Tom unpacks the mission of Hortus AI, aiming to make artificial intelligence accountable to local communities. He dives into the challenges of integrating AI into everyday life, emphasizing a human-centered approach. The discussion touches on the need for user-friendly applications beyond just chatbots and the importance of community engagement. Additionally, there's a look at the contrasts between working for large organizations versus smaller startups, showcasing the significance of staying focused on core values and objectives in the evolving tech landscape.
Hortus AI emphasizes the importance of integrating user feedback into AI development to ensure technology effectively serves community needs.
The podcast explores the necessity for organizations to prioritize participatory engagement over passive feedback to enhance public trust in AI solutions.
Deep dives
Challenges in AI Integration
Organizations face significant hurdles when integrating AI technologies into their workflows, particularly as the speed of AI development accelerates. Many leaders, such as CTOs, encounter anxiety and uncertainty regarding the adoption of these often unprecedented technologies, especially when considering the potential for vendor lock-in or the rapid obsolescence of solutions. As companies race to modernize, they must grapple with untested capabilities that do not always align with existing key performance indicators (KPIs). The aim is to embrace these challenges by creating infrastructure that allows for responsive integration of AI with meaningful stakeholder feedback to ensure that technology serves human needs.
The Vision of Fortis AI
Fortis AI aims to redefine how organizations adopt AI technology by creating workflows that actively incorporate feedback from constituents. By fostering a two-way communication channel between technology and users, the company ensures that AI applications are not only adopted effectively but also tailored to meet public needs. This approach emphasizes participatory engagement, where feedback informs product development rather than being a mere afterthought. The ultimate goal is to enhance public services, such as those offered by government entities, by making AI-driven solutions more relevant and aligned with user expectations.
Active Engagement in AI Development
The development of AI should be guided by principles that prioritize user experience and active participation over passive feedback mechanisms. By enabling users to articulate their needs and expectations, organizations can build more meaningful AI applications that resonate with their constituents. For instance, developing tools that assist local governments in engaging with citizens in an interactive manner could shift the focus from merely providing information to enhancing overall community engagement and satisfaction. This participatory model not only optimizes AI functionalities but also fosters a sense of ownership among users, thereby improving trust and usability.
Navigating the Impact of Technological Change
As AI technologies become increasingly integrated into societal infrastructure, it is vital for organizations to consider the long-term implications of these changes on community dynamics and user experience. Leaders must aim to create robust frameworks that encourage public feedback and facilitate better interaction with technology rather than merely implementing tools for efficiency. This perspective resembles historical lessons where technological changes, like the expansion of highways, overlooked essential public transport needs, highlighting the importance of inclusive planning. The challenge now lies in ensuring that the deployment of AI technologies proactively addresses the varied needs of users to avoid past mistakes in societal planning.
An exciting week for Tom, who tells Nate about his company Hortus AI, whose mission is to make AI accountable to local communities. We cover a lot of classic Retort themes as Tom makes a case for what's missing from AI development, and how models could be more healthily integrated into everyday people's lives.