15/10/2026
We don't use AI and here's why...
AI is everywhere these days: in our social media feeds, in our emails, our search engine results, and our word processing software. And sometimes it's just easier to ask ChatGPT what to do instead of thinking about it ourselves. I get it. BUT...
👉 That cute cat video made with AI is harming out planet.
👉 That "turn my photo into a 80s portrait" on ChatGPT is scrapping your data to feed you ads and steal your identity.
👉 That "Scottish Roots" AI page is creating false stories about our culture and taking the spotlight away from actual Scottish historians.
👉 That AI song is taking up airtime that should be filled by real musicians who have spent years honing their craft.
👉 That AI presentation is taking work away from graphic designers, researchers, and strategists.
👉 That AI search result is sending you up a mountain that you're not prepared to climb!
Let's breakdown one scenario. You ask AI to create a cycling route. In 15 seconds, it spits out an itinerary with timings & everything. But here's the thing - AI doesn't know the weather conditions on the day you're planning to cycle. AI doesn't know your fitness level or the type of bike you're riding. AI hasn't ridden the route personally and so doesn't know about the tree down can cause problems. It has no idea if the route is even fun for a human - are there great views, places to stop safely to refuel or fix a mechanical, quiet roads? An experienced cyclist would have a better understanding of these factors, but it's the inexperienced cyclist who's most likely to use AI for something like this, putting themselves in legitimate danger! Check out the post below about checking tide times as a real life example of this.
How have we gotten to the point where we don't value another human's expertise? Becoming an expert is not just about consuming a bunch of data. Expertise comes from learning, knowledge, and then PRACTICE. With practice we gain skills, we encounter difficulties and we learn how to solve problems.
And then we can share our expertise with others.
We have a choice and agency in our actions. You can choose not to use AI (for now). We can pause for a moment and think about the unintended consequences of our actions. And our choice at Lochs, Bens & Glens, is to not use AI - for people, for the planet, and for our future.
