The Key to Productivity in the AI Era? It Might Be You
Perhaps the true catalyst for change in our work lives isn't just AI; it might be our own perspective.
John Maynard Keynes once prophesied a future of leisure, where technological advancement – science and compound interest – would slash our work hours. This was in 1930.
As we stand in the age of Artificial Intelligence 94 years later, this vision is tantalizingly close, yet still so far. So far, because the question isn't just about what AI can do for us, but also what we have to demand for ourselves.
Can we redefine success, not by the hours we spend at work, but by the fulfillment we glean from it?
Can we redefine productivity, not by the hours we spend at work, but by the inventiveness we use to solve for work? By the value we create? What is the real value difference between transporting a group of children in an aircraft designed by engineers and accompanying a group of children through kindergarten as an educator for 2 years?
This shift in mindset, coupled with AI's prowess, could unlock the door to a balanced life where productivity is a means to an end, not the end itself.
In this new era, it’s not about AI taking over our jobs, but about us taking control of our time which is limited by the death.
A collaborative, thoughtful approach to integrating AI in our work life holds the key to not just working less but living more. Because life limited only by our time – yes I’ll say it: “death is inevitable.”
Or are we too afraid of falling into an existential crisis? Are those who make our policies afraid that we might fall into an existential crisis?
Thus for the first time since his creation man will be faced with his real, his permanent problem-how to use his freedom from pressing economic cares, how to occupy the leisure, which science and compound interest will have won for him, to live wisely and agreeably and well.
— John Maynard Keynes, Economic Possibilities for our Grandchildren (1930)
What is the most exciting Leap from GPT-4 to GPT-5?
One year after GPT-4 was released we are all excited for a monumental leap forward with GPT-5.
People who have close ties to or are investors in OpenAI seem to be traveling to San Franscico right now as their Twitter status updates show. Is GPT-5 close to its public release?
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, shared his excitement for the most recent podcast with Lex Fridman.
"I'm excited about being smarter," Sam remarked, highlighting the holistic improvement of GPT-5 over its predecessor.
Altman emphasizes that the forthcoming iteration isn't just about isolated advancements. Instead, it's "getting better across the board."
I'm excited about being smarter.\ The really special thing happening is that it's not getting better in one area and worse at others.\ It's getting better across the board.\ — Sam Altman
Lex Fridman eloquently suggests that the true magic lies in the notion of being "heard and understood" by an AI.
He hopes that GPT-5 will increase the moments of "intellectual connection," that mirror these magical moments of connection one feels when another person just "gets you."
This is insofar fascinating as Lex highlights that it isn't solely about raw intelligence or the mechanical processing of language. But the moments when the AI can grasp the deeper questions behind your questions, providing responses that make you feel profoundly understood, even when articulated imperfectly, in the way only a close friend or colleague only grasps one.
…it's just such a good feeling when it got you like what you're thinking about. And I look forward to it getting me even better.\ — Lex Fridman
Both Sam and Lex share the excitement for an AI that does more than just compute or predict. An AI that can truly understand you, that can truly "get" you, making the interaction with it feel more like a dialogue with a thoughtful partner rather than strings of unsatisfactory query-response transactions.
As Fridman aptly puts it, "all of us love being understood, heard, and understood."
You feel like there's an understanding in your crappy formulated prompts that you're doing, that it grasps the deeper question behind the question that you posed. Yeah, I'm also excited by that.\ — Lex Fridman
The anticipation surrounding GPT-5 centers on this very concept—AI that not only hears but understands and responds in a way that feels deeply connected to our thoughts and intentions.
With Altman’s remarks, that the enhancements are not confined to a single aspect but extends across the board the evolution from GPT-4 to GPT-5 promises AI interactions getting more empathetic, more intuitive, and more aligned with a human-like experience and not just a technical upgrade.
The Best Startup Job Ad in the World
Arguably the best job ad in the world? Comes from Extropic in a very straightforward way.
"Yes, but Bastian, a sexy startup has no shortage of skilled specialists".
It's not a sexy ad either.
Because, curious people want to work on interesting problems - not on boring tasks that a computer could do but you refused to invest in.
And how do you spark curiosity?
By making an engaging video.
A good video has nothing to do with effects, VFX and SFX, or quick cuts that make you and your applicants feel nauseated as if you've just been on a rollercoaster.
A good video needs a compelling theme.
A theme that captivates its target audience AND people who think "Oh, Charlie might be interested in this topic and they probably haven't heard of it yet so I am going to tell them about it…"
"That's an exciting topic!", even I thought to myself, who understands nothing of what the founders are discussing. Even though we were once invited by the researchers at Fraunhofer IAF to find out first-hand how research is being conducted at the bleeding-edge of III-V semiconductors. So yes, I may know a bit more about semiconductors than the average person on the interwebs. But I didn't study physics, computer science nor electrical engineering.
“A good video is all about an interesting topic told well and without cliches,” as Niko likes to say.
How do you make a great video?
IMHO: The easiest way is to simply explain it.
Explain it to an interested layperson.
Just like Guillaume Verdon and Trevor McCourt explain it to Garry Tan. Garry is asking these questions that we’d like to ask Guillaume and Trevor ourselves. And questions that the right applicant might be able to ask them very soon themselves.
The entire video leads with “what ground-breaking thing is going on here?”
Not the fact that they're going from stealth startup to launch.
