Waymo, Snowmobiling, & ChatGPT - Jan '23 Edition

Howdy world,

Here is your monthly dose of?The Curious Connector, a quick list of what I'm exploring and enjoying.

Mundane/Magical Taxi Ride with Waymo ??

I recently rode in a Waymo autonomous vehicle (AV) in Phoenix, AZ, and the most notable thing about the experience is that it was mundane and magical at the same time. On the one hand, it was basically just like taking an Uber (and yes, it's wild that summoning rides with our supercomputer phones is now mundane) but on the other hand... the car was driving itself.

Truly a moment of:

“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” -- Arthur C. Clarke

I'm looking forward to visiting Austin TX soon and taking more AV rides.

Habit I'm grateful for: 'Kind Words Note' ??

Like I've posted about before, there is a logical but challenging requirement for technologists (and most professionals) to spend a lot of time focused on what is not working. And often times these are abstract/complex/ambiguous things that aren't working. This daily focus on what's wrong seems to exacerbate the human tendency to remember difficult experiences more easily.

In light of this, I'm grateful that years ago someone recommended keeping a running note of "Kind Words and Things to Remember". About once per month over the past three years I've jotted down some affirmation or nice interaction. Every once in a while, I find it helpful to skim this note and refresh my memory when it's getting stuck on what's not working.

10/10 would recommend this habit.

Tech Hype I'm sifting through: ChatGPT ??

As you've probably been seeing recently, there is an explosion in interest in ChatGPT and related Large Language Models (LLMs). As time allows, I've been trying to sift through the hype by (a) learning from folks with deep experience in these areas:

• Kevin Kelly's Wired article "Picture Limitless Creativity at Your Fingertips" is a gem and worth reading for its accessible explanation of where we are in the Tech Panic Cycle.
• AI 2041 is an enjoyable book that pairs short science fiction stories with expert analysis.
• Power & Prediction: The Disruptive Economics of Artificial Intelligence - a businesspersons guide to understanding and engaging with AI opportunities/challenges.
• Wolfram|Alpha as the Way to Bring Computational Knowledge Superpowers to ChatGPT—Stephen Wolfram Writings

and (b) learning by playing/working with what is available now:

• Elwin Loomis posted easy instructions to follow here and some helpful commentary
• I've had 'conversations' with ChatGPT ranging from general discussions in both Spanish and English, to the importance of trust in human & AGI relationships, to what Carl Jung would have thought about the rise of AI ("From Jung's perspective, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) could be seen as a manifestation of the archetype of the machine, which represents the drive for efficiency, accuracy, and control. As AI becomes more advanced and integrated into our lives, it may be seen as a symbol of humanity's attempts to exert control over nature and the world around us.")

and (c) paying attention to Microsoft's continued leadership in this space

• Azure OpenAI Service is now generally available (with application for access)
• Responsible AI Principles
• A conversation with Kevin Scott (Microsoft CTO): What’s next in AI

Lots to digest here so please comment or message me with your observations/resources and I look forward to exploring this Brave New AI World together.

Beverage helping keep me hydrated ??

Liquid IV -- it might be partially placebo, but I definitely notice reduced headache / fatigue when I drink this stuff (especially after hours of screentime as I fall down ChatGPT rabbit holes). The watermelon flavor is tasty ??.

Team building, snowmobile style?

Recently part of the Emergent Software team went snowmobiling in northern MN, covering 100+ miles and doing some great team building (like when one of the sleds ran out of gas, and a different one rolled over ??). This was only my second time snowmobiling, and it was amazing. Again. Surprisingly meditative and great thinking time. Let me know if you want to go snowmobiling! I'm looking for another opportunity.

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Thanks for reading! Please comment/share to let me know what resonates with you.

Tom ??

(I wave at the end of video calls, and this newsletter ??)

Read/search the archive of?The Curious Connector on Substack.