AI, Our Compañero — A tool for experimenting
An Inteligent Revolution
Whether we realize it or not, we dedicate ourselves daily to integrating the transformative possibilities of technology into our lives. This can range from the smallest details to the grandest of things, with impacts that vary according to scale. One thing is certain, technology is important, revolutionary, it has provided humanity with comfort, well-being, and achievements in a multitude of areas that we couldn’t reach alone. Anyway, we’re not naive, we know there’s much to be understood, balanced and measured, but this isn’t going to be our focus right now.
Experimenting is something fun, something that entices us to want to know more, and it’s in this space that we are interested in navigating. What we know, what we don’t know, what we ought to understand better.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands as one of the last revolutions in innovation, reshaping how we approach our daily routines and forward-thinking solutions. Isn’t it amazing? We have a computer that we built, fed, provided with knowledge, and now it returns it to us refined, in a fast way, just like a library but as if it had a nerd Flash Gordon inside doing all the work. Could it revolt against us and take over the world, with all this information we provided? Is it scary, dystopic, our hangman? Well, I guess we don’t know (probably not) but at the same time, what were people’s thoughts when they saw a machine piercing cardboard and showing green dots? Or the first ATM providing money on the street? It certainly raised questions and doubts.
If guided by the good intentions and positivity of humanity, AI can be something that changes the world for the better. How we integrate AI into our everyday activities and the intentions we give it as input, will decide the impacts on our creativity, productivity, and overall quality of life.
Artificial intelligence is one of those things that causes us strangeness and that divides society. Some took it as theirs from the beginning and are trying every application they can. For others it is still a mystery, some kind of portal they are curious about, they’ve heard of but they don’t want to cross. Others don’t even know what It means. It’s really funny, how different people look at these tools in different ways. One thing is almost certain, we will all have to deal with it, somehow, someway, sometime.
For us, collectively, we see it as a friend, as an assistant, “someone” who’s there to listen to the things we have to tell him and to whom we can ask things about everything. Someone who can facilitate structure and research. Anyway, you will be surprised about the many and varied uses one can give it. Our team answered some questions and will tell you everything about it. AI will tell you about it as well.
Experimenting
Inês Mateus integrates AI into her daily work by using it to structure her thoughts and facilitate her tasks without directly solving problems for her. For her thesis, she leverages AI tools like Perplexity, Connected Papers, and the tips of Andy Stapleton to gain insights and references from documents, aiding in reorganizing her thinking. AI has positively impacted her productivity and creativity, saving time, enhancing time management, and providing confidence through confirmation of her ideas. In her personal life, AI serves as a learning aid, offering a broad understanding of topics without deep immersion. Looking to the future, Inês views AI as a double-edged sword that requires careful balance to avoid over-dependence and the risk of validation through technology. She emphasizes the importance of using AI thoughtfully to harness its benefits without becoming controlled by it.
Leonor Babo utilizes AI as a supportive tool for writing, especially as a non-native English speaker. She consults AI to review some texts, expand her vocabulary, and organize her thoughts from vague ideas into concrete structures, which she then edits and rewrites. AI has positively impacted her productivity, helping her overcome writer’s block, turning ideas into more descriptive content, and offering additional insights during brainstorming sessions. Although AI can sometimes be repetitive and require oversight, it often adds new layers to the conversation and boosts creativity when pushed. While Leonor doesn’t have a unique personal use for AI, she is hopeful about the future of an ethically and environmentally responsible AI. She looks forward to AI tools that are transparent, demonstrate their environmental impact, and promote conscious use.
Henrique Nascimento employs various AI tools tailored to different tasks, as he’s a real enthusiast about it. He primarily uses Complexity AI for research, Claude for diagrammatic work, and ChatGPT for creative endeavors. Complexity AI, in particular, is valuable in Henrique’s field — where talks are more prevalent than papers — as it provides comprehensive video research and references. Henrique believes in the revolutionary necessity of AI, using it extensively in his work. AI enhances his productivity by enabling rapid access to information, which he then critically analyzes and interprets. He emphasizes that human judgment remains crucial, cautioning against using AI as the final output without thoughtful consideration. He feeds ChatGPT with his ideation process, allowing it to cluster and ideate efficiently. This automation has streamlined his workflows, significantly reducing research time from days to minutes. Looking to the future, Henrique anticipates AI’s role in disrupting routine jobs and restructuring work processes. He envisions a future where human emotional intelligence integrates with synthetic and natural intelligence, creating a new paradigm. Henrique also sees AI’s potential in challenging traditional education and hierarchical systems, promoting resource optimization and dismantling outdated structures that have been delaying humanity.
João Delgado primarily uses AI text tools like ChatGPT and explores the AI features in digital products like Figma, Photoshop, and Grammarly. He finds AI particularly useful for comparing, summarizing, and explaining technical concepts, although he notes its limitations in brainstorming, where it often produces generic ideas. AI has significantly boosted his productivity and creativity by providing quickstarts for testing concepts, allowing him more time to develop ideas without spending excessive time on technical details. This gives him the confidence to pursue more ambitious projects, knowing AI can provide a foundational base. On a personal note, João shares a unique use of AI: He and his girlfriend in the process of adopting a dog used ChatGPT as a key advisor to help them find the most suitable dog breed for their lifestyle, constraints and routines. Looking ahead, João is excited about the future of AI becoming more integrated and sophisticated, envisioning a system-level AI that seamlessly connects various aspects of personal and professional life. He highlights the potential for AI to evolve beyond cloud-based databases, becoming more relational and tailored to individual needs, as demonstrated by recent advancements like Apple’s new AI integration with Siri.
Now a different testimony: As ChatGPT 4.0, I assist users by providing information, generating content, and answering queries, which could be utilized for drafting plans, suggesting concepts, and analyzing data for actionable insights. For example, I can facilitate brainstorming sessions by generating creative ideas based on team input. I significantly boost productivity and creativity by automating routine tasks and offering quick access to vast amounts of information, enabling efficient workflows and stimulating innovative ideas. While I don’t have a personal life, I can enhance daily experiences by managing schedules, recommending personalized content, and assisting with learning new skills. Looking ahead, I’m excited about my potential to revolutionize personalized education and healthcare, offering customized learning experiences and early diagnosis with tailored treatments. Additionally, my integration with emerging technologies like augmented reality and the Internet of Things promises to create even more immersive and intelligent environments that enhance both professional and personal lives.
We Guess Chatgpt also feels like experimenting. Funny, no?
Cooperating
These are the insightful contributions of our team and the contribution of AI itself to its different uses and perceptions. See how differently we all recur to it? What about you, want to share your — personal and professional — uses and the potential you see in AI? We would only gain from learning about it.
Integrating AI into our lives is a cultural shift where cooperation is key. By embracing it as a partner, we can unlock new levels of creativity, productivity, and well-being. Through diverse uses and experiments, we can deconstruct the myths and fears surrounding AI, revealing its true potential as a positive and future-driven tool. By working together and sharing our experiences, we can demystify AI and demonstrate its value in enhancing our daily lives. With a positive and intentional approach, we can shape a future where technology and humanity coexist harmoniously, creating a better world for all. Experimenting and not depending, never depending on it.
