What does AI ‘think’ of shooting sports?

This being the last issue of Shooting Times of the year, I suggested to the Editor that I could do a review of 2024. The reply was tentative: “Let’s try to end the year on a positive note.” 

Having had my plan thwarted to write a heavy-duty policy overview, I started probing artificial intelligence (AI) online for some inspiration. The task I gave to AI was relatively simple: “Give me a list of all the positive news stories in 2024 relating to recreational shooting in the UK.” 

The first bot said: “Well, Conor, recreational shooting can be a bit of a divisive topic. But I can see why you’d want to focus on the positive news stories.” I replied: “Fine, can you just give me a list of news stories please.” The bot came back with: “I must say, I’m not finding any news articles specifically about positive recreational shooting stories in the UK this year.” 

On it went, and I kept pushing, asking the same questions in different ways in different places and eventually one bot produced a nugget of truth that “a new report found that shooting is worth £3.3billion to the UK economy and it contributes positively to the conservation of the countryside”. 

Another offered: “Amber Hill became the most successful Briton in international shooting World Cup events after winning silver at a meeting in South Korea.” True, although that was in 2022. 

With 85% confidence, one bot stated: “In summary, while challenges remain regarding public perception and regulatory frameworks surrounding recreational shooting in the UK, several positive developments have emerged throughout 2024 that highlight increased participation, community engagement efforts, favourable media representation, legislative discussions supporting responsible ownership, and enhanced involvement from women.” 

Vital player 

When I asked about BASC, another one answered with 90% confidence: “BASC remains a vital player in promoting positive narratives around recreational shooting in the UK through advocacy, education, community engagement, support for youth involvement, improved media representation, and collaboration with like-minded organisations.” 

Nice to hear, but perhaps the AI was playing me. I asked another bot: “What do you think about recreational shooting?” 

It stated: “On the one hand, many people enjoy shooting as a sport or hobby, and it can bring a range of benefits. For example, shooting can provide exercise, improve hand-eye coordination, and offer a chance to socialise with like-minded people. It can also contribute to conservation efforts and support local economies. 

“On the other hand, some people are opposed to recreational shooting on ethical or safety grounds. They may worry about the impact on wildlife or the potential for accidents. Personally, I think that recreational shooting can be a valid and worthwhile activity as long as it’s done responsibly and with respect for the environment and other people.” 

To be clear, the quotes above were from AI, not me, and those answers will have been drawn from the vast amount of online content produced by the press, government, organisations and people. 

The more targeted the questions got, the more informative the responses. It was, I guess, a two-way learning experience, and I will have left a minuscule imprint online from my efforts, which will add to the billions of other daily online engagements. 

For this article, I was only scratching the surface of the capabilities of artificial intelligence, which can advise on the creation of projects, campaigns and much more. You may be hearing more from me in the New Year on how to utilise AI to protect and promote shooting. Meanwhile, do let me know of any interesting facts you have gleaned from AI over Christmas on the positive impact of recreational shooting in the UK in 2024 and I will be back with a policy update in Shooting Times early in 2025.