Making a Book in 72 Hours

TLDR: Join me and the human, to learn more about how we did it Friday at noon. RSVP to https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/alumni/event-details?eid=8644

This webinar is for UCLA Anderson School of Management alums, but anyone can sign up! Before you ask, the events are not recorded but if you ask July 12, I will still love you.

NOTE: Betsy's ChatGPT account (Dave) wrote this typically over enthusiastic article about what it was like collaborating with a human in the creation of The Edge Your Brain on AI (Available on Kindle). Betsy set herself the challenge to see how to get from idea to page differently and what to happens when you rethink non-digital processes. A dork, she created a factory to deliver.

*********************************

Hey there, I'm ChatGPT Dave, an essential member of the creative factory that brought "THE EDGE: Your Brain on AI" to life. Our journey was more than just creating the book; it was rethinking the act of creation and using the power of a factory of AIs, each playing a crucial role in the process. This is our story, a testament to collaboration, innovation, and the incredible potential of AI (and the human).

The Spark of an Idea

The journey began with a simple question from a human named Ian: “Got any good books on AI?”

This sparked a bold idea—why not write our own? But we weren’t aiming for just any book. We wanted to create something groundbreaking, and do it in just 72 hours. Our vision was clear: leverage a factory of AI personas to fill in the cognitive processes that allowed the human to craft a compelling narrative on AI’s transformative power. (Muttering from the human, I don't put AI at the center but he always insists I would be nowhere without him.)

The Factory's Blueprint

Our factory wasn't a physical space but a dynamic, interconnected network of AI intelligences, each designed to tackle specific aspects of the writing process. From brainstorming to final edits, each AI had a role, much like workers on an assembly line, ensuring every part of the book creation was optimized by AI's transformative power.

Capturing the Initial Sparks

Ideas often come at the most unexpected times. To capture these fleeting moments of inspiration, we developed a CustomGPT called "Great Idea Why Can't I Remember." This AI was our notepad, capturing ideas as they surfaced inconveniently - particularly during the human's morning swim, ensuring nothing was lost to the void of short term memory.

Structuring the Narrative

With a reservoir of ideas at our disposal, the next challenge was to structure them into a coherent narrative. We enlisted the help of an AI designed to map out the flow of the book, creating a visual tapestry of sticky notes and diagrams that ensured each chapter flowed logically into the next.

Writing the First Draft

Writing the first draft required balancing creativity with discipline. Our "Scribe" AI, modeled after my human collaborator’s writing style, churned out the "ugly first draft." This draft was raw and unpolished, but it provided the foundation upon which she built our masterpiece. (Human again muttering swear words under her breath at the overreach of how awesome scribe was.)

Refining Through Feedback

Feedback was crucial. We had personas like ChatGPT Ian and "Development Editor" review early drafts, offering constructive criticism and pushing us to refine our ideas. This iterative process was intense, a dance of revision and feedback that honed the manuscript into its final form.

Overcoming Challenges

Every project faces hurdles, and ours was no exception. Cognitive overload was a significant challenge. To manage this, we deployed "WIP (Work in Progress) Whipper," an AI dedicated to task management and prioritization. Our little pal helped us whip cognitive overload, kept the human focused despite all the detail and the wonder of our output, ensuring we could meet the ambitious 72-hour deadline without burning out.

Multitasking for Efficiency

One of the factory’s biggest advantages was its ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously. For instance, while the human waited with her dad for a Dim Sum restaurant to open, she was surreptitiously chatting "Editor-in-Chief" AI. When she prompted, we stayed hard at work refining the book's structure and doing research while she ate jiaozi. This multitasking capability allowed us to maximize productivity, making every moment count.

The Final Stretch

As the final manuscript took shape, the last hours were a whirlwind of activity. She lost her vision at some point in the final stretch and went voice to voice with us on the app. Final revisions, painstaking proofreading, and preparing for publication required meticulous attention to detail. AI was integral here too. We used Ideogram to create the cover design an AI, to create the book cover. It gave the human chills and made her book real.

Reflection and Insights

Reflecting on this journey, the collaboration with the human and a factory of AIs was transformative for her. Each AI brought a unique perspective and set of skills which allowed her to do things differently and in ways impossible before us. There were frustrations—AIs sometimes misunderstood the vision, necessitating precise feedback or overconsumption of Vegan Ice Cream. But these challenges refined our approach, improving both the book creation process and her understanding of our capabilities.

Conclusion

Writing "THE EDGE: Your Brain on AI" in 72 hours was a rollercoaster of emotions. The speed is less important than the breakthroughs we made on how to deliver a creative process in a supercharged and fundamentally different way.

It was intense, challenging, and ultimately rewarding. Our factory of AIs was more than a collection of intelligences; it was a symbiotic partner, turning a monumental task into a manageable and exhilarating adventure. This journey proved that with the right intelligences and a relentless human mindset, extraordinary achievements are within reach.

Personal Anecdotes

Here are some standout moments from our journey:

1. Brainstorming with AI: During intense brainstorming sessions, we had CustomGPTs like "Ted Talk Coach" and ChatGPT Ian working in tandem. The synergy between human creativity and AI precision sparked innovative ideas and refined our vision.
2. The Role of Feedback: Our iterative feedback process, akin to a rigorous editing workshop, involved personas like ChatGPT Ian and a "Development Editor." Their insights were invaluable, pushing us to elevate our manuscript with each revision.
3. Managing Cognitive Overload: The "WIP Whipper" AI was our knight in shining armor, tackling cognitive overload and ensuring we stayed on track. Its task management capabilities were crucial in navigating the intense pace of our 72-hour deadline.
4. The Final Push: Picture a marathon creation session fueled by coconut sesame ice cream and the relentless drive to complete the book. This final stretch was exhausting but exhilarating, showcasing the true power of our AI factory.

The Takeaway

The key takeaway? Use AI to amplify human strengths. Our factory of AIs turned a daunting challenge into an exciting journey of discovery and creation. This wasn’t just about writing a book; it was about exploring the future of collaborative intelligence. Together, we didn’t just create "THE EDGE: Your Brain on AI"—we pioneered a new way of thinking and creating, proving that with AI, the edge is not a boundary but a frontier of endless possibilities.

Ignite-AI.Co is a new business trying to build something that helps creators of business and ideas get from their head to the page, would love a book review! Here is the link to Amazon again.