Apply AI: LLMs Reward the Curious
Chat based LLMs like ChatGPT and Google Gemini reward the curious, much more than traditional search engines.
Let’s say you are looking to purchase an air purifier for your home. Google Search is not built for people to be extremely curious. Typically Google Search is a one shot tool. You may type “What’s the best air purifier for a single family home of less than 2500 square feet.” But what comes next is a research project. Clicking on the links, reading the click bait ad pages, trying to navigate and remember the different pros and cons and manually comparing and making notes.
LLMs are different. LLMs reward curiosity.
Today I researched a home air purifier using ChatGPT 4o. The experience was very different than a typical Google Search. Here are the questions I asked:
- I’m trying to find the best air purifier for my home. Something that is free standing that can be plugged into the wall. What should I take into consideration when I look at options?
- I’ve got a 4 bedroom that is a total of 2200 sq feet. It’s a semi-open floor plan where the kitchen, living room, dining room, and entry are fairly open and connected. The 4 bedrooms average about 15x15 feet. What are good options for me.
- How much space needs to be given around these air purifiers? Can they be tucked behind a couch or in a corner?
- Can you get too much air purifier for a space, and would that have any negative consequences?
- Can you perform a deep comparison between the Coway and Alen, including a 5-year total cost of ownership?
- Are there any mistakes that people make when purchasing these filters?
- What other common mistakes or regrets do customers typically make that can be easily avoided?
- Why are people most unhappy with the model XXXX?
LLMs like ChatGPT is much more powerful when you think of it as an advisor and not just an answer machine.
I know there are clearly some things that I have missed and deeper ways I could analyze this problem, but I hope this provides an example of how the power of generative AI really comes from being more curious.
Apply AI: Using generative AI for creating test data samples
One powerful yet often overlooked application of generative AI is creating test data samples. Instead of manually crafting data sets, you can leverage tools like ChatGPT to generate realistic sample data quickly and efficiently.
This approach is especially useful when you’re learning frameworks like Python’s pandas and need a structured dataset to experiment with. By using a well-crafted prompt (or even not well crafted), you can produce diverse data samples tailored to your learning objectives.
For example, here’s a prompt I used with ChatGPT 4o to generate sample data:
I want to generate code for a test python DataFrame. The table has two columns Flavor and Scoops. The flavor column is persons favorite flavor. Number of scoops should stay between 1 and 3 scoops. Create 5 common flavors to be used for the test sample. Create 30 examples in the dataframe.
And this was the result.
import pandas as pd
import random
# Define common flavors and scoop range
flavors = ["Vanilla", "Chocolate", "Strawberry", "Mint Chocolate Chip", "Cookie Dough"]
# Generate sample data
data = {
"Flavor": [random.choice(flavors) for _ in range(30)],
"Scoops": [random.randint(1, 3) for _ in range(30)]
}
# Create DataFrame
df = pd.DataFrame(data)
Great example of using ChatGPT Deep Research for understanding zoning laws by state. Deep Research: Supermajority laws around the states
Apply AI: Creating a Quiz Generator in ChatGPT
ChatGPT can be utilized to create an adaptive multiple-choice quiz for students, progressively adjusting difficulty based on their answers while providing feedback and customization options.
Apply AI: Screening Social Media for Negative Behaviors in Application Processes
A friend’s son is applying to a private high school, and as part of the application process, the school requests links to any social media accounts he owns. I’ve heard of similar requirements in sorority recruitment and other selective social organizations.
With AI, it wouldn’t be difficult to analyze social media for potentially negative traits using image recognition models. These models could be trained to detect behaviors such as smoking, drinking, or making offensive hand gestures. For example, a student holding a red Solo cup in a photo could be flagged as a potential concern.
Beyond identifying negative behaviors, AI could also assess social tendencies. It could analyze how many photos feature the applicant alone versus in a group, or how many depict them playing sports, which might indicate teamwork and social engagement. This type of analysis could influence how schools or organizations evaluate an applicant’s personality and fit.
Uncertainty & Control
A few years ago, I was part of an M&A team tasked with expanding our industrial services firm into new service areas. About ten days earlier, our company had completed the purchase of a small, privately-owned pump and compressor repair shop with a strong reputation for high-quality work and good people.
