Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) has made monumental strides in recent years. From chatbots like ChatGPT to image generators like Midjourney, it is becoming more and more challenging to differentiate what has been created by a human, or (in the case of the most advanced image generators), what is even real.
What once seemed like a fun diversion, with real-world applications for the vast majority of people seeming to be years, if not decades away, has quickly become our present day reality. AI is being used for more purposes and in more industries than we likely even realize at the moment.
But, since this has all evolved so quickly, we as a society lack the proper guardrails and regulations around AI, and the results of this have been troubling. Fake images have been passed off as real, circulating to millions of people before they are pointed out as a generated image, and by then the damage has already been done. In the entertainment industry, writers are currently striking, in part because of how studios are using AI to generate scripts, wanting to pay real (ie: human) writers only to clean up the drafts.
And yes, some news outlets are using AI to create stories, and even to cover events and meetings. Some of these articles are noticeably, embarrassingly awful. Others are better, but still lack a basic touch of humanity. For all of them, the crucial question arises: for news outlets using AI to cover meetings and write articles, is there an actual human being proofreading and fact-checking these stories? This becomes especially important when considering township meetings and the information passed on to readers from the discussions held during them.
Despite very real plagiarism concerns associated with companies feeding the work of other writers and artists into their programs, AI is undoubtedly a part of our future. It is not going away, and there is no denying that fact. But let us be clear – here, at the Tribune, we are real. We understand the value and the journalistic integrity in having a real person attend our local meetings, talk to residents, develop relationships, and form an understanding of our community, for which AI simply cannot account.
It is because of these connections that we are still here, and we have no plans to ruin that relationship by taking shortcuts with how we deliver Livingston its news each week.
Summertime Safety
Summertime safety is about more than sunblock and lifeguards. This is the time of year when many in the community take family vacations and spend a bit more time out and about. As residents are enjoying the weather, attending social functions and traveling, we urge them to take time to think about ways to keep their home and property safe while they are gone.
We suggest that residents not announce when they are going away, even for a short trip, on Facebook or any other social media site. Do not post status updates about your vacation while you are still on vacation. We understand how hard this may be, but even just posting a photograph can give away your location, thanks to GPS-based locators embedded in some social media programs. Share the details and photos when you return; we promise that those post-vacation “likes” will count just as much. Announcing that you are out of town offers criminals ample notice about when and for how long your home may be empty. The West Essex Tribune purposely omits dates of upcoming weddings from engagement announcements for just this reason; publicizing the date that couples and many of their friends and family members will be attending the ceremony is not a smart idea.
Add to your “summertime safety” checklist the obvious things, such as remembering to lock doors and windows after letting in fresh summer air, turning on an alarm system if you have one, keeping the outside of your house well-lit and making sure that your house number is clearly visible from the street in case emergency personnel need to find your home.
For those leaving home for an extended period, the Livingston Police Department may also conduct vacant house checks for those who request it. Residents can either fill out the form at police headquarters or do so online and take it in to the station. Each officer is given the list of vacant houses in their patrol district and, when they have time, they will stop by and check on the homes. More information on this process may be found at livingstonnj.org/273/Vacant-House-Information.
Keeping your vehicle safe, or simply keeping your vehicle, is another hot topic for the summer months, given the rash of thefts we have seen in recent years. Even though a car that has been parked in the sun for hours can be stifling, it is not a good idea to leave it running in the driveway. While it is an effective way to cool down the interior, it is also a wonderful opportunity for thieves to have easy access to your vehicle. This type of crime has become increasingly common in town over the last few years, yet it is one that is easily preventable.
