AI and the Fourth of July

Jul 1

WMMM #023 - This week I share a perspective on the AI hype.

Jeff Keplar Newsletter July 1, 2023 5 min read

Me: Please provide some example introductions for this week's edition of my weekly newsletter titled "AI and the Fourth of July"

ChatGPT: Certainly, here are several examples of introductions you might use for your newsletter titled "AI and the Fourth of July":

Fireworks and Machine Learning

"Dear readers, as we approach the Fourth of July, a day that sparks joy and patriotism across the United States, let's consider a different type of spark. This week, we dive into the fascinating world of artificial intelligence and explore how it intersects with our Independence Day celebrations. Let's light the fuse and see where the illuminating world of AI takes us!"

Patriotic Patterns and Algorithms

"Hello everyone, as we gather to celebrate the 247th anniversary of American Independence, we also turn our attention to the role of artificial intelligence in commemorating this historic day. Just as the founding fathers navigated uncharted territories to shape our nation, we're here to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of AI. Let's raise the flag, and journey into this week's insights!"

AI: The New Firework in Town

"Welcome back, readers! This week, as we set our barbecues and get ready for the grand display of fireworks, we also take a moment to appreciate a different kind of spectacle: the advances in artificial intelligence. This newsletter will not only illuminate the sky with firework facts but will also light up your mind with the spark of AI. Ready for the countdown?"

AI’s Independence Day

"Greetings! As the United States gears up to celebrate its Independence Day, we invite you to reflect on a different kind of independence - the strides we've made in the realm of AI. This week, we explore how artificial intelligence has revolutionized our Fourth of July celebrations and everyday lives. Sit back with your hotdog or hamburger, and let's dive in!"

Stars, Stripes, and AI

"Hello readers, as the United States celebrates another year of freedom and independence, it's time for us to turn our gaze towards an exciting frontier of independence – artificial intelligence. This edition of our newsletter will marry the fervor of the Fourth of July with the thrill of AI discoveries. So let's march forward to explore these star-spangled advances together!"

ChatGPT’s release is credited with accelerating the AI hype to the levels we are witnessing today. But, it is not the only game in town. In fact, any discussion of artificial intelligence and large learning models (LLMs) typically makes its way to Google. I began this AI perspective with ChatGPT and rightfully so. I continue my exploration using it until I reach a limitation, and then I move to Google. I close today’s perspective by sharing examples of the thousands of AI tools being released every month.

Me: Besides ChatGPT, are there other generative AI tools and if so, please list them.

ChatGPT: Yes, there are several other generative AI models and tools that have been developed. Here are some of them:

Transformer models by OpenAI: Besides GPT (Generative Pretrained Transformer), OpenAI has also developed other Transformer-based models like GPT-2, GPT-3, and DALL-E. DALL-E, in particular, is a generative model that creates images from text descriptions.
BERT (Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers): BERT is a language representation model by Google that can be fine-tuned for a wide range of tasks like question answering and language understanding.
T5 (Text-to-Text Transfer Transformer): Another model from Google, T5 is a text-to-text transfer model that can be used for multiple tasks like translation, summarization, and sentiment analysis.
XLNet: This is a generalized autoregressive pretraining method that outperforms BERT on several benchmarks. It's an example of a generative model that is trained to predict the next word in a sequence, like GPT.
CTRL (Conditional Transformer Language Model): Developed by Salesforce, CTRL is a generative language model that uses control codes to direct the style and content of generated text.
StyleGAN and StyleGAN2: Developed by NVIDIA, these are generative models that use Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) to generate highly realistic images. They've been used to create things like highly realistic faces and art.
BigGAN: Developed by DeepMind, BigGAN is another GAN-based model that generates high-quality images.
WaveNet: Developed by DeepMind, WaveNet is a generative model for generating raw audio waveforms. It's used in Google's text-to-speech systems.

These are just a few examples. There are many other generative models out there, and the field is evolving rapidly.

DeepMind is Google. It’s one of Alphabet’s “bets.”

Me: AI and the 4th of July: What is the significance of July 4th in the United States?

