Insights on Shortcuts Everywhere in the AI Era
The previous article “In AI Era: Everyone is a CEO” mentioned that GPT creates shortcuts for various industries. To go fast, you have to learn how to use GPT. AI has many applications, including translation, writing, information retrieval, programming, and problem-solving. Someone asked ChatGPT how to legally earn the most money in the shortest time with USD100 (and he would follow AI’s suggestions and put them into practice), ChatGPT suggested setting up a website to sell environmentally friendly products. For those interested in the development of the story, please check out the Tweet.
The above are just some examples. To know how to apply AI, one may first determine the destination and then use ChatGPT to create shortcuts.
People have both inertia and laziness. When a certain method is effective, they may not continue to search for better options. For example, when converting ebook formats using software that has been successful in the past, if it suddenly stops working, the first instinct may be to fix it to keep using the same method rather than finding a new alternative. It took me a while to finally ask ChatGPT for other ways to achieve the same goal. And, of course, there are other methods that are simpler and faster!
The first insight is that if we want to take shortcuts, we need to be flexible and always remember that the methods we know are just some of the options, not necessarily the best ones. After all, our knowledge is limited, while the ocean of learning is boundless, and no one can compare to the vast knowledge of AI. As time goes by, we need to constantly ask ChatGPT for different ways to achieve our goals.
The second insight is that we need to develop agile thinking and the ability to express ourselves well verbally and precisely. GPT is capable of writing at an incredible speed. If AI can do it, there’s no reason for us to type or write ourselves, which is too slow. Google Docs has a voice input feature, which can improve efficiency even further. (Well, my mind doesn’t work fast enough, so I’m currently typing this article instead of using voice input.) It’s crucial to think fast and express ourselves well because AI is fast. To keep up with AI’s speed and efficiency, we need to increase our own speed in giving commands, or else we will become a bottleneck.
To develop these skills, the international charity organization Toastmasters is a great option for training in public speaking. In addition to formal speeches, Toastmasters also trains participants in table topics, where they learn to communicate impromptu on given topics. Participants learn to tell engaging and interesting stories on the spot.
The third insight is that we don’t necessarily need to be able to write code, but we need to understand the logic behind it and know how to make modifications. GPT can write code instantly, but humans need to be able to identify and correct errors and ensure that the code meets the required standards. There are many relevant resources available online, but it takes time to learn. It’s similar to how an auditor doesn’t need to do bookkeeping, but they need to understand the accounting logic and know what constitutes reasonable or problematic accounts.
We should start exploring and utilizing the shortcuts created by AI as soon as possible, or we risk falling behind. Take the early days of YouTube, for example. People couldn’t imagine that besides uploading personal life videos, it could also popularize program production and open up new media markets, creating internet celebrities out of ordinary people. By the time everyone realizes the potential and joins in, the ‘shortcut’ is already crowded.
Shortcuts are generally narrow and winding with few people, which can lead to potential doubts along the way. Traditional paths, on the other hand, are usually wide and bustling, with a clear destination in sight and many people traveling along them.
（This article was translated by ChatGPT)
