The more I learn about this stuff, the more I realize how big of a deal it is.
IMO it seems like AI hit an inflection point over the past year and will spawn many interesting applications, with one of the most obvious implications being increased knowledge worker productivity.
Admittedly, I was a bit cynical when the AI/ChatGPT hype cycle started last year. Maybe it was the auditor in me exercising measured skepticism.
Or perhaps it was PTSD from the constant shilling by grifters and individuals with large online followings that we had to endure during the pandemic (what the hell does Reese Witherspoon know about crypto?).
I pray we never hear about web3 and NFTs from Gary Vee again.
In a world replete with information overload thanks to social media, clickbait articles, too many newsletters (guilty as charged), and OD influencers, it can be difficult to separate the signal from the noise.
I’ve spent the past handful of months getting up to speed on the technology and experimenting with it for work and play. Anecdotally, folks seem to have mixed reviews—some have no interest in using it, others use it to work multiple jobs (lol), and many people fall somewhere in the middle.
I work for a software company that has already released some exciting AI applications, and it’s been fascinating to see what’s in the pipeline. By no means am I an expert in the AI space—I’m still learning about how this all works and actively thinking through implications for my skillset and career.
Side note: Microsoft (MSFT 0.00%↑)/OpenAI’s go-to-market plan and rollout of ChatGPT was the stuff of legend. Truly impressive execution, and hats off to all those involved. Multiple business school case studies are probably being written as I type this.
Resources
Without further ado, here are the best resources I’ve come across thus far. This space will serve as a running list, and I’ll continue to add content that I find noteworthy:
11/10/23 update:
The OpenAI Keynote (Stratechery) — Ben Thompson wrote a great recap on OpenAI’s impressive keynote. This is a must-read if you have any interest in what lies ahead.
6/13/23 update:
AI Discussion with Amy Hood and Kevin Scott (Microsoft) — Did the world's largest software company just drop a video of the CFO and CTO casually chatting to flex on everyone and remind us that they’re leading in AI? Absolutely. And I can’t say I fault them for it. At the same time, this is crazy: Even if the partnership between Microsoft and OpenAI ends, Microsoft has the perpetual right to use all IP "up until AGI.” (h/t @modestproposal)
Microsoft’s Satya Nadella Is Betting Everything on AI (Wired)
The CEO can’t imagine life without artificial intelligence—even if it’s the last thing invented by humankind.
4/24/23:
GPT-4: How Is It Different From GPT-3.5? (Search Engine Journal). A solid, fairly short primer on GPT-4. Search Engine Journal also published a longer article explaining what ChatGPT is and how you can use it.
“GPT-4 is 10 times more advanced than its predecessor, GPT-3.5. This enhancement enables the model to better understand context and distinguish nuances, resulting in more accurate and coherent responses.”
Say Hi To ChatSpot.ai: The All-In-One A.I. Powered Chat App For Growing Better (HubSpot on YouTube) — ChatSpot.ai, currently in public alpha, is a new, all-in-one AI-powered tool for growth professionals. It’s an excellent example of a real-world generative AI application. Users can leverage simple word instructions to perform tasks that would otherwise require multiple UX interface steps.
Bill Gates sat down with Microsoft’s Chief Technology Officer Kevin Scott to discuss the latest in AI research, including the release of GPT-4, how past technology revolutions have led us to where we are today, how AI is evolving his philanthropic work, and his love of reading, among other things. With Microsoft being a prominent investor in OpenAI, and Bill being Microsoft’s largest individual shareholder, he has a vested interest. Still, his excitement about AI was palpable and I enjoyed this.
If you’d rather read Gates’ thoughts, he published a long post on his blog. With the help of ChatGPT, I’ve summarized the article:
GPT-4 Developer Livestream (OpenAI on YouTube) — Greg Brockman, President and Co-Founder of OpenAI, gave a demo showcasing GPT-4 and some of its capabilities/limitations. This video has several impressive demos, including creating a functioning web page from a hand-drawing (GPT-4 can accept images as input).
VC firm Andreessen Horowitz published an article titled “Who Owns the Generative AI Platform?” They dive into some trends and raise important questions about the ownership and control of generative AI platforms, highlighting the need for careful consideration of these issues.
“We’ve observed that infrastructure vendors are likely the biggest winners in this market so far, capturing the majority of dollars flowing through the stack. Application companies are growing topline revenues very quickly but often struggle with retention, product differentiation, and gross margins. And most model providers, though responsible for the very existence of this market, haven’t yet achieved large commercial scale.”
"Exploring the 2nd Order Effects of Generative AI in Marketing and Martech" explores the potential impacts of generative AI on the marketing and marketing tech industries, including second-order effects such as the potential for increased efficiency, reduced costs, and new revenue streams.
Big tech and the pursuit of AI dominance (The Economist) — The AI arms race has commenced, and the big tech behemoths seem well-positioned for now…
AAPL 0.00%↑ META 0.00%↑ MSFT 0.00%↑ GOOG 0.00%↑ GOOGL 0.00%↑ AMZN 0.00%↑
In “Midjourney: The gothic AI image generator challenging the art industry,” Science Focus wrote about Midjourney's innovative approach to AI-generated art and the potential implications of this technology for the art world.
What I’m watching, reading, & listening to
Natashia and Eddie Huang bring good friend and comedian, Zack Fox (@zackfox), on the pod to talk relationships, the business, and breaking out of the ‘black box’.
SSENSE — How Nigeria's First and Only Women's Skate Collective Defied the Opposition
Jeff Weiss penned an exceptionally well-written piece on Frank Ocean’s Coachella performance for The Ringer. The post ponders a timely question: what does Frank’s performance say about artistry in an increasingly algorithmic and AI-generated world?
“In a moment on Sunday night, Ocean cloisters himself behind the wall, sitting on a stool and beatifically murmuring, “I can be great, I can escape.” These are the lyrics from an obscure deep cut that’s from a Blonded Radio Christmas special and that operates as a self-affirming mantra. The vulnerable and sensitive Katrina refugee who relocated to L.A. with the dream of becoming what he became, only to find himself trapped in a bewildering prism-prison of fame.”
Vince Staples talks ‘Ramona Park Broke My Heart’, DJ Quik Calls, & more with the Rap Radar crew. Vince’s last two albums are some of my favorite listens from the past few years. He always shares a perspective that hits home. Great interview.
Great read, Chima. I've used ChatGPT for legal research during the last month or so; the results have been ok, but I'm excited for what the future brings.
Excellent read as always. Curious, outside of work, have you played around with any AI tools?