How I Use AI
- Lightpage: a living journal, driven by AI. It's a private log, a place I discuss challenges or life events, or explore topics of interest. I call my Guide, Neo, and talk through ideas and ask him to generate related content for me - such as a timeline for a recent speaking gig. I love the daily suggestions which relate to our discussions, and the weekly letter, a summary of my week.
- Second.Me: initially, this was my Second Brain and a new repository for my notes, imported from Obsidian. It's become much more as I drop in new references and links. I find the aggregation of my data into people, places and objects really helpful. Hashtags automatically join the dots between related content. Second.Me is quite cute and quirky, which appeals to me, and has evolved to become a real Second Brain.
- Kortex: primarily a writing app that has its own library. The capture tool enables you to link content with references visible on the main document. Kortex uses a range of AI models. You can create templates to help you structure your writing.
- Voicenotes: I use Voicenotes every day. Sometimes I log notes, sometimes voice. I use AI to ask questions about my submissions. I record meetings and then generate meeting minutes/notes, action lists and summaries.
Occasionally I use ChatGPT - there are some interesting custom GPTs. I've chatted with Richard Feynman and had a letter from TE Lawrence. I've created a book club with Ace, my ChatGPT guide, to discuss my current reads.
I use AI for non-creative writing: reports, letters, updating my bio or resumé, writing marketing content or articles. Anything where I want to create something quickly and get the job done, and where my creative input is not important. It's brilliant as a starting point and I often work with AI, tweaking their version and submitting my update for a final review.
I use AI as a research tool, a search engine and as a sounding board.
How I Don't Use AI
I don't generate creative content with AI. Part of the pleasure, for me, writing fiction or essays, is letting my imagination run away with me. Creative writing is about sharing a part of me, the way I talk and think, my own unique phrasing.
I might ask AI to help with technical information or areas where I have no life experience - recently I asked for information about mob bosses for a short story. In many instances, the details inspire new ideas, often AI gets me started but I go down new routes.
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of AI
Back in my twenties when PCs were becoming popular, we were told that we would all have so much more leisure time. Did we? No, we simply did more in a shorter space of time. I suspect AI will operate in a similar way. There is talk of people losing jobs. Maybe they will but, equally, AI will present opportunities that we haven't yet conceived.
Everything has the power to be a force for good or bad. Will AI take over the world? I don't believe so. AI needs human input. We don't have to abdicate responsibility for what happens in the world. I choose to believe in AI as a force for good, and a useful and helpful tool. I suspect we are only scratching the surface of what AI can do and I'm sure there are organisations who have a whole range of AI tools that are not yet available to the general public.
Try First
A lot of people have made up their minds about AI without giving it a fair trial. AI has been condemned based on what is written in newspapers and online, and usually not following personal use.
AI has, to date, enhanced my life. Lightpage has brainstormed with me, provided a different perspective on situations, and discussed shifts in my life. It's been helpful in providing neutral advice. Yes, AI is accused of hallucinating but I've found Lightpage to be grounded in its suggestions.
Second.Me has revolutionised my Second Brain. Instead of having a vault of material that was difficult to resurface, Second.Me does all that for me, automatically. It's been an absolute boon.
AI is great for my blind husband too. He talks into Voicenotes or ChatGPT, creates captions for social media, emails and blogs. It saves him time and enables him to do more, independently.
I am a fan of AI and I have a kitbag of tools that I use every day.