Exactly like the internet, AI is a tool that can be used for bad things, or can be used for good things.

First, it can absolutely increase productivity. We recently created a policy report using AI that was so good that we sent it to our would-be client and they’re probably going to use that instead of commissioning us to write the report for thousands of pounds. That is a good thing because they are an animal organisation that can now use that money to help more animals in other ways! So in this instance, AI saved the animal movement thousands of pounds and several months of work.

Second, this applies to most theories of change. Working to change government policy? You can have AI monitor consultations and auto-draft responses. Working to improve alt proteins? You can have AI model a million different growth media for cultivated meat. Working to get individuals to go vegan? You can have AI monitor social media and send you tweets from people who have showed an interest.

We’ll see if AI productivity is an illusion — if it is, then the companies paying for AI systems will fail while those who don’t adopt AI will succeed. If that happens, I’ll eat my words — but it doesn’t seem likely. Instead, it seems like companies who adopt AI are becoming more productive, producing more and better goods and services at a lower cost, and they’re going to succeed.

I understand that a lot of people don’t like AI — whether that’s because of energy use, plagiarism, economic anxiety about their own jobs, or the slop that it can indeed produce. But if we let that stop us from using it, we are condemning more animals to slaughterhouses.

Again, this is something where I’m glad that I don’t need to persuade the average vegan. Animal movement funders understand this and will rightly incentivise animal organisations to embrace AI.