Our Thoughts on Artificial Intelligence — Embracing Possibility While Respecting Our Values

Artificial intelligence has become part of many conversations lately, and not everyone feels the same way about it. Some people are excited about the possibilities, while others have genuine concerns about its effects on the environment, employment, creativity, and the future of human involvement in everyday life.

A couple of our customers have expressed disappointment that Casaroma Wellness has begun using AI, and we thought it would be worthwhile to share our perspective on why we've chosen to use it, what role it plays in our work, and where our responsibilities remain.

For us, artificial intelligence represents another stage in the development of technology. Much like the arrival of computers, the internet, and even motorized transportation, it has the potential to change how we work, learn, communicate, and live. These developments have brought enormous benefits, but they've also introduced challenges that deserve thoughtful attention.

What excites us about AI is the opportunity it offers people to explore information, develop ideas, learn new skills, and accomplish things that might once have required resources beyond their reach. Our own experience with this technology has shown us how valuable those opportunities can be, particularly when circumstances require us to learn an entirely new way of doing things.

Learning to Build Casaroma All Over Again

For more than three decades, Casaroma has been part of our lives. We built our business around personal relationships, hands-on experiences, education, and the opportunity to work directly with the people who came through our doors.

As the world and the way people shop changed, we eventually found ourselves facing a difficult decision. Continuing to operate as we had in the past was no longer practical, and moving away from our brick-and-mortar business became a necessity rather than an exciting new direction we had been planning.

We still had our knowledge, our experience, our products, and our commitment to the people we served, but we had to learn how to bring all of that into an online environment. And the truth is, neither of us knew very much about operating an online business.

There was an enormous amount to learn. Building a website, understanding online sales, organizing a large product catalogue, developing new ways to communicate with customers, and learning how to make our products and services accessible through technology required considerable research, time, and persistence.

AI became one of the tools that helped us navigate this unfamiliar territory. It provided opportunities to investigate questions, understand new systems, explore different approaches, organize information, and work through challenges that might otherwise have been much more difficult for two people managing so many responsibilities.

It didn't build our experience or make our business decisions for us, but it helped us develop the skills and resources we needed to move forward. 

For a small family business working to find its footing in a changing world, that assistance has been genuinely valuable.

Our Concerns for the Environment

Anyone who knows us knows that the natural world is deeply important to us. Our relationship with plants, essential oils, the seasons, animals, and the environment has been part of Casaroma's foundation since the beginning.

We are concerned about the growing energy requirements of data centres, the water needed for some cooling systems, the resources involved in manufacturing technology, and the effects that large developments can have on surrounding communities.

These concerns are particularly relevant as proposed data-centre developments become part of the conversation here in Nova Scotia.

We can only hope that governments and the businesses responsible for these developments honour the environmental protections, policies, and commitments established for them. Having policies in place is one thing; ensuring they are followed and that communities and natural resources are genuinely protected is another.

We believe the people living near these developments deserve to know how their water, electricity, land, and surrounding environment may be affected. They also deserve to know whether the economic benefits will reach their communities or whether they will be left carrying an unfair share of the environmental and financial costs.

The reality is that artificial intelligence and the infrastructure supporting it are advancing rapidly. We may not agree with every development or have control over the decisions being made, but we can remain informed, pay attention to what is happening in our communities, ask questions, and encourage responsible practices.

And we can make thoughtful decisions about how we use the technology ourselves.

The arrival of the motorized vehicle transformed transportation and opened possibilities that previous generations could scarcely have imagined. It also brought pollution, resource consumption, and changes to our landscapes. Over time, people have continued working toward safer and more environmentally responsible ways of travelling.

We believe artificial intelligence presents a similar responsibility. We can appreciate the possibilities it brings while continuing to question its environmental costs and encourage better ways of developing and using it.

For us, loving the natural world and appreciating technological progress are not opposing values. The challenge is finding ways for them to exist together responsibly.

How We Use AI at Casaroma

Our work has always grown from our education, professional experience, personal observations, and relationships with the people we serve. Artificial intelligence hasn't replaced any of that.

When we prepare our Wellness Letters and educational articles, the subjects and direction come from us. We bring our knowledge, ideas, and experiences into the conversation and use AI as a tool to help research, organize, review, and present information in an engaging and understandable way.

It can help us recognize something that needs clarification, examine a different perspective, identify information that requires further verification, or refine the way an idea is communicated. We still review the material, make changes where necessary, and decide what reflects our understanding and the values of Casaroma.

Some articles go through considerable revision. Others need very little adjustment. Ultimately, the responsibility for what we choose to publish remains ours.

We've also enjoyed exploring AI-generated imagery, sometimes placing ourselves in imaginative settings or creating pictures to accompany our educational material. It has been a creative experience, and we've had quite a bit of fun with it.

What hasn't changed is the personal attention we bring to our work. The essential oil blends we formulate, the consultations we provide, the products we prepare, and the conversations we have with customers continue to involve the same hands, minds, experience, and care that have always been part of Casaroma.

Technology and the Human Touch

We believe technology is most valuable when it helps people develop their abilities rather than encouraging them to surrender their judgment.

AI can provide opportunities to investigate questions, consider different viewpoints, learn new skills, and organize complicated information. It can also make mistakes, misunderstand what is being asked, or present information that requires further examination. That is why human knowledge, curiosity, and critical thinking remain essential.

We also believe that, just because a technology is available, it doesn't mean we need to use it for everything. We can be thoughtful about when it offers genuine value and when our own experience, creativity, or personal attention is better suited to the task.

Our goal has never been to replace the personal relationship we have with our customers. We want to use the tools available to us to continue learning, improve the resources we provide, and make more of our experience accessible to the people who find it valuable.

We recognize that not everyone will share our enthusiasm for artificial intelligence, and we respect that. Environmental concerns, questions about authenticity, and uncertainty about technological change deserve consideration.

We can appreciate what a technology makes possible while still asking difficult questions about how it is developed, who benefits from it, and what responsibilities come with its use.

For us, the future isn't about choosing between human experience and technology. It's about making thoughtful decisions about how the two can work together, while continuing to protect the things we value most: our relationships, our integrity, our communities, and the natural world.

With Gratitude & Appreciation Always,

Allana & LyzaLee

Casaroma Wellness