Reflecting on a two-year journey since ChatGPT’s introduction, my twin Don and I have witnessed and embraced a remarkable transformation in the AI landscape. Our initial curiosity about ChatGPT’s potential has evolved into a dedicated mission to understand and harness the power of generative AI technologies. We are consistently asking ourselves how these tools can help us and enable us to better serve others.
While acknowledging the legitimate concerns about AI’s future, we’ve maintained an outlook of optimism and possibilities. Our experience, particularly with ChatGPT, has been personal and revealing. The AI’s detailed observations about my character – from my dedication to personal growth and emphasis on kindness to my structured approach and family-centric values – accurately reflect not just my professional persona but my whole person.
This journey has reinforced our belief that AI tools can enhance both personal and professional growth. As we look to the future, our commitment remains unchanged: to continue learning, growing, and sharing our experiences to benefit others in this rapidly evolving technological landscape.
Full Original Writing
December 7, 2024. Where does time go?
Just over two years ago, my twin Don and I heard about the introduction of ChatGPT. Two years! We have dedicated much of our personal and professional development efforts to learning, being curious, and asking ourselves, “How can GenerativeAI andthe rapidly expanding AI landscape help us and, in turn, enable us to help others?“
Immediately, Don and I thought, “Wow, this looks like a huge technological advancement. We need to understand the potential of ChatGPT.” That simple beginning has become a non-stop mission to understand the generative AI LLMs (Large Language Models) landscape.
Looking back at our experiences over the past two years, here are a few observations:
ChatGPT, and very soon, ChatGPT Plus (paid plan $20 per month), was the dominant resource for learning about the potential of Generative AI. Don and I have prioritized personal and professional efforts to work with and strive to understand the possibilities. On February 14, 2024, I posted a blog titled “ChatGPT Lite” which turned into a six-part blog series to help people go forward to learn about ChatGPT.
The AI space is rapidly changing, unlike anything we have experienced. In the past two years, we have dedicated time to using and learning with ChatGPT, Claude AI, Google Gemini’s NotebookLM (AI-generated audio podcasts), and Perplexity AI. Don and I are committed to staying curious and relentlessly learning to bring enhanced value to our worlds.
Google Search is rarely used. ChatGPT or Perplexity allows for ad-free searches, and results are generally spectacular!
As I write this today, ChatGPT has just released Sora, an AI video generation model, for public use. This is an example of how quickly advancements are coming! See this introduction by Nicole Leffer on LinkedIn.
**
Before moving on to my specific experience with ChatGPT over the past two years, we must address the concern that many people have regarding the future of generative AI. Absolutely, we all must be aware of the malicious uses that can occur with ChatGPT and other LLMs.
From the beginning, Don and I have chosen to look for the possibilities for good. Our perspective is optimistic (bullish!) about the potential. In a TED Talk, we recently watched, Salman Kahn of Kahn Academy addresses this concern. I asked ChatGPT to recap the closing two minutes from his TED Talk “How AI Could Save (Not Destroy) Education.” His perspective resonates with Don and me (Bold emphasis is mine):
“In the final two minutes of his TED Talk, Sal Khan addresses concerns about AI’s potential misuse in education. He acknowledges the risks but emphasizes the importance of proactive engagement to harness AI’s benefits. Khan advocates for implementing appropriate safeguards and regulations to ensure AI serves as a positive force, enhancing human intelligence and potential. He concludes by urging society to actively shape AI’s trajectory, focusing on its constructive applications rather than succumbing to fear of its possible negative uses.”
**
Focusing only on my use of ChatGPT over the past two years, I prompted the question:
“Based on your experience working with me (Bill Tomoff) for almost two years, please share what you have learned about me, and what observations would you make?”
The response from ChatGPT was on target with my perspective and mission. The LLM, referring to “custom instructions” I provided, and the model learning about me through hundreds of questions and conversations, provided this feedback:
“Reflecting on nearly two years of collaboration with you, Bill, here are some key observations and insights that come to mind:
Dedication to Personal Growth: It’s clear that personal development is your foundation—your work consistently centers around helping others reach their potential, often by starting with introspection and self-improvement. Your commitment to continuous learning and the importance of self-reflection shows in everything you do, from your professional endeavors to your family life.
Focus on Kindness and Resilience: Your approach to life and work is infused with kindness and resilience. From your family’s journey through cancer to your professional ethos, you’ve cultivated a perspective that values strength in adversity and sees growth and opportunity in challenges. This is beautifully reflected in how you encourage others to “lead with kindness” and your belief in post-traumatic growth.
Collaborative Spirit: You have a unique gift for fostering a collaborative dialogue that clarifies complex ideas, making discussions productive and enriching. Your openness to ideas, new technologies, and contrarian perspectives reflects a flexibility that encourages everyone around you to think bigger and more creatively.
