Data Science

Synthetic media, sometimes referred to as "deepfake" technology, is the use of AI and machine learning to generate realistic, digital media such as images, videos, and audio. This technology is already revolutionizing the creative process as both artists and artisans conscript AI-coworkers for production assistance. But in the coming months, we are likely to see this technology evolve into Generative Synthetic Media (GSM) which we will define (for this essay) as data-driven synthetic media (created in near real time and surfaced in place of traditional media). When fully achieved, GSM will revolutionize human communication. This is a bold claim, so it requires bold evidence. Let's review. Continue Reading →

Walking along the railroad tracks up to the main building at Birkenau was chilling. I was about to enter the largest of the 40 Nazi extermination camps and sub-camps that made up the Auschwitz complex, and its reputation preceded it. Continue Reading →

We know that OpenAI (the company behind ChatGPT) is working on a pricing plan, and some users are reporting that they’ve been granted access to a pro tier that costs $42 a month. Fans of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" know this number well. In the book, the answer to the "Ultimate Question of Life, The Universe, and Everything" is 42, which makes me wonder if the final pricing will be announced on May 25. More importantly, I have been wondering if ChatGPT is, in fact, a pseudonym for Deep Thought. (Apologies to non-Douglas Adams fans.) Continue Reading →

What possible safeguards could be (or have been) put in place to prevent a bunch of mischievous teenagers (and I'm being careful to choose my words here) from crafting some very nasty code? Continue Reading →

Can you really use ChatGPT to write better blogs? Unsurprisingly, the work done in partnership with my AI-coworker outperformed work I did alone. Here's the process. Continue Reading →

People should listen closely to Sam Altman when he speaks about AI. We are all amazed by the productivity increases enabled by GPT 3.5 and ChatGPT, but speculating about the capabilities of GPT4 is just dumb. We'll know when we know. Continue Reading →

M3GAN has been a box office smash, grossing nearly $60 million in its first two weekends on a $12 million budget. The movie follows a robotics engineer at a toy company who builds a life-like doll that begins to take on a life of its own. This raises the question: Could M3GAN be real? Continue Reading →

I understand why teachers are worried about students using ChatGPT, but let's not forget that students have always found ways to cheat, chatbots or not. I think it's more important to focus on how we can use these tools in a positive way in education. Continue Reading →

The article “What Are NSF Fees and Why Do Banks Charge Them?” on CNET is a serviceably written explanation of NSF fees. The byline is simply "CNET Money." If you click the byline, it says: "This article was created using an AI engine and reviewed, fact-checked and edited by our editorial staff." Continue Reading →

OpenAI has announced plans to begin charging for access to ChatGPT, a widely popular AI-powered chatbot capable of composing essays, emails, poems, and even computer code. In a statement on the company's official Discord server, OpenAI mentioned that they are considering monetizing ChatGPT as a means of securing the tool's long-term sustainability. Continue Reading →