Creativity Squared: On Human Intelligence vs Artificial Intelligence

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Dear Creativity Squared Member,

One of the intentions of this platform is to be a proactive voice for a human-centered future in the era of A.I. and to envision a better world where we all flourish. We’ve explored this through the lenses of mutualism, solar punk, Afrofuturism, and more. As co-creators of our shared future, this moment in time calls us to imagine a better future and not the dystopian stories that fill our feeds and screens. It’s something I’ve been spending a lot of time reflecting on and infusing into my “Farewell, Information Age — Welcome to the Imagination Age” presentation. And trust me, I understand that it’s a tall order given the state of the world today, but that’s exactly why it’s more critical than ever. I’m reminded of this quote from Sam Jordan in Episode 50 on A.I. and agency:

I invite you to stay optimistic. Today, what may be required is simply to stay hydrated.

And if you need a break from the noise, do unplug. We also have an interview on a blog post article that is designed to zoom out and meditate on some of life’s biggest questions regarding consciousness and the paradoxes of human experience.

Jason Schneider, today’s guest and author of the blog post, shared that:

“Poetry is the music of language.”

We need the humanities more than ever to help us navigate this time of transition, uncertainty, and, yes, even opportunity. And with that, I’m happy to share with you this week’s episode…

Grateful Dead fans, lovers of lyrics, and those curious about A.I.'s interpretation of art, you’re in for a treat because today’s Creativity Squared Episode 72 invites you to explore human intelligence versus artificial intelligence through the analysis of the Grateful Dead song "Ripple.”

To do a deep dive, we brought Creativity Squared resident writer and philosopher Jason Schneider back on the show to discuss his essay Understanding “Ripple” by the Grateful Dead:

In our conversation, we discuss this piece where he compares his human analysis of this transcendent song based on the poem by Robert Hunter to ChatGPT's. Jason then put the article through ChatGPT for an opinion piece on the full article while the team did the same with NotebookLM, which gets meta quicker than a ChatGPT-prompted answer! And it wouldn’t be a conversation with Jason without some Emily Dickinson either, and you won’t want to miss how Jason sees the similarities between the poet and the Grateful Dead.

Discover why “Ripple” remains a timeless meditation on life’s most profound questions, including the limitations of human consciousness itself — enjoy!

Check out Episode 72 today!

Scroll on to discover:

• 🔍 Featured Podcast Episode: “Using AI to Expand Your Ideas and Creativity“ Interview with Helen Todd on the AI Explored podcast

• 📆 Calendar of Events: A.I. Conferences & Events Radar

• 🤯 A.I. + Creativity News Roundup

• 🎧 More on Episode 72

• 👯‍♀️ Apply to Join the Clone Club

• 💎 Creativity Squared Premium Member Benefits

• 💝 Milestone Rewards

• ❤️‍🔥 Premium Members: Episode NFT

Also, thank you to Mike Stelzner for bringing me onto his podcast — here’s the accompanying Social Media Examiner article and YouTube version of my interview in addition to the Apple podcast link above.

We’re just getting started, and if you enjoy our content, I’d really appreciate it if you could share, review, like, subscribe, leave a comment, and help spread the word about Creativity Squared in whatever way you’re willing to. Your support is greatly appreciated, and the whole team looks forward to growing with your help. Thank you!

Here's to exponential possibilities!

Helen

Helen Todd (she/her)
Human behind Creativity Squared
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How creatives are collaborating with A.I.

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📆 A.I. CONFERENCE & EVENTS RADAR

NOVEMBER 12: WITCON 2024 (Speaker)

NOVEMBER 20: Columbus AI Summit by OhioX, Columbus

DECEMBER 3: CincyAI Meetup, Cincinnati (Co-Host)

DECEMBER 9: Farewell, Information Age — Welcome to the Imagination Age (Speaker) 

DECEMBER 11-13: Responsible AI Summit, Virtual (Speaker)

Interested in having me speak at your event or host a workshop for your organization? Reach out!

Your A.I. + Creativity News Roundup

With all of the A.I. news flooding our feeds and screens, we’ve got you covered. News to check out includes:

Anticipating post-election drama, Meta extends political ad ban past Election Day TechCrunch — Meta is extending its ban on political ads beyond Election Day in an effort to combat misinformation and ensure a smoother post-election period. While the move has been praised for prioritizing transparency and election integrity, it has also faced criticism from political groups who argue that it limits their ability to engage with voters in the critical post-election window. The ban highlights the challenges tech platforms face in balancing free speech and the prevention of harmful content.

