by Jean-Louis Gassée As the sudden explosion of public interest in ChatGPT continues to excite millions, we ask: Is this the tipping point for machine-driven conversation (and more)? Is ChatGPT the Netscape of our time? In Fortune’s The inside story of ChatGPT: How OpenAI founder Sam Altman built the world’s hottest technology with billions from Microsoft, author Jeremy Kahn helpfully explains OpenAI’s history, structure, financing, and much more — at 6K words, the article covers a lot of territory. …

by Jean-Louis Gassée ChatGPT has quickly captured imaginations in ways not seen since the iPhone’s 2007 advent. Today, we take a tentative, random walk thru its rapidly expanding landscape. As I happily settle back at my writing station after a trip to parts of France and Austria, I see a…

by Jean-Louis Gassée Despite the growing consensus that his erratic actions will leave Twitter in bankruptcy or reduced to a fire sale, I’ve allowed myself to presume that Elon Musk has a perverse plan to make Twitter viable. Defending Elon Musk’s recent behavior isn’t an easy position to maintain. It’s hard to disagree with the doomsayers as evidence of Musk’s mercurial management grows by the day. A Musk statement du jour cannot be trusted, he’ll reverse himself in a few weeks, days, or even hours…

by Jean-Louis Gassée Seemingly overnight, but not really out of nowhere, ChatGPT has gained fame for making once-nebulous AI concepts accessible to “normal” people. [Apologies: a domain name problem, combined with a mistake of mine, make this Monday Note late.] Before I decode today’s title, let’s take a look at “The state of AI in 2022 — and a half decade in review”, a serious and wide-ranging McKinsey article by Michael…

by Jean-Louis Gassée Now a happy grandfather, I have the time and freedom of mind to gratefully reflect upon my move to Silicon Valley more than 35 years ago. Long Thanksgiving drives to and from Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park with family members give rise to grateful thoughts as passengers doze off. …

by Jean-Louis Gassée From its very beginning, the iPad has had trouble answering the What Is It? question. The newer iPad hardware and software line up seems to add to the confusion with more Mac-like software and accessories. We’ll tear our eyes away from the insalubrious Musk-Twitter copulation now turning into a ménage à Trump. And turn to Apple, a comparatively demure company that recently disclosed its full Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the previous quarter and for all of fiscal year 2022.

by Jean-Louis Gassée Applied to his new venture, there’s a risk in the formula that has worked so well for Elon Musk. Unfortunately for him, Twitter isn’t like Tesla. Politics, reputation, and personality play a much bigger and more direct role at a social media platform than in selling electric cars. Can Twitter survive Musk’s character? After three weeks on the road (New Orleans, NYC, Paris and Montpellier), I’m happily back at my writing station. …

by Jean-Louis Gassée Steve Jobs left us on October 5th 2011. Eleven years later, we still miss him, admire his accomplishments and enjoy his legacy. I sill have a vivid recollection of the Oct 4th iPhone 4S announcement: Held in the Infinite Loop event room. Steve Jobs’ front row reserved…

by Jean-Louis Gassée Today, following a conversation with a Zen Teacher, we look at the perennial frustration with what many call a necessary evil: Human Resources (HR). Sadly, I offer no sharp and easy solution. This past week, I’ve been thinking about Intel’s hard road to recovery. Last quarter’s number…