I have always possessed a strong desire to examine how something can be done better. This is true in my professional and personal life. An example is how I, despite not being a "digital native," have stayed ahead of the curve with technology.
It is with pride that I seek knowledge and gain proficiency in utilizing the newest trends and platforms. Throughout my career, I take what I learn and incorporate it into enhancing processes and procedures. It isn't always easy and sometimes met with resistance especially by those who are unfamiliar with the advancements. One anecdote I share comes from the mid-1990s as the Internet was becoming widespread. I led the launch of the company's first website and focused on growing its reach. Not all were on board or understood its value. As the web quickly evolved, I pleaded with fellow members of the management team that we must promote the site at every opportunity. I exclaimed that our web address should be on every piece of paper that leaves the building. Apparently, my directive came across somewhat too strong. When I returned from lunch, a long piece of toilet paper with our URL written on it was laid across my office desk! Fast forward to 2023 and I'm expressing concern about the relatively new technology of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that I'm not warming up to so quickly. What? Me, suddenly, scared of technology! Nothing can be further from the truth!
RANDOM SOMERSAULT: I was raised by a mother who possessed an impeccable command of grammar. It was commonplace for her to correct my siblings, my friends, and me when we misspoke. Her penchant for demanding proper use of the English language led to a cartoon hanging in our kitchen for years. The illustration showed a woman sitting on the beach and reading a book under an umbrella. With her back facing the ocean, she calmly explained to her young son, "no, honey, it is not 'daddy's being ate by a shark;' 'it's daddy's being eaten by a shark!"
Over time, we appreciated her diligence and it certainly has served me well in my career. Many family members and I carry on her tradition. Such was the case in a recent text thread that included my brother and my son. In it, my son mentioned that he "lived further away..." To which my brother promptly fired back, "*farther away." My curiosity led me to conduct a deeper dive which has resulted in my son being vindicated, at least partially. The simple answer is that "farther" usually refers to physical distance while "further" is a figurative distance. As is the case with the English language, there is no clear-cut answer and there is flexibility in how the two words can be used. The "debate" has been ongoing for over a century but the "long and short of it," is that there are preferred uses however, for the most part, the words can be used interchangeably. I suppose there is no need for further explanation but if your interest is piqued, I invite you to jump farther down this rabbit hole for a summary of "farther vs. further." No one said the English language is easy to master as is proven in this Instagram Reels.
AI is here to stay and will evolve. The way it gets utilized is where I tread lightly at the moment. We already live in a world with information flowing, far too unfiltered, to us every minute of the day.
I'm cautious in my approach to AI, most specifically ChatGPT, much in the way that I was suspect of Wikipedia for a long time. The amount of misinformation spouted on the site in its infancy never provided me a comfortable level of trust. One example is when I had an intern provide me with some bullet points when I was hosting a panel at an event. As I scanned the notes, I soon realized his only source was Wikipedia and he listed some alarmingly inaccurate "facts" that caught my attention. We scrambled quickly to access reliable sources and corrected the information thereby saving me from embarrassment had I introduced the guests using his initial data.
RANDOM SOMERSAULT: I've become a fan of Wikipedia. For me, my change in opinion is that I use it as a starting point and then rely heavily on citations to further examine the accuracy of the content. As such, I've been carving out some time to contribute information to the site. Thanks to strong research skills and attention to detail, I make the extra effort to provide information that is backed by reliable sources.
I urge anyone reading this blog to share your knowledge on any topic in which you are well versed by adding or editing content on Wikipedia. If we have more subject matter experts share information and knowledge, it only makes Wikipedia better. (Free offer: if you don't want or know how to be a user on the platform, simply feed me information with valid and vetted info which I will corroborate, interpret and then, as time allows, add that valuable information to the free online encyclopedia).
I love the plethora of technological tools and resources available and have long embraced how to maximize them to efficiently create, manage, organize, and execute projects, as well as make life in general easier!
Especially, when it comes to communicating thoughts, ideas, and messages, it's hard to imagine how we could do so without a smartphone, computer, and the numerous programs, apps, and platforms available. Now, on to the main point of this blog. No doubt, AI is going to be an increasingly valuable tool. As defined by Wikipedia, "Artificial intelligence (AI) is intelligence - perceiving, synthesizing, and inferring information - demonstrated by machines, as opposed to intelligence displayed by non-human animals and humans." The key words in that are "perceiving" and "inferring." This is where the human touch is needed to hone the information to add the elements of "interpreting" and "understanding." This tweet captures my feelings as well as I imagine many others when it comes to AI.
The long and short of it is that we cannot dismiss the human element in communicating ideas and information. I think of my professional writing as an art form, especially this blog. Its tone and flow is meant to come across as personal, conversational, and creative. It weaves the human journey of experiences and emotions into a flow of information on a wide range of topics and information that only gets tied together through my human touch.
I challenge ChatGPT, which produces relatively sterile and straight forward information, to replicate a "Random Somersaults." The long and short of it is, that as human-like as it is supposed to be, it just can't!
RANDOM SOMERSAULT: The axiom, "long and short of it," originated around 1500 and originally was expressed as the "short and long of it" before changing to its current order in the late 1600s.
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WHY "RANDOM SOMERSAULTS?""Random Somersaults"
features storytelling based on themes spurred by personal and professional experiences and thoughts that represent a broad range of topics with a few random, yet relevant, detours. It is a terrific way to get to know Pete Fierle as you gain insight into how he processes information through this less formal and creative style of writing. The blog has been described as “fun and informative” and “what fun to meander through ideas and streams of consciousness.” AuthorPete Fierle has a love for all mediums but a special affinity for the written word (that flows from a keyboard or fountain pen) as a powerful platform for storytelling. ARCHIVEBe sure to check out the archives and roll through past posts for a variety of topics and stories.
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