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Welcome to the seventh edition of Aioli, the newsletter that demystifies AI, making it accessible for your daily life.

This week I’m introducing Reader Questions, so I can answer your burning questions about AI! Submit your questions here. I’ll review each one and answer the questions in the next edition of the newsletter.

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TODAY’S SPREAD

•  📖 “The Button” Concept

• 🤖 Meta’s New AI Model Release

• 💼 This Week's Top ChatGPT Use Case

• 🖼️ AI-Generated Photos of the Week

📖 AIOLI BOOK CLUB

Food for Thought: “The Button” Concept

I recently finished reading Ethan Mollick's thought-provoking book, Co-Intelligence (shared in last week’s edition), and I wanted to share some valuable "food for thought" that it sparked. In his book, Mollick introduces the concept of "The Button," a game-changing AI feature that likely will be soon integrated into every major office application and email client. Imagine being able to generate a first draft of any piece of writing – an essay, an email, or a report – with just a single click. Sound too good to be true? Let's take a look at what this means for the future of work and creativity.

What is "The Button"?

"The Button" represents a new generation of AI-powered writing tools that will make it incredibly easy for users to create content across various domains. By simply clicking a button within their office applications or email clients, users can generate a first draft of their work, eliminating the daunting task of starting from a blank page.

The Potential Drawbacks

While "The Button" may seem like a time-saver, Mollick argues that it could have unintended consequences:

1. Loss of Creativity and Originality: Relying on AI-generated first drafts may cause people to anchor on the machine's ideas, limiting their ability to explore alternative perspectives and solutions.

2. Reduced Quality and Depth of Thinking: AI-assisted writing could lead to less critical and reflective thinking, as people rely on the machine to perform the hard work of analysis and synthesis.

The Crisis of Meaning in Creative Work

Mollick points out that many time-consuming tasks, such as writing letters of recommendation, are designed to signal the writer's support and thoughtfulness. With AI-generated content, the quality of the output may no longer reflect the time and effort invested, leading to a crisis of meaning in creative work.

The Temptation of "The Button"

As AI-generated content becomes increasingly persuasive and insightful, people may feel compelled to use "The Button" to avoid disadvantaging themselves or others, even if it conflicts with the moral correctness of investing time and effort into the task.

Navigating the Age of AI

As AI transforms previously meaningful tasks into potentially meaningless ones, Mollick suggests that we will need to reconstruct meaning in art and the rituals of creative work, just as we have done in the past when new technologies disrupted traditional practices.

The rise of AI-powered writing tools, like "The Button," has the potential to revolutionize the way we work and create. However, it also raises important questions about the role of human creativity, critical thinking, and the meaning we derive from our work in an increasingly AI-driven world. As we navigate this new landscape, it's crucial to find a balance between embracing the benefits of AI and preserving the value of human insight and effort. Will "The Button" ultimately prove to be a game-changer that enhances our productivity, or will it lead to a creativity crisis that undermines the very essence of our work? Only time will tell.

🤖 AI EDUCATION

Meta’s New AI Model Release: What is Open Source AI and Why Should It Matter to You?

Meta's recent release of new AI models has generated significant buzz within the AI community. If you're wondering why and how it might impact your daily life, here's a quick overview:

Key Difference: Open Source

Meta's model stands out from ChatGPT, Google's Gemini, and others due to its open source nature. Think of it like a community garden where everyone can grow, share, and improve upon the plants together, rather than a private garden accessible only to a select few.

The Importance of Open Source

As discussed in our newsletter two weeks ago, open source AI has two major implications:

1. Companies can host and utilize open source AI independently, without sharing data with third parties.

2. Companies can build upon and enhance open source AI, retaining ownership of their improvements.

Let’s translate that: This means that more companies can develop AI-powered tools and services tailored to your needs, without compromising your data privacy.

The Significance of Llama 3

Traditionally, open source AI models have underperformed compared to their paid/closed source counterparts (e.g., ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Anthropic Claude). However, initial benchmarks indicate that:

- The smaller version of Llama 3 outperforms other open source leaders like Mistral.

