So, what are we going to do with AI?
The Godfather of AI, Geoffrey Hinton, resigned from his position with Google this week, prompting a flurry of speculation on the future of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Topics from copyright issues to the morality of using AI to write something you put your name as the author. What happens if my new novel becomes a best-seller but I didn’t actually write it? Should I send my royalty checks to ChatGPT?
Also, this week Mid-West Family Madison has been inundated with offers from AI companies offering their writing services. So, I thought I would give it a try.
A lawyer, a robot, and a philosopher walk into a bar. The bartender looks up and says, "What is this, some kind of joke?"
The lawyer replies, "No, we just happened to arrive at the same time."
The robot adds, "Actually, I was programmed to come here and observe human behavior."
The philosopher chimes in, "And I am here to ponder the nature of existence and the meaning of life."
The bartender nods and says, "Well, you've come to the right place. We serve drinks and conversation."
They all take a seat at the bar and start chatting. The lawyer talks about his latest case, the robot discusses its observations of human behavior, and the philosopher pontificates on the meaning of life.
As they sip their drinks and chat, they realize that despite their different backgrounds and perspectives, they all share a fascination with understanding the world around them. And in that moment, they find a common ground that transcends their differences.
Not really a gut-buster on the laugh scale, but it illustrates a point. Two really—there is a right way to use this new resource, and writing jokes ain't one of them!
There are lots of ways to use ChatGPT and its equivalents. Here are the three most common uses.
Idea generation. Say you want to write blogs, social media posts, or product descriptions. When you give your AI language model of choice clear, concise prompts, it will save you time and effort in content creation. Pro tip: You still need human interaction and editing to ensure they are accurate. For example, consider this innocent sentence. “If you live in an area with significant snowfall…” It’s grammatically correct, but if you live in Wisconsin, your readers are going to roll their eyes so hard they may fall out of their chairs.
Language translation. Using AI to translate text from one language to another makes it easier to communicate with people who speak different languages. The ability to generate natural-sounding language can also help ensure accurate and effective translations. Pro tip: Trust but verify. If you inadvertently say the wrong thing, instead of looking inclusive, you’ll look foolish and insensitive.
Personalized Customer Service. AI is very prolific in this space, allowing companies to provide instant feedback to consumers in the form of virtual assistants. They’re great for your frequently asked questions but less accurate for really specific issues a customer may be having. Pro tip: Provide another way for consumers to contact your company. Some of the questions they have may not be answerable through an AI chatbot.
The debate will rage over the best use of this new technology as we all figure out how to use it and not abuse it. And I’ll let you know when my book gets published!
