In my 3rd attempt at prompting Micrsoft Copilot to generate my weekly reflection, I revised my input to:

Write a blog post that includes a concise summary of Chat GPT and generative AI. Express pleasure for listening to today’s guest speaker, Chris Du, the creator the innovative project management tool called Ensightful. Finally, express appreciation for today’s plan, which included having some time to practice with generative AI programs (Canva, quickdraw with Google). Embed links to Chris Du, Ensightful, Canva, quickdraw with Google. Temper the self-aggrandizing tone.

This is what the Copilot generated from my prompt:

Exploring the World of Chat GPT and Generative AI

In the ever-evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, Chat GPT and generative AI stand out as remarkable innovations. Let’s delve into what they are and how they impact our digital interactions.

Chat GPT: Conversations with an AI Companion

Chat GPT, powered by OpenAI’s language model, is a sophisticated conversational AI system. It can engage in natural language conversations, answer questions, generate creative content, and assist users across various domains. Whether you’re seeking information, brainstorming ideas, or simply having a chat, Chat GPT provides an intelligent and responsive companion.

Generative AI models, including Chat GPT, produce new content based on input data. They’ve come a long way since their inception, with key milestones dating back to Claude Shannon’s work in 1948 and Alan Turing’s introduction of the Turing test in 1950. These models have evolved to create powerful language generation tools like Chat GPT1.

Guest Speaker Spotlight: Chris Du and Ensightful

Today, we had the pleasure of listening to Chris Du, the visionary creator behind Ensightful, an innovative project management tool. Ensightful streamlines project workflows, enhances collaboration, and empowers teams to achieve their goals efficiently. Chris’s insights into project management and technology were truly enlightening2.

A Day of Exploration: Generative AI Programs

Our agenda included hands-on time with generative AI programs:

  1. Canva: A versatile platform that allows users to create stunning designs, presentations, and social media graphics. Canva’s generative features enable effortless creativity, making it a go-to for content creators.
  2. Quickdraw with Google: An interactive game where you draw objects, and the AI tries to guess what you’re sketching. It’s a fun way to witness generative AI in action and appreciate its ability to recognize patterns3.

In Conclusion

As we continue to embrace AI-driven technologies, Chat GPT and generative AI promise to shape our digital experiences in profound ways. Let’s stay curious, learn, and celebrate the fusion of human creativity and machine intelligence! 🌟

— End of Copilot —

Reflection question prompts: Do you view AI as a beneficial tool for education, or does it present more challenges? What potential issues or advantages do you anticipate?

When considering AI, I understand the ease of use, but I think that same ‘ease of use’ is going to produce a negative impact on society. We would like to think that every technological advancement has been completely, or mostly, beneficial, but I think, if we use a pendulum or a teeter totter as a model, we can recognize that there are also downfalls.

The downfall to AI is that people will discontinue thinking for themselves; they won’t need to. They will stop reading, critiquing, formulating opinions, and believing in their own abilities. AI will become God. All hail the all-knowing, omnipresent AI god.

As a society, had we walked as slow as our slowest member, I think we would have been able to establish a solid value base that could, potentially, ensure that we all use new technologies with care, understanding, and ethics. Because we seem to be so scattered, I don’t think it’s possible to ensure everyone will use new technologies responsibly. But, let’s keep opening these boxes Pandora continues to give us and see where it goes! (And I hope I’m proven wrong.)

And these are a few of the screenshots taken while in class:

As an aside, did Roald Dahl foresee the coming of ChatGPT as early as the 1950’s, as might be interpreted from his short story, The Great Automatic Grammatizator (1954)?