USING AI FOR PERSONAL CONFLICTS

A growing concern is the role AI will play in mediation since there are several ways to use it for help with personal conflicts.

When we find ourselves in a conflict situation we tend to think of our ideal outcome and argue for that. That is, we lose our creative skills.

Simply asking AI for recommendations on how to handle a conflict situation can reveal options that don’t immediate occur. For example, a colleague presented ChatGPT with this problem: “Two professors occupy the same office, but both want the desk near the window. In what ways can this dispute be resolved or at least settled?” He received this suggestion: “Resolving or settling a dispute between two professors who both want the desk near the window can be done through communication compromise, or external mediation.”

Some possible ways to address the situation were then offered:

• Communication: Encourage the professors to have an open and respectful conversation about the preferences and needs.

• Compromise: Suggest a compromise in that they share the desk near the window on different days or different times of the day

• Office Allocation Policy: Check if there is an official policy for assigning office spaces. Policies can provide an objective basis.

• Rotation: Take turns using the desk near the window.

• Random Selection: Draw lots or flip a coin to determine who gets the desk might eliminate any bias.

• Mediation: Involve a neutral third party to mediate a discussion.

• Redesign the Office: Consider rearranging the office space.

• Alternative Desks: Identify other available desks in the office may have other features that meet each professor’s needs

• Seniority or Priority: Consider giving priority by seniority or specific needs.

• Time-Based Agreement: Agree on specific times that each can use the desk near the window.

Some suggestions are more creative and more practical than others, but this demonstrates that AI can be used effectively to spur our creativity in conflict situations.