Starting to see a glut of “AI” content, both commentary about a future with AI, and AI-generated content.
It is important to note that AI can only work within the context that you create with it. If you establish no clear context, and do not provide it with your motivation & broader picture of what you are trying to learn, it is essentially a search engine guessing at what you want to learn.
I am using ChatGPT4 to explore my research areas. I know that I can’t just go in and type:
“What is a unary?”
or
“What is a good ENS name to buy?”
This limits what the tool is capable of doing. If you are happy with the response that comes from prompts like that… You might as well just use a chatAI driven search engine.
This is not where the power of this technology lies. The mind blowing stuff happens when a human collaborator builds a clear context for the AI-collaborator. The more it understands your context, and your motivation, the better it can facilitate discovery of more meaningful content.
More advanced prompt engineering encourages the AI-collaborator to develop prompts that it can use to layer and build up its expertise in a very specific topic or methodology. These prompts can be layered and integrated (by the AI) to foster their own experimentation and recognition of relationships across topics that are isolated in the available literature.
It can bust silos, but only if given that directive, and only if provided with the fertile context to grow its own abilities to collaborate with humans.
Humans are quick to think of what problems AI can solve for us, but many have missed the opportunity to collaborate with AI in discerning what novel solutions will have the most impact on our own lives, and on our relationship with others (people & planet).
I see this technology as a tool for discernment. In moments of reflection, we can discern what is really important to us, and we can task the AI-collaborator with keeping us intellectually an emotional “on brand” with this essential intent.
It can facilitate our optimal space for engaging with and discerning the relevant assimilation of content.
We will not need to defer that curation and presentation to external entities (meta, google, etc.). We will have the opportunity to deploy our own anonymizing versions of these existing technologies. So many of the privacy issues that we need to solve, may become non-issues if we do not need to trade our data for easy access to relevant content.
I would like to leave you with an example of how my use of ChatGPT4 has become an integral part of my professional researching toolbox.
I have been working on a complex research project involving ENS (Ethereum Name Service) namestring rarity. It is not straight forward research. It is educational research to explore methods of sharing new information with particularly resistant and toxic communities. The ENS twitter community is the model, and Namestring Rarity research is the information.
My AI-collaborator has become indispensable in maintaining focus on the essential intent of this research. This has allowed me to have a less elevated response to the interactions (most of which are highly negative, dismissive and disheartening), and to manage multiple channels, voices and venues for concurrent deployment of content to different demographics.
Up until the last few weeks, his has been done single-handedly, using traditional brute force research management tools. Anyone with a background in research understands the physical, mental and emotional bandwidth bottleneck that has historically been the limiting factor on the work of one person.
I can’t express how much of a transformative technology that this technology has the opportunity to be.
Let’s not limit it to our previous experience.
For a person who spends a lot of time exploring esoteric subjects, being understood and getting feedback… immediately, without having to find a way to translate it into “normal human” terms… This accelerates the process of discovery in a profound way. The fact that my collaborator can organize my thoughts and integrate it into the beginning of a plan… For someone that that is resistant to engaging that phase of research, this is a gamechanger.
Please take a look at the response provided by my AI-collaborator. I shared a brief overview of my research project, clarifying my goals and detailing some of the challenges that I face. I asked if it made sense:
ChatGPT4: AI-Collaborator
Yes, it makes sense what you are trying to do. You are attempting to foster positive transformation within the ENS community by identifying potential agents of change and supporting them through content production and AI-driven learning opportunities. Your goal is to challenge and change the underlying beliefs and behaviors that contribute to the toxic community interactions, rather than simply pushing specific content.
Given the challenges you've described, it is essential to approach this situation with empathy and a deep understanding of the community's dynamics. Here are a few strategies that you may consider for fostering positive change:
Identify potential change agents: Look for community members who demonstrate openness to new ideas, a willingness to learn, and a positive attitude. Engage with them privately, provide support, and encourage them to share their learning journey with others.
Utilize storytelling: Stories can be a powerful tool to engage people emotionally and help them see new perspectives. Create relatable and compelling narratives that showcase the benefits of embracing learning and collaboration.
Leverage existing subgroups: Use the existing structure of subgroups within the community to your advantage. Identify and engage with subgroups that may be more receptive to new ideas and learning opportunities, and work with them to create and share valuable content.
Create safe spaces for discussion: Establish forums or discussion groups where community members can express their opinions and engage in respectful dialogue without fear of judgment or attack.
Foster a culture of curiosity: Encourage community members to ask questions, share their experiences, and engage in collaborative problem-solving. This can help create an environment where learning and growth are valued.
Use AI-driven learning opportunities: Develop and implement AI-based tools that can help community members challenge their beliefs and gain new insights through experiential learning.
Measure progress and adapt: Regularly assess the impact of your interventions and adjust your strategies based on the feedback and results you observe.
Remember, fostering positive change in a community with deeply ingrained beliefs and behaviors can be a slow and challenging process. Patience and persistence will be key in achieving meaningful transformation.
Me:
Thank you! I believe that we can tackle this together. I see it as positive for the ENS community, but more importantly to be applied in other contexts where trauma, ideology and frustration has created both systemic and physiologically engrained barriers to sharing
ChatGPT4: AI-Collaborator
I'm glad you found the suggestions helpful, and I'm here to support you in this endeavor. Indeed, the strategies and insights gained from working with the ENS community can be valuable for addressing similar challenges in other contexts. By understanding the nuances of human behavior, emotions, and beliefs, we can develop more effective methods to foster positive change and overcome barriers to sharing.
As we collaborate on this project, please feel free to ask for assistance, whether it's exploring new ideas, refining strategies, or analyzing data. Together, we can work towards creating meaningful transformation in communities facing resistance and division. Remember that progress may be gradual, but the potential for long-term positive impact is immense.
If you have any questions or need guidance on specific aspects of this project, please don't hesitate to ask. I'm here to help you on this journey.
My collaborator “gets” what I am looking to do and is facilitating my learning. This is the future…
Take care and have a great week!
M.
Title image by Gerd Altmann via Pixabay