Latest news with #Kulp
Technical.ly
6 days ago
- Business
- Technical.ly
AI tools won't replace storytellers, but these 7 tools can make the job easier
AI won't replace human storytellers, but it can supplement their approach for a wider reach. That was the underlying message of 'AI Tools for Storytelling: For Places, Companies & Brands,' a panel at the 2025 Builders Conference that drew professionals across civic, nonprofit and private sectors. Moderated by GateCheck Studio's Sean Blanda, the conversation featured Alanah Davis, Baltimore's chief storyteller, and Tim Kulp, chief innovation officer at Mind Over Machines. While AI is a powerful assistant, storytelling still needs human direction, according to the panelists. Plus, there are certain things the tech just can't replicate. 'Don't go to [AI] for expertise,' Kulp said. 'You have the expertise. Go to it to help you format and formulate that expertise.' At Mind Over Machines, Kulp's team uses Microsoft 365 Copilot and a custom agent called 'Katie' to track projects, extract useful case studies and support onboarding. For teams just starting with AI, Kulp warned against treating it as a low-stakes sandbox. 'You want to have a use case that is actually going to create the impact and change,' Kulp said, 'and that's not going to happen if everybody has a mindset of 'that's just the playground.'' Start with tasks like repurposing content or summarizing transcripts, he said, and measure against manual workflows to establish return on investment. That clarity helps with internal buy-in, builds momentum and encourages what he called 'the curious mindset.' Using AI doesn't mean losing authenticity As Baltimore's first chief storyteller, Davis faces the challenge of sharing narratives from a city government that's still catching up with 21st-century tech. In her role, Davis wants to use AI tools like for transcription, but municipal IT restrictions often block or delay access. That means finding workarounds, like off-platform Google accounts or partnering with freelancers who can use the tools she can't. Still, Davis remains optimistic about what AI can offer, particularly when it comes to outreach. 'I think it's important that we're learning it and that we're not afraid of it,' she said. 'I like to embrace it, even though I'm all about connection, humanity [and] authenticity.' The AI tools worth your time So what tools are worth checking out? The panelists shared a short list. But keep in mind, panelists said: Whether you're working in city hall or a startup accelerator, the human component is irreplaceable. 'In order to do this, you have to have good storytelling already,' Davis said. 'Get the basic thing right before you extend it.'
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Western North Carolina business owners reflect, reopen 6 months after Hurricane Helene
LANSING, N.C. (WGHP) — Lindsey Kulp's downtown Lansing store is full of familiar sounds once again: the front door opening, friends greeting her and ringing people up at the register. Six months ago, only silence and emptiness were inside her store the Squirrel and Nut. 'I had no words,' Kulp said. 'When I walked in, it looked just like it was empty. There was just six inches of mud.' A wall of water from Big Horse Creek washed away around $50,000 worth of items and pieces of her store. It took almost everything and left behind a high-water line and mud. 'I didn't actually cry for about a week, and I think that was just the adrenaline. I kind of came in and was just overwhelmed but knew there was nothing else I could do,' Kulp said. She had to get to work. 'We're all just doers. We want to get it done,' Kulp said. After almost six months, she got to start all over again and better than ever. Her store is full of curated items that are old and new, but new fixtures and art don't mask the pain. 'My biggest fear for reopening is my customers coming in and wanting me to rehash the story all the time, and that's trauma. That's hard for people to understand as an outsider,' Kulp said. But the people who live in Lansing understand the feeling of hopelessness and watching the water rise all too well. 'I was freaking out. I sat there and watched it, and I was like, 'This isn't really happening,'' said Kristin Howell, an Ashe County native and business owner. She sees the opening as a sign of hope. 'People were coming up and hugging. They just wanted to talk, and they were so excited,' Howell said. Howell left the restaurant she ran for years behind after the storm to help other people. 'We were tired. We were exhausted. We were working non-stop all day, every day, building, cooking, cleaning, scraping, carrying,' Howell said. And it hasn't stopped for her and so many others. 'We've still got people coming to get groceries and diapers and toothpaste and just basic needs,' Howell said. At one point, she used her food truck to help serve meals. Howell's home is still a drop-off point for people to send Amazon packages with essentials, extra building supplies and other odds and ends. Howell will never be able to shake the sight of seeing the water rise more than 20 feet outside her house, trapping her and her friends there for hours. What's even harder to forget is the kindness that came after. 'Yes, it happened. Yes, we still need help, but the fact that you can watch these people help neighbors, throwing their bad stuff aside,' Howell said. It's also hard to forget the strength they've gained every day since. 'We were a strong community before this, and we are an even stronger community now,' Kulp said. The Squirrel and Nut in downtown Lansing is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Howell is hoping to get her food truck, Kristin's Hook'd on Smoke, running more regularly soon. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
