AI for Lifelong Learners

You know automation will march on. Think Beyond AI to what the machines can't be, be more you, be more. human. Push the march in the direction you want. Get up to speed, and learn what you need to learn in the way of new skills. And, let’s lean into how we, you, and I can change and reorganize our lives and social structures for the better good and have time for the common good.

Embracing your humanity in the age of AI by learning about our shadows 04/07/2024

Embracing your humanity in the age of AI by learning about our shadows Today on AI for Lifelong Learners, I steer us into learning more about ourselves. I used AI to collaborate on this show idea, organize the content, and summarize the recording. Then, this final version went through half a dozen rewrites by people - human people! The show itself is about being more human, which includes delving into ourselves to gain a better understanding and insight into what holds us back. What does AI think about being human? So of course, I asked one of the Large Language Models (LLMs) to share its “thoughts” on the subject. The AI's response was intriguing and thought-provoking, offering a unique lens through which to view our own humanity. While it's important to remember that these are the “opinions” of an artificial intelligence and not a definitive guide, the ideas presented can serve as a catalyst for self-reflection and personal growth. Here are some of the insights that resonated with me: - Dream and discover new ideas - Think and rationalize, yet be self-reflective - Be more discerning of what's true for me in my thoughts, feelings, and actions - Communicate thoughtfully with others through spoken, written, and nonverbal means - Find inspiration for more curiosity to generate new ideas and innovate - Be flexible and willing to change plans - Problem-solve and nurture the ability to think critically and come up with solutions to complex problems - Stay strong in my morals and ethics: distinguish between right and wrong and make careful judgments - Form mental images, concepts, and ideas of things that do not currently exist or are not present in the immediate environment - Indulge my sense of humor - Practice abstract reasoning, the ability to think about complex and abstract concepts - Regulate my emotions - Time travel mentally to remember the past and imagine the future, yet live in the present - Take in new perspectives to understand and consider different viewpoints But what gets in our way? In this interview, we talk about our “shadows” and the process of talking with our shadows in hopes of learning more about the power we hold in our authentic selves. Why? Because we must choose to highlight the value of our human skills, especially those that machines lack in this new era of hyper-automation. That's where our uniquely human strengths shine. That's what makes us more employable and authentically powerful. All too often, we spend our whole lives running from our shadows, trying to present this polished, Instagram-worthy version of ourselves to the world. But the truth is, we're all just stumbling around in the dark, hoping that nobody notices the cracks in our carefully crafted facades. In today's podcast, I have a heartfelt conversation with two senior life coaches who have been helping others with their shadows for decades - , and , author, and presentation skills trainer. Podcast key points - Personal Journeys with Shadow Work (10:01-15:00) - Donna shares her experience of repeatedly choosing abusive relationships and how shadow work helped her recognize and address childhood trauma. - Daniel speaks about his choice to lean into extroversion to avoid victimhood and how his work has helped him and others confront their shadows for personal growth. - Integrating Shadow Aspects (15:01-20:00) - Donna discusses the light side of the shadow and how we often suppress our positive qualities, which could bring more good to the world if integrated. - Daniel reflects on the denial of personal power and how people argue for their limitations. He stresses the importance of recognizing our shared humanity and striving together rather than competing. - Humbling Lessons from Coaching (20:01-25:00) - Donna was surprised to learn that we suppress not only our dark sides but also our light sides. She emphasizes the importance of embracing both to be responsible and impactful. - Daniel shares a humbling moment from his leadership experience and the realization that our emotions are universal, despite unique experiences. - Being More Human in a Hyperautomated World (25:01-30:00) - Donna suggests nurturing creativity and curiosity in children, allowing them to be who they are, and fostering their innate talents. - Daniel talks about Sat - Chit - Ananda: Sansrkit, the importance of finding bliss, and the need to integrate head, heart, and gut for a fulfilling life. Thank you, Tom /episode/index/show/bca8190d-74af-43e6-b383-ab84467a7345/id/30719408