- The larger version of Llama 3 surpasses closed source leaders such as Google's Gemini Pro 1.5 and Anthropic's second-best Claude 3 model.

This means that open source AI is catching up, and you can expect more powerful and accessible AI applications in your everyday life.

Anticipated Consequences

With each release of a new open source AI model, a ripple effect occurs. AI developers will experiment, make discoveries, and create improved variants. Additionally, costs are expected to decrease across the board as more affordable options become available for crafting AI solutions.

For you, this translates to a wider range of AI-powered tools and services at lower costs, making AI more accessible and integrated into your daily life. From personalized virtual assistants to AI-enhanced productivity tools, the possibilities are endless.

💼 CHATGPT USE CASE OF THE WEEK

Navigating ethical dilemmas with ChatGPT

Ethical dilemmas are complex situations where there is no clear right or wrong answer. These challenging scenarios can arise in various aspects of life, from personal relationships to professional settings. When faced with an ethical dilemma, it's essential to approach the problem with a clear and structured thought process. ChatGPT can serve as a valuable tool to help you navigate these difficult decisions by providing an objective perspective, identifying key ethical principles, and encouraging critical thinking. By engaging in a thoughtful dialogue with this AI language model, you can gain insights and clarity to make more informed and responsible choices.

Follow these steps using ChatGPT:

1. Open ChatGPT

- Launch the ChatGPT interface in your browser or app.

- Make sure you're signed in and ready to interact with the AI.

2. Present your ethical dilemma

- In the chat, provide the below prompt and describe the ethical dilemma you're facing in detail.

- For example: "I want you to act as an ethical dilemma navigator. I will present a complex situation where I'm unsure of the right course of action, and your role is to help me think through the problem using ethical principles and frameworks. My first dilemma is: 'I recently discovered that a close friend has been engaging in academic dishonesty by plagiarizing essays. I'm torn between reporting their behavior and maintaining our friendship. How should I approach this situation?'"

- Be as specific and honest as possible when describing your dilemma.

3. Engage in a dialogue with the AI

- ChatGPT will respond by identifying the core ethical principles at play in your dilemma.

- The AI may ask clarifying questions or propose different ethical frameworks to consider.

- Take the time to thoughtfully respond to the AI's prompts and questions.

4. Consider potential consequences and complexities

- As the conversation progresses, ChatGPT will help you explore the potential consequences of different actions.

- The AI will acknowledge the complexity of the situation and the difficulty of finding a perfect solution.

- Reflect on the AI's insights and consider how they apply to your unique circumstances.

5. Reflect on your personal values and responsibilities

- ChatGPT will encourage you to reflect on your own values and moral compass.

- Consider how your decision aligns with your personal ethics and the potential impact on others.

- The AI may suggest additional resources, such as ethical guidelines or philosophical works, for further exploration.

6. Make a thoughtful decision

- After engaging in the guided dialogue with ChatGPT, take some time to process the insights you've gained.

- Consider the different perspectives and potential consequences discussed.

- Make a decision that aligns with your values and minimizes harm to those involved.

Remember, while ChatGPT can provide valuable guidance and help you structure your thinking, the final decision ultimately rests with you. The AI's role is to support your reflection process, not to make the decision for you. By engaging in this type of ethical exploration, you can develop a more nuanced understanding of complex situations and make more responsible choices in the face of difficult dilemmas.

🖼️ AI-Generated Photos of the Week

Vegetable-Inspired Fashion

I generated these with extremely simple text prompts in Midjourney. I started playing around with Midjourney in April of last year. This tool still blows me away, one year later!

Thanks for reading. Your curiosity fuels this journey.

Until next time!

Meg 👩🏻‍💻

p.s. if you want to sign up for this newsletter or share it with a friend or colleague, you can do so here. For questions and feedback, email me at [email protected] I want to know what topics you’d like me to cover in the future.