Welcome to the world of A.I.

Artificial Intelligence – What is it really?

Ever since the advent of the harnessing of electricity, and the light bulb, the concept of artificial intelligence began.

Your light bulb switch was the beginning of the two digits that

today run your computers, cell phones, garage door openers, and even your refrigerators. In other words, there are very few things that are not run by some form of two number binary interface.

Your light switch is an “ON” and “Off” mechanism. Consider that On is a one (1) and Off is a zero (0).

Those two (actually only just one) numbers are zero (0) and one (1). Zero is actually not consider a number, so let’s just call it a Digit.  All of “Computerdom” uses these two numbers (digits) – ONLY!  That is not to say it won’t change, and some researcher won’t come up with at way to add another number (I want to see them use Pi), but for now these two lovely little digits are it, that is unless someone else has added something of which I am unaware.

Come to think of it, I hope they don’t add a number. I have enough trouble figuring out the things with only two digits.

Most people who have have the pleasure of doing any investigating in the digital world already know that the two digit

binary system is in place.

Moving forward, the basic household light switch evolved into vacuum tubes, which were used to run radios and the first television. Hence the alternate designated name for a television was coined “The Tube”. Folks would watch “The Tube”.

You may have heard the term “Boob Tube”.  Yes, people used to spend way too much time watching a screen even back then.

Then came the silicon chip, circuit boards, micro-chips, and I’m not sure what they have now. I know things have gotten much smaller. They have managed to fit a great deal more processing into a much smaller space. Think Nano technology, machines that can go strolling around in your bloodstream.

Now we have Artificial Intelligence. This technology falls into the category of programming. Programming is the manipulation of all of those zero’s and one’s into specific configurations that will allow the end user to do various things, such as write about 0’s and 1’s.

The A.I. technology is an extremely sophisticated form of programming that is highly detailed, and researched. But then I doubt I had to mention that part.

Not really new

When it comes right down to it, artificial intelligence is not really a very new thing. The original computers were used for basic word processing, and information processing.

Things then evolved, and then the computer became an information resource. If you have ever used Google (Duh!), then you have been using artificial intelligence, but at a much less sophisticated level then this newest incarnation.

What we have now has been referred to as a “Game Changer”, a term which I have trouble disputing due to the power of what I am seeing it do.

My best guess as to what is likely to come along next in the line of this highly advanced techology is the “Human Robot”. It will likely be called something different, but it will basically be an advanced form of robotics coupled with the latest versions of A.I. technology.

Before I get into the use, and the things that this present version of A.I. can do, I want to give you some general feedback from the technology experts.

There are two schools of thought. The first is that this technology will advance, and that it will be the best thing since sliced bread – or the Kardasians. I’ll take the sliced bread, toasted with a little honey (no, not a Kardasian), on the bread.

The second school considers this technology dangerous. any guesses why?

Well, this stuff is advancing by leaps and bounds. When, not if, they can give this techology the ability to become self-aware, then there is the situation of whether or not it becomes human, or at least a sentiant being that is aware of itself and its surroundings.

Some think it can’t happen, others say it’s only a matter of time.

If your computer becomes self-aware, then it should be able to understand exactly what you are doing with it. It would be able to give you input – without you asking for it. It would be like having someone else in the room talking to you, giving you guidance, or possibly giving you grief.

What if it doesn’t want to be turned off? What if it doesn’t want to work on what you want to work? (self-aware remember).

Can things go this far? Will this technology be safe? Can it really be made to be self-aware, but not have a will of its own?

I guess time will tell. In the meantime, it does give you (and me) something to consider.

 

Artificial Intelligence – what can it do now?

In the first portion of this writing, I alluded to a few of the many ways

that A.I. is being used. Facebook (so I have read) has bean using this technology for a number of years to stay ahead of the Social Media game.

Many of the “Big Gun” manufacturers have also been using A.I. to bring in additional profits. Now it’s your turn.

Do you know that all of these “I’m Nancy, can I help you”, or “I’m Jeremy, how can I help” images, or similar iteratins that pop up on so many websites, are using some form of artificial intelligence to run the program?

This technology has been around for a while – but now it has been made even more advanced, and available to you.

Be Amazed

I’m sure that you have heard of this technology, and may have tried it, or even be using it.

If you are using this technology, can you remember the very first time

putting in information and then being awe struck at the results of your question? For most people “Wow” is what comes to their minds.

Of course when you use it a little, you do begin to realize that it does have its shortcomings.

As incredible as this technology appears to be, it is still comforting to know that humans will not be replaced any time in the very near future.

Who knows about next month!

A.I. itself admits that it has not yet come into its own

The following is from a question that I asked in ChatGpt:

The question is:  What are some of the most important things to understand about AI when using it? I would have worded it differently,but it was one of the first times using the software.

