The book was "written" in 2022 by Ammaar Reshi, a product design manager from the San Francisco Bay area. "Written" is in quotes because Reshi created the book using various AI programs instead of more traditional writing and illustration methods. The text of the story was primarily generated using ChatGPT , while the imagery was primarily generated using Midjourney . The book was completed and published over the course of a single weekend. Machine learning is an application of artificial intelligence (AI). Computer systems enable councils to number-crunch vast amounts of data from a variety of sources, such as police records, housing benefit files, social services, education or – where it is made available – the NHS. In children’s services, a council may ask for analysis of specific risk factors which social workers would otherwise not know, such as a family getting behind on the rent, which can then be triangulated with other data such as school attendance. The results were presented to the local community and a community-led commissioning group was set up, aiming to give parents, volunteers and teachers a chance to improve outcomes for children in the area. The council also hopes it will help prevent an increased demand on services later on. People are spending money buying in these services even when they are short of cash … but there are no silver bullets Michael Sanders, What Works centre The story explores the incredible abilities of AI and the importance of using them for good. It is a tale of friendship and exploration, filled with magic and wonder.” With AI and machine learning tools used in its writing and illustration, Alice and Sparkle is said to be the first book of its kind to do so. Not only that, but the entire story’s plot also centres around the young protagonist creating her own AI companion.

Art Shift: The artstyle ranges from the chibi-inspired style on the cover to a more realistic look . The debate has heated up even further with the announcement of Alice and Sparkle, created by design manager Ammaar Reshi. He completed the entire children’s book within a weekend using ChatGPT, MidJourney, and other AI tools.

Tropes include:

Maris Stratulis, national director of the British Association of Social Workers England, first voiced concerns last year. She remains worried. “Machine learning in social care still raises significant issues about how we want to engage with children and families,” she says. “Reports on its use in other countries have shown mixed results including potential unethical profiling of groups of people.”

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), which regulates the act, says it recognises that machine learning can present “some of the biggest risks related to the use of personal data”. What Works for Children’s Social Care, part of the network of government-funded What Works centres, is examining the effectiveness of predictive analysis in the sector. Preliminary results from one of six councils being studied have shown that its predictions are “pretty accurate”, according to the centre’s executive director, Michael Sanders. But he is yet to be convinced that they really offer value for money. “People are spending money buying in these services even when they are short of cash,” he says. “They have been promised a silver bullet, but there are no silver bullets.”The key issue from a purely evaluative perspective is whether machine learning will perform better than traditional analysis. Sanders believes it may in some cases, though he stresses the jury remains out, which would then trigger the further question of practitioners’ ability to understand the data without having a doctorate in statistics. Alice and Sparkle is a children's picture book about a young girl named Alice who creates an artificially intelligent robot named Sparkle. The two go on an adventure where they learn about both the potential benefits and dangers of artificial intelligence. The Data Protection Act provides some legal safeguards on using personal data – one of which is that organisations must let people know how their details and profile are being used.