Studies at Congregation Kehillat Israel (Lansing) while programming databases at the University of Michigan’s College of Engineering.

I mention all this to explain that it is quite natural for me to have an interest in the area of Artificial Intelligence. In other places, I have explained that I am uncomfortable with the use of the word “intelligence” here because it communicates an ability native to humans which these systems simply do not have. The AI systems which are occupying so much space and time in popular discussion now are simply a more advanced tool than previous generations of computer enhanced analysis.

All technologies have the ability to both enhance and damage our lives. Nuclear energy, for example, can provide electrical power to millions, or it can destroy the lives of millions. It is all in the way that humans decide to use it. AI, whether we continue to use that descriptor or not, shows enormous promise in improving our lives. So, I thought perhaps I’d check out something I can do with AI that might be of use to me and my family.

Here is a photograph of my mother of blessed memory, Stella Love.