Here is the answer:

1. AI is not perfect: While AI has come a long way in recent years, it is not infallible. It can make mistakes and errors, just like humans.

2. AI needs data: AI systems require large amounts of data to learn and improve their performance. Without enough data, AI systems may not be able to make accurate predictions or decisions.

3. Bias can be a problem: AI systems can be biased if they are trained on biased data or if the algorithms used to create them are biased. It’s important to be aware of this and take steps to mitigate bias when using AI.

4. AI is not a replacement for human judgment: While AI can be a powerful tool, it should not be relied on as a replacement for human judgment. Human oversight and input is still necessary to ensure the best outcomes.

5. AI is constantly evolving: AI technology is constantly evolving, which means that best practices and techniques for using it may change over time. It’s important to stay up-to-date with the latest developments in AI to get the most out of it.

Okay, let’s get into using an A.I. program.

GIGO

In case you are not familiar with this term, it means
Garbage In – Garbage Out, and has been used in the world of

programming for quite some time.

If a programmer does not know what they are doing, or if they

don’t check everything, and test out their “Masterpiece” program, then
it may be that the program itself is “Garbage”, or has elements of it that

don’t make sense to a computer.

In non-computer terms, GIGO simply means that

“You get what you ask for” – sometimes.

In General

When you ask AI to do something, you will often find that it spouts back a lot of superficial information. It may sound good to you, but if you are knowledgeable about the subject, then you will immediately realize that what you are reading is superficial for the most part.

Unless you are an expert on a subject, you will find that most of your AI answers will not be specific. The logical thing to do is to get more specific – right?  Well, maybe.

Again, remember you don’t know much about the subject.

I recently spoke with a friend of mine who coaches gymnastics.

He used a ChatGpt program for a particular purpose, with a particular focus. What he got back was specific and to the point.

Most people who know little about gymnastics would, first, not know how to ask an in-depth question, let alone understand the meaning of much of the answer to the question.

Ask yourself, “Do I know enough to ask a relevant question?

I think that this is the biggest mistake that most people make in general. I you are sketchy on anything you want to write, or talk about,
then it is good policy to actually do some research first so that you have

at least a basic idea of what you need.

For instance, let me stick with gymnastics since I mentioned it earlier.

Getting back to A.I., you might ask something like “What are the 10 hardest moves in gymnastics.

Now that might seem general, and in a way it is, but there are many events. There are women’s events (bars, floor, beam, and vault), men’s events (6 of them- rings, high-bar, floor, pommel horse, vault, and parallel bars).  Do you ask about men’s, or women’s events? Rings or beam?

There are also more events such as acrobatics with two or more participants.

Who could forget the tumbling and trampoline. All of these are sanctioned by the governing gymnastics association, and they hold competitions for each event.

My friend asked something like: “What are a good set of practice drills for the balance beam for girls level seven junior olympic competition?

As you can see this is quite specific. He told me it offered up a surprisingly good list of activities, complete with the appropriate names of the skills.

The point here is that the more you know, the better will be your results. That said, the more you know, the less you should have to rely on something like an artificial intelligence program for answers.

Bottom line on the A.I. questions that you need to ask is that you need to be specific. Even then you need to be aware of grammer, syntax, and how the text reads. It often sounds pretty good, but you are (should be) the expert. ALWAYS check for accuracy of content.

I have run into the issue of getting too specific, and I get back much of the same information (and wording) as in previous tries and results. Remember that you may have to re-word things in different ways in order to get the correct result for which you are searching.

Often the answer will be similar, but not worded the same, and you are getting basically the same information packaged slightly different.

If you use A.I. then be aware that all is not flowers and sunshine.

There are a lot of storm clouds that you need to steer away from. Just

don’t look up too late, and realize that someone, or something has rained on your parade.

Just one last thing, not all of the stuff coming out of artificial intelligence software is clean. By clean I mean that you need to be aware of copywriting infringement which is another reason to get your ideas, and do some re-writing.

Unless you are using a program that guarantees the results will not contain any plagiarized material, my best suggestion is to

run things through some programs that checks for infringement, or simply

re-write things into you own words and personality. I personally suggest the re-write as there will be no question it comes from you.

One thing to keep in mind when purchasing anything. There are some people who will be using A.I. exclusively, even though they know nothing about a subject. Obviously, this could be dangerous, or at least a waste of time and money if you purchase information online.

Be sure that the person(s) you buy from has experience, and background in the subject they are promoting, and hopefully, that they are actually doing the proper due diligence necessary to keep the information up-to-date and correct. Now, more than ever it is “Buyer Beware”.

 

 

Artificial Intellingence and imaging.

A.I. can produce some really nice imaging, but it is not the same as using
it for writing. Let me re-phrase. You still have to input information, but
what, and how you set up your input is a bit different.