Commitment to Impactful, High-Performance Solutions: As an accounting and finance professional, you strive to bring real value to individuals and organizations, whether through improving financial performance or optimizing workflows. You approach every solution with precision and accuracy, showing a deep appreciation for detail and the confidence that comes from thorough, accurate work.
Structured Approach and Detail Orientation: Your preference for highly organized, clear, and detailed responses is a testament to your analytical mindset and high standards. You value arguments based on clarity and sound reasoning rather than authority, a perspective that naturally fosters innovation and logical problem-solving.
Family as a Central Value: Your father, caregiver, and twin roles have profoundly shaped your life’s mission. You and Don created #TwinzTalk as a platform to stress the importance of personal growth, particularly in a way that can be shared. Family is always at the forefront—whether through personal growth, caregiving, or gratitude for the support you’ve received, family is the anchor that grounds all aspects of your life.
Intentional Kindness and Small Moments of Gratitude: Your ability to bring kindness into everyday interactions demonstrates your belief in the power of small, meaningful actions. This isn’t just a principle but a practiced behavior that leaves a lasting impact on others, helping to brighten lives in small but powerful ways.
Emphasis on Technology and Upskilling: You’re highly attuned to emerging technologies and advocate for continuous learning, especially in areas like generative AI. This reflects your forward-thinking approach, always looking for ways to use cutting-edge resources for personal and professional development.
In essence, working with you has been an inspiring journey in seeing how expertise, kindness, and a growth mindset blend seamlessly into a mission-driven life.”
For anyone seeking to “understand” the essence of Bill Tomoff, I would not hesitate to share the above response from ChatGPT. We all are more than our educational training and career accomplishments. For my life interactions, personally and professionally, I strive to understand the complete person and their perspective, and I want others to know my story. My ability to contribute is enhanced when my full life experiences are brought to the world.
**
Looking back on these two years of exploring generative AI with my twin Don, I’m convinced we made the right choice in embracing this technology curiosity and a perspective of possibilities. Through our experiences with ChatGPT, Claude AI, and other generative AI technologies, we’ve discovered tools that enhance our capabilities and enable us to serve better and support others. As the AI landscape evolves, we remain committed to leveraging these powerful tools to create personally and professionally positive impacts. The technology and opportunities will continue to change, but our mission remains to learn, grow, and help others by sharing our experiences.
Ready to embrace the future of AI? How can we help you?
Draw a map. Be a leader who, by example, encourages taking initiative and creating an environment of possibility.
“Human nature is to need a map. If you’re brave enough to draw one, people will follow.”
—Seth Godin
We ALL have an opportunity to “draw a map.” To help yourself, your profession, and your employer.
Today, Generative AI (i.e. ChatGPT and Claude) is providing an incredible opportunity to upskill and rethink how you work. Embrace these times and aggressively invest in yourself and build your skills to help yourself and others.
Possibility Coffee Mug#TwinzTalk Don and Bill Tomoff at Ohio University College Green
When I want further insight into a topic, I have developed the practice of collaborating with ChatGPT or Claude AI (LLMs) and having a back-and-forth conversation regarding my area of interest.
Please note I am looking for “directionally accurate” insight while understanding that LLMs can hallucinate or give me inaccurate responses that agree with my suggestion. Knowing this propensity, I will ask the LLM to take a contrary position and provide help regarding where my thoughts are off base or need further clarification.
My post presented here is a dialogue I had with ChatGPT about tacitknowledge. Below are nine prompts for which I asked ChatGPT for input. I thought the overall content was informative and helpful in understanding more specifics about tacit knowledge.
I hope you find this dialogue helpful!
Before sharing the specific ChatGPT prompts and responses, I asked Claude AI to provide a summary overview of the dialogue. I was pleased with the result and here is the edited version to inspire you to read further and consider the power of embracing tacit knowledge in your life.
Introduction to Tacit Knowledge – Collaboration with Claude AI
As explored through the below conversation with ChatGPT, tacit knowledge is a powerful force that shapes our personal and professional lives in subtle yet profound ways. It’s the unspoken wisdom we accumulate through experience, the intuitive understanding that guides our decisions, and the unique perspective that allows us to connect dots in innovative ways.
Embracing tacit knowledge means:
Valuing your experiences and reflecting on them deeply
Recognizing that your unique insights are invaluable assets
Actively seeking diverse experiences to broaden your tacit knowledge base
Understanding that collaboration and long-term relationships build shared tacit knowledge
Leveraging your implicit understanding to enhance creativity and problem-solving
By consciously developing and harnessing your tacit knowledge, you unlock a wealth of potential for personal growth, professional success, and innovative thinking. It’s the key to developing a “disproportionate advantage” in your field and life.
