Radicle Development and collaborating colleagues have begun using AI tools in a variety of tasks associated with evaluations, strategy, coaching, and reporting. While adoption of these tools is rapidly mainstreaming, given their generative capacities and intertwining with capitalist incentives, there is a need to be very intentional and clear-eyed about their use and utility. 

Our stance

In a services business, how something is done and by whom matters deeply to the usefulness, value, and outcome for clients (not to mention the experience). Therefore, picking up AI to substitute a human interaction, shortcut a process, or write a flawless report may not be as helpful as it first appears. Radicle Development designs for and serves people. We take opportunities to change systems on behalf of human beings’ well-being. This requires decision-making, value judgment, trust-building, and the wisdom of lived experience. None of those tasks are appropriate for an AI, nor is AI qualified or designed for them. 

We know and believe in our unique value for clients; we never relinquish our judgment, decision-making, or responsibility to an AI tool. This means AI is not used as a substitute for junior team members or any colleague. Instead, AI is in service to and under the direct accountability of any team member using it as a tool.  Practically speaking, when working with an AI tool, we are the ones to set parameters, identify discrete tasks, put in place ethical and quality assurance guidelines, work carefully enough to verify results, and take responsibility for all outputs. Radicle Development works with organizations that want to get to Inclusive AI faster — bringing diverse perspectives, lived experience, and rigorous social science into the design, deployment, and evaluation of AI.

Here is a short list of some of the thinking and reflection that informs our professional choices: