Category: Google Bard

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AI AI: Large Language Models ChatGPT Google Google Bard

Looking forward to Project Tailwind…

This week at Google IO, one of the projects covered was a new experimental one called Project Tailwind – see how Steven Johnson covered it on his Substack after the event. He’s been working part-time with Google on this project which he describes Tailwind this way:

Tailwind allows you to define a set of documents as trusted sources which the AI then uses as a kind of ground truth, shaping all of the model’s interactions with you. In the use case shown on the I/O stage, the sources are class notes, but it could be other types of sources as well, such as your research materials for a book or blog post. The idea here is to craft a role for the LLM that is not an all-knowing oracle or your new virtual buddy, but something closer to an efficient research assistant, helping you explore the information that matters most to you. 

Google’s one line description is: “Tailwind is your AI-first notebook, grounded in the information you choose and trust.”

While working with the existing chatbots (ChatGPT, Google Bard, Microsoft Bing, etc.) is fun and useful, I’d be much happier having a research assistant which would primarily function on content I’ve created with an option to go beyond my content to the wider world. Johnson says he has “found that Tailwind works extremely well as an extension of my memory.”

Google’s initial implementation of Tailwind is based upon files in your Google Drive. For privacy reasons particularly, I’d especially welcome such a feature being trained and used locally on my own computer rather than having to upload my content to Google Drive and a cloud trainer.

I’ve requested access to Project Tailwind and look forward to experimenting with it when it’s made available. Meanwhile, here’s a short video that discusses Tailwind:

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AI AI: Large Language Models ChatGPT Google Bard Sensemaking

Probing Questions

I noticed a tweet from @dreetje earlier in the week suggesting some prompts to use with ChatGPT to prompt some additional insights into a particular topic. With slight modification, I gave it a try on Google Bard – asking it to help me with some additional insights into the subject of the future of work in the context of large language models.

Google Bard responded below to my initial prompt telling it that was the subject I wanted to discuss. Interesting how it set the stage for further discussion:

Large language models (LLMs) are a type of artificial intelligence (AI) that are trained on massive amounts of text data. This allows them to generate text, translate languages, write different kinds of creative content, and answer your questions in an informative way. As LLMs become more sophisticated, they are likely to have a significant impact on the future of work.

One of the most significant impacts of LLMs is likely to be on the automation of jobs. LLMs can already perform many tasks that are currently done by humans, such as writing reports, translating documents, and answering customer service questions. As LLMs become more powerful, they are likely to be able to automate even more tasks. This could lead to widespread job losses in some industries, such as customer service, data entry, and writing.

However, LLMs are also likely to create new jobs. For example, LLMs will need to be developed, trained, and maintained. This will create jobs for AI engineers, data scientists, and machine learning experts. In addition, LLMs will be used in new and innovative ways, which will create new jobs in a variety of industries.

Overall, the impact of LLMs on the future of work is likely to be mixed. Some jobs will be lost, but new jobs will also be created. It is important to start thinking about how to prepare for the changes that LLMs are likely to bring.

Here are some things that individuals and businesses can do to prepare for the future of work in the context of LLMs:

  • Develop new skills. As LLMs automate more tasks, it is important to develop new skills that cannot be easily automated. These skills could include critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving.
  • Become more adaptable. The pace of technological change is accelerating, so it is important to be adaptable and willing to learn new things. This will help you to stay ahead of the curve and find new opportunities in the changing job market.
  • Collaborate with LLMs. LLMs are powerful tools that can be used to improve productivity and efficiency. Rather than seeing LLMs as a threat, businesses should embrace them and use them to their advantage.

The future of work is uncertain, but it is clear that LLMs are going to have a significant impact. By preparing for the changes that LLMs are likely to bring, individuals and businesses can position themselves for success in the years to come.

I then used this prompt to elicit some additional insights:

For that topic, start by thinking to yourself about the following questions and answer them for the given text, and the other answers:

  1. This reminds me of …
  2. This is part of …
  3. This is similar to 1 because …
  4. This is different from 1 because …
  5. This is important because …
  6. This came from .. (which ideology, origin of this idea in general)
  7. This is really about …

Google Bard replied (third draft):

Sure, I can do that. Here are my answers to your questions:

  1. This reminds me of the Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution was a period of great technological change that led to the automation of many tasks that were previously done by hand. This led to widespread job losses in some industries, but it also created new jobs in other industries. LLMs are likely to have a similar impact on the future of work.
  2. This is part of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is a period of technological change that is characterized by the development of artificial intelligence, robotics, and other new technologies. These technologies are likely to have a profound impact on the future of work, as they automate more and more tasks.
  3. This is similar to the Industrial Revolution because both periods of technological change led to the automation of tasks and the creation of new jobs. However, the Fourth Industrial Revolution is likely to have an even greater impact on the future of work, as the technologies involved are more powerful and sophisticated.
  4. This is different from the Industrial Revolution because the Fourth Industrial Revolution is happening at a much faster pace. This means that workers will have less time to adapt to the changes, and it could lead to more widespread job losses.
  5. This is important because it has the potential to change the way we work. LLMs could automate many tasks that are currently done by humans, which could lead to widespread job losses. However, LLMs could also create new jobs, and they could help us to be more productive and efficient.
  6. This came from the idea that technology can be used to improve our lives. The Industrial Revolution was driven by the idea that machines could do work more efficiently than humans. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is driven by the idea that artificial intelligence can be used to solve problems that were previously thought to be impossible.
  7. This is really about the future of work. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is likely to have a profound impact on the way we work. LLMs are just one of the technologies that are likely to change the way we work. We need to start thinking about how we can prepare for these changes, and how we can ensure that everyone benefits from the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Nick Milo uses these prompts during his sensemaking sessions as part of what he teaches called Linking Your Thinking. You capture a note on something that triggers your mind to want to explore it more. You might use these prompts to help you begin that exploration – and add your own insights to whatever you initially captured. Using Google Bard to help kickstart that process might help accelerate one’s thinking even more.