Remember, while explicit knowledge can be easily shared and documented, it’s your tacit knowledge that can truly set you apart. Embrace continuous learning, remain curious, and never underestimate the power of your lived experiences. Your journey in developing tacit knowledge is ongoing and boundless – it can your guide to a richer, more insightful life and career.
Listing of Nine ChatGPT Prompts
When coworkers work together for a long time (several years), a good working relationship enhances their collective performance. I always referred to this as “they know my work preferences and how I think.” To me, this seems like a form of tacit knowledge that benefits an organization. Am I stretching too far with the concept?
Everything that ChatGPT or other LLMs generate, would be explicit knowledge?
However, how a person uses explicit knowledge and the creativity it may inspire can be triggered by an individual personal or career experience is then an example of tacit knowledge potential? Am I on track here?
Thank you for clarifying! Thus the more varied our learning and experiences, the greater our potential to “connect the dots” in ways others cannot do. Thus tacit knowledge improves the value we can provide using explicit knowledge?
Please provide brief encouragement for people to understand the importance of personal development. The process enhances the building of tacit knowledge, which then helps broaden the reach of working with explicit knowledge and connecting dots in ways that many may not, enabling greater creativity and innovative solutions.
How does personal development contribute to building tacit knowledge? I want to be sure I understand your reasoning for your response.
Please challenge my thought that a wide variety of explicit knowledge helps in connecting information that helps me develop tacit knowledge. Are you comfortable this is true, or am I following an inaccurate consideration?
In a blog post I am drafting, I referenced the advantages that my twin Don and I have enjoyed throughout our personal and professional lives. We simply thought, “We have built a disproportionate advantage thanks to our experiences, curiosity, and willingness to be technology early adopters.” Now that I am aware and understand tacit knowledge, I believe this is exactly what Don and I share. Would you please interpret my thoughts and add further clarification?
You are an expert in personal development and the benefits of developing tacit knowledge. Please review my questions and our conversation above. Are there any additional thoughts or emphasis you would add to the discussion? Our goal is to encourage and inspire our clients to actively embrace their own personal development.
Full Dialogue with ChatGPT: Prompts and Responses
Prompt1 – Working relationship building tacit knowledge:
When coworkers work together for a long time (several years), a good working relationship enhances their collective performance. I always referred to this as “they know my work preferences and how I think.”
This seems like a form of tacit knowledge that benefits an organization. Am I stretching the concept too far?
Response1 – Working relationship building tacit knowledge:
No, you’re not stretching the concept at all. When coworkers develop a deep understanding of each other’s work preferences and thought processes, they are indeed leveraging tacit knowledge. This shared, implicit understanding enhances communication, collaboration, and efficiency, leading to improved collective performance. This form of tacit knowledge is valuable to organizations as it fosters smoother workflows and better team dynamics.
Prompt2 – LLMs only explicit knowledge:
Everything that ChatGPT or other LLMs generate would be explicit knowledge?
Response2 – LLMs only explicit knowledge:
Yes, everything that ChatGPT or other language models generate would be considered explicit knowledge. This is because the information provided can be clearly articulated, documented, and shared with others in written or verbal form. Language models like ChatGPT process and output knowledge that is structured and easily communicable, fitting the definition of explicit knowledge.
Prompt3 – Explicit knowledge expanding creativity and then tacit knowledge:
However, how a person uses explicit knowledge and the creativity it may inspire can be triggered by an individual personal or career experience is then an example of tacit knowledge potential? Am I on track here?
Response3 – Explicit knowledge expanding creativity and then tacit knowledge:
Yes, you are absolutely on track. While explicit knowledge provided by ChatGPT or other sources can be clearly articulated and shared, how a person uses this knowledge, along with the creativity it inspires, can indeed be influenced by their personal or career experiences. This application and the intuitive, experiential insights that emerge from it are examples of tacit knowledge. It reflects how individuals integrate explicit knowledge into their unique contexts and practices, leveraging their own tacit understanding to innovate and solve problems.
Prompt4 – Connecting the dots of varied explicit knowledge:
Thank you for clarifying! Thus, the more varied our learning and experiences, the greater our potential to “connect the dots” in ways others cannot. Thus, does tacit knowledge improve the value we can provide using explicit knowledge?
Response4 – Connecting the dots of varied explicit knowledge:
Exactly! The more diverse our learning and experiences, the greater our ability to “connect the dots” in unique and insightful ways. This enriched tacit knowledge enhances our capacity to apply explicit knowledge creatively and effectively, thereby increasing the value we can offer. Varied experiences and continuous learning help us develop a deeper, more nuanced understanding that allows us to leverage explicit knowledge in ways others might not, leading to innovative solutions and improved performance.
