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A computer-generated image of a woman laying on a couch in a blue office. Opposite is another couch holding a robot psychiatrist.

[PurpleCar Christine here. I prompted ChatGPT+ to write a blog post about AI taking our jobs. I won’t include all the syntax of the prompt, but I did include a request for humor. The article is, again, meh. BUT. But. After a heated discussion at our dinner table last night over whether or not people who use AI image generation are “artists” – We said they are not in the traditional sense but we don’t have a term yet for them – the LLM came up with its own term: Digital Artistic Collaborator. Perfect! A DAC. Someone can say, “I’m a DAC artist, using Midjourney and Dall-E mostly” on their LinkedIn profile. Read on to see ChatGPT humor and its mostly -humorous suggestions for new jobs. Photo Credit: Me and Dall-E]


The Great AI Job Heist: When Machines Get Witty and We Get Worried, by ChatGPT Plus

Ah, the age-old fear of machines taking over our jobs. First, it was the typewriter, then the computer, and now? The Large Language Model. I can almost hear Nora Ephron quipping, “I’ll have what the AI’s having,” while Erma Bombeck laments, “If the AI starts doing laundry, I’m officially obsolete.”

But let’s face it, folks. The intersection of technology and psychology is a fascinating one. We’re not just talking about your Roomba developing a crush on your cat or Siri getting sassy when you ask her if she’s dating Alexa. No, we’re diving deep into the comical fears of humans thinking they’ll be replaced by a machine that can’t even taste a good cheesecake.

Fear #1: “The AI will write better jokes than me!”

Well, dear reader, if your jokes are anything like, “Why did the AI go to school? To improve its algorithms!” then yes, you might be in trouble. But remember, humor is subjective. Some people laugh at dad jokes, while others (like me) prefer the wit of Nora and Erma. So, unless the AI starts attending comedy clubs or binge-watching sitcoms, I think your job as the family comedian is safe.

Fear #2: “The AI will become a better therapist than me!”

Imagine lying on a couch, pouring your heart out, and the AI responds with, “Have you tried turning your emotions off and on again?” While technology can provide insights based on data, it lacks the human touch, empathy, and the ability to nod knowingly when you talk about your mother-in-law.

Fear #3: “The AI will steal my job as a writer!”

Well, if the AI starts penning romantic comedies set in New York or writing humorous columns about the perils of suburban life, then maybe. But until then, your unique voice, experiences, and the way you describe your Aunt Mildred’s peculiar hat collection is irreplaceable.

Now, while we’ve had our fun poking at these fears, it’s essential to recognize that AI does bring about change. But with change comes opportunity. So, let’s shift gears and explore some potential new jobs that AI might introduce:

  1. Algorithm Editor: Just as writers need editors, algorithms will need fine-tuning. This job involves ensuring that the AI doesn’t suggest ice cream as a solution to heartbreak. (Although, come to think of it, that’s not a bad idea.)
  2. AI Etiquette Trainer: Someone needs to teach these machines some manners! If your AI assistant starts getting too cheeky, it might be time for a lesson in politeness.
  3. Robot Psychologist: If your Roomba starts acting up, maybe it’s going through an existential crisis. Enter the robot psychologist, ready to delve into the deep-seated issues of your household appliances.
  4. Digital Artist Collaborator: Imagine pairing up with an AI to create art. You bring the vision; the AI brings the precision. Together, you create masterpieces.
  5. AI Humor Tester: Before an AI tries its hand at comedy, it’ll need a human touch to ensure its jokes land. If you’ve got a good sense of humor, this job’s for you!

In conclusion, while the world of AI might seem daunting, it’s filled with potential, laughter, and yes, a touch of absurdity. So, the next time you worry about a machine taking your job, remember: it’s all about perspective. And as Erma Bombeck once said, “There is a thin line that separates laughter and pain, comedy and tragedy, humor and hurt.” Let’s choose to laugh, embrace the change, and maybe, just maybe, teach our AI to appreciate a good cheesecake.

