Jun 19, 2023·edited Jun 19, 2023Liked by Josh Brake
Hi Prof. Brake. We were musing about this very topic earlier this year, while I was enjoying some away-from-work time in Japan visiting my daughter. I believe that you have a very sane assessment of the situation regarding the rising tide of AI tools that we will soon be swimming in. I was just confronted with my own situation involving ChatGPT, which, as I had earlier told you, I do not wish to ever use if at all possible. I am no Luddite, but I also do not even want to talk to or tell my phone what to do! I'm helping a friend to (re-)write a screenplay that he would like to actually market. I'm very certain that he put forth a brilliant story concept with a truly unique cast of characters, but the actual screenplay which he handed me would not make its way past the 1-minute mark were a reader to pick it up. I am committed to helping my friend succeed, which could also translate to my own benefit. He has been waiting for me for over a year to unwind myself from a very busy life so that I can finish this screenplay. A few days ago, he casually mentioned that I should just have ChatGPT finish writing the script and then let him see how far he gets trying to sell it. I am still working through the stages of fully developing (describing) each of his 8+ main characters, something which he did not even attempt to do himself (for anyone's benefit), and coherently outlining and weaving together the story arcs for each of them. Writing the actual movie dialog for this action comedy will require some inspiration and a lot of originality in order for all this to become everything that I believe it can become. Well, well, do I feel the heat under pressure to cave in and allow ChatGPT to finish up for me what I myself eagerly desire to finish? Story to be continued! Of course, I am eager to watch and see how this initial "year zero" of AI and generative tools alters the educational landscape at my college alma mater. (Or is it "year one"?).
Hi Jim, I’m just now finally getting around to replying to you! Thanks for this. It’s interesting that you should offhandedly mention the Luddites. I think that we may see some renewed interest in that movement in the near future and am curious to dig further into it myself. It seems that we often bandy the term about somewhat loosely and that we might be missing some insights about their view on technology that might be helpful as we think about generative AI...
Do give me an update after playing around with ChatGPT a bit more. I’ll be curious to hear about your experience.
It will indeed be an interesting fall in the classroom, both at Mudd and elsewhere. Sure there will be lots of food for thought and plenty for me to write about!
Hi Prof. Brake. We were musing about this very topic earlier this year, while I was enjoying some away-from-work time in Japan visiting my daughter. I believe that you have a very sane assessment of the situation regarding the rising tide of AI tools that we will soon be swimming in. I was just confronted with my own situation involving ChatGPT, which, as I had earlier told you, I do not wish to ever use if at all possible. I am no Luddite, but I also do not even want to talk to or tell my phone what to do! I'm helping a friend to (re-)write a screenplay that he would like to actually market. I'm very certain that he put forth a brilliant story concept with a truly unique cast of characters, but the actual screenplay which he handed me would not make its way past the 1-minute mark were a reader to pick it up. I am committed to helping my friend succeed, which could also translate to my own benefit. He has been waiting for me for over a year to unwind myself from a very busy life so that I can finish this screenplay. A few days ago, he casually mentioned that I should just have ChatGPT finish writing the script and then let him see how far he gets trying to sell it. I am still working through the stages of fully developing (describing) each of his 8+ main characters, something which he did not even attempt to do himself (for anyone's benefit), and coherently outlining and weaving together the story arcs for each of them. Writing the actual movie dialog for this action comedy will require some inspiration and a lot of originality in order for all this to become everything that I believe it can become. Well, well, do I feel the heat under pressure to cave in and allow ChatGPT to finish up for me what I myself eagerly desire to finish? Story to be continued! Of course, I am eager to watch and see how this initial "year zero" of AI and generative tools alters the educational landscape at my college alma mater. (Or is it "year one"?).
Hi Jim, I’m just now finally getting around to replying to you! Thanks for this. It’s interesting that you should offhandedly mention the Luddites. I think that we may see some renewed interest in that movement in the near future and am curious to dig further into it myself. It seems that we often bandy the term about somewhat loosely and that we might be missing some insights about their view on technology that might be helpful as we think about generative AI...
Do give me an update after playing around with ChatGPT a bit more. I’ll be curious to hear about your experience.
It will indeed be an interesting fall in the classroom, both at Mudd and elsewhere. Sure there will be lots of food for thought and plenty for me to write about!