Bridging Science and Radio: The Making of Iconic Shows Star Date and Earth and Sky 03/04/2024

Bridging Science and Radio: The Making of Iconic Shows Star Date and Earth and Sky Ever wonder about the stars at night and the infinite cosmos that surround us? I’m constantly fascinated with the mystery. How about the recent American successes in returning to the moon or the awe-inspiring images of the cosmos from the . There is much to learn from understanding the stars and how they impact our lives on Earth. AI for Lifelong Learners is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. In this podcast, we discover the captivating intersection of artificial intelligence and science communication featuring the visionary minds behind the renowned radio programs Stardate and Earth and Sky. Join Deborah Byrd and Joel Block as they delve into their inspiring journey, from their collaboration to the evolution of their groundbreaking shows. They explore the challenges and triumphs of making science accessible and engaging, the transformative role of AI in disseminating knowledge, and the pressing need for environmental consciousness. Deborah Byrd explains the ever-changing landscape of media, connecting with curious audiences and her desire to fuel a passion for the cosmos and our planet. I hope you find this interview as fun and interesting as it was for me. Tom Key points in the transcript include: 1. Deborah Byrd and Joel Block's Collaboration - They created not just a radio program but a "portal to the universe," focusing on education and enlightenment. 2. Origins of Star Date - Deborah was inspired to start Star Date during a college astronomy class, despite being an English major. Joel Block's voice was chosen for the program because of its perfect fit. 3. Transition to Earth and Sky - The program evolved from focusing solely on astronomy to including Earth sciences, partly due to Deborah's growing interest in global warming. 4. Syndication and Audience Engagement - Star Date was syndicated on over 1,000 stations, and Earth and Sky also became widely distributed. They received positive feedback about the calming presence of the programs. 5. Challenges of Science Communication - Deborah mentions the difficulty of securing funding and the need to innovate to keep receiving grants constantly. 6. Impact on The Production Block - The success of their radio shows provided a significant boost to Joel’s business and Deborah’s path to creating EarthSky.org 7. Trends in Media and Use of AI - Deborah discusses the current trends in media, including the rise of AI and the phenomenon of news avoidance. She also explains how EarthSky.org uses AI for content creation, such as video production and article summarization. 8. Future of Science Communication - Deborah is excited about the potential of AI in media and the ability to learn about anything instantly. She emphasizes the importance of lifelong learning. 9. Message to the Audience - Deborah's message is one of positivity, emphasizing the beauty of the universe and our place in it. Joel adds a note on the reality of climate change, referencing the visible retreat of Mendenhall Glacier as evidence. How to Contact Be sure you visit Deborah Byrd’s . Their morning newsletter is something I look forward to with my first cup of coffee. Though Deborah and Joel no longer host the show continues with a wonderful host - Billy Henry. Earth & Sky was a daily radio series that presented information about science and nature. It began broadcasting in 1991 and ceased operations in 2013. A very special thanks to Joel Block for his help in creating this piece and the use of his amazing recording studio. Joel continues to provide exemplary recording services at contact - [email protected], (512)472-8975 (studio). /episode/index/show/bca8190d-74af-43e6-b383-ab84467a7345/id/30219358

AI Literacy and Its Impact on Small Businesses - A Discussion with Jordan Gibbs 02/23/2024