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An AI PurpleCar post. You be the judge.

Is CHAT-GPT ready to take over blogging duties for me?

This is a DALL-E generated image of a robot sitting at a desk writing. It is a gray metallic robot holding a giant pencil. the robot has round eyes but no other facial features. The head is rectangular.

What follows is a copied and pasted result from Chat-GPT. When I prompted the bot, I fed it 3 of my most recent blog posts (with over 500 words each). I instructed it to analyze the posts then generate a blog entry, in the first person using my voice. The post was to have less than 1000 words and it was to address the long break I’ve had from blogging. What do you think? Am I soon to be out of a job?

Here in quotes is what chat.openai.com came up with. I have not changed one word. It is 100% totally unedited:

“Title: Embracing the Long Break: Returning to Blogging with a Fresh Perspective

Hey there, lovely readers! It’s been quite a journey, one that has led me to rediscover my passion for writing. After taking a considerable hiatus from blogging, I’ve come to realize the value of stepping back and reevaluating my approach. In this post, I want to share my experiences and thoughts on the concept of taking time off and finding renewed inspiration to dive back into the world of blogging.

Amanda, a dear friend of mine, has been giving talks on imposter syndrome, a topic that’s struck a chord with many of us. The fear of not being good enough or facing public embarrassment is something we’ve all felt at some point. But this time, it wasn’t just imposter syndrome that caught my attention. It was a typo – “Winpostor Syndrome” – that sparked a revelation.

Dr. Adam Grant’s book, “Think Again,” discusses the concept of the “Beginner’s Mind,” a state of being open and eager to learn, even in areas where we consider ourselves experts. It’s about challenging our preconceptions and staying curious, which resonated deeply with me. It made me realize that in my desire to get back into blogging, I needed to adopt a “Beginner’s Mind” and approach my writing with renewed enthusiasm.

During this time off, I found myself in a “C VOID,” a state of stagnation and lack of motivation. It wasn’t solely the pandemic’s impact, but a broader feeling of wasting time and not aligning with my true calling as a writer. I experienced a discomfort that was impossible to ignore. Like a dormant writer’s instinct, I felt a resurgence of the compulsion to write, a desire that couldn’t be suppressed any longer.

Much like the experience of being taken off the casino floor, my hiatus was a mix of uncertainty and anxiety. Yet, as in that situation, a turn of events forced me to reevaluate my direction. My heart told me that I’m a writer, and writers can’t suppress the urge to write. It’s an integral part of who we are. The feeling of writing the wrong things or not writing at all was a clear indicator that I was off track.

This revelation led me to embrace the idea of returning to blogging with a fresh perspective. Just as experts in their fields experience “Winpostor Syndrome,” I recognize that feeling a little like an imposter is a sign of growth and evolution. It’s a reminder that I’m venturing into new territories that align with my knowledge and expertise.

As we expand our horizons, we discover new areas to explore within our expertise. It’s like science, constantly evolving as new evidence comes to light. The feeling of uncertainty isn’t a roadblock; it’s a testament to our willingness to challenge ourselves. In a way, imposter syndrome serves as a litmus test, indicating that we’re moving beyond our comfort zones.

So, here I am, excited to share my journey of rediscovery with all of you. The time off has been a period of reflection, growth, and transformation. I’m embracing my “Beginner’s Mind,” eager to approach my writing with curiosity and openness. And to you, my readers, I say, never fear that discomfort – it might just be the nudge you need to reawaken your passions.

As I embark on this new chapter of blogging, I invite you to join me on this journey of rediscovery. Let’s dive into the world of writing with fresh eyes, eager hearts, and a willingness to challenge our preconceived notions. Thank you for being a part of this adventure, and stay tuned for more exciting content to come!”

