August 24, 2024 – Issue #3
When AI was first starting to really hit the news, I heard people say they were frightened of it.
It was going to take over the world.
Humans would become obsolete.
Well, some of you may not realize that AI has been around for quite some time now, dating back to its initial development in the 1950s.
Here are some facts I find fascinating:
- The first widely recognized chatbot, ELIZA, was created in 1966 MIT computer scientist Joseph Weizenbaum.
- The pioneering driverless car prototype was developed by German scientist Ernst Dickmanns in the late 1980s.
- In 1996, IBM introduced “Deep Blue,” a chess-playing computer system. Although it initially won only one game out of six against world champion Gary Kasparov, it triumphed in a rematch the following year.
- Kismet, a social robot capable of recognizing and simulating human emotions, was realized in 2000.
- NASA deployed AI to Mars in 2004 with the Spirit and Opportunity rovers. These AI systems enabled the rovers to make real-time decisions and navigate the planet’s rugged terrain.
- Apple introduced Siri, a virtual assistant, in 2011, followed by Amazon’s Alexa in 2014. Both assistants excel in natural language processing, providing spoken answers to queries.
- Sophia, a human-like robot created by Hong Kong-based Hanson Robotics in 2016, impressed audiences with her ability to express emotions, tell jokes, and engage in conversation. She even made an appearance on The Tonight Show.
Fast forward to recent developments: In 2022, we were introduced to ChatGPT, followed by GPT-4 in 2023. GPT-4 stands out as the most advanced AI yet, with its natural language processing capabilities. From crafting resumes to conducting research and composing emails, GPT-4 can assist with various tasks and even seek clarification to provide more detailed answers.
Having personally used GPT, I find it incredibly helpful, knowledgeable, and enjoyable to interact with. While it occasionally gets the odd thing wrong (don’t we all!), it will only improve with time. AI is here to stay and will likely integrate more deeply into our lives over time. Rather than fearing it, we should embrace its potential to simplify and enhance both our personal and professional endeavors. While AI may never replace human interaction, it undoubtedly has the capacity to complement and augment our capabilities.
FACT: I used ChatGPT to improve the above article. After researching the facts and drafting the entire piece, I consulted GPT for feedback and asked for its opinion. It provided a rewrite, but upon reviewing it, I felt it didn’t quite capture my voice. So, I requested another revision to align more closely with my style. The result is the finished article above—authored entirely by me but polished with GPT’s assistance to sound even better.
Quote
“A virtual assistant is the ultimate timesaving and stress-reducing investment.”
Tim Ferriss
About Me
Virtual Assistant, Administrative Professional, wife, dog mom, in no particular order. In my spare time, I love to learn about new things (I am forever taking a class on something), read, and do genealogy research.
I live in Warman, SK with my husband and three dogs.
Below is a picture of Madisyn, one of my co-workers, working very hard!