Not the fact that Verdon’s anonymous X account had been "doxed" by the New York Times.
But the fact that they were able to keep my attention for 10 minutes, despite it quickly became clear that it was a recruitment video, makes it... arguably the best job ad in the world.
Last week I talked about the best product demo in the world.
This week I talked about the best job ad in the world.
If you don't want to miss anything "best in the world", subscribe now and click the like button.
Creating a Custom GPT Phonetic Alphabet
Creating a Custom GPT: See how easy it is to create a Custom GPT yourself!
Taking the use case of a phonetic spelling application as an example to create a Custom GPT that you can use as your personal assistant.
BTW, you know what a fun prompt for the “Phonetic Speller” Custom GPT is?
Do you say "gif" or "gif"?
It told me that “[…] the creator of the GIF format, Steve Wilhite, has stated that the correct pronunciation is with a soft "g" (/dʒɪf/), like "jiff".”
I guess the longstanding debate over its pronunciation settled then?
Can somebody please fact check that?
For the entire instructions see Custom GPT documentation here.
Watch the video on YouTube and subscribe for more builds.
YC Partner Lightcone Podcast
Deep Inside the Minds of YC Leadership
Listening to the new YC Partner Podcast feels like being a fly on the wall within the pulsating heart of Silicon Valley.
It's as if you're privy to the very essence of the moment, tuning into conversations that resonate with the immediacy of the now.
The discussions unfurl topics that have likely been thoroughly explored in similar circles, hinting at a familiarity and depth only insiders possess.
Yes, the dialogue is moderated, and to the participants, it might tread over well-worn paths.
Yet, what captivates us are the underlying principles they navigate, principles that echo Paul Graham's essays and the inevitable intersection of business minds and administrative forces—highlighting a path to success that doesn't always necessitate their early involvement. Success, they imply, can be as simple as creating something remarkable.
YC has a long standing history shared their knowledge not just in essays and YC Startupschool and Garry Tan becoming a YouTuber.
But this time is different. It feels much more like in the present, they are talking about the now and the principles are the underlying truths, not the stars of the show. It seems they have become a media company not just a school where they as the professors graduate their students with a multi-million dollar evaluation on Demo Day.
This essence of being that proverbial fly, listening in on conversations that flow as naturally to them as breathing, offers a unique perspective.
It's exhilarating to be part of a dialogue that embodies the optimism of a generational shift, the dawn of the AI Age.
This confidence, this shared optimism, provides a comforting reassurance that my own aspirations aren't misplaced, even if they seem to be navigating the future with a six-month lead.
Introduction to Large Language Models
This talk by AI researcher Andrej Karpathy is the busy person's intro to LLMs and a great introduction for anyone who wants to understand LLMs, “the core technical component behind systems like ChatGPT, Claude, and Bard.”
Andrej Karpathy's talk "Intro to Large Language Models" provides a comprehensive understanding of the current state and future potential of LLMs.
He emphasizes the models' simplicity in structure yet complexity in capability, highlights the expansion beyond text generation, underscores the importance of security, and anticipates future developments in AI that are critical for informed business decisions.
Marc Andreessen with Rick Rubin on Tetragrammaton
Notes on Marc Andreessen with Rick Rubin on Tetragrammaton
Marc Andreessen had a key role in the development of the early internet by working on both the MOSAIC browser and the Netscape browser.
With Generative AI at the forefront of a similar technological revolution like the commercial internet
This is a very well rounded discussion between 2 titans of what one could consider an opposite spectrum. This makes for very interesting question by Rick Rubin, those you were not smart enough to ask but really make Marc Andreessen tell interesting aspects.
If you truly want to understand what makes Silicon Valley tick and how technology shapes our world this is will be the best 3 hours spend in 2024.
Happy to discuss with you afterwards!
On Startups
- Founders tend to make similar mistakes, with the most common being internal dissension within the team. The pressures of money, fame, and high stress can reveal the true nature of individuals, leading to conflicts and mistakes within the team.
- The success of a start-up depends on whether the team can stay cohesive and trusting through difficult times. If the team is not able to stay integrated, even small cracks can magnify and potentially destroy the company.
On Corporations
- Corporate executives have the authority to prioritize long-term brand value over short-term profits and are increasingly considering the impact of their decisions on a broader scale.
- Businesses that can afford to spend money on marketing likely have a good product, as it indicates they are making money and have a healthy budget for advertising.
- Companies face pressure to grow in order to add new valuable features and capabilities for users, but achieving optimal growth rate can be challenging.
On Technological Change
- The tension between valuing tradition and embracing innovation is a natural aspect of human society. Technology not only changes the tech industry but also disrupts the social hierarchy and status of people.
- Entrepreneurial personalities require resources, money, and partners to realize their ideas. Criticism of venture capitalists and disruption process is misguided as it is necessary for progress and change.
- Taking personal responsibility, prioritizing impactful conversations, and building trust are crucial in communication and relationships.
- The computing power of modern laptops allows individuals to conduct groundbreaking scientific and artistic work from their desks or pockets.
- Andreessen acknowledges the sharp limits to the explanatory power of science and technology and remains open-minded to new ideas and underlying truths that are not yet known.
This already is the best podcast of 2024@pmarca with @RickRubin on @tetranow https://t.co/ao7hu70Kz0
— Mx Moritz (@mxmoritz) January 13, 2024