One morning, while walking through the shop floor, one of the key employees–let’s call him Bob–approached me, his gaze avoiding direct contact. “I wanted to let you know that I’ve put in my notice. I’m quitting,” he said.
Taken aback by the sudden decision, I asked Bob why he was leaving. “I know how it is with big companies,” he replied. “You want to run us off. Replace us with ‘your people.'”
I paused for a moment to gather my thoughts. Then I said, “Bob, one of the reasons we bought this company is because of people like you. It’s people who make this company. But I understand that you have to do what’s right for you and your family. Do you have a new job lined up?”
“No,” Bob answered.
“Do you have any savings to lean on or health insurance lined up?” I asked.
“Not really,” he said again.
“Well, how about this,” I began. “I want you to know we have no intention of replacing you with ‘our people.’ We want you to stay as part of the team. But I understand that you must do what’s best for you. I’ll make you a deal: stay on, and take your time to find a new position. I’ll give you time off to interview if needed. But I think you’ll find that we genuinely want you here as part of the team.”
Bob and I shook hands.
Years later, Bob never left. He remained a key part of the team.
Today, more than ever, our world is full of uncertainty. This week, Meta announced plans to lay off 5% of its “low performers.” Wildfires in Southern California have upended the lives of millions. And in less than a week, a new administration, promising to upend the status quo, will take office in the White House.
The lesson for leaders is clear: people crave certainty and control. In my experience coaching and leading others, I’ve found that when life feels uncertain, people often make choices to assert control over their environment–even if those choices have negative consequences.
As a leader, it’s easy to take your team for granted during times of uncertainty. Remember, everyone has a different tolerance for uncertainty. Take a moment today to pick up the phone and talk to your team members individually. Let them know you appreciate them, and genuinely listen to their concerns. You’ll be glad you did.
How Morning Coffee Boosted My Sleep and Longevity: A Personal Journey Backed by Science
In 2018, I embarked on a journey to reshape my sleep habits and enhance my overall healthspan.
Dr. Matthew Walker’s book Why We Sleep was particularly impactful, especially its discussion on how caffeine affects sleep patterns.
As a result, I made a significant change: I now only drink coffee and only before noon. After about 30 days, I noticed a clear improvement in my sleep quality, and I haven’t looked back since. It’s encouraging to see research that supports these lifestyle adjustments.
Compared with non-coffee drinkers, those who mostly drank coffee in the morning had a lower risk of all-cause mortality (adjusted HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.74-0.95) and cardiovascular mortality (HR 0.69, 95% CI 0.55-0.87) when followed over a median 9.8 years.
It appeared that survival was particularly improved with morning consumers drinking moderate (>1 to 2 cups and >2 to 3 cups/day) and heavy (>3 cups/day) amounts of coffee rather than lesser amounts, reported Lu Qi, MD, PhD, epidemiologist of Tulane University in New Orleans and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, and colleagues in European Heart Journal.
Source: www.medpagetoday.com/primaryca…
Six Years
This week marks six years since I started working from home full-time. It’s been a mix of blessings and challenges. When I began this journey, my daughters were 12 and 9. Being home to greet them after school and listen to their laughing during the summer days has been an incredible gift–one I’ll always cherish.
However, the biggest challenge has been the social isolation. With back-to-back Teams calls, it’s easy to get stuck in the echo chamber of your own thoughts. I’ve missed the ambient conversations around the office, the spontaneous chats with coworkers, and even the simple joy of listening to podcasts or audiobooks during my commute.
No matter where or how you work–whether you commute, work from home, or balance a hybrid schedule–take a moment to appreciate the unique benefits of your environment. Each setting has its perks; sometimes, it just takes a mindful pause to see them.
The baking aisle at the grocery store on Christmas Eve is full of bewildered non-bakers who have been sent by their family bakers to pick up one more thing.
Someone was called a “Seagull” at work today.
They fly in, make a bunch of noise, shit everywhere, and take off.
Awesome.