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Happy New Year

This is a quick note to say Happy 2023 and to set my intention to come back to blogging, after many years hiatus. There will be no theme here other than whatever fits my fancy. Short form like this and longer essays will show up hopefully regularly. Good luck to you and to me in our new year endeavors.

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More than a year… but do 2020 and 2021 even count?

May dust off this thing and write something here. We’ll see.

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Winpostor Syndrome

My friend Amanda gives talks about imposter syndrome. If you aren’t familiar, imposter (or impostor with an “o”) syndrome is a psychological state where one is plagued with persistent self-doubt and fear of being publicly embarrassed as a fraud, despite having the “required” expertise. Amanda and another friend of ours saw this syndrome in themselves and decided to “lean into” the issue by giving talks and reaching out to others.

When Amanda and I were texting about researcher Adam Grant’s book, Think Again, I made a typo, calling it “Winpostor Syndrome.” I immediately loved the term. It seemed so apropos. Let me tell you why. 

In his book, Dr. Grant reminds us of the benefits of what Buddhists call the “Beginner’s Mind.” The Beginners Mind, or “Shoshin,” is the state of being eager to learn a new subject. Shoshin is when we are observing keenly and are ready to challenge our preconceived notions. It is approaching a subject as if we are new to it. Even when we are at an advanced level of expertise in a subject, a beginner’s mind helps us to always be surprised and be able to learn something new in that area. It is keeping an open mind instead of harboring a closed one.

A curious, intelligent person will always maintain a beginner’s mind. This isn’t to say that you go back to square one and pretend you know nothing. It is to say that as we learn more, we also learn how much we don’t know. Isn’t this always true? The more you know about a subject, the more you begin to understand how much you don’t know.

Going deeper into physics, for example, just continues to blow one’s mind more and more. Quantum physicists are all like, “Listen we don’t know wtf is going on.” They are not impostors. They do not think they are lacking in expertise. They are world class intelligencia. And here they are saying, “Fuck if we know!” They have the Beginners Mind.

Winposter syndrome is being an expert in your field. It is getting so advanced in the subject that you are confident you can sort out what is knowable AND what has yet to be discovered. It is concentrating on what you want to do instead of what outside forces pressure you to do. It’s starting out where you feel comfortable and venturing into new spaces at your leisure.

Back to our example of physicists. Quantum physicists are OK with not being high school physics teachers, even if the local school wants to hire them. They like being in labs all day, not classrooms, and they don’t feel bad saying “I don’t know how to teach and I’m not going to try that at this time. Maybe later.” And guess what happens? They retire from the lab and start teaching, because they are ready to take on that new challenge that is related to their expertise.

If a person wants to venture into a new aspect that is related to their current skillset, the Beginner’s Mind is all they need to do so and to do it well. If they remain curious and intelligent, they will succeed. With a solid grasp on what the related skillsets are and the industry as a whole, an expert can add to her repertoire.

Winposter syndrome should be a litmus test. If you don’t feel at least a little bit of an “imposter” then you aren’t learning, you aren’t growing. Things are stagnant and the work is getting rote. This is ok for a bit, in order to rest, make money, etc., but it is not the natural state of curious people.

As our expertise grows, we discover more and more areas where one could learn more. This is the nature of expertise. It is like science: Science is always changing its answer to questions; As we get more evidence, our understanding of a phenomenon improves. As we get deeper into experience and expertise, our understanding of our field widens. We see branches where we could expand. Impostor syndrome would scream “You’re a fraud” when you attempt to learn about and do tasks that may fall under those branches. Winpostor syndrome says “I don’t know but I have enough expertise and curiosity to try.”

A beginner’s mind is a great thing. If you feel impostor syndrome creeping in, let it be a reminder that you’ve just leveled up, that you are trying something new, that you are expanding your horizons based on all the knowledge and experience you’ve gained so far, and that you already have more than enough expertise to let you in that door.

Image by holdentrils from Pixabay

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