Meet Izzy: the personalised AI maths tutor.

So, there I was, trying to help my 11-year-old daughter, Daisy, prepare for her SATs exams. That's a tricky time for any young student, the first time they'll feel the pressure of a formal examination, at a moment where they're about to transition from the comfortable world of primary education into life at secondary school, with all of the expectations that come with that move. 

Watch a video of Izzy, the AI Maths Tutor in action.

Daisy's a bright kid: she takes after her mum. But, we'd been dealing with long-term illness at home, and she'd fallen behind in maths.

Maths Evolution: A Parent's Dilemma

I wanted to step up to the mark and help. So we spent time pouring over example papers to see where she had weaknesses: long division, squared and cubed numbers, written multiplication, percentages, dividing and adding fractions. From there, I planned to work with her on each subject area to bring her back up to the standard she should have been at by now. And I'm not a pushy parent, by the way!

We sat down to begin our revision sessions. That's when I realised the flaw in my plan. After watching my daughter attempted to solve the questions in her test paper, I heard my inner voice channel Mr Incredible...

"Why would they change math!?"

I'd been dabbling with ChatGPT3.5 out of professional curiosity and was already excited about how AI was finally set to 'have its moment' and achieve mass adoption.

But this particular maths conundrum just so happened to arrive on the same day as ChatGPT4. So now I had a real-life problem, rather than the random prompts I'd been throwing at the previous version, and a perfect test for the latest update.

I dug around online to find out how I might create a virtual maths tutor. I figured that if we could train an AI with relevant information about our needs, it could just work. And boy, did it work.

I found a video online, explaining how to train a chatbot to become a specialist personal trainer on any subject. 

First, you ask ChatGPT to generate its own prompts, using an 'act as' request. So, a quick dig around online yielded a list of prompts to help. The prompt goes something like this:

"I want you to act as a prompt generator. So, first, I will give you a title like "Act as a Personal Trainer." 

Then you give me a prompt like this: "I want you to act as a personal trainer. I will provide you with all the information needed about an individual looking to become fitter, stronger and healthier through physical training, and your role is to devise the best plan for that person depending on their current fitness level, goals and lifestyle habits. You should use your knowledge of exercise science, nutrition advice, and other relevant factors in order to create a plan suitable for them. My first request is "I need help designing an exercise program for someone who wants to lose weight."

The prompt should be self-explanatory and appropriate to the title."

Now, from that prompt and a couple of similar ones I used in my training, I could ask ChatGPT4 to write relevant prompts on any area of learning or development I needed. 

With the AI capable of writing its own prompts in that style, I then typed this:

"I want you to act as a personalised Maths Tutor for a Key Stage 2 (UK) student preparing for her SATs."

Et voila, GPT4 wrote its own detailed prompt, which we pasted back into the chat, and the tutor was born.

The Birth of a Virtual Tutor

Understandably, the virtual tutor wanted more context before getting started, so I provided Daisy's age and the areas where she struggled in maths. We already had the list of weaknesses from when I'd analysed her test papers.

What I didn't want to do was to give Daisy a dry, boring experience so that learning felt like a chore. She's a bright kid with a love of language and a sharp sense of humour. Trust me, I've been on the receiving end of it enough times.

So things had to be engaging.

Laughter and Learning: Daisy's Journey with Izzy

I gave the AI this information, telling it that she likes a good pun, gag, or one-liner to keep her motivated. 

I asked Daisy to give the tutor a name. "Izzy", she suggested. The AI didn't need to know this, but she loves dogs just as much as she loves a joke: Izzy is the name of our cocker spaniel puppy. They're as mad as each other.

With the virtual tutor responding to the name of a crazy dog, we gave Izzy a whirl. And what followed blew my mind.

Izzy introduced herself to Daisy and started the first session with this cracker of a gag:

"Why was the maths book sad? Because it had too many problems!"

...before launching into its first explanation of long division, one of the key areas of focus we'd identified needed improvement. And, just like that, Daisy was hooked by the perfect balance of learning and humour.

