ChatGPT is not Google (Or: How Your Brain Betrays You)
ChatGPT is not Google.
Yeah yeah, I can hear you through the laptop: "Sheesh, Conor, I know it's not Google. You gonna tell me something interesting or what because I got tilapia in the oven."
But here's the thing:
We don't know - not really. We think we do, but we don't. And that fact is killing any hope we have of becoming generative AI power users.
The Brain's Betrayal
Our brains are betraying us and we don't even know it. Because our brains are masters at covering their tracks.
This is how our brains betray us when it comes to ChatGPT and generative AI:
Our brain sees a search bar-looking thing in ChatGPT.
Our neural pathways fire up.
Our muscle memory kicks in. It's subconscious.
Our brains say "Hey! I know what this is! It's Google! It looks and smells like Google and it even kind of acts like Google! It's Google!"
That's what muscle memory does to us.
The subconscious brain has long ago created a pattern. When it sees a search bar, it sees Google. Just like when you see a baby, you talk to it like a baby. You don't accidentally talk to it like a college professor.
That's muscle memory.
The Google vs. ChatGPT Dilemma
But ChatGPT isn't Google.
It's sort of the opposite of Google.
Here's what I mean:
Imagine you're planning a trip to Costa Rica. At one desk, you have a laptop, Google open and awaiting your question.
You walk over and type in "Best things to do with a young family in Costa Rica." You get an awesome blog post from a couple years back with a list of 10 great things to do.
That's pretty good! You could walk away right now.
Except at the other desk is the head of the Costa Rica Tourism Board. His name is Carlos. He beckons you. Carlos tells you he has all the time in the world. You sit down.
"Tell me about your family," says Carlos. "What do they like to do?" And you get into a long discussion of who likes what, preferences and things that inspire you, and slowly Carlos tailors a trip that suits you perfectly.
Sitting down with Google was a command and a response and you walk away.
Sitting down with Carlos, the head of the tourism board, was a conversation, refining and iterating and brainstorming and getting excited and planning out routes and hotels and activities based on your specific family.
Google is Google.
The Head of the Tourism Board is ChatGPT.
The Perception Problem
The problem, of course, is that ChatGPT doesn't look like Carlos, the head of the Costa Rica Tourism Board.
It also doesn't look like a brilliant marketer, or a coding wizard, or a poem writer, or a horticulturalist with a spectacularly deep understanding of native plants in southern Vermont who can also explain how to tend to those plants using any analogy across any sports team from anywhere in the world.
All in a matter of seconds, by the way.
It doesn't look like any of those kinds of people.
It looks like…Google.
Breaking the Google Brain
Here's a simple framework to try to bust us out of our Google Brain:
Recognize: Acknowledge when you're falling into the "Google trap" with ChatGPT.
Reframe: Think of ChatGPT as a knowledgeable, adaptable conversation partner.
Engage: Start a dialogue, ask follow-up questions, and provide context.
Iterate: Refine your requests based on ChatGPT's responses.
Explore: Push the boundaries of what you think ChatGPT can do.
I would call that the "RREIE Framework" except RREIE isn't a word - it sounds like a shouting lunatic in midtown.
This is How We Change
Mastering ChatGPT and generative AI isn't about learning a tool. It's about understanding how your brain works. It's about breaking down what's holding you back before building back up frameworks to help you master generative AI, to supercharge your workday and change your life.
By the way, I've created my first generative AI digital course that I think can help. It's what I've done with thousands of leaders. If that's of interest, just head over to my website at www.conorgrennan.com - it's easy to find. See if it fits with your goals.
We can do this together, friends.
This course is designed to be interactive, engaging, and yes, even a little bit challenging in the best way possible.
Booking Conor for an Event
I’m thrilled that I get to do a ton of keynotes and lead workshops for companies. If you’re looking for a highly practical, framework based approach, feel free to reach out at www.ai-mindset.ai/speaking
