A Use for AI That All Faculty Can Agree On

Finally!

Julie Schumacher's Dear Committee Members is a hilarious book, particularly if you work in academia (and if you do, please accept my condolences). This novel's hero is a professor stuck in a basement office who desperately tries to increase his lot and the lot of his poor and poorly organized graduate students by sending memo after memo to various Deans, Departmental Chairs, and Committees..  

For good or ill, this is just one of the many books that ChatGPT and other large language models (LLMs) have hoovered during their training process (to get an idea of the scale of what these systems have ingested, check out Anna's Archive). As such, you can ask ChatGPT about the book's content or, even better, ask it to write or rewrite some text in the same style as the book!

One of my biggest personal challenges in my current position is interacting with, shall we say, "the bureaucracy." Last year, after successfully purchasing a desk with little issue, I encountered a roadblock when attempting to buy a chair for the newly procured desk. To proceed with the purchase, I was asked to send an email describing the "business justification for a chair." So naturally, I input some basics about the situation into ChatGPT and then asked it: "Please write a memo for the authorization of the purchase of a chair in the style of the book "Dear Committee Members" by Julie Schumacher,” which yielded the following gem:

I hope this missive finds you in the midst of a less-than-chaotic day, a rarity in our hallowed halls, I'm sure. I write to you today to address a matter of utmost urgency and importance: the acquisition of a fifth chair for our newly christened CEI Innovation Space.

You might recall the historical moment when the ATT 5G Lab metamorphosed, like a technologically advanced butterfly, into the CEI Innovation Space. This transformation brought us not just a new name but also a new era of technological and entrepreneurial endeavors. During this transition, our space was graced with four computer workstations – a quartet of technological marvels – and an equal number of chairs. A harmonious balance, one might say.

However, as fate would have it, our ambitions outgrew our chair supply. With the recent addition of a reception desk – a beacon of welcome in our digital domain – the operability of our space was achieved. This remarkable feat, while a testament to our progress, has left us in a precarious position. Yes, we are a chair short.

Imagine, if you will, a game of musical chairs, but with a twist: the music never stops, and there's always one person left standing. This is not just a hypothetical scenario but a daily reality in the CEI Innovation Space. As our team members orbit around the workstations, engaging in the dance of innovation, one is always left chair-less, their creativity anchored by the gravity of standing.

Therefore, I humbly beseech you to authorize the purchase of a fifth chair. This chair is not just a piece of furniture but a symbol of our commitment to inclusivity and comfort. It is the missing piece in the puzzle of our workspace, the final note in our symphony of synergy.

I eagerly await your favorable response and the swift end to our game of musical chairs.

With utmost respect and a slight cramp in my standing leg,

Scott

The possibilities seem (and are) endless:

“Rewrite this meeting invite in the style of William Shakespeare” turns “Let’s meet to discuss and plan for upcoming student internship program“ into:

Thou art cordially invited,

To gather in counsel and discourse,

Upon the matters of great import and enterprise,

The shaping of a program most noble and grand,

For students to embark upon internships,

That they may gain wisdom and skill in their chosen trades.

Let us convene and deliberate,

To weave the threads of this venture's design,

And ensure its success in days forthcoming.

Your presence, esteemed and valued,

Shall greatly enrich this assembly.

RSVP posthaste,

So we may proceed with due preparation.

Yours in service,

Scott

Other possible ideas: 

• Re-write the minutes from the faculty meeting as an Abbott and Costello sketch. (Granted, this is redundant.)

• Expand and re-write my teaching portfolio in the style of James Joyce's Ulysses, be sure to match word count.  

• Write a travel request to attend the Academy of Management meeting in the style of Dr Seuss. 

Try it for yourself. It will give you a new perspective on the utility of "bullshit" generating machines like ChatGPT. 

On a more serious note, being able to "write in the style" of a particular author at such speed and alacrity is unprecedented. While writing "in the style of" a particular author is not uncommon—with Fan Fiction being the most direct example—using a computer for this task is something new. Who is the author of such fan fiction if it is generated by a computer? Who deserves credit? Is it the original author, the AI, or the person who prompted the AI? It seems to me that the creative act of authorship lies more with the original author in the case of AI generated content.

So far, several lawsuits have been brought against OpenAI and other makers of Generative AI systems for ingesting copyrighted works and allowing for the massive generation of new works "in the style of" an author. The most famous case was brought up by a group led by comedian Sara Silverman, but that case did not go well, and significant parts were thrown out. It seems like the law and the courts are saying that unless an AI copies text verbatim (or uses a trademarked name or character), there is no infringement on the original author's work, especially if that newly generated text is not used for commercial purposes. New legislation will probably be needed if we don’t want to see author’s works used this way.

What do you think? Is it just another case of the law not catching up with our technological progress? Or is there no issue? Let me know in the comments below, preferably in the style of Douglas Adams.

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📥Recent Talks, News and Updates

• The University of Missouri is suggesting up a number of experts on AI for chatting with journalists and podcasters, including me!

👍 Products I Recommend

• Cables and Products from Rolling Square. (NOT an affiliate link) I use the Aircard and an adhesive business card pocket to keep track of my journal and common books, and the Incharge cables to dramatically reduce the number of cables I carry. I also love their commitment to making high quality products that are durable and sustainable.

• Products a card game for workshop ideation and ice breakers (affiliate link). I use this in my workshops and classes regularly.

📆 Upcoming Talks/Classes

• I will be presenting “Managing the Learning Machine” at 8:00 AM on September 10th for the MU Retiree’s Association (In Person and Zoom). More information and Registration will be available on MU Retiree’s Association website.

• I will give a talk on Artificial Intelligence and The Election a couple of times in September:

  • Tuesday, September 10, 6:30pm - 8:00pm at the Missouri River Regional Library in Jefferson City. More information is available on the Missouri River Regional Library website.

  • September 13th, 3:00pm to 4:15pm at the Trulaske College of Business in the Cornell Auditorium. If you want to attend, let me know and I will get you a parking pass.

  • Description: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is challenging our ability to distinguish between truth and deception, a critical skill for democracy. This session will explore AI's potential role in spreading disinformation, particularly during election periods. Prof C will also offer strategies for navigating a world where trust is increasingly elusive.

• My friend and colleague, Sophia Rivera Hassemer, is teaching “Technology Potpourri” for Osher on Sept 12, 19, 26, and Oct 3 from 9:30 to 11am, and I will be her assistant! It will be in person only at the Moss building, and will be very hands on with technology. More information and Registration will be available on the Osher website.

• I will present “Harnessing AI for Nonprofit Growth” from
  10:45 - 11:45 a.m., on November 7 via zoom. More information and Registration will be available on the New Chapter Coaching website.

• I will present “AI: Current Trends and Future Directions” for the Mid-Missouri PMI Chapter on November 12th at 7:30am via zoom. Registration will be available on PMI Mid-MO Chapter's website.