Using AI as a Professional Sociologist, Responsibly

As a professional sociologist and content creator, I use Artificial Intelligence (AI) all the time. I have this freedom, partly, because I work for myself. I imagine integration of AI is a more complex process for other sociologists working at universities or other large companies. But, in my position, I have been able to experiment with and use AI in my professional life since it became accessible to the public. A couple of those experiments include,

At Applied Worldwide Nigeria, we had writers exploring and investigating the impacts of AI on their communities since the early days, as well.

My point is, I have not been afraid to use AI, and I am not immediately afraid that AI will “take my job,” though I will share one fear in a moment. Throughout all of my research and experience using AI as a professional tool, I have learned some valuable lessons. Here, I want to look more closely at why reviewing and editing sociological AI content is vital before distributing it on the internet.

Always Edit Sociology AI Content, Closely

One of my biggest fears about AI related to creating content for the internet, is that AI will create a circular force of information. It is possible to ask AI to write content about specialized areas in the field of sociology. If that content is published, it is fair game for AI to draw from during future requests. In this way, AI is creating content based on information that AI has created. It becomes a circular force that may reinforce misinformation.

This predicament showcases the importance of editing closely. Often, AI will produce content that makes logical sense but is not quite an accurate depiction of how those in sociology talk about a topic. Or, it may produce “sociological” content that just does not quite represent my sociological perspective. These discrepancies are subtle, but as most sociologists will tell you, the nuance matters. And I agree, as a professional sociologist it is my responsibility to iron out the details before knowledge from my field is reinforced in the public sphere.

As the professional sociologist, I am the expert—so I must look at every idea AI produces with rigor. I must not simply get lost in the logical flow of the writing. I must question the ideas.

Final Thoughts on AI as a Professional Sociologist

As sociologists, it is important that we are careful with how our knowledge is distributed and interpreted by the general public. Our ideas are already a bit convoluted and complicated, so we need to be conscious of how this knowledge is being used by the media and industries and institutions. One specific source of media where AI is rampant is internet content. All knowledge is becoming more accessible to the public, so whether we are publishing research or educational content, we need to be clear and concise.

The use of AI is only going to grow. It will become more and more incorporated across professions including sociology. We need to remember that it is a tool that can assist us in our goals, but we need to remain vigilant about our ethics and responsibilities.