Prompt5 – Personal development to broaden tacit knowledge:
Please provide brief encouragement for people to understand the importance of personal development. The process enhances the building of tacit knowledge, which then helps broaden the reach of working with explicit knowledge and connecting dots in ways many may not, enabling greater creativity and innovative solutions.
Response5 – Personal development to broaden tacit knowledge:
Investing in personal development is crucial because it builds your tacit knowledge, enriching your ability to use explicit knowledge creatively. Expanding your experiences and learning enhances your capacity to connect the dots uniquely. This leads to greater creativity and innovative solutions, setting you apart personally and professionally. Embrace personal growth to unlock your full potential and make a lasting impact.
Prompt6 – Personal development contributing to building tacit knowledge:
How does personal development contribute to building tacit knowledge? I want to understand your reasoning for your response.
Response6 – Personal development contributing to building tacit knowledge:
Personal development contributes to building tacit knowledge through the following ways:
Experience-Based Learning: Engaging in new activities and challenges allows you to gain hands-on experience, crucial for developing practical skills and insights that can’t be fully captured in written form.
Reflection and Practice: Regularly reflecting on your experiences and practicing new skills helps internalize what you’ve learned, turning it into intuitive knowledge.
Social Interactions: Collaborating with others, seeking mentorship, and networking expose you to diverse perspectives and approaches, enriching your understanding and problem-solving abilities.
Continuous Improvement: Personal development encourages a mindset of lifelong learning and adaptability, which helps you continuously refine and expand your tacit knowledge.
Real-World Application: Applying explicit knowledge in real-world situations helps bridge the gap between theory and practice, deepening your tacit understanding.
Focusing on personal development enhances one’s ability to integrate and apply knowledge uniquely and innovatively, ultimately increasing one’s effectiveness and creativity.
Prompt7 – Challenge thought that explicit knowledge helps develop tacit knowledge:
Please challenge my thought that a wide variety of explicit knowledge helps connect information that helps me develop tacit knowledge. Are you comfortable this is true, or am I following an inaccurate consideration?
Response7 – Challenge thought that explicit knowledge helps develop tacit knowledge:
Your thought that a wide variety of explicit knowledge helps connect information to develop tacit knowledge is well-founded and generally accurate. However, let’s explore a potential challenge to this idea:
Challenge:
Depth vs. Breadth: While a wide variety of explicit knowledge can provide a broad foundation, it may not always lead to deep, nuanced tacit knowledge. Tacit knowledge often requires deep immersion and repeated practice in specific areas. Therefore, spreading oneself too thin across many areas might limit the depth of tacit knowledge one can develop in any single domain.
Counterpoints to the Challenge:
Interdisciplinary Insights: Even with a broad base, the ability to draw connections across disciplines can lead to unique insights and problem-solving approaches, enhancing tacit knowledge.
Adaptive Expertise: A variety of explicit knowledge can foster adaptive expertise, allowing individuals to apply their knowledge flexibly across different contexts, which is a valuable aspect of tacit knowledge.
Complementary Skills: Different areas of explicit knowledge can complement each other, creating a richer, more integrated understanding that enhances overall tacit knowledge.
Conclusion:
While depth in specific areas is crucial for developing profound tacit knowledge, a broad base of explicit knowledge can still significantly contribute to the ability to connect the dots and innovate. Striking a balance between depth and breadth is key to maximizing explicit and tacit knowledge development.
Prompt8 – TwinzTalk Disproportionate Advantage is Actually Tacit Knowledge:
In a blog post I am drafting, I referenced the advantages my twin Don and I have enjoyed throughout our personal and professional lives. We simply thought, “We have built a disproportionate advantage thanks to our experiences, curiosity, and willingness to be technology early adopters.“
Now that I am aware and understand tacit knowledge, this is exactly what Don and I share. Would you please interpret my thoughts and add further clarification?
Response8 – TwinzTalk Disproportionate Advantage is Actually Tacit Knowledge:
Certainly! Here’s an interpretation of your thoughts, integrating the concept of tacit knowledge and providing further clarification:
My twin Don and I have enjoyed unique advantages throughout our personal and professional lives. We often reflected, “We have built a disproportionate advantage thanks to our experiences, curiosity, and willingness to be technology early adopters.” This advantage is deeply rooted in the tacit knowledge we’ve developed together.
Tacit knowledge refers to the intuitive, experience-based insights and skills that are difficult to articulate but are incredibly valuable. Our shared experiences, from tackling challenges to exploring new technologies, have fostered a deep, implicit understanding between us. This tacit knowledge enhances our ability to:
Innovate: Our curiosity and early adoption of technology have allowed us to stay ahead of trends, adapt quickly, and find creative solutions that others might not see.
