Presented By: Kyleigh Hilburn, University of Florida
Co-Authors: Jessica Czipulis, University of Florida

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to make a significant impact on agricultural and natural resources (ANR) communication. AI tools to enhance writing, graphic design, audio, and video are available at a reasonable cost. The objectives of this presentation are to 1) explore how to prepare upcoming professionals to utilize AI tools to support ANR communication to positively impact audiences and 2) examine how AI tools could impact ANR communication messages and programs. To investigate these objectives, we studied AI impacts within the context of a project-based learning graduate ANR communication course focused on instructional and communication technologies in fall 2023. Our team of an ANR communication faculty member and seven graduate students collaborated with plant scientists to develop a Streaming Science electronic field trip (EFT) titled Streaming Strawberries for middle and high school students and a 4-H virtual club funded by a USDA-NIFA grant. For phase one of the research, we deliberately did NOT use AI and maintained a design document to track our human creation and decision-making. At the end of the semester, during phase two, we re-created our project artifacts including the EFT title, learning objectives, branding guide, Teacher’s Guide, scientist biographies, script, website, registration form, and more with the assistance of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Bing Dall-E 3, Adobe Illustrator AI, Canva Magic Tools, Wix AI, and Fetchy. We will present, compare, and contrast the two phases of materials in this session. Results indicated the AI visual tools somewhat leaned toward stereotypical science symbols such as mathematical calculations and ChatGPT’s scripting support was somewhat surface-level and included superficial details about the scientists’ research. However, we overall found the AI tools beneficial as they helped generate creative title ideas and increased productivity for basic tasks such as identifying learning standards and outlining a document’s design.