AI Literacy and Its Impact on Small Businesses - A Discussion with Jordan Gibbs On today's 29-minute episode, we welcome software engineer and entrepreneur Jordan Gibbs to discuss his experiences in working with AI, both personally and in helping small businesses. Gibbs shares his thoughts on the promise and pitfalls of AI, the need for developing AI literacy, and why he remains hopeful that future AI systems can positively augment human skills and interactions. We explore the unique challenges facing small companies looking to adopt AI, as well as the techniques Gibbs recommends for constructing writing prompts effectively. Jordan and I discussed some of his amazing posts on Medium.com that will enhance your knowledge of prompting ChatGPT. He’s offering free access to three of them right here. Forget prompt engineering, ChatGPT can write perfect prompts for you The most important ChatGPT prompt Which Phrases are the most ChatGPT Interview key points Introduction to Jordan Gibbs and his work with AI (00:00-01:10) Tom Parish introduces Jordan Gibbs, a software engineer and entrepreneur who shares his experiences with AI in personal use and assisting small businesses. 2. Gibbs' approach to improving AI prompt effectiveness (01:10-04:45) Gibbs discusses an innovative method for constructing AI prompts that involve asking the AI to clarify any questions it has about the scenario, which he discovered while helping his brother with a lab report. 3. Popular articles by Gibbs on prompt engineering (04:45-08:30) Gibbs talks about his most popular Medium articles, including "The most important ChatGPT prompt," "Forget Prompt Engineering," and "Which Phrases are the Most ChatGPT of All?" which analyzes common phrases used by AI. 4. The importance of information and intent in AI prompts (08:30-11:20) Gibbs emphasizes the need for providing the right information and having clear intent to create quality AI prompts and achieve desired results. 5. Gibbs' company, Ellevora, and its AI-driven hiring solutions (11:20-16:00) Jordan explains how his company, Elevora, uses AI to enhance the job interview process. It offers candidates the chance to instantly interview with tailored experiences. 6. Challenges for small businesses adopting AI and scaling up AI literacy (16:00-20:20) Gibbs discusses the challenges small businesses face when adopting AI, such as trust issues, and the importance of both businesses and individuals scaling up their AI literacy. 7. Gibbs' future outlook on AI and human interaction (20:20-23:50) Jordan shares his optimistic view that AI will augment human interaction and creativity. He also acknowledges the potential for AI to become powerful and disruptive in the future. /episode/index/show/bca8190d-74af-43e6-b383-ab84467a7345/id/30078968

The Sensible AI Manifesto: Dave Birss on Building a Future Where AI Empowers, Not Overpowers 01/25/2024

The Sensible AI Manifesto: Dave Birss on Building a Future Where AI Empowers, Not Overpowers Recently I connected with innovation expert have a lot in common. Though he lives an ocean away in England, Birss and I share a fascination with AI and its potential for lifelong learning. Dave is one of the most popular AI instructors on the Internet with over 275,0000 students and many rave reviews.Birss has a gift for making the complex understandable and even fun. He speaks about AI in plain language, with humor and infectious enthusiasm. Beyond demystifying algorithms for students worldwide, Birss also advises major companies on practical AI implementation. His broad perspective encompasses both blueprints for tomorrow and nuts and bolts for today. Birss has launched an initiative called the , which offers clear guidance on how organizations can smartly incorporate AI as a tool rather than a threat. The manifesto's principles aim to ease concerns many workers feel about the rise of generative AI. I think his ideas are important and helpful for companies in 2024 wondering how to pull together an AI strategy. Key Points: 1. Introduction to Dave Birss and the focus on AI's potential for lifelong learning (00:00-01:30). 2. Dave Birss's background and how he became involved with AI and teaching (02:00-04:30). 3. The importance of clear communication when creating prompts for AI (05:00-06:30). 4. The release of Birss's AI course on LinkedIn Learning and its popularity (07:00-08:30). 5. The Sensible AI Manifesto and its principles for smart AI incorporation in businesses (09:00-10:30). 6. The emotional and educational support needed for employees in the face of AI integration (11:00-12:30). 7. The role of an AI leader within an organization and the necessity of an AI strategy (13:00-14:30). 8. The management skills required for effectively using AI and the concept of AI as an intern (15:00-16:30). You can reach Dave Birss at His YouTube site is Download the here - /episode/index/show/bca8190d-74af-43e6-b383-ab84467a7345/id/29640503

