Digital Thoughts
Making Random Conversations and Images with ChatGPT and DALLE2
A ChatGPT Conversation Between TechDinners and a Sponsor
We’ve noticed so far that the system appears to have a markedly better understanding of our ventures that have been online (searchable) longer than those such as TechDinners, which is relatively new. We’re not ready to say why exactly we think this is because first-order insights are usually wrong. We’ll be doing some additional throughout December.
A GPT3 Conversation Between TechCrunch and Emergent Line
We recently received access to OpenAI’s ChatGPT, and we decided to test a few simple concepts in which a traditional chat agent would perform poorly. In a sense, it was an attempt to perform a double Turing test where both AI agents are being put to the test to see if they can plausibly pass as humans. What we found was rather exciting. We tried a few different variations of conversation between the names of portfolio companies and branded/unbranded counterparties to see what the system generated, with no additional insights in the prompt.
A High-Quality Medieval Painting of an Entrepreneur Pitching Venture Capitalists in a Large Elegant Room, Digital Art
Earlier in the year, we began testing how DALLE2 generated various concepts related to positioning, self-conception, and many others that would help us understand how the system understood: people, cultures, nuances, etc.
What do you notice is different in this assortment of photos compared to similar ones we generated earlier in the year? We're intentionally being vague in the question to see if you catch it.
A Glimpse of Tomorrow: AI-Enabled vs. Non-AI-Enabled Companies.
I want you to come with me to the year 2006. If you could go back in time and give yourself some tips about investing, developing a business, or where to focus your attention, what might you tell yourself? Or what if we were to go back to 1992? What might you advise yourself at that moment?
Now you might wonder what these two seemingly arbitrary dates have to do with anything technology or AI. But they’re not arbitrary at all. These were two of the most significant inflection points in recent human history. 2006 was the year before the release of the iPhone, and 1992 was the year before the release of the internet to the public. Each of these events split the trajectory of human history in entirely new directions.
“Paint a painting of Vincent van Gogh painting a live T-Rex, Digital Art”
What would a T-Rex painted by Vincent van Gogh look like? What if Vincent van Gogh were to be painting a live T-Rex? Of the many unique possibilities presented by DALL-E by OpenAI, is that we are able to construct exceptionally “unique” and “random” scenes that never happened in real life. It also helps us to understand how the AI “understands” certain requests, situations, or scenarios that are easy for humans but hard for AIs.
“A High Quality Render of Climate Change, Digital Art”
How would an AI system render “Climate Change,” “Global Warming,” or “Rising Temperatures”? What would happen if we were to combine these terms with “medieval,” “Ancient Egyptian,” “future,” and “today?”
Of the roughly 117 billion people who have ever lived on this planet, we are the first to glimpse this far into space. Just think about that.
“An AI Self-Portrait, Digital Art”
How does an AI system conceive of itself? That was a question we decided to test out during our Monday morning meeting. If we were to ask DALL-E how it viewed terms such as “self-portraits” of AI and itself, what would it produce?
"An AI System Celebrating the Fourth of July, Digital Art."
Have you ever wondered how an AI system conceives of concepts such as "Fourth of July," "Independence Day," "George Washington," and other ideas related to a national holiday? We did, and we decided to have some fun with it.
If Good Artist Borrow and Great Artist Steal...What Happens When An AI Does It?
What are Noise, Bias, and Signal?
Noise, Bias, and Signal are about the quality and applicability of the information we use to make all decisions. When making decisions, especially important ones that can dramatically impact our professional lives, we want to ensure that we are receiving and generating information signals. We don’t want to receive or generate information flows that are biased or noisy.
When Status Symbols Become Paperweights: Why Pre-Disrupting Your Business Is Essential
To be fair, there are numerous devices that were once highly coveted and have now become paperweights in their own right. Think Motorola Phones, Palm Pilot, portable tape and CD players, iPods, fax machines, and the list goes on. Some companies like Apple were able to transition their iPods rather seamlessly into their iPhones, and the company has gone on to be one of the true business success stories. While others have gone entirely out of business or are small shells of what they once were. The natural question is how can a business leader think more like Apple and less like everyone else?
How to be Automation Proof in the Age of AI
Automation, the Future of Work, and How to Stay Employable
In late-2021, we are coming out of yet another significant shift. The pandemic of 2020, better known as COVID-19, has significantly accelerated the implementation and adoption of automation by companies large and small. It’s not unreasonable to estimate that COVID-19 accelerated the timeline for automation anywhere from 4 to 6 years sooner, making the risks, impacts, and opportunities more relevant for everyone.
Staying Employable in an Automated World: What Makes You Unique
When I advise younger and older people about staying employable over their careers, the advice generally ends roughly the same, with a few tweaks for each unique situation.
Every one of us has to take the time to figure out what is unique about us and, more importantly, what we bring to the table that can amplify the output of everyone. Granted, this is easier said than done, but I genuinely believe it is essential to making anything Automation Proof.
Staying Employable in an Automated World: Uncovering Your Unique Creativity
Great! So now that we know we should bring a unique form of creativity to our career, the next most obvious question is: “How exactly do I bring my uniqueness to work, to my startup, to career?” The answer is this; it’s very simple and very hard, but very doable if you want to achieve it. I’ll explain.
The reason it’s very simple to find out what you can uniquely bring to any business, startup, or career is that all of the answers are within you. Seriously.
Taking Einstein’s Exam Twice | RQ:RA | Changing Questions & Answers
We are living in an era where not only are the answers changing, but the questions we need to ask in the first place have also changed. Startups, Fortune 500 Companies, governments, and solopreneurs are operating in environments that are moving faster than any other time in recorded history, which means more questions, more answers, and more changes.
Hyperloops are cooler than you think.
Have you ever taken a moment to think about how impactful hyperloops could be? I must admit that I hadn’t spent much time thinking about hyperloops or their applications to various industries until a few weeks ago. Interestingly enough, it would appear that hyperloops have the potential to disrupt not just city-to-city travel but transportation, pollution, urban sprawl, real estate prices, and of course, where we can live.