“Rotary’s purpose? Oh, that’s quite absurd!
They fix up the world with a handshake and word!
They gather for lunch, they twirl and they chat,
Then—POOF!—help a village or something like that!
They patch up the planet with laughter and pie—
Service Above Self, and dessert on the sly!”
Dr. Seuss likely never described Rotary International like that. But when Dr. Craig Wansink asked ChatGPT to write a Seussian-style poem about Rotary, that was the result. Wansink also used the artificial intelligence app to explain Rotary as a Ramones song and statements by a current and past United States president. AI generated the spookily accurate word styles in seconds.
At the October 14 Rotary Club of Norfolk meeting Wansink, a Virginia Wesleyan University professor of religious studies for 32 years, used the Rotary examples to highlight the power of AI. During his tenure at VWU he has learned to navigate the internet, use Zoom, and teach online courses. Now he is adapting quickly to AI. He likened the shift to AI with how math teachers first felt when the calculator was introduced.
For fun he showed how in 30 seconds AI turned a basic head shot of Gary Bonnewell, Rotary Club vice president, into a break dancer, a cowboy hat wearer, and a guy riding a unicorn while holding up a German beer.
It has only been two years since Wansink learned that AI was forging its way into daily life, including that of his students. He has found that AI can make them either lazy or more efficient.
AI can “change conversation and isn’t just about plagiarism or shortcuts,” he said. It also makes professors like him find ways to ensure students are actually doing the work assigned. That includes using AI writing detectors, which can be faulty, and requiring in-class writing. Even the low-tech paper Blue Book from long-ago college days has been resurrected for written exams.
When Wansink asked Rotarians if they use AI, several responded that it has helped them plan trips, soften a harsh message, ask better questions, and write rough drafts.
Wansink reminded Rotarians that AI technology is here to stay and that everyone should “be excited and scared.” They also should harness the technology and put it to good use.
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Fun Fact
Rotary Club President Dave Duncan shares videos created using AI. Check out the latest video created to help club members learn more about board members - Get to Know Jeff Ryder.
Welcome,Tracy Ashley!