ALL TOGETHER BETTER

instability. ChatGPT is very fast and writes oodles of accurate copy. In the past few months, I have seen it used — to help someone get out of a jury duty summons, write quiz questions, identify video tags, come up with a list of names for ILCA’s new content channel, among other assignments.

If I were giving ChatGPT grades on those tasks, they would range from A+ to F. It is a prolific writer and if you need to take up a lot of blank space with text, look no further. It writes like a college freshman in a business writing class. It is as funny as a 7th grader with a joke book. It is as creative as a room full of executives trying to be creative without being controversial. It writes and speaks with a voice, but no soul. With that said, some of its applications saved me and my staff hundreds of hours of busy work.

So, that brings us to the final question, will AI impact the landscape industry? Personally, the landscape industry would be fools not to become early-adopters for a few reasons. The primary reason is that the work it replaces is not the work that makes you money. Many in this industry do not enjoy writing. Many pursued landscaping as a way to burst out of offices, not sit in a cubicle banging out bland copy for client letters, invoices, emails, ads, and websites.

Second, this industry moves at breakneck speed. Imagine just having one hour of every day back because you had ChatGPT write a watering regimen for clients due to drought instead of your account manager.

Third, landscaping is about taking a basket of skills, techniques, materials, plants, etc. and customizing it to clients and conditions. Remember, AI is your own personal Google. It will drill down into any and every variable you toss at it using a base set of knowledge. Could it easily give you a plant list for 10 sets of conditions? Yes. Could it easily write a bulleted script for a salesperson based on a customized consumer profile? Yes. Could it give a client ten names for their new grill and pergola area that you could hang a wood sign above the bar? Yes. It can do all of this...in seconds.

If AI can eliminate 10% of your mundane tasks so you can take on 10% more work, just imagine the impact to your bottom line.

It is hard for me to remember if we used the word “...yet” when discussing Smartphones back in 2005. Did we say, “You can’t watch movies on it...yet.” “You can’t hail a taxi on it...yet.” “You can’t pay for coffee with it...yet.” AI is in the “...yet” stage. It can’t draft a full scale landscape design...yet. It can’t apply for a village permit...yet. It can’t create a project timeline and communicate deviations to clients...yet.

Today, you have three choices, embrace it, fear it, or ignore it. Here is my advice for the August doldrums. Create a ChatGPT account and just noodle around. Enter in a few queries and see where the day takes you. My guess is that you will be amazed and then terrified. That terror will give way to logical pragmatism. Finally, you will develop a practical understanding.

I mean, it can’t replace human intelligence... yet. Wait, did that cursor just wink at me?

And just for grins, an excerpt from my/ChatGTPs Skittles Brownies poem:

Knock, knock! Who’s there? Brownies! Brownies who? Brownies calling, oh, taste me through and through. So, venture forth, and bake these brownies grand, A poem and a recipe, hand in hand.

With fudgy goodness, Skittles’ playful glee, Enjoy the sweet symphony, a dessert decree.

Sincerely,

Scott Grams, Executive Director July 10, 2023

President

Ashley Marrin

Bret-Mar Landscape Management Group, Inc. (708) 301-2225 ashley@bretmarlandscape.com

Vice-President

Jim Cirrincione Hinsdale Nurseries, Inc. (630) 323-1411 jcirrincione@hinsdalenurseries .com

Secretary-Treasurer

Kim Hartmann

Rosborough Partners 847-404-7669 hartmannkim@comcast.net

Immediate Past President

Jeff Kramer Kramer Tree Specialists, Inc, (630) 293-5444 jwkramer@kramertree.com

Directors

Adam Bellas Bellas Landscaping (309) 827-5263 adam@bellaslandscaping.com

Ryan Heitman The Fisher Burton Company (847) 566-9200 ryanheitman@fisherburton.com

Tom Klitzkie

Nature’s Perspective Landscaping (847) 475-7917 tklitzkie@naturesperspective.com

Michael Massat The Growing Place Nursery & Flower Farm, Inc. (630) 355-4000 michaelm@thegrowingplace.com

Nikki Melin Midwest Groundcovers (847) 742-1790 nmelin@midwestgroundcovers.com

Kevin McGowen Kaknes/SiteOne (630) 416-999 kevin@kaknes.com

Becky Thomas Spring Grove Nursery, Inc. (815) 448-2097 bthomas@springrovenursery.com

Mark Utendorf Emerald Lawn Care, Inc. (847) 392-7097 marku@emeraldlawncare.com