Our AI Policy:
All AI generation in any publication of Mountain Stream Teas content will be labeled and described. If we do not mention AI, none was used in the production of that content. If AI was used, a detailed description of what was generated will be placed in the content.
"The opposite of life is not death, it's the machine."
-Ian McGilchrist
The machines are becoming more 'life-like' each day. As we all struggle with the implications of the introduction of AI content generation in the digital commons, we at Mountain Stream Teas have decided to create an AI use policy statement. While we have watched the growth of AI generated content with interest, we have not used any AI generated content in our public facing communications. We have no plans to change that fact, but with the rapidly changing nature of the technology we do not know what the future holds. We thought it best to get in front of the issue.
The loss of agency brought about by the increasing dominance of AI generated content is a great concern for us. From the use of AI generated content in academia, journalism and popular culture we can see that the self reinforcing loop of consensus mediocracy is becoming dominant in the digital commons. (The 'Lipton Tea Bag' of communication effect) Authenticity and unique perspectives will become more rare and jarring to digital content consumers as this AI content has already begun to accelerate the trajectory that social social media has placed on all of us, namely of diverging social and ideological silos.
The hope for the future lies in those who can recognize the difference between digital 'AI' and 'I' generated content and try to give attention to the latter. Most likely, the disappearance of authentic human communication will make it starkly stand out, and give it value, creating a market for more. Exactly like a good cup of high quality tea.
There is a space for the thoughtful and attentive use of AI and we may use it in the future, but we promised to label and describe that use as we all move into this next phase of technology. It seems like it is the least we can do as the 'Dead Internet Theory' seems to be becoming true.
Mountain Stream Teas is a project to share high-quality Taiwanese tea made by our friends with the world. We will be moving to more in person tea service with our new brick and mortar shop. This blog is also part of that attempt to push back a bit on the flood of AI slop in a very small way. Let's hope that with the increasing loss of authenticity in the digital commons the pendulum swings back strongly towards human connection and exchange. We think that sharing the experience of high quality tea is a great way to help that trend along.
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