Suddenly we find ourselves dealing with artificial intelligence. Although we do not yet understand what the consequences of the introduction of this new technology will be, we find ourselves in the not-so-easy situation of experiencing unplanned coexistence.
The question to ask at this point is how to handle this unexpected guest?
Impromptu, the book written by Reid Hoffman on and with ChatGPT 4.0, gives us many practical insights.
Before discussing the book, however, it is worth dwelling on the author. Although he is not a particularly well-known figure to Italian audiences, Reid Hoffman is one of Silicon Valley's most prominent entrepreneurs. In addition to co-founding LinkedIn and Paypal, he has been a funder of many successful startups. Including OpenAI the initially nonprofit company that set out on the ambitious project of developing an artificial general intelligence (AGI) and then introduced ChatGPT 3.5 and 4.0 to the market. This brief digression about the author was necessary because the book focuses on a kind of dialogue between the author himself and ChatGPT 4.0.
Inspired by Italo Calvino's impossible interviews with Nehanderthal man and aired on RadioRai, Hoffman questions ChatGPT about the possible effects artificial intelligence could have on work and our society.
The book includes questions posed by Hoffman and answers generated by artificial intelligence usually followed by an attempt at synthesis.
Through this tight dialogue, the author gives us an interesting insight into how to use this technology. AI can be a very useful tool to help humans think by considering new points of view.
One example? Hoffman asks ChatGPT what the impact of artificial intelligence might be on the creative professions. Although the author is convinced that this technology could help creatives make new works, ChatGPT seems to be more cautious and often warns Hoffman in his answers about the possible negative impacts associated with replacing many creative professions. In addition, ChatGPT's response highlights how artificial intelligence could make the difference even more pronounced between a few great artists capable of creatively using this new tool and an undistinguished mass of creatives who will have a harder time finding visibility and recognition.
However, we know how artificial intelligence is still an imperfect tool whose answers must always be evaluated very carefully. There is no shortage of occasions in the book where it is Hoffman who has to press ChatGPT by asking it to revise some answers because they are trivial and reductive.
The takeaway from reading the book is that the expertise and judgment of humans is still crucial and not replaceable by artificial intelligence. At least for the time being.
This review was written without the help of artificial intelligence.