I have written a tutorial on using A.I., complete with
images and explanations. It is short and to the point.

Sign in below to get your free copy within seconds!

Fears, Phobias, and Failures – why most people don’t get what they want

As an extremely powerful emotion, fear can have a significant impact on an your personal performance, goal attainment, self-confidence, self-image, earning ability, and a multitude of other things.

When you are afraid of something, you experience a combination of physical, emotional, and mental trauma that can severely impair your ability to perform at your best, or at all.

Fear can sap you of your confidence and will. Fear obviously increases your stress levels, and can put you into a negative mindset. Of course all or any blows to you physically, emotionally, or mentally will inhibit your ability to achieve your goals. However, and all too often, personal issues will throw us off track and what has, and is working is disregarded in favor of things that are seemingly less painful, or fear producing.

Phobias are often disregarded as insignificant. Yet, a phobia can be as major as fearing a deadly outcome, or just a minor distraction.

Either way, the cost is, at the very least, efficiency and time, not to mention the added stress that you didn’t need. 

One of the most significant ways that fear can impair your efforts, and performance, is through a lack of confidence.

Fear can cause you to doubt your abilities, and second-guess your decisions, leading to a lack of confidence in yourself. This lack of confidence can then translate into your performance decline as you may not believe you are still capable of achieving your goal(s).

For example, if you are a student who is afraid of failing an important test, you may become too anxious to concentrate during times when you are studying for your test, thereby leading to possibly poorer test performance. In this case, fear can directly impact your ability to study effectively, and may ultimately contribute to your test anxiety, and poorer grades.

Additionally, fear can increase stress levels, which can impair personal performance. When individuals are afraid of flunking out of school, your body will release stress hormones that can cause physical symptoms such as increased heart rate, sweating, and muscle tension. These physical symptoms can make it difficult for you to focus on your tasks, which in turn can lead to your decreased performance, and further hinder your ability to study and raise your grades.

Another example is if an athlete who is afraid of losing a competition, you may become so stressed that you are unable to perform your best. In this scenario, fear directly impacts your ability to give your best showing.

Finally, fear can create a negative mindset, which will often impair your personal performance. When you are afraid, you may focus on the potential negative outcomes of what you do rather than focusing on the potential positive outcomes. If you cannot defeat this negative mindset, it can further lead to a lack of motivation and will inevitably turn into a lack of effort, again causing poor performance, and poor results.

As an employee, if you are afraid of making a mistake in your work, you may become so fixated on avoiding further mistakes that you fail to take the risks, or make the innovations necessary to show  the initiative looked for to be promoted. Once again, this can lead to decreased performance and self-confidence. 

If you are in management, then you likely have deadlines, meetings, and presentations that your job requires. These can often be stressful – especially if your preparation is in doubt.

Handling stress may often seem like a prerequisite for your job.

When you are under stress, it is usually due to being insecure about yourself and your ability to get things done not only on time, but also how well you do the projects.

Certainly, fear can have a significant impact on your personal and business performance. Your ability to achieve goals and further your achievement efforts are directly related to how you handle your fears.

Summing things up.

Fear can:

=> Undermine your self-confidence

=> Increase your stress levels

=> Cause you to develop a negative mindset 

=> Reduce your productivity and progress

=> Reduce your chances of achieving your goals

All of which can obviously hinder your ability to perform at your highest levels.

By recognizing and addressing your fears, you will not only better understand what causes your fears, but managing and eliminating your fears will increase your efficiency and self-confidence.

As people in business, it is important to manage how we think. How we think translates to what we do. What we do is how we run our business, and our lives.

Your life – your business – your decisions. What personal fears are you willing to face?

P.S. Here is an informative listing of many of the various phobias out there.
This is likely not an exhaustive list of all phobias, as I would bet that by
the time you started reading this post, until now, someone has come
up with another phobia or two.

Here is the link to the list. It is really interesting to find out what people fear.
Get your phobias here.

  The Artificial Intelligence Conundrum

The Hubub
Quickly, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is information that has
been computer generated. Sounds kind of boring right?

Wrong! This new technology is nothing less than amazing.

Using AI you can write poetry, create art, you can even
have it do our homework (careful teach).

“Teach” – Funny You Should Mention It

Where we are at now is that there is going to be a huge number of
people who are going to use Artificial Intelligence (AI from here on out)
to write their emails, blog posts, and create ebooks and courses – on
everything. These folks will not know their butt from a hole-in-the-ground
about the subject. It will be totally and completely done with some
sophisticated computer program.

You might even be using this new (which it isn’t) technology.

The reason I say it isn’t is that if you have ever “Googled” anything,
then you have used AI. This is just much more sophisticated as
programs go.

