What are everyone’s thoughts on using AI to create adverts? Do we think it’s a great time-saving tool, or does it cheapen the image of the cadet organisations?
An example below; many of us could point to a number of problems with this particular image. But given that it takes 2 seconds to generate and many volunteers are pressed for time, are these errors a fair trade off for the time saved?
I’m ok with it PROVIDED we don’t then put stuff on that is clearly incorrect.
Uniform is the big one.
There’s a huge difference between an artist deliberately rendering our uniform in the style of a cartoon but ensuring nothing looks overly incorrect or odd, versus AI being completely clueless and making a hash of everything.
If you can tell it’s AI, it’s not good enough for a professional output.
We definitely need some kind of policy on this, coupled with education and training: so that people know not to accept the slop produced as the first answer and to refine it with corrections to details like cap badges, shirt colour, salutes, aircraft types, etc.
This is perhaps one of the only times I’d favour a blanket STOP order as a stopgap while actual policy is made (provided that’s done promptly…)
I think a blanket stop is needed indefinitely - AI completely ruins our image, cheapens our branding and makes us look like absolutely buffoons. There are some squadrons (going to NameDrop one in particular - 354 Dover) who make absolutely fantastic material on SM, no AI at all and it looks really slick. The moment AI is used, I for one and many of the youth will simply turn their heads away as it’s just lazy and sloppy. Ban with no use for any social media posts permanently.
The problem is, especially the youth who are exposed to it so much, can easily tell what’s AI, and no AI has got to the point where you can’t. So until that day, it needs to be banned.
This Q was asked on VOP a whole ago and the answer was it should not be being used until the policy is released around it’s use.
Which is going to get more attention (amongst CFAVs & staff)?
An outdated RAFAC poster or a potentially catchy AI production?
Is this meant to be should or should not, sorry?
Went back to find the thread. HQ said they are currently working on a new policy that should be out soon. That was on November last year… I think Soon and Paused need to be trademarked by HQAC!
Sorry, my typo, fixed it. AI should not be used. Actually wording being ‘For now, please don’t use any AI tools’.
An outdated poster 100%. I would choose anything that’s not AI slop over a handmade production, and speaking as someone graced with youth an ideal scenario would be neither, but AI is definitely bottom of the barrel
But how many OC Sqns and IC Activities actually look at VOP 
If that was the direction then was should have something out via the proper chain of command, even ahead of ACC 
I look to Dover Sqn in particular when I advance the case for a national brand where we all use exactly the same style of social media stuff, but with approved differences (e.g. unit badges).
That’s why I’ve started providing units with social media profile images that use the logo alongside their authorised badge.
It can look brilliant, but not everyone has the time and energy to understand policy and then enact it well — we need to provide each unit with exactly what they need and make it easy.
But on a national scale, not with each unit generating their own vibe so they can stand out.
You’re right. And I suppose the biggest issue is that the AI won’t produce things in a consistent style when each unit is doing their own thing, and so any potential benefits are lost by the fracturing of our core brand and design language.
What I would like, to perhaps limit people from resorting to quick and easy AI output, is recommendations on tools and software (preferably free and relatively simple to use) that allow the average volunteer to create decent graphics for these sorts of use cases.
I’m aware of canva but I’m sure there are other (and probably better) tools out there that do a similar thing.
Even better, how about an occasional ‘how to’ style teams lesson from Wing and Region Media Officers, helping staff learn about and get to grips with these tools in a supported way? This could easily be done as a Teams call, interested staff could just sign up via SMS
I think @OC.1324 has touted this before!
Being devil’s advocate here….
I’d argue this HQAC SMEs job to produce this kind of stuff so there is a library of poster/infographic to bang out when appropriate. Fully appreciate every scenario can’t be covered though.
But then it aligns with policy and is branded correctly.
I know that’s my plan post rewrite
Yeh, if we’re not creating them explicitly for each unit, then a fixed template as we have with the official letter template would do the trick.
We produce the digital badges with exactly the same background proportions etc, so you can easily swap a default out for the one your own unit needs and not need to worry about manipulating positioning too much.
