Hi Sam,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. You mentioned that AI is already contributing to worsening conditions, but I’m not fully convinced that the examples you provided support this claim. Both examples seem to reflect broader trends of technological intensification, rather than generative AI specifically (which wasn’t available at the time those developments occurred). My focus is on generative AI, while other forms like machine learning and deep learning are already deeply embedded in industry practices.
That said, my main point remains: other things being equal, and acknowledging that factory farms are, unfortunately, a current reality, I hold an optimistic view of AI’s introduction into the industry: AI can monitor and address key production factors that overlap with welfare concerns, such as body scores, heat stress at the individual level, and the detection of injuries or diseases, far more effectively than traditional methods.
Rather than advocating for the abolition of AI in factory farming, I believe we should focus on campaigning for transparency. Specifically, the data gathered by AI and other monitoring technologies should be made accessible to independent stakeholders. This would create greater accountability and improve oversight.
Transparency-focused legislation is more plausible than bans on AI across an entire sector. It’s difficult to argue against the idea that the food industry should be transparent about its non-proprietary practices, particularly when animal welfare is concerned. While I’m not naive about existing challenges, such as ag-gag laws and potential loopholes, the chances of passing transparency laws are higher than prohibiting the use of technology outright.
Hi Sam,
It’s clear we agree on the most important point: that promoting transparency is an urgent and essential step toward achieving significant welfare gains.
Where we differ is in strategy. While you believe that demanding technological-blocking legal restrictions on AI technology will create the necessary pressure to achieve transparency, I believe that directly advocating for something widely supported in society—namely transparency in food production—will better align us with a greater portion of society, increasing the chances of achieving this transparency much sooner.
I would focus our energy not only on demanding transparency but also on ensuring that it is thorough. There are many potential alignments with public health, environmental, and workers’ rights advocates, who could become powerful allies in this effort.