You Can't Hide from AI
We wrote a blog a while back that forecasted that the future belongs to generalists that know how to leverage AI to expand their knowledge in any area that presents itself. Since then, we’ve noticed two basic camps that most people seem to fall into, as far as AI is concerned:
Those that have embraced AI so fully that using it in countless ways, and staying on top of the rapidly evolving platforms and tools, has become a nearly full-time job.
Those that refuse to learn about AI, and have vague ideas about how AI will lead to humanity’s extinction.
Just as we often aim for a middle road between various other extremes in this blog, we feel that a middle road between these AI extremes is also the best way forward. One thing is for sure: you can’t hide from AI. But since the number ones don’t need us, this blog really is for the number twos. So let’s take a look at how a beginner can use AI.
In fact, you’re probably already using it. Siri and Alexa are AI assistants. In fact, they can do a lot more things than you probably use them for. Check out these videos to get the most out of each:
Siri
https://youtu.be/WXvIC44CQJA?si=EiyUPLvpKVts02BZ
Alexa
https://youtu.be/FMkGzRb1mlQ?si=02QLdPdJwT_ujgqx
The next step up from AI Assistants is probably using a Large Language Model, or LLM. Some of the current large language models include ChatGPT-4, LLaMA, and Claude, among others. Each has unique features and is used for various applications. These are the ones your kids are using to write their term papers. When it comes to LLM’s, your results are only as good as your prompts. Here’s some tips on writing the most effective prompts:
https://youtu.be/bW-snXcDg3I?si=NtZvb4YpvVn7wSBz
When it comes to AI tools, the landscape is getting more and more populated with each passing day. Here are 10 tools you might want to use at your place of work. These tools focus on automating repetitive tasks, which is something that AI is really good at. As referenced in this video, Ted Sarandos, the CEO of Netflix is quoted as saying, “AI may not take your job, but the person who can use AI well might take your job.”
https://youtu.be/Ej9zCLI2ZdY?si=mdPUlyC9_RjcdWcf
The fun thing about getting comfortable speaking with an LLM, is that you can describe your job in detail, and ask for recommendations on what AI tools might serve you the best. The conversation can keep getting more and more specific until you find exactly the solution for you. So then you’re actually using AI to help you use AI better. And this can just go on and on.
No matter what the future brings, AI is going to accompany us there. So we might as well get comfortable with using it, and let it help us make our lives that much easier. The one thing that AI will truly be challenged at reproducing is precisely the things that make us most human: all of our creative talents. A good strategy is to use AI to help us with the more mundane repetitive tasks of life, so that we are free to be even more human.
As we joked about earlier in this blog, staying on top of the rapidly evolving AI field is almost a full-time job. Luckily, there are many people that have made it their business to do just that. It’s worth subscribing to a newsletter or following a expert on YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok. Pick someone that you like and understand easily, and let them do the work of keeping up with the industry developments for you.
Here are a few favorites of ours:
https://youtube.com/@natebjones?si=JOs0tQunwNRxH49g
https://youtube.com/@sabrina_ramonov?si=Seqn-rwt9NTC9e8m
https://youtube.com/@akmofficial?si=blWNJMwAKZk8BxYg
We hope we’ve inspired you to give this incredible technology a try.
Until next time
Scott and Lennart