ChatGPT: July 4th, also known as Independence Day, is a federal holiday in the United States that commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain. This event took place on July 4, 1776, marking the birth of the United States of America as an independent nation.

The holiday is traditionally celebrated with a variety of festivities that often include parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, and political speeches and ceremonies. In addition, many people display the American flag outside their homes or buildings. Some cities hold large fireworks displays at night, and there are also public and private events where people may shoot off their own fireworks.

The significance of July 4th lies in its celebration of the ideals of freedom and independence that the United States was founded upon. It's a time for Americans to reflect on their history and the values that shape their nation.

As an AI, I don't have personal experiences or feelings, but I can help provide information and answer questions about the history and traditions associated with the Fourth of July.

Me: On this date (July 4th) in history: What are some of the more notable events that have occurred on July 4th?

ChatGPT: Here are a few notable historical events that have occurred on July 4th, besides the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776:

1802: The United States Military Academy at West Point officially opened.
1826: Both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, who were instrumental in the creation of the Declaration of Independence and served as the 3rd and 2nd Presidents of the United States respectively, died on this day, exactly 50 years after the signing of the Declaration.
1831: James Monroe, the 5th President of the United States, also died on July 4th, further contributing to the notion of the "curse" of July 4th for U.S. presidents.
1845: Henry David Thoreau moved into a small cabin on Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts, marking the start of his two-year experiment in simple living that he would later write about in his book, "Walden".
1862: Lewis Carroll first told the story of Alice's adventures down a rabbit hole, which would later become "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland", to the Liddell sisters.
1884: The Statue of Liberty, a gift from France, was presented in Paris before it was disassembled and shipped to the United States.
1918: Bolsheviks killed Tsar Nicholas II of Russia and his family.
1976: The United States celebrated its Bicentennial, marking 200 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
1997: NASA's Pathfinder probe landed on the surface of Mars.
2012: The discovery of the Higgs boson, an elementary particle in the Standard Model of particle physics, was officially announced by CERN.

Remember that historical events can vary in significance based on perspective, and these are just a few examples from a global and U.S. context.

Me: Can ChatGPT receive audio input, for example a podcast?

ChatGPT: As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, GPT-based models, including ChatGPT, cannot process audio inputs directly. They are text-based models and can only process and generate text. Therefore, they can't directly understand or interpret audio from a podcast.

However, it's possible to use other technologies in conjunction with GPT models. For example, you could use automatic speech recognition (ASR) technology to convert spoken language in a podcast into text. This text could then be input to GPT-based models for processing or generating responses. Note that the quality and accuracy of the transcription could greatly influence the effectiveness of this setup.

Me: What notable events are planned for July 4, 2023?

ChatGPT: As an AI model with a knowledge cutoff in September 2021, I don't have real-time access to current or future events, so I can't provide specific details about planned events for July 4, 2023. However, traditionally, there are many events that take place across the United States to celebrate Independence Day each year. Some of these include:

Fireworks Displays: There are major fireworks shows in many cities, with some of the most famous being in New York City (the Macy's 4th of July Fireworks), Washington D.C. (on the National Mall), and Boston (the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular).
Parades: Many towns and cities hold 4th of July parades featuring marching bands, floats, and local organizations.
Concerts: Many cities also host concerts featuring a variety of music, often concluding with patriotic songs like "The Star-Spangled Banner."
BBQs and Picnics: It's common for families and friends to gather for barbecues, picnics, and other outdoor festivities.
Sporting Events: Baseball is often associated with the 4th of July, and many Major League Baseball teams have games on Independence Day.
Historical Reenactments: In places with significant historical ties to the Revolutionary War, there might be reenactments or other celebrations of American history.

For the most accurate and current information about events on July 4, 2023, please check local event listings, news sources, or official city or government websites closer to that date.

Moving to Google to see if it can help us answer the question.

Me: What notable events are planned in the US for July 4, 2023?

Google Search: About 1,490,000,000 results (0.65 seconds)

The Best 4th of July Events for 2023

Seeker.io

https://seeker.io › article › 4th-of-july-events

From parades and fireworks to battle reenactments and readings of the Declaration of Independence, here's how you can celebrate the 4th of July in the USA.

AI and the Fourth of July

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