Recently in this blog, I mentioned that I’d taken a class in AI, wanting to learn how to use artificial intelligence tools in a safe, responsible, and smart way. Several people replied to the blog asking for more info about the class, so I invited the teacher to join us for a Zoom gathering this week. Please note a date correction – we’ll be meeting this Wednesday (8/13) at 12pm ET (9am PT). Details are below.

There has been plenty of media coverage about the power and perils of AI, which reminds me of when the internet became available in the early 90s (anyone remember 14.4k modems?). Back then, there was fear and fascination, too, and for good reason. We can see how the internet has completely changed our lives for better and for worse. AI’s influence will be even greater. And the best defense is knowledge and an open mind.

At this point, most people are using AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, or Bard as a search engine to quickly find what they need. Once you understand its capabilities, however, you can use it to significantly reduce the time required for more complex tasks, giving you more time for your life. I like that idea.

For example, I’ve used ChatGPT to craft a help-wanted ad that not only contained the required skills and experience but was also designed to attract the right personality for the job. I had been procrastinating on it for weeks, and ChatGPT produced a terrific version in less than a minute.

I’ve had it compile data into usable forms. For instance, I’ve asked it to take chat transcripts from our Zoom gatherings, remove all personal info, extraneous symbols, and duplicate entries, and then categorize the data into easy-to-read formats to be posted on our website.

I’ve had it review legal documents and identify questions to ask, as well as ways to negotiate the terms I desire. And I’ve also used it for family tasks like researching hotels, flights, and activities, and crafting detailed itineraries for trips. These tasks would have taken me hours to complete and were done by ChatGPT in minutes, sometimes even seconds.

While I’m cautious about the use of AI for many reasons, I’m also a technology enthusiast. And I’m passionate about learning. In my wisdom years, I intend to take advantage of this new technology to both enhance my work and life (and to keep my brain sharp). This is what I did in the late 1990s when the Internet became easily accessible to nontechnical users. I started a blog in 1999 with 15 subscribers at a time when people thought I was crazy. I hosted “telegatherings” using new conference call technology to interview interesting authors and leaders. These gatherings are reminiscent of the podcasts we have today. I had software built in the early 2000s that connected people all over the world in Life Makeover Groups. Back then, I let curiosity override concern, and it paid off. I continued to learn and applied my knowledge to make a positive impact on the world.

In our wisdom years, it’s wise to feed our curiosity instead of our fear. To that end, I’ve asked my friend and colleague Christine Fuchs to join us this Wednesday, 8/13, at 12pm ET (9am PT) for a Zoom gathering to talk about AI. Christine is a terrific teacher and she’ll show you how to use these tools to your advantage. If you registered for prior Zoom gatherings, you’ll automatically receive a link. If not, you can do so here.

If you can’t make it on Wednesday at noon ET, please don’t worry. We’ll record the gathering and post it on our website later in the week.

Love,

Cheryl