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AI AI: Large Language Models Google Bard San Francisco/California

Friday Follies

No, I didn’t have a blue checkmark on Twitter – so I didn’t lose anything when Elon decided to take them away from non-Blue users. Who wants to be a Blue user anyway?

Meanwhile, I’ve been having fun playing with Google Bard, using it much more than ChatGPT recently. This morning I got the weekly email from Santa Fe Photographic Workshops about their upcoming workshops. One of them caught my eye: Ax for the Frozen Sea: An Introduction to Creative Writing by Matthew Siegel.

The course description included the following:

We delve into texts related to craft and practice, as well as creative works, from authors including James Baldwin, Joan Didion, Marc Doty, Jhumpa Lahiri, Li-Young Lee, and Cheryl Strayed, among others.

That got me interested in seeing what Google Bard might educate me about these authors – so I asked Bard:

Let’s pretend I’m attending a writing workshop. The instructor suggests we delve into texts related to craft and practice, as well as creative works, from authors including James Baldwin, Joan Didion, Marc Doty, Jhumpa Lahiri, Li-Young Lee, and Cheryl Strayed, among others.

Bard came back immediately with this great reply:

That’s a great list of authors! Here are some of my favorite books by each of them:

  • James Baldwin: “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” “Another Country,” “The Fire Next Time”
  • Joan Didion: “The White Album,” “Slouching Towards Bethlehem,” “The Year of Magical Thinking”
  • Marc Doty: “My Alexandria,” “What Matters,” “Firebird”
  • Jhumpa Lahiri: “The Namesake,” “Interpreter of Maladies,” “The Lowland”
  • Li-Young Lee: “The City in Which I Love You,” “Rose,” “Behind My Eyes”
  • Cheryl Strayed: “Wild,” “Tiny Beautiful Things,” “Brave Enough”

These authors are all masters of their craft, and their work can teach you a lot about writing. They are also all very different writers, so you’re sure to find something you like in their work.

Here are some specific things you can learn from these authors:

  • James Baldwin: Baldwin was a master of the essay, and his work is full of insight and wisdom. He was also a gifted storyteller, and his novels are powerful and moving.
  • Joan Didion: Didion was a master of the observation, and her work is full of sharp insights into the human condition. She was also a gifted stylist, and her writing is clear, concise, and elegant.
  • Marc Doty: Doty is a master of the lyric poem, and his work is full of beauty and emotion. He is also a gifted storyteller, and his poems often have a narrative arc.
  • Jhumpa Lahiri: Lahiri is a master of the short story, and her work is full of insight and compassion. She is also a gifted stylist, and her stories are beautifully written.
  • Li-Young Lee: Lee is a master of the lyric poem, and his work is full of beauty and emotion. He is also a gifted storyteller, and his poems often have a spiritual dimension.
  • Cheryl Strayed: Strayed is a master of the memoir, and her work is full of honesty and courage. She is also a gifted storyteller, and her memoirs are both moving and inspiring.

I hope you enjoy reading these authors as much as I do!

Great stuff – thanks Bard! By the way, Bard provides three different draft answers. The first one was good but this one – the third – was much better. I’ve learned that it pays to look at the three drafts it provides – sometimes one stands out above the others.

Lots of fun continuing with Bard. Yesterday I got into a conversation with it about the Hungry i in San Francisco and another coffee house of that era called Coffee and Confusion. I also asked it to pretend it was the DJ Tom Donahue opening his evening show on KMPX in the late 1960’s. I asked it how it would open and what he would play:

Sure, I can do that. Here’s how I would open my evening show on KMPX in the late 1960s:

“Good evening, San Francisco! This is Tom Donahue, and you’re listening to the best rock and roll on the radio. Tonight, we’ve got a great show for you, with music from some of the biggest names in the business. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!”

  • plays “Light My Fire” by The Doors *

I would then go on to play a variety of other rock and roll songs, from the classics to the new releases. I would also take requests from listeners, and I would chat with them about the music and the latest news.

I would want my show to be a fun and informative experience for listeners. I would want them to hear great music, learn about new bands, and connect with other people who love rock and roll.

I would also want my show to be a reflection of the time period. The late 1960s was a time of great change and upheaval, and I would want my show to capture the spirit of the times. I would want to play music that reflected the hopes, dreams, and fears of young people at the time.

I hope you enjoy my show!

Then I asked it to generate a playlist for another 10 songs:

Sure, here is another 10-song playlist:

  1. “Hey Jude” by The Beatles
  2. “Respect” by Aretha Franklin
  3. “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye
  4. “Imagine” by John Lennon
  5. “Born to Be Wild” by Steppenwolf
  6. “Light My Fire” by The Doors
  7. “Purple Haze” by Jimi Hendrix
  8. “Hey Joe” by The Jimi Hendrix Experience
  9. “Satisfaction” by The Rolling Stones
  10. “Good Vibrations” by The Beach Boys

These are just a few of my favorite songs from the 1960s. There are many other great songs from this era, so I encourage you to explore and find your own favorites.

Great stuff! Perhaps not better than talking to a friend – although I must say that Bard seems to have a much better memory than most of my friends – and much better than mine!