In the past month, I have become entirely acquainted with the focus mode on my phone. I had begun to realize that when I was trying to focus or doing a workout or wanting to spend a nice dinner with my fiance Matthew, the constant pinking of messages coming from my phone put me in a mode I call anxiety mode. The feeling of always checking messages or always having a bombardment of messages takes us away from the present moment. Since then, I have been putting my hone on focus mode which has allowed for extra clarity and more reality to the current moment. I found a reduction in anxiety and also a better work mode I call this having a work on and off switch. We must be able to turn work mode off. Since the pandemic, it has become a problem as most have moved online to where work becomes a part of our time and our home time. It takes that off switch away and leaves a direct challenge to having that downtime we need.
I like the analogy of putting energy out and taking energy in.
What I mean by putting energy out is the energy we put out for others including family work, children, and more. The energy coming in is the time you spend in calmness and tranquility allowing for gratitude and energy to come into yourself almost charging up your battery.
As work begins to bleed into our home lives, I realized it would be a great time to chat about how we can create a switch and utilize the focus mode of times in our daily lives to recharge and bring the energy in for our wellbeing. It's hard at first, but a guarantee you that taking this step to separate work and home and time with family is a game changer. Since one month ago, my fiance and I have taken steps to be more intimate with our time together rather than watching TV, we interact by making a photo book or working on some house projects. It makes a huge difference in relationships, but also the anxiety of always being in that work mode.
And onto the topic of technology…technology has its upsides and downsides.
Sara Lance brought me to a very interesting article in the NY Times titled “Your Next Fitness Coach Could Be a Robot”
As a coach myself here I thought “Oh dear no! This can't be!” AI has been a huge advancement in technology. But even this title made me think. Could that happen? It made me process much of what concerns me but also it made me think of how technological advancement has helped others. It is huge too as I have used AI myself to help with certain finite things and wording details, but I realized that there is a voice lacking. So today I want to Chat about this AI and the current technology. How it's good and how it's bad. As much as I love that AI can be smart and help to coach people, I believe that most of the coaching is about that human-to-human connection that will never be met by Artificial Intelligence. AI is an enhancement, but not the true answer. So let's dive right in.
(AI) fitness trainers have become increasingly popular in recent years as people look for convenient and affordable ways to stay in shape. These artificial fitness coaches use algorithms to create personalized workout plans and provide guidance on nutrition and exercise.
I do have to say I have seen many use plans through AI, but I have only used AI as a wording source and not a plan builder as I solely believe plans need to be adaptable on a life basis for best results. I have a few so-called ‘canned’ plans. I focus on having skeleton workouts that i then construct and personalize. It can make a difference.
While AI fitness trainers can be a cost-effective option, their usefulness depends on various factors. Some AI fitness trainers may not have the same level of expertise as a human coach, which could limit their effectiveness in providing tailored and comprehensive advice. AI fitness trainers may not be able to account for certain physical limitations or injuries that a human coach could address.
AI fitness trainers can be beneficial for individuals who are looking for basic guidance and motivation to achieve their fitness goals. They can provide reminders and encouragement to stay on track and can help individuals track their progress and adjust their workouts as needed.
So that made me think with the surplus of cost-effective AI coaches… Can A.I. trainers replace the real thing?
AI fitness trainers can be a cost-effective way to customize your workout routine and get a personalized training plan, especially if you are self-motivated and familiar with the recommended movements. However, it's important to note that a significant part of personal training, particularly strength training or structure, involves developing formulas to determine the number of reps, sets, and adjustments required to progress. While AI trainers can provide general guidance, a human coach can provide more personalized attention to these factors and tailor your workout plan accordingly.
“What A.I. does exceptionally well is determined sets and reps,”
said Cooper Mitchell, the owner, and founder of Garage Gym Reviews, who has spent the last 10 years reviewing home gym equipment and technology, including A.I.-powered fitness apps.
But if you’ve never squatted or bench pressed before, he said, it’s best to learn these movements under the watchful eye of an experienced personal trainer.
“Just because the A.I. is saying you need to run more,” he said, doesn’t mean you’re “actually motivated to do it.”
This is especially true for veteran athletes, who often say the toughest battles in fitness are psychological, not physical.
“The coach becomes a little bit of a therapist. I text my coach just as often to complain to him as I do to give him the results from training,”
said David Tao, co-founder of BarBend, a website about strength training and strength sports.
