How I Boosted My Productivity to Unprecedented Levels

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By now you’ve heard of artificial intelligence, and even if you haven’t searched for it directly, you have more than likely experienced it in some way, shape, or form. Many companies are using AI to power initial interactions with consumers sometimes without them knowing it.

What is artificial intelligence?

If I were to explain AI in the simplest way possible, it would be “systems that act like humans.” When computers first came onto the scene, humans had to learn computer languages to interact with them. However, with the advent of AI, we simply need to use our natural language. Currently, to interact with AI, we give it a “prompt” which is a request that you give the generative AI system. Specifically, generative AI is a system that can create new videos, texts, audio, simulations, and images. The most popular system is undoubtedly ChatGPT by OpenAI. GPT actually stands for Generative Pretrained Transformer. This in itself gives you an idea of how the system came about. The system’s current iteration is up to version 4 or GPT 4 which is currently only available via subscription.

GPT 3.5 is still free and was trained using 570 GB of data from articles, books, web texts, and other types of written media from the internet. It literally studied 300 billion words. GPT, however, cannot create video, sounds, or images. Other systems such as Dall-E can create images from a sentence command that you enter. Additionally, there are other systems that are capable of creating sounds and/or video just by having the user type what they want.

How can AI be used?

From a text-only point of view, AI can be used to organize, analyze, summarize, write, code, and recognize patterns just to name a few. AI can also generate formulas and assist in computer programming. This opens the door for non-programmers to dip their toes into creating something that they normally would not be able to do. Although I use both ChatGPT and Bard AI, there are still other text-based systems such as Lamda, Bingchat, and more. I encourage you to experiment with the several systems- use the same prompts to see the types of results you get and you’ll develop a preference!

Image-producing AI can create images in various styles. This allows non-artistic people to describe what they visualize in words. The system then generates its “best guess” based on the prompt. Obviously, the better you are at prompting, the better your results. ChatGPT’s image-producing counterpart is Dall-E. Check out Openai.com to see all iterations of ChatGPT and Dall-E. Midjourney and Leonardo.ai are two other popular systems, but again, there are quite a few more systems available.

Video-producing AI can create short or long-form videos from text-based prompt requests. Similar to the image-producing AI systems, they will create a video based on how general or specific a text prompt you provide. This allows people with no video creation or editing skills to create videos of their own. Several such systems include meetaugie.com, ai.invideo.io, and steve.ai.

How I have been utilizing AI

In regards to the text-based AI systems, I use both Bard and ChatGPT to summarize articles, suggest headlines/titles, and explore different ideas. I will research articles that pertain to the subject at hand and have one of the systems give me the key points for the article. You can have the system write the article itself, but I still feel the human touch is better (currently). Although ChatGPT seems to do a slightly better job with the output, Bard has an excellent feature called “Double-check response.” With one click of a button, it will take you out to Google search results for your question or request so you can ensure that the AI’s response is correct. This is an absolute must. AI is trained on information, but it stands to reason that if the information is incorrect, then the response would be incorrect. NEVER take the AI’s response as gospel. The following are results from ChatGPT and Bard when I utilized the same prompt “Define what it means to be human.”

ChatGPT: The question of what it means to be human is a complex and philosophical one, and different perspectives offer varying interpretations. Here are several dimensions to consider when exploring this concept:

1. Biological Aspect:

- Genetic Composition: Humans are characterized by a specific genetic makeup, including the presence of DNA that distinguishes them from other species.

- Physiological Features: Human beings have a particular set of physiological characteristics, such as bipedalism (walking on two legs), an advanced brain, and complex cognitive abilities.

2. Intellectual and Cognitive Abilities:

- Reasoning: Humans possess the ability to think logically and engage in complex reasoning.

- Language: The capacity for language and communication is a unique human trait, enabling the expression of abstract concepts and complex ideas.

3. Emotional and Social Dimensions:

- Emotions: Humans experience a wide range of emotions, contributing to their subjective and interpersonal experiences.

- Social Interaction: Humans are inherently social beings, forming complex societies with shared norms, values, and cultural practices.

4. Self-Awareness and Consciousness:

- Self-Reflection: Humans have the ability to reflect on themselves, their actions, and their place in the world.