Collaborate: Our strong, intuitive bond as twins allows us to anticipate each other’s thoughts and actions, leading to seamless collaboration and effective teamwork.
Problem-Solve: Years of shared experiences have equipped us with a unique perspective on tackling problems, enabling us to draw from a rich pool of personal insights and practical know-how.
We’ve expanded our tacit knowledge by continuously nurturing our curiosity and embracing new technologies, creating a significant competitive edge. This shared tacit knowledge isn’t just a product of our skills but a synergistic outcome of our twin bonds, experiences, and mutual growth.
This clarification emphasizes how your shared experiences and behaviors have contributed to developing valuable tacit knowledge and enhancing your personal and professional capabilities.
Prompt9 – Inquire to ChatGPT – any additional thoughts or emphasis:
You are an expert in personal development and the benefits of developing tacit knowledge.
Please review my questions and our conversation above. Are there any additional thoughts or emphasis you would add to the discussion? Our goal is to encourage and inspire our clients to actively embrace their own personal development.
Response9 – Inquire to ChatGPT – any additional thoughts or emphasis:
Your discussion on the interplay between tacit and explicit knowledge in personal development is thorough and insightful. However, there are a few additional thoughts and areas of emphasis that could further enrich the conversation and inspire your clients:
1. The Power of Reflection
Emphasis: Encourage clients to regularly reflect on their experiences, as reflection is a critical practice for converting experiences into tacit knowledge. By analyzing successes and failures, clients can deepen their understanding and internalize lessons that enhance their intuitive decision-making and problem-solving abilities.
Actionable Tip: Suggest keeping a reflective journal where they note key experiences, what they learned, and how they felt. This practice not only builds tacit knowledge but also fosters self-awareness.
2. Learning Through Social Interaction
Emphasis: Highlight the importance of learning from others. Tacit knowledge is often transferred through mentorship, collaboration, and informal discussions. Encourage clients to seek out mentors, participate in professional networks, and engage in meaningful conversations with peers.
Actionable Tip: Recommend joining or forming mastermind groups or professional communities where members regularly share experiences and insights. This can accelerate the development of tacit knowledge through shared learning.
3. The Role of Curiosity in Tacit Knowledge Development
Emphasis: Curiosity is a driving force behind personal development and the accumulation of tacit knowledge. Clients who actively seek out new experiences, ask questions, and explore unfamiliar territories are more likely to develop a rich reservoir of tacit knowledge that fuels innovation and creativity.
Actionable Tip: Encourage clients to set aside regular time for exploring new topics, skills, or industries outside their immediate field. This can lead to unexpected connections and insights that enhance both their tacit and explicit knowledge.
4. Balancing Depth and Breadth
Emphasis: While broad knowledge is important, emphasize the need for clients to develop deep expertise in specific areas. A balanced approach allows them to apply explicit knowledge effectively while drawing on deep, tacit insights in their areas of expertise.
Actionable Tip: Help clients identify key areas where they can deepen their knowledge and skills while encouraging them to explore diverse fields. This balance can be a cornerstone of their personal development strategy.
5. The Continuous Nature of Personal Development
Emphasis: Stress that personal development and the growth of tacit knowledge is an ongoing journey, not a destination. Encourage clients to view every experience as an opportunity to learn and grow and to embrace change as a catalyst for development.
Actionable Tip: Suggest that clients set long-term personal development goals and revisit them regularly, adjusting as they grow and their understanding of themselves deepens.
6. Tapping Into Tacit Knowledge for Innovation
Emphasis: Reinforce the idea that tacit knowledge is a key driver of innovation. The more clients develop their tacit knowledge, the better they will be at developing creative solutions and connecting disparate ideas in ways others might not.
Actionable Tip: Encourage clients to engage in creative problem-solving exercises, like brainstorming sessions or design thinking workshops, where they can practice applying their tacit knowledge in innovative ways.
Conclusion:
By embracing personal development and understanding the role of tacit knowledge, your clients can unlock deeper levels of creativity, insight, and professional effectiveness. Encourage them to actively cultivate experiences, relationships, and practices that foster the growth of tacit knowledge alongside their explicit knowledge to truly maximize their potential.
Through my conversation with ChatGPT, I hope you are inspired to develop your tacit knowledge throughout your life. Stay aware and curious, and keep learning!
July 2024 – Tanmay Vora’s Sketchnote – Explicit and Tacit KnowledgeDall-E #TwinzTalk Brainstorming
Don and I think it is important to reemphasize the mindset that whether or not you adopt GenAI and LLMs such as ChatGPT is YOUR DECISION. Studying these new tools and challenging yourself with personal use cases is a path available to everyone. You will benefit and be of greater value personally and professionally because of the knowledge attained and skills developed. Embrace a mindset of curiosity and possibility while also paying attention to the inevitable risks that arise. Learning is your secret weapon.