The existing A.I. apps can’t provide encouragement or comfort you on an off day. However, Dr. Banovic said, in the near future they may use programs like ChatGPTs to talk about their workout or offer motivation. Even then, it will be important to consider the value of personal interaction, Mr. Mitchell said.
“As humans, we need more than just the workouts that will get us to our goals,” he said. “We need to be inspired and encouraged — that’s something only a real trainer can do right now. I think it will be some time before A.I. training does this well.”
And AI doesn't just stay within the fitness world. I wanted to segway into how it's affecting us unknowingly.
Here are some pros and cons of integrating AI for social media scrubbing:
Pros:
1. Speed: AI-powered social media scrubbing tools can quickly and efficiently analyze large amounts of data.
2. Accuracy: AI algorithms can identify and flag inappropriate content with a high degree of accuracy.
3. Consistency: AI-powered social media scrubbing tools can be programmed to consistently apply the same rules and criteria for identifying and removing inappropriate content.
4. Cost-effective: AI-powered social media scrubbing tools can be more cost-effective than hiring human moderators.
5. Scalability: AI-powered social media scrubbing tools can be easily scaled to accommodate an increasing volume of content.
6. Multilingual capabilities: AI-powered social media scrubbing tools can be programmed to detect and remove inappropriate content in multiple languages.
7. Automated moderation: AI algorithms can automatically flag and remove inappropriate content, reducing the need for human intervention.
8. Data analysis: AI-powered social media scrubbing tools can provide valuable insights into trends and patterns in social media activity.
9. Protection against legal liabilities: AI-powered social media scrubbing tools can help companies protect themselves from potential legal liabilities associated with inappropriate content.
10. Increased user safety: AI-powered social media scrubbing tools can help protect users from harmful or offensive content.
11. Streamlined processes: AI-powered social media scrubbing tools can help streamline the content moderation process.
12. Continuous improvement: AI algorithms can be continuously improved through machine learning and other techniques.
13. Reduced bias: AI algorithms can be programmed to reduce bias in content moderation.
Cons:
1. Potential for errors: AI algorithms are not perfect and can make mistakes, leading to the removal of appropriate content or the retention of inappropriate content.
2. Lack of context: AI algorithms may struggle to understand the context of certain content and may incorrectly flag it as inappropriate.
3. Limited interpretation abilities: AI algorithms may struggle to interpret humor, sarcasm, or irony, leading to the incorrect identification of inappropriate content.
4. Limited emotional intelligence: AI algorithms may struggle to identify content that is emotionally distressing to users.
5. Reliance on training data: AI algorithms rely on training data to learn how to identify and classify content, and biased training data can lead to biased algorithms.
6. Inability to catch all inappropriate content: AI algorithms may not be able to catch all instances of inappropriate content, particularly if it is nuanced or subtle.
7. High upfront costs: Implementing AI-powered social media scrubbing tools can be expensive initially, requiring significant upfront investment.
8. Maintenance costs: AI-powered social media scrubbing tools require ongoing maintenance and updates.
9. Limited human oversight: Overreliance on AI-powered social media scrubbing tools can reduce the level of human oversight and potentially lead to missed opportunities to identify inappropriate content.
10. Lack of transparency: AI algorithms can be opaque, making it difficult to understand why certain content was flagged or removed.
11. Lack of accountability: AI-powered social media scrubbing tools can shift accountability away from humans and onto algorithms.
12. Regulatory compliance issues: The use of AI algorithms in social media scrubbing may raise regulatory compliance issues.
13. Ethical concerns: The use of AI algorithms in social media scrubbing raises ethical concerns about privacy, bias, and the impact of algorithms on social media behavior.
AI is significantly impacting the media industry today. It is enabling a more personalized and targeted content experience by analyzing user data, improving content curation and distribution, and enhancing audience targeting. AI-powered tools are streamlining content moderation, providing insights into audience preferences and behavior, and optimizing media planning and monetization. Additionally, AI is making it easier and more cost-effective to create news articles, summaries, and video content. AI-powered tools can also be used to create immersive media experiences, enhancing storytelling. Overall, AI is reshaping the media landscape by improving efficiency, personalization, and audience engagement.
So it's important for us to be aware of the impact it has on our daily lives. It's good and bad. We must be able to use it to enhance but know where to draw the line in our personal lives.
In more research around AI, I found a great study bright to research on The negative effects of social media on the social identity of adolescents from the perspective of social work
The article you shared is titled "Artificial Intelligence in Mental Health: Current Advances and Limitations". It discusses the current state of artificial intelligence (AI) in the field of mental health, including the various applications of AI and the limitations of this technology.
