Overcoming the AI Hype: My Recent Encounter with ChatGPT and CLAUDE

In the past week, I found myself on a rather unexpected journey with two popular AI tools: ChatGPT and CLAUDE. What began as a straightforward mission to create graphics for my Substack quickly morphed into a comedic struggle reminiscent of a modern-day tech battle.

Initially, I thought about using PowerPoint for my design project. However, in the spirit of adventure, I decided to take a detour and see what these AI assistants could bring to the table by diving headfirst into the realm of AI-enabled coding. After all, why not harness cutting-edge technology to save time?

What I anticipated would be a simple task turned into an exhaustive game of whack-a-mole. Each time I tackled one issue with the AI, a new wave of complications surged forth, leaving me overwhelmed. While I won’t bore you with the nitty-gritty details, let’s just say that this experience can be summarized in one word: chaos. After several frustrating days of chasing after elusive solutions, I finally resorted to my trusty PowerPoint, which I completed in just a little over three hours.

In the end, my experience with AI reaffirmed a crucial lesson: these tools, while innovative, often operate at a novice level akin to a beginner coder fresh out of boot camp. Yes, there’s potential for future growth through methods like Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback (RLHF) and its AI-specific variations, indicating that we’re likely to see improvements as guided by human expertise.

However, the prevailing fear surrounding AI’s takeover is, in many ways, exaggerated. It often stems from either misplaced anxiety or the agendas of those trying to capitalize on public concern. Instead of succumbing to the hype, I suggest a more relaxed approach: pour yourself a glass of Scotch, take a moment to breathe, or engage in some self-care rituals to ease the mind. After all, the robots may be here, but they still have a long way to go before they replace us—or even effectively generate graphics.

So let’s not get too caught up in the AI frenzy; there’s plenty of creativity and human touch that still matter tremendously in our digital world.