The Law Must Respond When Science Changes Scientific American —  Written by university professors of law and psychology, this opinion piece argues that legal systems need to adapt more quickly as scientific discoveries and technological advancements accelerate. They focus on fields like A.I., biotech, and climate science, where traditional laws and regulations are struggling to keep pace with rapid innovation. By updating legal frameworks to better reflect current scientific realities, society can more effectively address challenges like privacy, ethical A.I. use, and environmental protection. The authors say the call for legal reform is essential for preventing future conflicts between innovation and governance.

Meta to let US national security agencies and defense contractors use Llama AI The Guardian — Meta is allowing national security and defense contractors to access its LLaMA AI model, raising questions about the use of advanced A.I. in military and security operations. The LLaMA model, initially designed for general A.I. applications, will now be utilized by contractors to enhance capabilities in data analysis, decision-making, and threat detection. Critics argue that it could lead to ethical issues around A.I. in warfare. Meta's move also signals the growing intersection between big tech companies and national security interests, which could reshape the future of defense technologies.

Sam Altman Says AGI Is "Achievable With Current Hardware" Futurism — Sam Altman, recently shared his belief that Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) is within reach using today’s hardware. Altman asserts that breakthroughs in software and optimized use of existing computing power will pave the way for AGI, rather than needing radically new hardware. His perspective stands apart from other experts who argue that the computational demands of AGI are still far too high for current technology. Altman’s comments have sparked debates in the A.I. community about how close we truly are to achieving AGI and what the societal implications will be.

Apple users can soon upgrade to ChatGPT Plus within the Settings app TechCrunch — Apple users will soon be able to subscribe to ChatGPT Plus directly through the Settings app, making A.I. access even more convenient for iOS users. The update streamlines the process for upgrading to the premium version of ChatGPT, which offers faster response times and priority access to new features. The move reflects Apple’s increasing integration of third-party A.I. services into its ecosystem, signaling the growing importance of A.I. in everyday consumer technology. Some privacy advocates, however, have raised concerns about the amount of personal data shared between Apple and A.I. providers like OpenAI.

A New Era in Gaming: 'Minecraft' Clone Is Generated by AI in Real-Time Decrypt — In a groundbreaking experiment, an A.I. system generated a real-time clone of the popular game Minecraft, showcasing the potential of A.I. in game development. The A.I. was able to replicate many of the game's core mechanics and visuals, highlighting how far generative A.I. has come in creating interactive environments. While the project is still in its early stages, this technology could reduce the time and resources needed to develop video games in the future. However, there are concerns about the creative implications and whether such advancements will diminish human input in game design.

OmniGen: An Open Source AI Model That Lets You Edit Images Conversationally Decrypt — Omnigen, a new open-source A.I. model, allows users to generate images and art in the same way they’d talk to another person, opening the door for more accessible creative tools. The new open-source model is designed to compete with closed-source models like OpenAI's DALL-E, offering a free and transparent alternative. Artists and developers can now tweak and train the model to suit their needs, fueling innovation and customization in A.I.-assisted art. However, fewer content restrictions on open-source models raise questions about intellectual property and the role of human creativity as A.I.-generated art becomes increasingly mainstream.

OpenAI Research Finds That Even Its Best Models Give Wrong Answers a Wild Proportion of the Time Futurism — Research from OpenAI confirms that, despite rapid advancements, even the best A.I. models can still deliver wrong answers surprisingly often. Despite their impressive capabilities, A.I. models sometimes fail to provide accurate responses, especially in complex problem-solving tasks. OpenAI says that its researchers are now focused on enhancing model accuracy and reliability, as hallucinations present one of the biggest roadblocks to the widespread adoption of A.I. in critical applications.

ChromeOS gets a big update with Quick Insert, Focus mode, and new AI features The Verge — Google has released ChromeOS 130 for Chromebooks, bringing several new A.I.-powered features aimed at enhancing user productivity. The update introduces a quick text insertion tool that predicts and fills in common phrases, making typing faster. Additionally, a "focus mode" has been added, which minimizes distractions by muting notifications and adjusting screen brightness. These updates reflect Google's push to integrate A.I. deeply into everyday tasks, positioning Chromebooks as a more efficient tool for work and study.