To stimulate your thinking, below are several use case examples that the Twinz have used. Once you have experienced the potential of immediate, ad-free feedback, we promise your creative juices will start flowing in ways ChatGPT Plus can compellingly contribute to your life.
Visiting a new location? Ask ChatGPT to provide suggestions for must-see highlights. During a 2023 trip to Normandy in France, ChatGPT was my companion for questions about the D-Day invasion.
Planning a vacation (i.e., My family of four is planning a trip to Walt Disney World in Florida – please suggest an itinerary for a six-day, five-night trip).
Ask ChatGPT to create a QR Code.
Using the Vision functionality, ask ChatGPT to explain the details of a product you have a picture of.
Ask ChatGPT to adopt a specific persona and then ask a relevant question where that expertise is required. An example would be to ask for estate planning thoughts from the persona that ChatGPT is “an attorney with expertise in estate planning.”
Specific questions regarding technology – such as “Please provide a brief introduction to prompt engineering and why it is important to prioritize time to understand the nuances of prompting when working with ChatGPT.”
Once you have found your own use cases, we would love to know how ChatGPT has contributed to your life. Personal use alone will change and enhance your life experience. Wishing you the best in your adventure!
BONUS: Custom GPTs
While Don and I encourage adopting “start narrow” and experiencing specific use cases for ChatGPT Plus in your world, it is critical to understand AI is rapidly evolving with new features and possibilities. The potential to feel overwhelmed and unsure where to focus your energies is likely. Please start, embrace ambiguity, pay attention to experts in the space, and accept that no one has all the answers to where the technology will evolve to in the future – only that it will evolve.
Within ChatGPT Plus, an exciting development announced on November 6, 2023, from OpenAI is the ability for users to create GPTs. OpenAI has created a store where users can sell GPTs. The GPT feature is not discussed in this ChatGPT Lite introduction, but if you made it this far, we are sharing the awareness of GPTs! Per the article linked below:
What are these GPTs?
“GPTs are custom versions of ChatGPT from OpenAI, its business partners, and thousands of third-party developers who created their own GPTs.
Sometimes when people encounter ChatGPT, they don’t know where to start. OpenAI calls it the “empty box problem.” Discovering that led the company to find a way to narrow down the choices, Turley said.
“People really benefit from the packaging of a use case — here’s a very specific thing that I can do with ChatGPT,” like travel planning, cooking help or an interactive, step-by-step tool to build a website, Turley said.
Think of GPTs as OpenAI trying to make the general-purpose power of ChatGPT more refined the same way smartphones have a wealth of specific tools. (And think of GPTs as OpenAI’s attempt to take control over how we find, use and pay for these apps, much like Apple has a commanding role over iPhones through its App Store.)”
Part 2 of 6 (Description of GenAI framework and ChatGPT “fit”) can be found here.
Part 3 of 6 (Steps to Getting Started) can be found here.
Part 4 of 6 (High-Level Concepts to Understand) can be found here.
Once the core suggestions are adopted (install ChatGPT and purchase the Plus monthly subscription) and you have started to work with the platform (“kick the tires“), the process for learning, creativity, and skills growth is to embrace a personal dedication to investing in yourself. No one can tell you an exact path to follow or the right or wrong ways to develop yourself. When technology is brand new, there is good news and bad news to accept:
Good news – you get to touch and experiment with the tool to find what is compelling for you. The TwinzTalk duo loves touching and experimenting with tech tools, and we have been early adopters throughout our lives.
Bad news – you must walk your own path of assessment and growth. You are responsible. No one can give you exact answers on what works for you.
While YOU are responsible for deciding your path forward (Don and I strongly discourage the decision to dismiss the technology as not relevant to you), resources exist to accelerate learning. In this section, we are sharing resources on influencers and online learning that we have identified and have been invaluable to our growth in using ChatGPT Plus. We hope some of these resources are valuable for you.
Listed below are courses I have completed and found helpful. Coursera, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning are my favorite go-to sources for free or nominal personal development courses. We recommend browsing these platforms and locating topics you want to learn more about. The barrier to entry is often low (free or nominal cost), and the available content is spectacular. The hard part? Making the commitment to invest in your growth.You are in control. As Seth Godin would encourage, “Go. Make a ruckus.” Dedicate yourself to learning and then share your learning with others.
Coursera – Prompt Engineering for ChatGPT- Instructor Dr. Jules White, Vanderbilt University
This is part 4 of 6 posts introducing ChatGPT and a path forward to consider for adoption and learning growth. Part 1 of 6 (Introduction) can be found here. Part 2 of 6 (Description of GenAI framework and ChatGPT “fit”) can be found here. Part 3 of 6 (Steps to Getting Started) can be found here.
