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The Future of Books and Improving Your memory with AI: Steven Johnson (Author and Google Labs)
07/10/24 • 48 min
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Steven Johnson on NotebookLM: Revolutionizing Writing and Research
Steven Johnson, author of 14 books on the history of science and technology, discusses Google’s new writing and research tool, NotebookLM. He elaborates on how walking influences creativity, the importance of play in innovation, and shares insights into using AI for augmenting thought and memory. The conversation covers his role in co-creating NotebookLM with Google Labs, the importance of uploading sources for effective use, and the potential of AI to enhance both authorship and readership. Johnson also touches on potential future developments, such as recommending additional sources and addressing privacy concerns. The dialogue highlights the revolutionary potential of AI-driven tools in research and content creation.
00:00 Introduction to Steven Johnson
00:20 The Role of Walking in Creativity
02:27 The Importance of Play and Uselessness
04:35 Notebook LM: A New Research Tool
07:02 The Genesis of Notebook LM
09:29 Building and Innovating at Google Labs
12:48 Using Notebook LM for Writing and Research
22:24 Exploring New Book Ideas with Notebook LM
25:27 Exploring AI's Role in Research
25:56 Future of AI in Recommending Sources
26:44 Tone and Style in AI Writing
29:20 Privacy and Copyright Concerns
30:26 AI's Impact on Writing and Creativity
36:05 New Forms of Reading and Books
40:29 Practical Tips for Using NotebookLM
44:34 Reflections on the Future of Authorship
For more prompts, tips, and AI tools. Check out our website: https://www.beyondtheprompt.ai/ or follow Jeremy or Henrik on Linkedin:
Henrik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/werdelin
Jeremy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyutley
Show edited by Emma Cecilie Jensen.
Steven Johnson on NotebookLM: Revolutionizing Writing and Research
Steven Johnson, author of 14 books on the history of science and technology, discusses Google’s new writing and research tool, NotebookLM. He elaborates on how walking influences creativity, the importance of play in innovation, and shares insights into using AI for augmenting thought and memory. The conversation covers his role in co-creating NotebookLM with Google Labs, the importance of uploading sources for effective use, and the potential of AI to enhance both authorship and readership. Johnson also touches on potential future developments, such as recommending additional sources and addressing privacy concerns. The dialogue highlights the revolutionary potential of AI-driven tools in research and content creation.
00:00 Introduction to Steven Johnson
00:20 The Role of Walking in Creativity
02:27 The Importance of Play and Uselessness
04:35 Notebook LM: A New Research Tool
07:02 The Genesis of Notebook LM
09:29 Building and Innovating at Google Labs
12:48 Using Notebook LM for Writing and Research
22:24 Exploring New Book Ideas with Notebook LM
25:27 Exploring AI's Role in Research
25:56 Future of AI in Recommending Sources
26:44 Tone and Style in AI Writing
29:20 Privacy and Copyright Concerns
30:26 AI's Impact on Writing and Creativity
36:05 New Forms of Reading and Books
40:29 Practical Tips for Using NotebookLM
44:34 Reflections on the Future of Authorship
For more prompts, tips, and AI tools. Check out our website: https://www.beyondtheprompt.ai/ or follow Jeremy or Henrik on Linkedin:
Henrik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/werdelin
Jeremy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyutley
Show edited by Emma Cecilie Jensen.
Previous Episode
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Make ChatGPT Your Personal Tutor: Documentary Film Maker Juan Carlos On How ChatGPT Turned Him Into An iPhone App Developer
Transforming Dreams into Reality: Juan Carlos on Documentary Filmmaking, AI, and Building an iPhone App with ChatGPT
In this episode, Juan Carlos shares his extraordinary journey from being a documentary filmmaker to becoming a product leader and app developer. He discusses his transition from film school at NYU to directing notable documentaries like 'Second Skin,' which explored the lives of individuals deeply integrated into online video games. Juan Carlos dives into his experience using ChatGPT as a developmental tutor to create an iPhone app from scratch, despite having no prior programming experience. He provides insights into project selection, overcoming technical challenges, and utilizing ChatGPT for productivity and self-development. Key takeaways include the importance of minimal viable products, leveraging AI for task automation, and innovative methods like using AI to analyze personal cognitive biases.
00:00 Introduction to Vanity and AI
01:02 Exploring Virtual Worlds
01:47 Transition to Digital and Photography
03:07 Project Selection and Mindset
08:30 Building an iPhone App with ChatGPT
10:38 Overcoming Technical Hurdles
32:39 Exploring Different Data Formats
32:43 Building a Basic iOS App
35:50 Defining the MVP
37:08 Navigating the App Store
37:55 Future Projects and Chatbots
41:48 Conclusion and Reflections
For more prompts, tips, and AI tools. Check out our website: https://www.beyondtheprompt.ai/ or follow Jeremy or Henrik on Linkedin:
Henrik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/werdelin
Jeremy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyutley
Show edited by Emma Cecilie Jensen.
Next Episode
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How to Increase Workplace Productivity. Notion's Lead AI Engineer Shir Yehoshua on High-Risk, High-Reward AI Projects
Join us as we chat with Shir, the engineering lead of Notion AI, about her journey into AI, from her early fascination with Apple's speech-to-text technology to her impactful contributions at Google and Waymo. Shir shares insights into her current role at Notion, the innovative AI projects she's leading, and the unique culture of experimentation and failure that drives product development. Discover how AI drafts performance reviews in minutes, celebrates code deletion in team demos, and integrates seamlessly with Slack to provide precise answers. Plus, learn about innovative tools like the AI writer that helps overcome writer’s block and enables effortless content creation. Get a behind-the-scenes look at how Notion's unique culture fosters innovation and continuous improvement.
00:00 Introduction to Shir and AI Journey
00:47 Early Fascination with AI
01:36 Career at Google and Voice Search
03:43 Transition to Waymo and Challenges
05:11 Joining Notion and Initial Impressions
06:09 Adopting AI at Notion
11:55 Internal Use and Impact of AI
15:12 Challenges and Innovations in AI Integration
20:05 Monitoring and Feedback Mechanisms
22:39 Strength and Flexibility in Product Development
23:44 Exploration vs. Exploitation Phases
24:47 Speed Enables Quality
27:50 Overcoming Sunk Cost Fallacy
30:36 Celebrating Failures and Learning
33:11 The Future of AI and Creativity
34:44 Practical Uses of AI in Daily Work
38:04 The Evolution of Human-Computer Interaction
41:02 Final Thoughts and Reflections
For more prompts, tips, and AI tools. Check out our website: https://www.beyondtheprompt.ai/ or follow Jeremy or Henrik on Linkedin:
Henrik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/werdelin
Jeremy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyutley
Show edited by Emma Cecilie Jensen.
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