The article highlights that AI has the potential to significantly improve mental health care by aiding in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness. For example, AI algorithms can analyze large amounts of data to identify patterns and make predictions about patients' mental health outcomes.
However, the article also notes that there are limitations to the use of AI in mental health care. One of the primary concerns is that AI is not a substitute for human judgment and intervention. AI algorithms may lack the empathy and subjective understanding that human mental health professionals can provide. Additionally, there are ethical concerns about the use of AI in mental health care, such as the potential for bias and the need for transparency in how the technology is used.
The article concludes that while AI has the potential to enhance mental health care, it should be used as a tool to support human mental health professionals rather than as a replacement for them. The authors also call for more research to be done on the ethical implications of using AI in mental health care to ensure that this technology is used responsibly and ethically.
Social media has become an integral part of adolescents' lives, but its use can have negative effects on their social identity. From a social work perspective, social media can lead to social isolation, addiction, cyberbullying, and low self-esteem.
One of the negative effects of social media on adolescents' social identity is social isolation. Adolescents may spend excessive amounts of time on social media, leading to decreased face-to-face interactions with peers and family members, which can impact their social skills and social support systems.
Social media addiction is another negative effect of social media on adolescents' social identity. Adolescents may feel compelled to continually check their social media profiles, leading to a loss of control over their time and behavior.
AI and social media can go in hand and I think it's a big problem not only in children but in daily adult lives including my own.
In order to enhance our lives while minimizing the stress associated with AI and social media use, it is important to find a balance. This can be achieved by setting boundaries, monitoring usage, using AI to our advantage, practicing mindfulness, seeking social support, promoting positivity, and taking breaks. By setting limits on social media and AI use, monitoring usage, and taking breaks from technology, we can become more mindful of how it affects our mental health. AI can be used to simplify our lives and help us stay organized while promoting positivity on social media can lead to more meaningful interactions. Prioritizing in-person interactions and using social media to connect with friends and family can provide social support. Ultimately, finding balance is about creating healthy habits and prioritizing our well-being.
So how have you seen social media and the new AI enhance your life?
How has it challenged your daily human touch and interaction?
To conclude, I think it's important to chat about these things and bring them to the conversation. This helps us see where we can improve our lives and help us become more connected to each other.
OK! Here is a new recipe I created to share with you all it is simply delicious but full of health and very versatile!
Kale Pistachio PestoIngredients:
6 cups of chopped Kale with stem or without. I like to use ½ a big back or organic chopped Kale from Whole Foods.
2 full lemons' juice and a few shreds of lemon Zest for a bright, tangy flavor to dishes. They are both derived from lemons but serve different purposes in recipes. Lemon juice is acidic and has a sour taste. It is often used to add acidity to recipes, to balance flavors. Lemon zest contains flavorful essential oils. It has a strong, citrusy aroma and a slightly bitter taste which adds another dynamic flavor.
½ cup fresh basil
¼ cup of Raw lightly Salted Pistachios
A few dashes of Celtic Sea Salt
½ ripe Avocado
2 cups of Cauliflower chopped
2tbsp Nutritional yeast
1tbsp minced garlic
Pepper
Directions
In a food processor add kale and begin to pulse. Add cauliflower, pistachios, and diced avocado. Keep pulsing
Add the rest of the ingredients and turn the processor on and blend all together. You might need to stop and stir occasionally.
*if too dry, add in some extra water to help consistency
Enjoy plain, as a dip, mixed in with some spaghetti squash
Kale, avocado, pistachios, and nutritional yeast are all nutrient-dense foods that offer various health benefits. Kale is a cruciferous vegetable that is low in calories and high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. It is an excellent source of antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties. Avocado is a fruit that is rich in healthy fats, fiber, and potassium. It can help reduce the risk of heart disease, improve digestion, and support healthy skin. Pistachios are a type of nut that is high in protein, fiber, and healthy fats. They may help reduce the risk of heart disease, improve blood sugar control, and support weight loss. Nutritional yeast is a deactivated yeast high in protein, vitamins, and minerals, particularly vitamin B12. It is often used as a vegan cheese substitute and can help support a healthy immune system. In summary, incorporating kale, avocado, pistachios, and nutritional yeast into a balanced diet can provide numerous health benefits, including improved digestion, heart health, weight management, and immune function.
As always,
Be Kind, Do Fearless