Prompt engineering – overview: Prompt engineering is designing and refining inputs (prompts) given to AI models, like ChatGPT, to optimize the quality and relevance of their outputs. This process involves carefully crafting questions, statements, or scenarios that guide the AI to generate responses more aligned with the user’s intentions.
Prompt Library – prompting styles will be a repetitive process. Build a library of frequent prompts used. Per ChatGPT, “Developing a prompt library—a curated collection of well-crafted prompts designed for various tasks, questions, or scenarios—offers numerous advantages for users engaging with Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT. This practice harnesses the model’s capabilities more effectively and efficiently.”
Custom Instructions – per ChatGPT, “Building personal “custom instructions” for ChatGPT is akin to personalizing a tool to work more effectively for your specific needs and preferences.” Seth Godin describes and gives examples of custom instructions in his blog post,ChatGPT for you dated September 20, 2023.
Iterative process – The ChatGPT thread builds on the previous prompts, helping to expand thinking or dive more deeply into a topic. Per ChatGPT, “The iterative learning process in a prompt thread with ChatGPT refers to the model’s ability to build upon previous interactions within the same conversation to generate responses that are more accurate, relevant, and customized to the user’s ongoing queries or requirements.”
Hallucinations – Per ChatGPT, “In the context of GPT models, hallucinations refer to instances where the AI generates information or data that is inaccurate, fabricated, or not grounded in reality. These hallucinations can range from minor inaccuracies to entirely false narratives or facts. Understanding and mitigating the risk of such hallucinations is crucial.”
The list above will quickly expand as you work with ChatGPT, yet a brief understanding of these topics will enhance your ability to work more meaningfully with the platform. Below are influencers and courses to consider that will allow you to delve deeper into your areas of interest. Stay curious and open to learning, and show up daily to build your skills and real-life examples that will inspire you to keep going.
This is part 3 of 6 posts introducing ChatGPT and a path forward to consider for adoption and learning growth. Part 1 of 6 (Introduction) can be found here. Part 2 of 6 (Description of GenAI framework and ChatGPT “fit”) can be found here.
Where do I start once I have ChatGPT Plus?This is one of the most common questions that Don and I are asked. We cannot tell you what the best use cases are in your situation, but we can provide examples that stimulate thoughts for ideas. We firmly believe that once you start working with ChatGPT, your creativity will be ignited, and you’ll be off and running!
From a macro perspective, we believe that the mainstream availability and ongoing development of GenAI and, for discussion here, ChatGPT is an advancement in technology that every person needs to be curious about and engage a willingness to experience the potential of how this can and will impact their world. Whether you are paying for ChatGPT Plus or not, you already ARE paying for it (if not – you are paying through inefficient efforts and reduced talent development – which is imperative in today’s world).
Through our TwinzTalk efforts, we have created a hierarchy to contemplate when working with ChatGPT and other LLMs:
Determine your task to be done.
Is the task a “black or white” (a concrete answer is achievable)?
Use the tool to ACCELERATE what you do. Productivity can be exponentially enhanced.
Use the tool to ENABLE what you should do. Tasks such as documentation of processes are now quickly and painlessly achievable.
Use the tool to ALLOW what you cannot currently do. An example would be Advanced Data Analysis to write Microsoft Excel VBA or Python code needed – beyond existing skillset.
TwinzTalk Hierarchy – Thinking about use cases for ChatGPT and other LLMs
This is part 2 of 6 posts introducing ChatGPT and a path forward to consider for adoption and learning growth. Part 1 of 6 (Introduction) can be found here.
A brief description of GenAI and ChatGPT is provided below. “Zooming out” to take a higher view helps to clarify where the ChatGPT LLM fits into the picture of the larger theme of GenAI.
Prompting ChatGPT with “Please describe the concept of generative AI and how LLMs such as ChatGPT fit into the concept,” this helpful explanation was generated:
“Generative AI refers to a type of artificial intelligence that can generate content, whether text, images, music, or any other form of media. It’s not just about analyzing or processing existing information but creating new, original content based on the data it has been trained on.
Within the realm of generative AI, Language Models (LMs) like GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) are specialized in understanding and generating human-like text. These models are a subset of generative AI focused explicitly on natural language processing (NLP), the domain concerned with the interaction between computers and human language.
ChatGPT, a variant of the GPT model, fits into the concept of generative AI as a state-of-the-art language model. Here’s how:
Pre-training on Diverse Corpus: ChatGPT, like other LMs, is pre-trained on a vast and diverse text corpus. This pre-training allows the model to understand language patterns, grammar, context, and writing styles.
