December Resources and Updates
What do you want from AI in 2024?
AI on the Desktop in 2024
In David Graeber's book "Bullshit Jobs," he points out that a large part of our work is comprised of tasks that are "so unnecessary, so meaningless, that even the people who do it agree it's pointless." This is where we need to see AI replacing humans, not in the creative arts. I want a AI built into my operating system that will handle the email drudgery, the calendar Tetris, and the endless data entry/copy and pasting that I have to do to “ducktape” various information systems together at work.
Microsoft already has some of this, some startups are working on solutions, and I hope this is where Apple heads with their generative AI efforts. A good reliable AI that will automate the bullshit jobs is what I want in 2024. What do you want to see from AI in 2024? Let me know in the Chat below.
👨🏻🏫 ICYMI in 2024
1️⃣ In November, my friend and colleague John Howe and I collaborated on an article, “Biases in the use of Artificial Intelligence,” on his substack Behavioral New World looking at what behavioral economics can contribute to thinking about the best use of some of the newest AI tools and how to deploy them. Check it out, and let me know what you think in the comments below or by commenting on John’s article.
2️⃣ One of my former professors, Carl Gerhardt, recently started a Youtube Channel about the nature he finds in Boone County and around the Eagle Bluffs area. Prof Gerhardt is retired now, (officially a Curators’ Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences), and does an excellent job of explaining the biology and beauty of our natural world.
3️⃣ High Turnout Wide Margins is a podcast co-hosted by Brianna Lennon, the County Clerk here in Boone County, Missouri. In November, the podcast featured an interview with BiaSciLab, a teenage white hat hacker who has been involved in elections cybersecurity since age 11. The discussion revolves around DEF CON’s Voting Village (which I got to check out in August), where hackers expose vulnerabilities in the U.S. election system to improve security. She discusses her work, including founding "Girls Who Hack" and creating a secure voting system tested at DEF CON. Check it out here.
📥Recent Talks, News and Videos
This fall, I created several short YouTube videos that might interest you (these topics were not covered in this newsletter). Check them out and let me know your thoughts (I appreciate criticism and opposing opinions). In 2024, I plan to post more YouTube tutorials about how to use Generative AI for Project Management, Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation. If you like, please subscribe. And who knows, you might be the one to click my subscriber counter over to 3000!
More Generative AI Resources
Collection of “Best” Prompts from 2023 (GitHub Repo). A excellent compilation of the “best” prompts spanning a diverse range of fields. The entire set is available in a CSV format, with each prompt linked back to its respective creator.
Marcus on AI by Gary Marcus, is an excellent SubStack about all uses of AI. Marcus takes a balanced approach to Generative AI and cuts through the hype to look at the practical good that AI can produce and the dangers of letting Big Tech steer our way forward.
📆 Upcoming Talks/Classes 👨🏫
I have said it before, and I will say it again at an upcoming talk for the local Muleskinners Democratic Group: "We are living in a Zero-Trust world and we need to develop the tools to cope with this new reality." As we head into the 2024 Election Cycle, we are about to hit peak misinformation. Can we prepare? How can we break out of our filter bubbles and what role will AI play in all this? Join me for "Deep Fakes and Democracy: AI’s Impact on Public Discourse" Jan 5 at noon. Connection details are on the Muleskinner’s website.
I will be giving a four-part class for the Osher LifeLong Learning Institute (part of MU extension) in January, early February. Below is the description and a nice video preview that the Osher folks made for me. Detail and registration here.
Can AI Really Do That? - As artificial intelligence (AI) shapes our world, we must understand how these systems work and how people can use AI tools safely and effectively. Prof C is your guide to the world of generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI). Each week, he will explore a different AI tool or feature, from conversational AIs to AI image generators, and put them through their paces. For those wanting to join in, Prof C will provide a "getting started guide" and some best practices for crafting prompts and evaluating the AI's generated output.
I will have the honor being involved with two session during MU’s Teaching Renewal Week (either as a co-facilitator or a co-presenter . Details are below and registration can be found here (an MU ID is required to register).
Tuesday, January 9, 2024 2:00pm-2:50pm
Are You Using Generative AI Yet?: Best Practices and Ideas That Work for Teaching Faculty
Come join a panel of fellow teaching faculty to:
Discover how fellow faculty have successfully integrated Gen AI into their teaching.
Consider factors in developing your own guidelines on using Gen AI ethically and responsibly.
Learn how to integrate Gen AI into your courses to enhance student critical thinking and AI evaluation skills.
Comprehend the (current) limits of Gen AI
Investigate the concept of students co-learning with Gen AI
Tuesday, January 9, 2024 3:00pm-3:50pm
AI Rapid Resources Rounds
Five minute examples and tips you can use with Generative AI/ChatGPT! Tony Barbis and Scott Christianson share their collection of the latest and best ideas and resources from their toolbox, just for 5 minutes per idea. Participants are provided with a website for more information on each.
Projected Outcomes:
Learn practical ideas in using generative AI tools.
Gain awareness of resources for using AI tools.
Get inspiration for innovative applications in your class.
If you need a program or talk for your organization or company, please let me know.