Unlocking the Secrets of Pattern Language Thinking in Generative AI 12/16/2023

Unlocking the Secrets of Pattern Language Thinking in Generative AI Today, I'm intrigued by a thought-provoking question from our guest, Carlos Perez: "Can we lay the map for concepts that are beyond human comprehension?" It's a question that perfectly encapsulates our journey into the world of AI and learning. Thanks for reading AI for Lifelong Learners! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Joining us on today's podcast is author Carlos Perez, known for his insightful works like The Deep Learning Playbook, and Artificial Intuition, Fluency & Empathy. But today, we're zooming in on his book that's particularly close to my heart, "Design Patterns for Generative AI." Carlos's book has been a constant source of fascination for me. Think of it as a Rosetta Stone for crafting better prompts to derive more meaningful results from a Large Language Model (LLM); not just using an LLM to boost productivity. Carlos delves deeper, exploring how it can expand our creativity and deepen our understanding of complex topics. This approach resonates with me, as I believe enhancing our creative and intellectual horizons is far more significant than mere productivity gains. The concepts in his book have empowered me to confidently explore new topics which has enhanced my learning and writing. By understanding the patterns underlying broad subjects, I can approach them in a more creative and organized way. It's not just about learning faster; it's about attaining a richer, more profound understanding. Thanks to Carlos, I now feel emboldened to craft my prompts instead of relying on standard, pre-made ones that often fall short of expectations. Let's dive into a conversation with Carlos to uncover the motivations behind writing this book and gain insights into his process of designing patterns for Generative AI. Carlos, I'm curious, what inspired you to take this pattern language approach for designing better prompts for LLMs? What was your journey like? Podcast Summary with Carlos Perez: Carlos explains how asking GPT-4 to reveal its patterns led to the genesis of his book on prompt engineering. He differentiates prompting for thinking versus automation, provides advice for beginners on asking good questions, envisions combinatorial prompt patterns as composable languages, notes GPT’s counterintuitive ability to infer causes from effects, speculates smaller AI firms have secret sauce training methods, and looks ahead to future interactive versions of his book that are more self-generative. Key points for this podcast: 1. Carlos originally tried to create a pattern language for deep learning 5 years ago, but it was too complex and evolving, so he gave up on that project. 2. The idea for his current book on GPT prompt patterns came after playing with GPT-4 and asking it to reveal some of its own patterns, which expanded to 70 different patterns. 3. Carlos distinguishes prompt engineering for automation from prompting to get the most out of using GPT-4 as a thinking tool. Beginners need guidance on how to ask good questions. 4. Combinatorial use of prompt patterns allows fusing concepts together, like languages that become composable into new vocabularies. 5. GPT's ability to determine a cause from a given effect seems counterintuitive and backward but is related to abductive reasoning. 6. Smaller AI firms may have secret sauce training methods that let their models outperform much bigger models from giants like Google. 7. Carlos envisions his book becoming more self-generating with GPT's larger context windows, where you can query the book interactively about prompt patterns. --- - To understand more see who developed the idea of Pattern Languages in their 1977 book by the same name. Recommended! --- To find out more about A Pattern Language for Generative AI: A Self-Generating GPT-4 Blueprint visit here: /episode/index/show/bca8190d-74af-43e6-b383-ab84467a7345/id/29104918

Movement is Medicine: Dr. Laurel’s Holistic Approach to Rehabilitation and Wellness 09/27/2023