- Consciousness: The capacity for self-awareness and an awareness of the surrounding environment is a defining characteristic.

5. Morality and Ethics:

- Ethical Framework: Humans often adhere to moral and ethical principles, engaging in discussions about right and wrong behavior.

- Altruism: Acts of kindness, empathy, and cooperation are common among humans, contributing to a sense of morality.

6. Creative Expression:

- Art and Culture: Humans engage in artistic and cultural activities, creating various forms of expression such as art, literature, music, and dance.

- Innovation: The ability to invent, adapt, and create new technologies distinguishes humans as a species.

7. Spirituality and Transcendence:

- Spiritual Beliefs: Many humans have a sense of spirituality or belief in something beyond the material world.

- Quest for Meaning: Humans often seek meaning and purpose in their lives, transcending mere existence.

Bard: To be human is to be a complex and multifaceted being. We are both biological and cultural creatures, with a unique capacity for thought, language, emotion, and creativity. We are also social animals, who form deep and lasting bonds with others.

There is no single definition of what it means to be human, as different people will emphasize different aspects of our humanity. However, some of the key characteristics that make us human include:

• Consciousness: We are aware of ourselves and our surroundings, and we have the ability to think about our thoughts and feelings.

• Intelligence: We are able to learn and understand complex concepts, and we can use our knowledge to solve problems and make decisions.

• Language: We are able to communicate our thoughts and feelings to others using language, both spoken and written.

• Emotion: We experience a wide range of emotions, from joy and love to sadness and anger. Our emotions play a vital role in our relationships with others and in our overall well-being.

• Creativity: We have the ability to create new things, whether it is a work of art, a piece of music, or a new invention. Our creativity allows us to express ourselves and to make a unique contribution to the world.

• Morality: We have a sense of right and wrong, and we are able to make ethical decisions. Our morality guides our behavior and helps us to build a just and compassionate society.

In addition to these core characteristics, we are also defined by our unique cultures and traditions. Our cultural heritage shapes our values, our beliefs, and our way of life. It also gives us a sense of belonging and identity.

To be human is to be all of these things and more. We are complex and contradictory creatures, capable of great good and great evil. But it is our humanity that makes us unique and special in the universe.

Here is a quote from the philosopher Erich Fromm that I think sums up the essence of what it means to be human:

It's essential to recognize that these aspects are interconnected, and the essence of being human is likely a combination of these factors. Additionally, perspectives on what it means to be human may vary across different cultures, philosophical traditions, and belief systems.

Notice how both systems offer a different response to the same prompt. Both are rather good explanations in my opinion, but this was a philosophical question. I encourage you to experiment with them using analytical and creative questions.

When it comes to photo-based AI systems, I prefer Leonardo because it replenishes 150 free credits for you per day, AND the images are amazing. I have been using this system to create thumbnails and other types of graphics needed for social media. You will find others who swear by Midjourney or Dall-E. It all boils down to personal preference and which system provides the best visual output for your needs. Here is one of my creations from Leonardo.ai:

On to the text-to-video AI systems, if you are an experienced video editor like myself, these AI systems allow you to make very quick changes and focus on the bigger picture such as the story for much less than hiring writers and editors. Non-experienced video editors can do this as well, but I have been known to take the resulting video from an AI system and manually tweak it to exact specifications. The following is a video I created with ai.invideo.io but it allowed me to focus on building the story:

As you might have guessed, I created the Pixar-styled thumbnail using Leonardo.ai.

Drawbacks of AI

The landscape of AI isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, however. Most people have already heard the refrain that AI will eliminate jobs. No doubt, there are some jobs that will definitely be phased out due to this technology.

Since it’s a machine, you wouldn’t expect bias to be a drawback, but it is unfortunately. AI is trained using information. If the information is biased, then the system will also be biased.

AI is also being used to help make decisions. Part of being human is learning how to make decisions and living with the consequences. What will happen to future generations who have never made their own decisions; depending only on AI to give them the answer?

Part of the human existence involves creativity. Music, poetry, and art have all been encroached upon by this new technology. While some may use this as their sole means of creation, others like myself, will use it to build upon our ideas and products at a much faster pace than normal. You can do the very same.

This article was not written by AI except where AI output was indicated.

The writer has two graduate degrees: one being in mental health counseling.

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