I’ve just re-read your essay Beth after spending three days exploring how ChatGPT can work for me. My body makes about 30% of the energy a healthy woman’s body makes, and I’m categorised as being in severe energy deficit, and none of my systems get enough energy, This means I need to find solutions so I can be energy efficient to avoid some very unpleasant consequences, if I want to maximise my quality of life.
So I’m exploring AI and what it can do for me before starting The Book Proposal Masterclass. I like the idea of it being an ally mentioned in another comment. It’s how it feels and I have a sense of hope, whilst also being very clear on my boundaries, privacy and ensuring my exploration isn’t used for AI training. At the end of each session I get it to assess environmental impact and tell me what action I can take to resolve that.
I will never use it to write, or use other people’s work, but it is working like interactive Scrivener for me at the moment and is providing me with a dialoguing process with myself that I can track, have word docs of and more, which is definitely helping me as your daughter so wisely said it could 💕
Beth this is such a generous post, thank you! We've had so much debate around AI as a community, but the more we speak, the more positivity and hope we're hearing! In case anyone is interested we have a free event in London next week with Parmy Olsen, the journalist behind Supremacy exploring the race between Deepmind and Open AI https://lu.ma/5vijuk12?locale=en-GB
Desiderata is one of my very favourite poems. I love its simplicity and instruction, it reminds me to be present.
What a fascinating article, thank you for putting words to all of the issues. It’s definitely something to think about, I like the reframing you have taken on, it softens the situation, makes it more palatable. Thank you Beth.
We are living in an uncertain and paradoxical moment in our journey on earth.
We have the largest - and most accessible - body of knowledge in our history.
We have an abundance of clean cheap energy, food, talent, and solutions.
Yet we still burn our natural world and climate, slowly killing the systems we depend on in the process, whilst many of us are either hungry every day or obese.
We are in a technological acceleration...tools that may soon be more intelligent that their creators. Poor management will lead to disaster. Good management could lead to a healthier, safer, cleaner world.
So far we seem to be finding it hard apply our collective wisdom to the power we wield.
The answer? As you suggest, might lie in the human grey zones. Where intuition, creativity, instincts, moral strength and courage come to the fore.
One thing is for certain, we need storytellers to inspire and ignite us like never before.
Thank you for this great article. I love your work, and I'm taking one of your classes! I just wanted to point out that it is LibGen that was used to steal the work, not LibSyn, which is a 100% legitimate podcasting distribution site. Thanks!
Thank you so much for opening up this conversation, Beth! I really appreciate your insights and various perspectives along with the thoughtful conversations that are happening here in the comments.
This is a really interesting read Beth, I think it's a post I will visit a number of times. There are a few worries I have for AI. I don't know how true this is but I do feel we have lost the ability to critically think at times. If you ever google something in recent times the AI version is always pinned to the top and the expert pages and organisations are somewhere way down the page. I do find a sadness in that, I question whether the pinned info at the top prevents us from looking deeper into things.
I too feel our human intuitive knowing knows we need more, we will crave the depth that AI can't provide, and we will always be unique in that.
It's worrying about the use of books, it feels so wrong. I honestly think we are living in a time where we have to fight for our humanity and what is uniquely ours. I will be writing to my MP and take other actions you have suggested too
I don't think this is quietly radical Beth I think it is a bold call to action. We have no choice but to respond to AI in our lives in all its beautiful, scary prospects. Have you read In The Blink Of An Eye by Jo Callaghan? A great take on the traditional police procedural novel, with an AI entity alongside a human cop. She explores all the questions you raise about intuition, problem solving and leadership. Thanks for your insight as always
I have been positive about AI from the start, although I sometimes feel anxious about the worst-case scenario. Thanks for the prompts—there is surely plenty to think about how to keep developing myself to keep up with the inevitable change.
This essay is deeply thoughtful and I thank you for it, particularly your reflections and discussion questions on AI and the writing life. We tend to fear what we don’t understand and you’ve broken the function of AI into digestible bits. The advice on responding to stolen intellectual property is also valuable.
I’ve just re-read your essay Beth after spending three days exploring how ChatGPT can work for me. My body makes about 30% of the energy a healthy woman’s body makes, and I’m categorised as being in severe energy deficit, and none of my systems get enough energy, This means I need to find solutions so I can be energy efficient to avoid some very unpleasant consequences, if I want to maximise my quality of life.