We could have taken things further. For example, I could have asked the tutor to always feature dogs when explaining how to tackle a particular problem. I could have told the tutor she was indeed a mad cocker spaniel. And you know what, I still might, but I figured we'd better press on with some actual learning; otherwise, the whole exercise was at risk of being somewhat self-defeating. 

Embracing AI: A Vision for the Future of Education

The sessions with 'Izzy' were scarily on point: they focused on Daisy's specific needs, targeting precise areas where she needed help. Izzy gave us clear explanations and step-by-step guidance, with the occasional well-placed quip. (Side note: ChatGPT isn't the best at generating its own jokes, but we appreciate the effort.)

Armed with a little bit of information and a lot of curiosity, I got my girl back on track with her maths. 

My approach was a little ramshackle. I'd found information online to give me a starting point, then trained the Chatbot with context until it understood what I expected. But it has opened my eyes to how education has to change and will do for the better if we embrace AI.

It's insane to think that you could quickly train a virtual tutor to address any number of specialised needs among the students you're working with. That can make learning fair for all, offering personalised learning to students regardless of their current attainment or learning needs. 

Let's just let that sink in.

Step Into the Future: How The Mandalorian's 'The Volume' Revolutionises Filmmaking

This article was written by an AI, that had been trained on my style of writing. To read more about why I decided to become the world’s first ‘Open-Source Copywriter’, be sure to read the previous article in this blog: that one was written by me, I promise.

Ah, The Mandalorian. The epic space-western that's taken the world by storm, and not just because it introduced us to the irresistible charm of Baby Yoda (or Grogu, if you want to be pedantic).

The series has also revolutionized the way we produce TV shows and movies, thanks to a groundbreaking technology called "The Volume." Picture this: a vast, immersive digital environment that transports actors and viewers alike to a galaxy far, far away. It's like stepping into the holodeck from Star Trek, but instead of hanging out with Data and Captain Picard, you're kicking it with Mando and the gang.

A WHOLE NEW WORLD FOR ACTORS

The Volume

"The Volume" is essentially a gigantic, 270-degree LED screen that wraps around the set, providing real-time, photorealistic environments for the actors to perform in. Gone are the days of green screens and painstaking post-production work. Now, the actors are immersed in their surroundings from the get-go, making it easier for them to get in character and react to their environment. It's like being a kid again, playing make-believe in your backyard, except with way cooler toys and a significantly larger budget.

THE WIZARDS BEHIND THE TECHNOLOGY: ILM AND EPIC GAMES

But let's not forget the unsung heroes behind this technology: the creative geniuses at Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) and Epic Games. By harnessing the power of the Unreal Engine, the same technology that brought Fortnite to life, these wizards have developed a system that allows filmmakers to create and manipulate stunning virtual landscapes in real-time.

And the result? A visual feast that's as captivating as the stories unfolding on screen.

THE IMPACT ON THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY

The impact of "The Volume" on the entertainment industry is undeniable. It's like when Dorothy stepped out of her black-and-white world into the technicolor dream of Oz, or when Neo took the red pill and plunged headfirst into the Matrix. The possibilities for storytelling are now virtually limitless, with directors and actors able to explore new worlds and push the boundaries of what's possible.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY: A NEW ERA FOR FILM PRODUCTION

But beyond the undeniable "wow" factor, "The Volume" also has the potential to usher in a new era of sustainability in the film industry. By reducing the need for on-location shoots and extensive set construction, we can drastically cut down on the environmental footprint of our productions. And that's something we can all get behind, regardless of whether we're fans of intergalactic bounty hunters or not.

APPRECIATING THE TECHNOLOGICAL MARVEL

So, the next time you find yourself lost in the captivating world of The Mandalorian, take a moment to appreciate the technological marvel that's unfolding before your eyes: perhaps you'll be inspired to embark on your own creative journey, using the cutting-edge tools and techniques that are shaping the future of production?