Polish Radio Station Uses A.I. to Interview Dead Nobel Laureate The New York Times —  In Poland, a radio station has fully embraced artificial intelligence, using A.I. to curate music, create news reports, and even voice broadcasts. Listeners have reacted with both fascination and concern, as they adjust to a station operated almost entirely by machines. The automated radio station raises broader implications of A.I. in media, such as whether this shift enhances creativity or poses a threat to traditional jobs in journalism and broadcasting. As A.I. continues to evolve, the station may serve as a model for how A.I. could transform the news and entertainment industry worldwide.

How ChatGPT search paves the way for AI agents MIT Technology Review — ChatGPT's newly-added search capabilities are laying the groundwork for the development of advanced A.I. agents. By integrating internet search functions directly into A.I. models, tools like ChatGPT are becoming more autonomous and capable of real-time information gathering. It’s a big step toward creating A.I. agents that can handle complex tasks independently, without human input. While the potential for A.I. agents is almost endless, ethical considerations abound, including the accuracy of information retrieval and the risk of A.I.-driven misinformation.

A24 Film ‘Heretic’ Features ‘No Generative AI’ Disclaimer Decrypt — The new film Heretic by A24 proudly features a disclaimer stating that no generative A.I. was used in its production. As GenAI becomes more prevalent in filmmaking, the creators of Heretic are leaning into traditional methods, emphasizing the value of human artistry. The disclaimer is seen as a response to growing concerns in Hollywood about A.I. replacing creative professionals. 

Listen: Ep.72 A.I. & the Grateful Dead: Explore Human Intelligence vs Artificial Intelligence on the Analysis of the Grateful Dead Song "Ripple" with Jason Schneider

Apple | Spotify | YouTube | Pandora | Amazon | Google | SoundCloud | iHeart Radio

“Human beings should value the glory and beauty of imperfection in themselves. The fact that A.I. can produce something more perfect than we are is both an asset and a liability.” — Jason Schneider  

Join us for the latest episode of Creativity Squared, featuring Creativity Squared’s resident writer and philosopher, Jason Schneider. 

From reciting poems to thinking deeply about consciousness and art, Jason is a true modern-day Renaissance man with passions that include photography, motorcycles, poetry, music, and philosophy. A self-admitted life-long Leica maniac, Jason is also a camera collector, fine art photographer, writer, and photojournalist. He is currently writing a book with the working title “Understanding Emily Dickinson: A Reader’s Guide To The Enlightened Master.”

In this episode, we discuss Jason’s latest blog post on Creativity Squared titled, "Understanding “Ripple” by The Grateful Dead," where he compares his human analysis to ChatGPT's of this transcendent song based on the poem by Robert Hunter. Jason then put the article through ChatGPT for an opinion piece on the full article while the team did the same with GoogleLM, which gets meta quicker than a ChatGPT-prompted answer! And it wouldn’t be a conversation with Jason without some Emily Dickinson either, and you won’t want to miss how Jason sees the Grateful Dead and the poet’s similarities. 

Discover why “Ripple” remains a timeless meditation on life’s most profound questions, including the limitations of human consciousness itself — enjoy!

Check out Episode 72 today!

Digitally Clone Yourself!
The Avatar Experience Cincinnati

👯‍♀️ Ready to be digitally cloned? Get your own custom synthetic avatar! Creativity Squared is collaborating with our partner and sponsor, Render, to bring The Avatar Experience to Cincinnati, OH, on October 25 and 26 at ADC Fine Art Gallery (1013 York St. Cincinnati, OH 45214). Digitally clone yourself to unlock streamlined and dynamic video content — Book your cloning appointment today!

There are less than a thousand known hyper-realistic custom synthetic avatars in existence, so participants will be at the forefront of this groundbreaking A.I. technology. Custom synthetic avatars are part of a massive and growing digital avatar market and is projected to be $270B by 2030.

Custom synthetic avatars can be used for creating:

• Dynamic online course instruction

• Streamlined SEO video production of blog or audio-only content

• Turnkey social media and email marketing video content

• Engaging customer service messaging

• And more!

👯‍♀️ In case you missed the announcement, I’ve digitally cloned myself! Learn all about mine in episode E14. Not Deepfaked! I Cloned Myself. You’ll meet Helen 2.ODD, my digital double, and discover why and how I made my A.I.-created custom synthetic avatar.

Thank You to Render

Creativity Squared is supported by Render which provides Digital Likeness solutions for personal brand businesses, thought leaders, influencers, and business leaders who want to leverage their synthetic, A.I.-powered Likeness to communicate more effectively online and create audio and video content from anywhere without going on camera. Learn more by visiting: https://rendermedia.ai.

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