So I’m exploring AI and what it can do for me before starting The Book Proposal Masterclass. I like the idea of it being an ally mentioned in another comment. It’s how it feels and I have a sense of hope, whilst also being very clear on my boundaries, privacy and ensuring my exploration isn’t used for AI training. At the end of each session I get it to assess environmental impact and tell me what action I can take to resolve that.
I will never use it to write, or use other people’s work, but it is working like interactive Scrivener for me at the moment and is providing me with a dialoguing process with myself that I can track, have word docs of and more, which is definitely helping me as your daughter so wisely said it could 💕
A wonderful and encouraging piece Beth!
I'm here for all the friends, fun and creativity I can get ☺️
Beth this is such a generous post, thank you! We've had so much debate around AI as a community, but the more we speak, the more positivity and hope we're hearing! In case anyone is interested we have a free event in London next week with Parmy Olsen, the journalist behind Supremacy exploring the race between Deepmind and Open AI https://lu.ma/5vijuk12?locale=en-GB
Desiderata is one of my very favourite poems. I love its simplicity and instruction, it reminds me to be present.
What a fascinating article, thank you for putting words to all of the issues. It’s definitely something to think about, I like the reframing you have taken on, it softens the situation, makes it more palatable. Thank you Beth.
My pleasure. Writing it made me think more about both sides of it. These uncertain times (as times always are) can be exciting times too✨
Brilliant essay (and questions) Beth.
We are living in an uncertain and paradoxical moment in our journey on earth.
We have the largest - and most accessible - body of knowledge in our history.
We have an abundance of clean cheap energy, food, talent, and solutions.
Yet we still burn our natural world and climate, slowly killing the systems we depend on in the process, whilst many of us are either hungry every day or obese.
We are in a technological acceleration...tools that may soon be more intelligent that their creators. Poor management will lead to disaster. Good management could lead to a healthier, safer, cleaner world.
So far we seem to be finding it hard apply our collective wisdom to the power we wield.
The answer? As you suggest, might lie in the human grey zones. Where intuition, creativity, instincts, moral strength and courage come to the fore.
One thing is for certain, we need storytellers to inspire and ignite us like never before.
We really do. That includes you!
Thank you, Beth, for posting this thorough essay with thought-provoking prompts. I am hopful! ~:0)
Thank you for this great article. I love your work, and I'm taking one of your classes! I just wanted to point out that it is LibGen that was used to steal the work, not LibSyn, which is a 100% legitimate podcasting distribution site. Thanks!
Oops, my error. Thank you - I have amended and added a correction note 🙏
Thank you so much for opening up this conversation, Beth! I really appreciate your insights and various perspectives along with the thoughtful conversations that are happening here in the comments.
Beautiful and astonishing, as always. Thank you Xxx
Desiderata is my poem of the day today - imagine that! Looking forward to pondering it some more
It’s a constant inspiration
This is a really interesting read Beth, I think it's a post I will visit a number of times. There are a few worries I have for AI. I don't know how true this is but I do feel we have lost the ability to critically think at times. If you ever google something in recent times the AI version is always pinned to the top and the expert pages and organisations are somewhere way down the page. I do find a sadness in that, I question whether the pinned info at the top prevents us from looking deeper into things.
I too feel our human intuitive knowing knows we need more, we will crave the depth that AI can't provide, and we will always be unique in that.
It's worrying about the use of books, it feels so wrong. I honestly think we are living in a time where we have to fight for our humanity and what is uniquely ours. I will be writing to my MP and take other actions you have suggested too
🙏 I think the critical thinking ability is a real concern Xx
Yes for sure
Just to verify, you suggest to “build IP.” Is that Intellectual Property, or something completely different? Thank you!
Yes, like books and designs and things like that
I don't think this is quietly radical Beth I think it is a bold call to action. We have no choice but to respond to AI in our lives in all its beautiful, scary prospects. Have you read In The Blink Of An Eye by Jo Callaghan? A great take on the traditional police procedural novel, with an AI entity alongside a human cop. She explores all the questions you raise about intuition, problem solving and leadership. Thanks for your insight as always
haven’t heard of that Carol, thank you for the recommendation 🙏
I have been positive about AI from the start, although I sometimes feel anxious about the worst-case scenario. Thanks for the prompts—there is surely plenty to think about how to keep developing myself to keep up with the inevitable change.
Thoughtful read, thank you.
This essay is deeply thoughtful and I thank you for it, particularly your reflections and discussion questions on AI and the writing life. We tend to fear what we don’t understand and you’ve broken the function of AI into digestible bits. The advice on responding to stolen intellectual property is also valuable.