AI is strong in pattern recognition, deduction, synthesizing knowledge, and making predictions based on past actions — but it didn’t impress me with its ability to create “unique analogies” as I requested (see dot #4290).
When so prompted, AI compared a supervisor to a gardener, ship’s captain, director of a movie, coach leading a sports team, and chef. I strive to have the dots connect disparate thoughts to help create a new perspective — a new way of seeing – and none of those qualify by my definition.
However, the four AI dots I published were verbatim from what was generated. Where I think AI would be helpful is in providing an inspiration or draft that could be improved with human intervention. It’s always harder to start writing from a blank page – AI eliminates that from ever happening again. It has been drilled into me since my college journalism classes that “writing is different than editing.” AI can serve as the “writer” allowing humans to edit and improve from the base it created.
Here’s my “unique analogy” to describe AI. Writing without the aid of a computer is like sweeping with a broom. It requires 100% human effort, with no mechanical enhancements provided. Writing with a computer is like using a vacuum. It’s a tool that requires humans to exert less effort to achieve results and increase productivity. AI is like a Roomba that humans must prompt so it produces results on its own — but perhaps with negative results if not given the right instructions.
Which leads us to the critical nature of prompts…and tomorrow’s dot!