A NOTE ON THE AUTHOR: THE OPEN-SOURCE COPYWRITER

This article was crafted by ChatGPT4, a cutting-edge AI language model that has been trained on Phil Birchenall's writing style. Phil has embraced the title of the world's first "Open-Source Copywriter," blending human creativity with artificial intelligence to bring you captivating content like the piece you just read.

If you're intrigued by this unique approach, don't miss our previous article that delves into the reasons behind Phil's groundbreaking decision to become an open-source copywriter. There, you'll discover the fascinating intersection of technology, creativity, and the written word. And who knows? You might just be inspired to explore your own AI partnerships in the ever-evolving world of storytelling.

INTRODUCING THE FIRST ‘OPEN-SOURCE’ Copywriter - me.

So, this could well be the single-most career-destroying post I've written.

But hear me out.

I love writing. I love writing about business. I love writing about technology. And I love uncovering what makes my clients tick and turning that into words that capture their essence.

I love adding in a bit of Northern charm. A bit of sideways (diagonal?) thinking to keep things engaging. And a story from my past that makes complexity relatable.

People seem to like it. I've written articles for trade publications across the creative sector, blog posts for friends and colleagues, and, just yesterday, a case study for a soon-to-be-published book on the impact of AI in education.

And therein lies the rub.

Because AI isn't just going to revolutionise education: it's a tsunami that will pull down businesses and decimate 'the way of the old'. With the release of ChatGPT4, Pandora is out of the box, well and truly.

We have to change our approach to everything we know about work. We can cower away and worry about our professional careers, or we can embrace, prompt and train AI to make a better future.

So, might this be such a dumb post?

By releasing the shackles of what's come before, we can truly start shaping what we do next.

To that end, I'm making my writing style Open-source. Yup, as of now, I'm the first Open-source copywriter.

Starting today, if you like how I write, you can have me.

I've trained ChatGPT4 on articles and blogs I've written over the last five years, asking it to produce a highly detailed analysis of my writing style, and turn this into an AI prompt. It's scarily accurate.

For a copy of it, email phil@diagonalthinking.co.

Why am I doing this? Not because I'm afraid AI will take my job. For a lot of us, it will do anyway, regardless. And it might already have done.

I'm doing this because I want to focus on how AI can change how businesses and organisations of all sizes work.

It WILL change everything - so let's start talking about how ‘AI and I’ can help you, right now.


#business #technology #job #work #people #careers #change #ai #future# #creative #complexity #career #education

An AI-powered image based on an image prompt generated from this article

All killer, no filler: what business lessons can we learn from bands?

Music made me. There's no other way I could put it; it’s that simple.

It made me obsessive about technology. I'd spend hours trying to recreate Stephen Morris' drums on New Order's Substance, using an 8-bit sampler interface I had for my ZX Spectrum. Yup, I was a geek when I was 13, and I'm still a geek 33 (and a third) years later.

It made me interested in business, too. New Order were signed to the legendary Factory Records, a boutique independent record label physically and sonically based in Manchester, my patch. 'Running' the business was a much-missed, much-loved yet much-reviled TV personality-cum-music entrepreneur. Tony Wilson. Anthony H Wilson to his friends.

Over the two short years between me being sat by my computer recreating Blue Monday, on a machine more suited to the adventures of Jet Set Willy, and me hitting 15, Manchester had become the coolest place for music in the world. And at the centre of it all was Factory, a record business based in leafy West Didsbury, pioneering the weird and the beautiful, whilst sticking two fingers up at UK music's London establishment.

So yes, I had flares and a centre-parting. Not a great look, but, like Durutti Column, they're probably due a revival. I may have looked stupid, but so did every other teenager in the North West of England during 1989. 

And as the clarinet line and tropical house vibe of Pacific State permeated the air, from what felt like every passing car's stereo, I realised that you didn't have to be 'special' to be what you want to be in life. You just needed to be passionate about what you do and the things you believe. The rest has a habit of sorting itself out.

The world opened up for me right at that moment. I knew I'd always work in, and with, creative businesses.

