Artists vs AI

Author

Neil Almond
April 09, 2024

Hi human,

It is still my Easter break, so this is just a short update that I hope you will find interesting.

Knowledge builders 📚

  • Generative AI and Academic Teaching → Cognitive scientist, Efrat Furst, has written a thread on X about Generative AI. In it, she cautions how GenAI is going to be of greater value to experts than novices, and that there are no shortcuts to be had for novices.

  • Yes, prompts matter → It seems to be a classic game of cat and mouse: AI sceptic claims that it cannot do X and someone then prompts a model to do X. In this case it case someone $10K. The bigger picture here though is that not all prompts are equal, and those who make claims about GenAI (either positively or negatively) should provide the prompts that were used.

Industry updates 🤖

  • Suno V3  â†’ Back in January, I wrote about a plug-in called Suno that could create short songs using prompts. Recently it was updated to version 3, which can create songs of up to 2 minutes that are ‘radio-quality’. Have a listen to a snippet here.

  • Musicians demand protections from AI â†’ More than 200 artists have written an open letter to tech companies asking them to stop the develop AI tools that undermine the human touch from creating music. Have a play with Suno and let us know if you think we may be already there. Do tag me in (@Mr_AlmondED) on X if you make one.

Fresh prompts ✨

  1. Reminder to about an event for parents → The time of leaders in schools can be taken up by a whole host of often unpredictable events. Despite having a ‘to-do’ list, it’s possible that some of those items do not get the attention they deserve. Keeping parents abreast of events can be one thing that goes by the wayside. This prompt will help get you started. The deep structure of the prompt looks like this:

    I am a [your role and name of institution/school] I need to write a [style] [genre] to parents to remind them about the [event that is up coming]. [Additional detail].

    Use in ChatGPT. 

I am the Deputy headteacher of Strange Planet Primary School. I need to write a formal e-mail to parents to remind them about the Winter Fair. It is on Monday 20th October and starts at 3:30 until 5:00. There will be games and a disco for the pupils to enjoy as well as other stalls run by people from the local community. Pupils who normally go home by themselves must be picked up at 5:00.

Here is a snippet of the output:

Subject: Reminder: Winter Fair at Strange Planet Primary School on Monday, October 20th

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I hope this message finds you well. We are excited to remind you about the upcoming Winter Fair at Strange Planet Primary School, which promises to be a delightful event for our students and the local community.

Details of the Winter Fair:

  • Date: Monday, October 20th

  • Time: 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM

  • Location: Strange Planet Primary School

The Winter Fair will feature a wide range of activities and attractions for both parents and students to enjoy. Here's what you can expect:

  1. Games and Entertainment: There will be an assortment of fun games and activities designed to keep our students engaged and entertained throughout the event.

  2. Disco: A lively disco will be set up for the students to dance and groove to their favorite tunes, creating lasting memories.

  3. Community Stalls: We are pleased to have members of our local community setting up stalls with various offerings, adding to the festive atmosphere.

We kindly request that parents of students who usually go home by themselves make arrangements to pick up their children promptly at 5:00 PM to ensure their safety.

The Winter Fair is an excellent opportunity for our school community to come together and enjoy a wonderful evening. We encourage you to invite friends and family to join us for this special occasion.

We look forward to seeing you there and making this event a resounding success. If you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Thank you for your continued support in making Strange Planet Primary School a vibrant and inclusive learning environment.

Best regards,

[Your Name] Deputy Headteacher Strange Planet Primary School

Thanks to those that have agreed to beta test. We will be in touch shortly.

As ever, thanks for reading and keep on prompting! Mr A 🦾