I tried using AI. It scared me.
The author discusses how new technologies, like the internet, follow a specific growth pattern: slow start, rapid expansion, and then a leveling off. He believes artificial intelligence (AI), particularly text-generating systems like ChatGPT, is at the beginning of a similar rapid growth phase, comparing it to Napster's impact on the music industry. He shares a personal story about using ChatGPT to fix a complex email backup problem, highlighting how the AI, despite its imperfections, made the task much easier and felt like a collaborative coding partner. This experience led him to feel a sense of dread, not because he fears AI will take his job, but because he anticipates a radical, unpredictable change to the comfortable world he knows, similar to how the internet transformed industries in the early 2000s.
Key Vocabulary
Not requiring or involving specialized technical knowledge or expertise; accessible to a general audience.
Examples:
- The instruction manual was designed to be nontechnical, allowing anyone to assemble the furniture easily.
- She preferred to explain complex concepts in a nontechnical way so that everyone could understand.
- The presentation was praised for its nontechnical approach, making the subject matter engaging for all attendees.
Having or displaying a deep, often obsessive, interest in a particular subject, typically one that is academic or technical, and often considered socially awkward or unfashionable.
Examples:
- His nerdy obsession with vintage video games meant he knew every cheat code for every console.
- She embraced her nerdy side by attending comic conventions and debating superhero lore.
- The professor was known for his nerdy but brilliant lectures on quantum physics.
An acronym for Virtual Private Network, a technology that creates a secure, encrypted connection over a less secure network, such as the internet, allowing users to access content or browse privately.
Examples:
- Many remote workers use a VPN to securely access their company's internal network from home.
- He installed a VPN on his phone to protect his online privacy when using public Wi-Fi.
- Using a VPN allowed her to stream content that was only available in certain geographical regions.
Relating to existence, particularly human existence, or the problems and challenges of being alive. It often implies a deep, philosophical questioning of purpose or meaning.
Examples:
- Reading the novel sparked an existential debate among the book club members about free will.
- The long night of insomnia led him to an existential reflection on the fleeting nature of time.
- Facing the vastness of the universe can sometimes trigger an existential awe, making one feel both small and connected.
Used to state a belief or opinion that you think can be supported by reasons, even if it is not universally accepted as fact; it suggests that something can be contended or asserted.
Examples:
- She is arguably the most talented musician of her generation, given her numerous awards and critical acclaim.
- The new policy is arguably a step backward for environmental protection, despite its stated goals.
- He made arguably the best decision under pressure, leading the team to victory.
With great care and thoroughness; in a way that requires or shows careful and diligent effort.
Examples:
- The archaeologist painstakingly uncovered each artifact, ensuring no detail was missed.
- She painstakingly reviewed every line of code to find the elusive bug.
- He painstakingly restored the antique clock, piece by delicate piece, to its original working condition.
To interject or interrupt a conversation, typically to offer an opinion or information; to contribute to a discussion.
Examples:
- During the meeting, he kept chiming in with suggestions, even when it wasn't his turn.
- She couldn't help but chime in when she heard them discussing her favorite movie.
- The audience started chiming in with their own experiences after the speaker finished his story.
A deep, resonant, continuous sound, often indicating distant or approaching activity, or a premonition of significant change or conflict.
Examples:
- The distant rumble of thunder signaled an approaching storm.
- We heard a low rumble from the engine, indicating a potential mechanical issue.
- The first rumble of discontent among the workers suggested a strike was imminent.
Having a shape like the letter S or the Greek letter sigma (Σ); in the context of growth curves, it refers to a pattern of slow initial growth, followed by rapid acceleration, and then a leveling off as limits are reached.
Examples:
- The population growth of the species followed a sigmoid curve, initially slow, then rapid, and finally plateauing.
- The company's market penetration showed a clear sigmoid pattern, with a period of explosive growth after an initial slow start.
- In biology, many natural processes, such as cell division, exhibit a sigmoid progression.
To make a process or system operate automatically using machines or computers, thereby reducing the need for human intervention.
Examples:
- The factory decided to automate its assembly line to increase efficiency and reduce labor costs.
- Many household tasks can now be automated with smart devices, like vacuuming and lighting.
- The new software will automate the data entry process, saving hours of manual work.
A common type of bird, typically white and grey with long wings, found near the sea, often known for its distinctive loud cries.
Examples:
- A lone seagull soared gracefully above the crashing waves.
- The children enjoyed feeding the seagulls on the pier, despite their parents' warnings.
- The sound of a distant seagull often reminds me of my childhood vacations by the ocean.
Experiencing something that is not actually present, such as seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not real, often due to a medical condition, lack of sleep, or the influence of drugs.
Examples:
- After days without sleep, he started hallucinating strange figures in the shadows.
- The patient reported hallucinating vivid colors and patterns during the fever.
- She worried she was hallucinating when she heard her name called from an empty room.
A person who is excessively intellectual, obsessive, or socially awkward, especially within a specific field of interest; often used informally and sometimes affectionately.
Examples:
- He's a complete computer nerd; he can fix any software problem you throw at him.
- She was a self-proclaimed history nerd, knowing obscure facts about ancient civilizations.
- The group of friends bonded over their shared love of science fiction, proudly calling themselves nerds.
The understanding of an event or situation only after it has happened.
Examples:
- In hindsight, I should have taken that job offer when I had the chance.
- With perfect hindsight, it's easy to see where they went wrong.
- Hindsight is 20/20, meaning it's always clearer looking back.
A contraction of 'have', often used informally after pronouns or certain adverbs.
Examples:
- I've finished my homework, so I can go out now.
- They've been waiting for hours for the bus to arrive.
- We've decided to postpone the meeting until next week.
To read or study something with intense concentration and attention to detail.
Examples:
- She spent hours poring over the old maps, searching for the hidden treasure.
- He had to pore through numerous documents to find the crucial piece of evidence.
- The student would pore over her textbooks late into the night before exams.
A person who is timid, meek, or unassertive; lacking in courage or spirit.
Examples:
- He was too milquetoast to stand up to the bully, always deferring to others.
- The committee's proposal was so milquetoast that it failed to address the core issues.
- Despite his intimidating appearance, the new boss turned out to be quite milquetoast in his decision-making.
The suppression or prohibition of any parts of books, films, news, etc., that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to security.
Examples:
- The government imposed strict censorship on all media outlets during the crisis.
- Artists protested against the censorship of their work, arguing it infringed on their creative freedom.
- Internet censorship is a common practice in some countries, limiting access to certain websites.
Developing or advancing gradually and almost imperceptibly, often in a negative or unwelcome way.
Examples:
- There was a creeping sense of unease as the fog rolled in.
- The creeping inflation slowly eroded the purchasing power of their savings.
- He noticed a creeping vine starting to cover the side of his house.
A disturbance or problem that interrupts an event, activity, or process; a radical change to an existing industry or market due to a new technology or business model.
Examples:
- The sudden power outage caused a major disruption to the entire neighborhood.
- The invention of the smartphone led to significant disruption in the telecommunications industry.
- The strike caused widespread disruption to public transportation across the city.