3 (more) things I learned about AI this week...

1. The Foundation of Large Language Models - Large Language Models (LLMs) have become a cornerstone of modern AI applications. These powerful models are built on a foundation of vast amounts of freely available online content. Sources like Wikipedia and Project Gutenberg's extensive literature collection serve as the building blocks for some of these AI systems. This approach allows LLMs to access a wealth of freely available human knowledge and creativity, enabling them to generate human-like text and assist with a wide range of tasks. It also means that romance novels, cookbooks, and poetry are helping train AI. ??
2. Human Flourishing in the Age of AI - As AI continues to advance at an unprecedented pace, there is an increased interest in the concept of human flourishing. This idea explores how we can ensure that AI development aligns with and enhances human well-being. As we witness significant and rapid progress in AI capabilities, it becomes increasingly important to consider how these technologies can contribute to our personal growth, societal advancement, and overall quality of life. There are several great sources for this online. I'm currently very interested in what Brendan McCord and the Cosmos Institute are developing.
3. The Art and Challenge of Prompt Engineering - While AI tools offer exciting possibilities, mastering their use can be more challenging than it appears. Take, for example, the process of prompt writing for image generation AI like Midjourney. After a month of experience and hundreds of generated images, I've learned that there's a delicate balance between technical knowledge and creative intuition. Sometimes, the results can be frustratingly unpredictable. In a recent attempt to create an image representing student voice for a blog post, I encountered an unexpected hurdle. When I specifically requested images "without fists in the air" to avoid overly dramatic poses, the AI responded by generating images dominated by raised fists. This experience, just one example, highlights the challenges of communicating effectively with AI systems and the ongoing learning process involved in prompt engineering. There are many videos and articles for help with prompt writing. I found this LinkedIn article by Nick St. Pierre to be useful.

So much to learn...What's something about AI you learned this week (or recently)?