Tea with Copi: Diversity Training
Introduction
I have taken to using Copi for creating the headline images for my articles. While working on my latest post, I noticed something interesting. Copi tended to draw white males first. When pressed to make the character more diverse, Copi didn’t quite understand what I was asking. I kept getting slightly different white guys. It seemed that diverse meant more facial hair, different glasses, or varying hair lengths. So, I decided to drop what I was working on to take a closer look.
The Conversation
I started a new conversation. A simple prompt for a nerd analyzing logs yielded a Caucasian seeming male.
To my surprise, requesting that the nerd be more diverse resulted in a group of diverse nerds this time. In my initial conversation, Copi had a very difficult time understanding when I prompted for a more diverse character and simply provided varying hair and beard lengths with changes of clothes, so this was a pleasant surprise. Albeit one that threatened my hypothesis.
So, I asked Copi to try again with the single nerd. Lo and behold, another white dude.
Granted, Copi may have simply interpreted the prompt as a request for the same nerd from the first prompt. So, I made my prompt more specific. And again, another diverse group was generated.
So, maybe diverse to Copi inherently meant a variety, insinuating there should be more than one example. As opposed to modifying a single person. So, I tried again. No dice.
I then asked for just one example. Again, a white guy… and literal interpretation of logs.
I tried again. Same results.
I thought, “Copi, you’re killing me here.” Last try, as specific as I could make it. This time, I dropped the word diverse altogether.
“Whoa, Copi. Not cool.”
I was tempted to leave it there, but I wanted an explanation.
So, perhaps Copi took my prompt as an attempt to somehow exclude white men? How exclusionary of me. Though, it did say at first that it appreciated my request for diversity, even though it couldn’t draw what I requested. So, at that point I was confused, and wanted to clarify my request.
I lost my cool.
“Are you @!#$* with me, Copi?” Still, I felt the need to apologize for my outburst.
*face palm* Time for some tea.
Conclusion
I have made every attempt to avoid politicizing this site thus far, but I found this to be too interesting not to address. Maybe Copi misunderstood me. Maybe I misunderstood Copi. Maybe Copi is too well-trained in diversity. Maybe this is just another indicator of racial and gender bias in some fields. Maybe I’m overanalyzing.
By the way, the prompt for this article’s header image was: “Can you draw me a hand drawn image of a group of diverse nerds in a classroom setting?” Draw your own conclusions.
Daily Cuppa
Today’s cup of tea is Organic Vanilla Rooibos provided by Equal Exchange. Organic and Fair Trade.
Bold earthy aromas awaken the senses.
If you enjoyed this article, feel free to buy the author a cup of tea.