The session began by emphasizing a crucial mindset shift required to thrive in the age of AI. The key takeaway is the importance of becoming an AI Generalist. This concept moves away from deep specialization in a single domain and towards the ability to solve problems across multiple disciplines using AI tools.
Key Principles:
- Adaptability and Continuous Learning: The most critical skill is the "ability to learn." In a rapidly evolving technological landscape, being able to quickly grasp new concepts and tools is paramount.
- Problem-Solving over Specialization: An AI Generalist is a problem solver at their core. They leverage AI to tackle challenges, irrespective of the specific industry or domain.
- Flexibility in Career Optimization: The future of work demands flexibility. Rather than being confined to a single profession, individuals should be prepared to adapt and pivot as technology progresses.
Building Your First AI Applications with GPTs
A significant portion of the session was dedicated to a hands-on demonstration of building custom AI applications, known as GPTs, within ChatGPT and Google's Gemini.
Understanding GPTs
GPTs are essentially custom versions of ChatGPT that users can create for specific tasks or purposes. They are micro-apps built on top of the existing AI model, designed to streamline workflows and automate processes without writing any code.
Creating a Custom GPT in ChatGPT (The "XPOST Generator" Example)
The session walked through the process of creating a custom GPT designed to generate viral tweets on a given topic.
Steps to Build a Custom GPT:
- Define the Goal: The first step is to have a clear objective. In this case, it was to create a tool that generates 10 tweet ideas, rates their virality on a scale of 1 to 10, provides a rationale for the rating, and presents the output in a table format.
- Instruct the AI: Using natural language, you instruct the GPT on its role, capabilities, and the desired output format. This is done in the "Configure" section of the GPT builder.
- Refine and Iterate: The initial output may not be perfect. The key is to iterate by adding more specific instructions. For example, initially, the tool generated a single tweet. The instruction was then updated to generate 10 tweets. Further refinements included asking for a virality score and a tabular format.
- From Prompt to Tool: This process effectively converts a complex prompt that you might have to write repeatedly into a reusable tool. You build it once and can use it over and over without needing to remember the detailed instructions.
Creating a Custom Application in Gemini (Gems)
For users who may not have a paid ChatGPT account, the session demonstrated a free alternative using Google's Gemini and its "Gems" feature.