Curiosity is one of humankind’s greatest gifts. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of curiosity’s greatest gifts. While there are reasons AIs may need forms of containment, for us casual users they are wonderful tools or toys.
When I want to explore information or find specific data points, I find AI tools are the best thing to reach for. I’m a bit like a little kid, I always want more answers.
My book club enjoys lightly themed gatherings. I made one request to an AI as follows: “Help me plan for a book club gathering with “The Great Gatsby” as the featured book. I want menu and cocktail options, suggested discussion questions, a music playlist, and an additional reading list for people who enjoyed the book.”
Those few details, asked in that format, gave me everything I needed within about thirty seconds. That would have taken at least an hour with a search engine. I don’t think the results would have been near as useful.
There are many ways I and my friends use AI
I’m not enamored with cooking, so at times basic meal planning tasks really slow me down. I use ChatGPT to multiply or divide recipes to the desired quantities and create grocery lists from a menu. This saves me lots of angst and time. I then edit the shopping list based on what I have in the pantry. This makes entertaining so much less stressful.
One girlfriend fed the AI her wish list of sites for Paris, her hotel location and her available times and the AI maximized her visits with reduced travel time and alternative sites she might enjoy, if lines were too long or tickets not available.
A speaker recently admitted she asked ChatGPT to provide quotes from famous people that she could add to her speech. Her speech was excellent, and the quotes fit perfectly.
Another friend is interviewing her parents and relatives and using a storytelling AI to help her format and organize the interviews into a mini-family documentary. There are specific tools available for hobbies organizing video, photos, and letters too.
I gave all my notes for a year’s worth of committee meetings for a local board, and the system organized them. I had to edit and move things around a little, as should always be considered when automating the creation of information. Now my notes are legible and useable. I would not have done that organization manually. I would have been stuck flipping through old pages.
One of the lovely things about asking an AI to answer questions is the ability to modify or enhance your queries in a conversational format. It can be better than a dinner conversation with an expert on your topic of interest.
I do a great deal of research for the historical fiction I’m now writing about the 1920s. I ask a question about radio shows in Chicago at the time, then realize that I need to know who was advertising on these shows. I can simply ask in deeper or layered questions to follow my mental rabbit hole. I also request the sources of information for future verification of facts.
Verification of facts provided by AI is required if you’re dependent on accuracy or will be referencing the information in a factual manner.
People worry about creativity being harmed or stifled by the use of AI. You can’t control what others are doing, but if like to brainstorm ChatGPT or other AIs may become your best mental sparring partner. You can bounce ideas around and ask for specific types of feedback. This could help with writer’s block, product ideas, gift ideas, just about anything you would brainstorm with a person.
Many AIs have basic versions which are free to use. They also have subscriptions that open additional features. This makes it easy to explore how you can use the tools. There are many videos and tutorials. I recommend searching for the specific type of usage you are considering, to avoid getting tutorials which won’t help you achieve your goals. Enjoy the process.
Lois and Ross Melbourne are the authors of “Moral Code,” a story about a young female engineer who works to develop an ethical AI, but falls prey to the corporations looking to benefit the most.
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