Why This Was (For Real) Maybe The Biggest Week In AI Ever
I know, I know. Another "Biggest Week in AI EVER!!" headline? Really?
I get it. The AI hype train has been full throttle, and it's easy to get jaded. But hear me out.
This week was different. Not just because of the jaw-dropping tech updates from OpenAI and Google (which we'll dive into), but because of what these updates mean for how we interact with AI.
Because the real story isn't about the tech itself. It's about our behavior with the tech.
THE REALITY OF AI ADOPTION
Despite studies showing AI being used left and right, the truth is a more nuanced.
I get to talk to tons of folks in large rooms. I ask who's tried ChatGPT. Most hands go up. Then I ask who's using a pro version or another LLM. Crickets. Maybe 10 hands in a room of hundreds.
That tells you everything you need to know.
If you're not paying for an upgraded model that can do WAY more, you're not really tapping into the life-changing, economy-altering power of AI.
It's kinda like Excel. Most of us use it for simple lists, home budgeting, and maybe a SUM formula. But in finance? They're writing complex formulas for billion-dollar financial modeling.
Same with ChatGPT. Most are using it for the occasional email or brainstorm. But the real power users? They're augmenting almost everything they do, many times a day.
SO WHAT CHANGED THIS WEEK?
OpenAI and Google announced updates that could change how we interact with AI.
First, OpenAI introduced the ability to speak naturally and quickly with ChatGPT, no lag. This makes it feel more human, lowering the barriers to speaking to it like a human (which gets the best results).
Google did something similar with Gemini.
Second, both showed off vision and hearing capabilities. ChatGPT can live on your laptop, watch what you're doing, and help in real-time. Gemini can describe your surroundings and help find your glasses as you walk around a room.
The point? As AI feels more like a helpful companion that you can hear, see, and interact with in an incredibly human-like way, adoption barriers will drop.
Because while we may not know how to interact with AI, we sure know how to interact with humans.
THE HYPER-PRACTICAL TAKEAWAY
So, what's the actionable insight here?
Start thinking of AI as a super-smart intern or assistant. One that you can speak to naturally, show things to, and get help from in real-time.
Here's a quick framework:
Personify: Put a little image of your favorite AI character on your desk. Trick your brain into seeing AI as a helpful entity, not just a text box.
Speak Naturally: Chat with AI like you would a human. Be conversational, give feedback, iterate. The more human-like, the better the results.
Show and Tell: Start using AI's vision capabilities. Show it what you're working on, your surroundings, etc. Let it be your real-time companion.
Augment Everything: Use AI multiple times a day, for as many tasks as possible. Writing, analysis, brainstorming, problem-solving. That's where the real power is.
Friends, this isn't about whether AI is good, bad, dangerous, or revolutionary. It's all those things at once.
What matters is that this week, we saw the beginning of a shift in how we interact with AI. And that interaction is what will truly change how we do everything.
This stuff is available to you. Try it. Show it to others. We have to level up together, friends.
AI NEWS OF THE WEEK
ChatGPT for EVERYONE!
OpenAI has made it’s top new model, GPT4-O, available to everyone. For free. It seems crazy to me but it’s not my money. That means that there’s no more excuses - start using it today.
Gemini now with 2 million tokens
Google Gemini was already crushing everyone when they came out with a million token context window (essentially just how many words you can put in). Now it’s up to 2 million. That’s entire book series. Yowza.
Ilya Sutskever is leaving OpenAI
The OpenAI co-founder also led the coup against Sam Altman, and had barely been seen since. It’s finally announced that he’s stepping down. End of an era, and very curious to see what he does next.
Generative AI Tips
Listen, friends - ChatGPT’s top model is now free. This is my only tip - or plea, really:
If you were using GPT 3.5 and you’ve avoided using it regularly because it was disappointing, please try it again, it’s free.
If you have friends who aren’t really using it, tell them it’s free.
Family members skeptical? It’s free. Nothing to lose.
Give it a try, get others to give it a try. Together we can change the world.