Movement is Medicine: Dr. Laurel’s Holistic Approach to Rehabilitation and Wellness Earlier this year, Donna and I decided to step up our fitness routine and venture into the world of CrossFit. We had been slowly increasing our workouts at home. One day, while doing some pushups on my own without paying close attention to my form, I felt a pop in my upper bicep muscles followed by a lot of pain - not good, but clearly my own fault. What to do? At our , where we were taking coaching lessons with Robert Montoya, he introduced me to Dr. Laurel. I went for an introductory session where she provided an extremely detailed review of my situation and recommended some shoulder exercises I had never heard of before. But the real surprise was when she performed dry needling on the muscles in my bicep area - by the next day I was remarkably better. I wouldn't call it a miracle, but it definitely caught my attention how unique and advanced her thought processes and techniques seemed. I had to learn more. For me, Beyond AI means longevity, and no matter how careful we are, injuries happen. Listen in as I learn more about Dr. Laurel's journey as a therapist and what makes her approach so unique. Podcast Summary Dr. Laurel’s Journey into Physical Therapy: Inspired by her own challenges, Dr. Laurel pursued a career in physical therapy after experiencing two ACL tears during her soccer days. This firsthand experience with rehabilitation kindled her passion for assisting others through similar challenges. Evidence-Based Practices: Dr. Laurel emphasizes the significance of staying current with the latest research. In her practice, she employs evidence-based techniques. She particularly champions modalities like dry needling and blood flow restriction training, explaining their effectiveness and diverse applications. Personalized Approaches: Recognizing the uniqueness of each patient, Dr. Laurel tailors her therapeutic approach based on individual needs and personalities. While some patients benefit from a more rigorous approach, others thrive with gentle encouragement. Philosophy on Recovery: Dr. Laurel advocates for patience during the recovery journey. She cautions against seeking quick fixes, which often prove to be temporary. Instead, she encourages focusing on long-term health achievements and genuine recovery. Collaborative Care: Believing in a holistic approach, Dr. Laurel collaborates extensively with other healthcare professionals. Whether it’s physicians, coaches, or other providers, she understands that communication and teamwork lead to optimal outcomes, especially for athletes. The Rewards of Physical Therapy: One of the most gratifying aspects of Dr. Laurel’s profession is witnessing patients regain hope and functionality, especially when they initially believed recovery was unattainable. These success stories drive her dedication and passion. A Mission Beyond Therapy: Beyond her immediate practice, Dr. Laurel aspires to leave a lasting impact on Austin’s community. She is on a mission to encourage more people to embrace physical activity and adopt healthier lifestyles. In her words, “Movement is medicine.” Post navigation /episode/index/show/bca8190d-74af-43e6-b383-ab84467a7345/id/28162244

Loneliness in a 24/7 Socially Connected World - Why is this so? 06/05/2023

Loneliness in a 24/7 Socially Connected World - Why is this so? Hello and welcome to BeyondAI. My name is Tom Parish. Today I am talking with Patricia Belleno Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (LPC-S) and a Master Certified Integrative Life Coach. Do you feel like you basically LIVE ONLINE? We’re going to explore the rising issue of loneliness and though the initial part of the conversation focuses on Gen Z, I have a feeling every generation past and present is dealing with this issue. This all seems so ironic when you think of how hyper-connected we are, yet, something is amiss. In Psychology Today by he discusses how isolated and lonely The Gen Z generation feels. As I said, I have a hunch that regardless of what generation you’re from and despite our ability to be instantly socially connected 24/7 – many of us feel – lonely. Ryan’s article focuses on record high levels of loneliness in the Gen Z generation and he these three key points. Seventy-three percent of Gen Z report they feel alone either sometimes or always. Seventy-two percent of Gen Z workers say they want to communicate with managers in person, while most managers think they prefer instant messages. Reversing the loneliness trend in Gen Z requires addressing contributors such as overstimulation which leaves less time to connect. Additionally: In another article “Conversations with Five Gen Zs” in The DigitalNation substack newsletter Rex writes: “I was chatting recently with an entrepreneur building for Gen Z, and she said something interesting: “Gen Z’s brains are browsers with a million tabs open.” Her point was that Gen Zs are exposed to information overload, constantly flooded with peer pressure and comparison, and FOMO. Overflowing filing cabinets. “Escapism,” the entrepreneur continued, “This isn’t just for fun—it’s for survival.” Listen to this relaxed engaging conversation from a therapist’s point of view on loneliness and how we can be our own first responder to find our happiness and a belief in ourselves. You can reach Patrica at /episode/index/show/bca8190d-74af-43e6-b383-ab84467a7345/id/27052059

Humanity Amidst Automation: A Therapist’s Perspective 05/28/2023

From I Don't Know to Confidence: A Journey of Self-Discovery and Public Speaking 05/26/2023

Howard Cannon on the Emergence of AI Tools in the 1980s and lesson's learned 05/17/2023

AI for Lifelong Learners

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