AI Programs and You

[Lizzy Gracemount]

With the increased use of AI programs for writing, there comes a need to issue a warning about its use for writing promotion and award recommendations. You should be bragging about your friends' accomplishments and not rely on artificial intelligence to do so for you so impersonally.

Recently, we have noticed an increased use of AI programs for some recommendations. Because of this, we have decided to implement a new step in processing your recommendations.

Beginning in October 2023, I will pass each submission through an AI Detector, which the board (and the promotions Joint Chiefs vote on) will take into account when voting, which may include a rejection based on how high the percentage is on AI-generated recommendation.

Best Regards,
Lizzy

[Greenlantern Excelsior]

AI detectors are notoriously unreliable. Which detector will be used? And if the promotion request is true and accurate, why would it matter whether the wording was enhanced by an AI assistant? We aren't in a college writing class.

[Kermie Mistwallow]

Why the lean away from ai programs to write recommendations?

When we go through P&A and there are 3 consecutive recs with 95% of the exact wording for each one it becomes not about what the person has contributed and more about "I just want this person promoted or awarded"

An AI program does not give us specifics on what someone has contributed, it does not tell us what they have done to earn something, it does not know the person, it does not know the group and so the data it spits out is very generic.

While yes we are a fan group, we are also a group of people contributing, and each person is an individual and unique. If we want to reward someone for their contributions then we should be taking the time to speak to each other, converse with CO's, department heads and really make this about the person not about what an AI thinks would be a good recommendation.

Then when it comes to my P&A Speech I don't have to edit a recommendation completely to essentially rewrite the recommendation for the person, i can simply adjust the "our ship" to "their ship" and such.

Celebrate your fellow members and friends from yourself, not from a computer. You can certainly type your recommendation into an ai and say "Improve this" but just typing in something like "Write a promotion recommendation for Ensign Dude in starflet science to lt jg" is not personal enough

[Lizzy Gracemount]

To better address the statement regarding AI chat programs I wanted to take a moment to further clarify what the intent is, and why we are looking into this more to give all members a better understanding.

The reason the original post was made was to address issues that have arisen the past couple of months whereby some recommendations have been almost carbon copies of each other and does not highlight or give examples of a members contributions when it comes to looking at giving them promotions and awards.

To reiterate the post made by FAdm Mistwallow we do understand that there are members that might need some help with language, grammar, and other things that might be lost and we are certainly not rejecting this.

What we are looking for in recommendations is making it personal about a member's contributions, the nominee knows what the person has done, they know why they want to recommend them, an AI program does not.

The promotions and awards department are always on hand to help people if they need it, both the Director and Board members can help with recommendations, they will not write them for you, but they can help you word things better and direct you to specifics of what is looked at in them. The P&A manual is also a good tool for you to use - https://lcars.ufstarfleet.org/index.php ... ons_Manual

The P&A Department is going to be more helpful with individuals if the recommendations seem to be more generated than providing actual evidence and examples of why someone deserves a Promotion or Award.

AI programs are not “banned” we are just making sure that the program is not writing the whole recommendation for you, these are impersonal and they do not convey a member's hard work for our group.

I want to assure everyone that while we do look at AI involvement, and use some detection programs that is not the main reason for concern. A recommendations content far outweighs someone getting assistance, as long as a recommendation is about a person and their contributions, not just general “fluff” of “they are a great person” or “they have given outstanding performance in their duties” without explanation to “how” they have done that, then the content is what is most important.

If you need help, or some more guidance on how to write a recommendation, content, or evidence, reach out to P&A - Promotions@ufstarfleet.org and be sure to communicate with the department heads, CO’s, Branch Commanders and JC’s to get their help if you are recommending one of their crew or office volunteers.