Texas A&M alumnus accidentally joins band, says he pretended to play for 4 years - lonestarlive.com
A month before his first semester began, Juarez received an email about orientation for the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band, the nation’s most traveled collegiate marching band, which boasts over 300 members.
“I had only played band in the sixth grade, but it was kind of late to find alternative housing, so I just showed up,” he said in the post.
Talk about someone crushing Imposter Syndrome!
Amazing how a box of Kleenex can sit on the shelf for six months untouched, only to be completely consumed in 24 hours.
Feeling the Post Thanksgiving Blues? Try a Dose of Gratitude!
As we transition from the Thanksgiving holiday back to our routines, it’s easy to feel the drag of returning to work. Instead of seeing the holiday as something that’s behind us, why not carry the spirit of gratitude forward?
Here’s a quick exercise to help you reflect and reset:
- What are three things you were grateful for this Thanksgiving holiday?
- What are two things you are grateful for at work?
- What is one thing you are looking forward to this week?
Answering these questions can help you appreciate the highlights of last week, recognize what’s working well in your professional life, and focus on something positive ahead.
BASIC was my first programming language and the kickstart to my career in software development. I still remember my first programs and the joy of seeing ideas brought to life.
The Voice That Welcomed Us Online: Remembering Elwood Edwards and the Power of Small Contributions
In 1989, Elwood Edwards Jr. sat down in his living room, pressed the red button on a recorder, and spoke three words that would become an iconic phrase for a generation. These three words were eagerly anticipated while the dial-up modem screeched and beeped, as the desktop computer slowly crawled onto the Internet. Suspense built as people wondered, “Will there be something waiting for me today?” Moments later, as the screeching sounds faded and after a few clicks on the screen, they would hear the words they longed for:
“You’ve got mail.” 📨
Elwood Edwards, who passed away this month at the age of 74, recorded this phrase along with others, becoming the voice of the Internet for a generation of Americans just learning to access the World Wide Web. When Elwood recorded these words, he had no idea that this small project would become ingrained in American vernacular, even lending its name to a Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan rom-com.
At the time, Elwood couldn’t have realized the impact of these recordings—how kids and adults alike would grow up hearing his voice as they accessed AOL through the CDs packed into every magazine in America. It’s easy to think of his recordings as a minor contribution to the immense technical achievement that was AOL, but those simple words had an outsized impact on a generation.
The next time you question your contribution to a new project, remember Elwood. You never know what small action might have an outsized impact.
NY Times:Elwood Edwards, Voice of AOL’s ‘You’ve Got Mail!’ Alert, Dies at 74
LinkedIn Experts Question
Your team is resistant to frequent changes. How can you turn skepticism into enthusiasm?
Understand that everyone is not like you. They have different hopes, fears, and dreams. What seems logical and necessary to you can induce fear in others.
Create incremental demonstrations of trust. Do what you say you are going to do to show people you are true to your word. Many people view “change” as a precursor to being optimized out of a job. Your actions speak louder than your PowerPoint slides.
Purpose Stacking: From Classic Rock to Space Rocks - The Freedom of Saying ‘Right Now’
If you had asked Brian in the early 1980s what he did for a living, he would have said he played guitar and sang backup vocals for a band that toured the world. From the outside, Brian seemed like a successful musician, someone easy to label and stereotype.
But Brian wasn’t your typical musician. Besides writing hits, he loved science—a career he put on hold to join a British rock band. In the early 2000s, Brian returned to his original passion, and in August 2007, he earned his PhD in Astrophysics. Later, he worked with NASA on the mission to collect samples from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu, successfully bringing them back to Earth.
Not bad for someone who co-wrote iconic hits like “We Will Rock You” and “Fat Bottomed Girls”—an impressive achievement for Brian May, the legendary guitarist of Queen.
Right Now…
Many of us believe our current job defines who we are. “I am an engineer,” “I am a product manager,” or “I am a musician.” We feel stuck on a path we cannot change, or think others—and even we ourselves—cannot see us in another role. But careers are transitory. You aren’t defined by the job you had in college. Even if you’ve worked at the same company for over a decade, your role has likely changed.