How It Works
It’s pretty simple. You tell the program what you want, and it
gives you what you asked for.

The information that it comes up with usually sounds pretty good,
because the AI programs do quite a good job following the
rules of good writing (mostly).

If as a marketer, or content developer, you know nothing about the subject
you are going to write about, then you are not only short changing yourself,
but also your readers.

Yeah, you might be right – but so what?
Unfortunately, that will be the attitude of many online marketers
and content developers.

“If it sounds good, and people buy it, what’s the difference if
it’s garbage or not?”  – anonymous marketer

Thankfully, (aside from myself) there are many reputable people
out there who are actually trying to look out for YOUR best interest,
and want to give you the best information they can from their
education and experience.

Bottom line is that I care, and so do many other information providers
who are in business online, or are more hobbyists just trying to
inform you about things.

Here’s the “WHAT”
Integrity aside, don’t you want the best information that you can get
when you search online? Well, so does everyone else. That said,
you also want experience and personal help if you need it.

Information on almost anything is already out there (that is where
AI collects its information), so for many things you can just use
your favorite search engine.

Why do people like YouTube so much? Seeing someone who
is either demonstrating what you want to learn, or talking
about something from experience, training, or education
is something that allows you to have more confidence
in the information you are receiving.

Simply using Artifical Intelligence to get or give you information
does not generate the same level of trust and confidence
as a more personalized level of information will provide.

You go to Google and get frustrated because you find the
same (often exactly the same) information on site after site
that comes up from your search. So, you finally find a site
that seems different.

You click a couple of links, and what you read seems logical,
and has a slightly different take than all of that plagiarized
information that you have been reading.

The next thing you find yourself doing is signing up for
some free information, possibly paying money for some
additional training.

So, lwhy did you decide to sign up, and perhaps spend
your money? What made the difference?

=> Was it different information?

=> Was it that the site was set apart from the information
that was obviously the same, and was just copied and
pasted by other sites?

=> Was it that the information seemed more “Real” to you?

=> Maybe you really, really liked what you read, saw, or heard?

=> Could be you are/were just desperate

Whatever the reason(s), Artificial Intelligence is going to
change a lot of things. It will sound good, maybe even
will be good (to a point), but it will not be able to evaluate
correctly the specific problems that you may be having.

Proof in the pudding

How do I know these problems with AI exist?
When I asked AI software for the pro’s and Con’s
of using AI, here is what the software stated…

The Pro’s are that it is a rapidly advancing technology. Here is what
AI said about itself its negatives. . .

“AI text generation is a rapidly advancing field with many potential applications, however, its current inadequacies limit its effectiveness and accuracy. AI text generation cannot replicate or replace the creativity, nuance and sentiment of text produced by humans, which makes it a less than suitable solution for certain scenarios. In addition, ethical considerations also arise due to the inherent biases present in the algorithms of AI text generation.”

For general information AI can give you a lot of good basic context from
which you can get ideas, and create from them. This will save a lot of time
for many people.

When someone who knows little or nothing about a subject tries to create and
promote educational material about which they are completely clueless, then
there is a major disconnect between what is important, ethical, and possibly even legal.

I am trained and educated in sport and performance psychology. I also have over
45 years of coaching experience, both in the classroom and out.

If I were to ask AI to write a course to sell about how to be a heart surgeon, then I would be doing a major disservice to my readers, general public, any customer who actually bought
this as a product, and also to myself.

Only by writing about what you know well will you be able to eliminate
flaws in the material, put things into context for your reader, and offer
any necessary feedback for your readers as well as ongoing future help.

If you are using , or thinking about using AI for your business or otherwise,
you might think that you are actually getting the answers that you want.

This is really misleading, and not necessarily effective in giving the type
of feedback and information that readers and customers really need.

When I write about a subject, I often go to actual research papers that
have been published on the specific subject I am researching. By doing this
I can evaluate how much information is logical, credible, and worth passing
on to you.

Artificial Intelligence is not able to evaluate, or determine what is relevant
to any specific situation. If you have the knowledge, experience, and education,
you will be able to make these determinations.

Bottom line, ________ be careful if you use AI for anything. Be sure that AI is
suitable for what you are using it for, and if the results will be effective for
your end person or result.

Also, be very wary about buying coaching, training materials, or other
complex information packages being sold. Make certain that the person
selling the information is not someone who is selling as an “Affiliate”.
If you do not have the choice to have personal access with the person
who has developed the information, then run-don’t walk, away from
these offers.

I am always available at least by email, but now more than ever I suggest
a personal phone call, or skype call where you can actually speak with
me and ask questions.

If you haven’t signed up for my emails, then do so now (at right ==>).
I will be giving you the opportunity to talk with me personally.
The details will be in the email.

Bob