Taking lessons from the Stones

Now, dear reader, I fully realise that your musical upbringing might be somewhat different from mine. But if you're like me, you can't help but be fascinated by how bands operate, and there's much we could learn as businesses.

Lara Wiesenthal, President of New York-based Activaire, which curates background music for major brands around the world, agrees. “People often compare legacy bands like The Rolling Stones to great businesses,” says Lara, “But I like to think that high-functioning organisations are like great bands, and that we should look to music for lessons in business.”

What makes some bands and artist endure, commanding audiences and ticket sales over a 60-year career like the Stones, while others fizzle out after a rapid explosion of creativity, aside from difficult second albums and a short-lived - yet lucrative - revival tour?

Could we structure creative businesses more like we would a band? Great bands focus on the right combination of talent and charisma: they just click. Bloating out, recruiting too many members to push the creative envelope dilutes the essence of what made a group break through in the first place. For every Cymande, sadly there's a Wheatus.

All killer and no filler

Do we have to grow teams or focus on making the teams we have work better together? “Our team is very much like a band, but I prefer to think of them as a supergroup…of people who consistently impress me with their knowledge and passion for music and technology,” adds Activaire co-founder Adesh Deosaran, “It’s all killer and no filler when it comes to small companies: you’ve got one lead guitarist, and they’d better be the Johnny Marr of your group.”

“Think of your organisation as a band or an orchestra, where the product and voice are the ‘music’,” continues Lara, “When every member feels like they’re contributing to the company’s performance, they have a shared sense of purpose and ownership.”

Great bands have great managers. They understand the artists in their charge, alongside all their foibles and disagreements, but they also understand the wider business they sit within. A truly great manager respects a band's creative output yet can nurture and grow their work to fit the market. They take the strain of the business end of things, so group members can get on with the stuff they do the best.

“It boils down to controlling the controllable, and not stressing too much about aspects of your business that are beyond your control,” suggests Martyn Walsh, bassist and songwriter for Manchester’s Inspiral Carpets. “With a band, the controllables are maintaining and maximising your creative output, having quality control and belief in your ‘stock’, coupled with nurturing and protecting the creative relationships around you.”

Turning clients into fans

By the sheer nature of their existence, bands have to embrace difference. Few set up with the aspiration to be just like the last standout artist. It's a terrible strategy for a new group looking to grab attention in a crowded marketplace, so why do so many creative businesses struggle to define and articulate what makes them unique?

And without fans, there is no band. 

Building the audience for their sounds amongst people passionate enough to champion the cause through badges, t-shirts and unfortunate tattoos is make-or-break. “We were never making music to be famous,” offers Martyn, “In return we amassed a legion of fans who appreciated our viewpoint, shared our background and most importantly connected with us.” How often do we think about turning clients and prospects into fans of our work? Do we cultivate an appreciation for the work we do or engage in bland press release warfare?

But when the magic dries up, bands take a hiatus. Maybe a new direction didn't work out, or they need to recharge their lost souls. And there's always 'creative differences' that threaten to tear the tightest of bands apart, at least for a time. They go off, record solo music, form supergroups with peers, but when the time is right, they regroup. 

Do we ever think about winding down what we're doing right now, take time to do other things before coming back bigger and better? A band might choose to close a chapter, but there's always another page to write, yet as businesses, the end is the end, and it's rarely 'happy ever after’.

Saying ‘yes’ to everybody?

“Ultimately, after the showbiz shenanigans,” reflects Martyn, ”all creative business have as a legacy is their creative output and the human relationships with those who helped create that magic.”

It’s difficult to find a quote you can genuinely attribute to Anthony H Wilson online: there are just so many quotes from the Factory biopic 24 Hour Party People that are taken as his own words verbatim. But these words, recorded in his final television interview, encapsulate the spirit of how music can transform what we think about business, "I had the virtue of wanting to hang out with people who were more talented than me. I can't write songs, I can't perform, I can't design clubs, but I was an enthusiast. My gift was that I said yes* to everybody."

*Actually, Wilson said 'no' to signing The Smiths, but when you have to choose between truth and legend…