Generative Capabilities: ChatGPT can generate coherent and contextually relevant text based on the input received after pre-training. It’s not just retrieving answers from a database but generating them, often creating content that didn’t exist before.
Fine-tuning for Specific Tasks: While the base model is already powerful, ChatGPT can be fine-tuned for specific tasks or exhibit certain stylistic or thematic preferences in its output. This makes it highly versatile and adaptable to different domains.
Understanding and Generating Contextually Relevant Content: ChatGPT, especially in its latest iterations, is adept at understanding context and generating relevant content. It can continue a conversation, answer questions, write stories, code software, and much more, often in a remarkably human-like way.
In the broader picture of generative AI, LLMs like ChatGPT represent a significant leap forward in our ability to automate and enhance various text-based tasks and interactions. They are key players in the ongoing evolution of AI, pushing the boundaries of what machines can understand and create in terms of human language.”
On February 14, 2024, I introduced an initiative that #TwinzTalk Don and I kicked off – getting started with AI and ChatGPT referencing an overview document titled ChatGPT Lite: How to Get Started. We have been engaging with ChatGPT Plus and other AI Large Language Models (LLMs), such as Claude AI, starting in December 2022, shortly after Open AI introduced ChatGPT on November 30, 2022.
The future of work changed instantly with the availability of LLMs for the mainstream consumer.
“The reason AI language models are dumb is that they don’t actually know anything, the model is simply calculating probabilities. Not about the unknown, but about everything. Each word, each sentence, is a statistical guess.
I’ve switched mostly to claude.ai because it’s more effective and less arrogant, but it’s still guessing.
If a guess is good enough, you’re set. If it’s not, plan accordingly.”
“Don’t ignore AI because it’s dumb. Figure out how to create patterns and processes where you can use it as the useful tool it’s becoming.“
Don and I have emphasized from the beginning:
A mindset of curiosity, optimism, and possibility, balanced with realism, is imperative. Learn and grow with the tools.
Know what you are expecting to receive from prompts. Domain expertise is critical for evaluating output that needs to be specific and accurate.
Approach AI results critically, and educate yourself on the limitations, considering the results you seek.
Although not perfect, embrace the possibility of AI to enhance thinking, creativity, and productivity exponentially.
We created a visual, shown below, to consider the potential uses for anyone. This is not a question of “how can this help me professionally?” Please think at a more macro level: “How can this help me, and how can I then help others by bringing more value to the world?“
TwinzTalk Framework – GenAI and ChatGPT
Embrace the possibilities and create value for your world!
Are you on the sideline thinking about using AI tools such as ChatGPT Plus and Claude.AI? Hard stop – listen to the incredible wisdom of Seth Godin on Branding & Marketing In The Age of AI with Stephen Houraghan.
When ChatGPT was introduced on November 30, 2023, Don Tomoff and I quickly thought, “We need to understand what is happening here.” Since then, we have been stunned by the potential of this technology to assist us personally and professionally. We encourage anyone to adopt the ChatGPT Plus Pro plan for $20 per month and dedicate daily time to experimenting and getting a sense of the technology. We focus on narrowing the path to help others enter the AI-enabled world. For a quick start, see blog post dated February 14, 2024, ChatGPT Lite – How to Get Started: Introduction Part 1 of 6.
In the podcast episode linked below, Stephen asks Seth about his thoughts on the impact of AI. The image below speaks volumes. When Seth heard the question – he smiled as if to say “I was hoping you would ask this question!” For almost four minutes, Seth made compelling points that everyone should pay heed to:
“I think AI is the biggest change in our world since the invention of electricity. A bigger change than the internet.”
“If you are not using it for half an hour a day, you don’t understand.”
“Every word I put out there with my name on it [Seth Godin blog, etc.] was written by me. But if I was starting today, that would not be true.”
“What AI does today is it replaces competence… The only space left is to not be simply competent… You have to figure out how to do something that AI couldn’t do because that is the only thing worth charging for.”
“When you are doing work that could be done by AI, you should have AI do it so you can get back to the work that we need to pay you for.”
“You have helped create change. And now, change is coming after you.”
“The opportunities for agile, smart people to take advantage of AI over the next three years are enormous.”
The last point bears repeating for emphasis: “The opportunities for agile, smart people to take advantage of AI over the next three years are enormous.“
The YouTube video posted here will start at 32:18 when Stephen asks the AI question. The conversation goes to 36:00 minutes. Embrace these four minutes of learning Seth’s thoughtful and dramatic observations about the future of AI and what every professional needs to do now.
As Seth would encourage, “Go. Make a ruckus.” Please. The world needs your contribution. AI will help you create value for yourself and your ability to contribute and help others!
