The power of curiosity and experimentation with AI

In our tech-saturated world, there's an adage that captures the spirit of innovation and progress: evolve or be left behind. This sentiment is particularly true with the explosion (and hype) of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Bard, and Bing. These novel tools are akin to smartphones in their transformative impact on our daily lives. 

Remember when you held your first smartphone? It was a novel experience—overwhelming perhaps—and yet within a short period, it became your essential tool for communication, navigation, entertainment, shopping, and so much more. The device literally transformed your life, propelling you into a new era of connectedness.

Now, imagine ChatGPT (and other models) as the new “smartphones” of our current day, transformative tools poised to revolutionize our interactions with technology and, more broadly, the world. But, much like those early days with your smartphone, it takes hands-on curiosity and experimentation to fully comprehend the magnitude of this technology and it’s potential.

So, what does experimenting with generative AI and large language models entail?

Delving into everyday tasks

Generative AI, with its power to understand and create, can seep into every aspect of our lives. It's like opening a multitude of apps on your smartphone, each serving a different purpose. Here, the “apps” are varied prompts or commands that you feed into these language models. For instance, you can experiment with asking the model to draft emails, create a business plan, perform research, write poetry, develop a policy for employees, build travel itineraries, and even generate software code. It's a world of endless possibilities where the boundaries are defined only by your curiosity and imagination. You could describe these models as an assistant that has the entire knowledge of the internet. What would you ask this assistant to do? 

Comparing different models

Just as we compare the features of different smartphones before deciding which one to purchase, the same principle applies when choosing between different language models. Each model—whether it's ChatGPT, Perplexity, Bard, or Bing—offers unique advantages. For instance, while one might be adept at creating human-like text, another might excel at research or technical content. It's this hands-on comparison and experimentation that will allow you to harness the full potential of these technologies, fitting each into your needs and routines. This is no different than how you have personalized the set of apps on your smartphone to fit your specific needs and activities.

Specializing with vertical tools

Exploring AI isn't just about working with generic tools, and applying the smartphone analogy is handy here as well. While a generic web browser on your smartphone gets the job done for most browsing needs, using specialized apps makes certain tasks even more efficient. Similarly, with language models, specialized or “tuned” versions exist that excel in specific domains. Some models may be trained or “tuned” to work in the unique areas of healthcare, finance, or software development, and others may be more functionally tuned to work on different mediums such as video or voice.

Just as you'd use a banking app for financial transactions, you could use a finance-tuned AI model for performing analytics, drafting investment reports, or spotting market trends. These vertical AI tools offer deep domain expertise, helping to enhance productivity and performance in specialized areas. Thus, the curiosity to explore these vertical tools and experiment with them can help you stay ahead in your field.

The power of curiosity and experimentation

The transformative nature of these AI technologies is undeniable. However, their utility remains latent unless one is willing to experiment and adapt. Much like the initial apprehension with smartphones, the unfamiliarity with these AI tools might be daunting. But once you wade into this new stream of technology with curiosity, the potential rewards are immense.

Embracing the spirit of curiosity and experimentation opens up a world of innovation, and staying hands-on with generative AI and large language models is an investment in your future. Experimenting today is akin to downloading that first app on your smartphone years ago—you may not realize it now, but it's a step into a tech-infused future that will redefine the way we live, work, and interact.

So, get curious. Get experimenting. This is the dawn of a new era of technology, and you certainly don't want to be left behind.