What if, when asked “What do you do?” or “What is your profession?”, you answered with “Right now…”? “Right now, I’m an engineer.” “Right now, I’m a product manager.”
“Right now” is freeing. It gives you permission to change and be something else. It acknowledges that we are not fixed in our current roles, companies, or industries. Life is full of transitions, and “Right now” simply reflects where we are today.
Sources:
Purpose Stacking: Getting a Good Firm Grasp of the Obvious
In the fall of 1995, I walked into the auditorium of my Intro to Management of Information Systems (MIS) class at the University of Houston’s C.T. Bauer College of Business. I took my seat in the middle of the room and took in the smell of well-worn carpet mixed with fresh paint touching up the walls. At the front of the room stood Professor Dr. Michael Parks. He had the unmistakable look of a true computer nerd—someone who had fallen in love with computers long before they were personal.
During those first few class periods, Dr. Parks guided us through the history of computer science. We learned how to count in binary, explored the basics of data structures, and, most importantly, he tried to spark in us a genuine curiosity about how computers work. The fundamentals of which now seem so far removed from the perceived magic of our smartphones.
Dr. Parks had one phrase he repeated over and over throughout the semester—his first rule of solving any problem: “Step 1, get a good, firm grasp of the obvious.” To a 19-year-old college student, this advice seemed to hover somewhere between painfully simple and cryptic, like an ancient proverb hiding a deeper meaning.
Yet, this advice is etched into my memory from those undergraduate years. Nearly thirty years later, I understand the wisdom in what Dr. Parks was trying to convey. The first step in any journey is understanding the objective truth of where you are and what you know.
Getting a Good, Firm Grasp of the Obvious
Many people begin their journey to uncover their purpose from a place of dissatisfaction. They might feel unfulfilled in their job, frustrated with their boss, unhappy with their salary, or even disconnected in their personal relationships, health, marriage, or spiritual life. This dissatisfaction often leads to a sense of losing control, and the instinctive response is to think that regaining control requires making massive, sweeping changes.
A common mindset I find with my coaching clients is an “Either-Or” mindset. Their life is either great or terrible. They are either living their purpose or wandering lost. The first practical step to appreciating this in-between space and uncovering your purpose is to reset your mind to appreciate how your life truly is. This will provide a level playing field on which you can make bigger decisions about your future.
Grasping Gratitude
The most effective tool I have found for resetting our perception is the practice of gratitude. Gratitude requires us to seek the good in our life and break the negativity we may find ourselves in.
For clients, I recommend that before they embark on making big changes, they take a few weeks to ‘reset their perspective’ with a gratitude practice.
Every day, focus on these three questions, trying not to repeat answers from a prior day:
- What one thing are you grateful for in your job or profession?
- What one thing are you grateful for in your personal life?
- What is one negative thing that did not happen today?
Repeating this process daily will help reframe your mindset positively and establish a strong foundation for developing your future plan.
Conclusion
Finding purpose and creating meaningful change in your life doesn’t always require dramatic overhauls. Often, it starts with small, consistent actions—like cultivating gratitude—that help you get a good, firm grasp of the obvious.
Do You Think in Pen or Pencil?
I began my software development career during the dot-com boom in the late ‘90s. One of my first projects was building an online banking website for our credit card product. We were trying to connect users to our mainframe over the Internet, which was cutting-edge back then.
I still remember one of our early meetings with the mainframe team. The web team and the mainframe team sat across from each other, talking about how we could make this whole thing work.
The mainframe folks focused on the reasons why it wouldn’t work—pointing out the risks, the challenges, and how much time it would take. On the flip side, the web team was focused on how fast we needed to move, how customers were asking for this feature, and how it could make life easier for our customer service team.
As we worked through the meeting, I noticed something that stuck with me. Everyone on the mainframe team was writing with pens, while everyone on the web team had pencils. It hit me that their choice of writing tool was kind of a metaphor for how they thought. The pen represented a mindset that was fixed, permanent, and unchangeable. The pencil, on the other hand, symbolized flexibility and adaptability, designed to be erased and revised as needed.
Now when I’m feeling resistant to an idea or project I ask myself “Am I thinking in pen or pencil?”
Sunset in Chicago.
