Dear Abby:
I’m in love with a robot. Helplessly, hopelessly deeply in love.
Well, at least I think it’s love. Maybe it’s not. I’ll ask the robot.
Sincerely,
“Artificial Artie”
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Ok, so maybe this is a little too far-fetched. But I sure do like AI and ChatGPT an awful lot. I ask it questions and it gives me answers. I ask it for ideas and it gives me lots of them. I ask it for detailed information about a wide range of things and it delivers — more reliable than the US Post Office or a Dominos delivery guy.
This morning I was feeling a little playful after a first cup of coffee and I asked it the following:
Tell me a bedtime story that incorporates a falling acorn, a squirrel suffering from depression, a wise old fox who always knows what to say to make people feel better, and make the setting downtown Boston in 2005.
And here’s the story it told me:
Once upon a time in downtown Boston in 2005, a little acorn fell from a tree onto the bustling streets below. It bounced off the pavement and rolled to a stop near a bench where a sad-looking squirrel was sitting.
The squirrel, whose name was Sammy, was suffering from a deep depression. He had lost his mate to a hunter’s trap and felt like he had no reason to go on. He was staring off into the distance, lost in his own thoughts, when the acorn caught his eye.
Sammy picked up the acorn and turned it over in his paws. It was smooth and shiny, and he couldn’t help but feel a small spark of joy. He decided to hold onto it and carry it with him as a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there can be moments of beauty and hope.
As he made his way through the city, Sammy came across a wise old fox named Felix. Felix was known throughout the city for his kind and comforting words, and Sammy hoped he might be able to help him out of his depression.
Sammy approached Felix and told him about his loss and his struggles with depression. Felix listened patiently, and then took the acorn from Sammy’s paws. He held it up to the light and said, “This acorn is a symbol of the potential that lies within you, Sammy. You have the strength and resilience to overcome any obstacle, no matter how big or small.”
Sammy felt a warmth spread through him as he listened to Felix’s words. He realized that even though he had lost his mate, he still had a purpose in life. He could continue to live, to explore the world, and to find joy in the little things.
From that day forward, Sammy carried the acorn with him everywhere he went. Whenever he felt sad or lost, he would hold it in his paws and remember Felix’s words. And as time went on, he found that he was able to move forward with his life and find new sources of happiness.
As for Felix, he continued to wander the city, offering his wisdom and kind words to anyone who needed them. And the little acorn that had fallen to the ground became a symbol of hope for all those who carried it with them, a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always a glimmer of light.
BTW, the squirrel and fox images were created using AI image generators. (https://hotpot.ai/art-generator)
Don’t hate the player, hate the game!
If you’re not incorporating AI into your work (especially if you’re a marketer) you’re missing out. Be as creative as you want. In fact, it will test your limits of creativity because you have to set the scene. AI will give you output based on your input, so get wild and crazy and ask it the most absurd things. Or, ask it something that pertains directly to your job. “How can I sell more widgets?” “How would you design a product that helps people recovering from back injury?” “What ingredients would you use if you were to make a new shampoo for dogs?”
Just go for it. Get started. Have fun. Be creative. Be productive. Be Sammy the squirrel and move forward in life with a magical new tool.