Tag: drew barrymore

The Happiness, Toils and Tribulations of AI

How’s It Working for You?

AI is here to stay. The best thing to do is to embrace it. A few weeks ago, I wrote “What Does AI Really Know About You?” and “Is AI Really That Smart?”

Time to move on and discuss my latest findings. I have been on several Zooms, a breakfast (the bagels and lox were good, but not from Brooklyn), and conference calls about it. AI helps with streamlining basic activities. In the media relations world, it is great to research reporters and publications. I have found it more helpful than the pricey databases (Cision and Meltwater) we all use. Yes, those platforms are incorporating AI into their system. Like all things moving forward with AI, it is getting there. Remember, once there were three TV stations – ABC, CBS, and NBC. Look at where we are now.

Many people are using AI to draft emails and corporate memos and to create visual aids. Does it take the human touch out of things? Sure. It is cookie-cutter style. When I upload these blogs to AI tools to see what it thinks, it makes important corrections by catching typos and offer suggestions.

That’s great. But it takes the personalization out. I mentioned characters from “E.T. – The Extra Terrestrial” in “Keys” on Substack. I mentioned Keys, played by Peter Coyote, and went to stay with Gertie, played by Drew Barrymore, who is a better character. In my opinion its true. Most people probably remember her telling E.T. to be good in her tearful goodbye. 

E.T. at the Museum of Moving Image, Astoria, NY

I was personalizing my post. AI told me not to. It seemed to think personalization would be distracting or not flow. Did I cut it out? No. I cleaned up my reference, and all of a sudden, AI loved it. Go figure.

The holy medicinal waters at Coney Island

The questions raised are: how creative can AI get? I took a few continuing education writer classes with the Gotham Writers Workshop. Highly recommended. We discussed this. Our thoughts came back to the standard thinking with AI as it grows – Use It and Verify. Don’t completely trust it. But learn how it will help you move forward. It can help your creativity. Just like seeing certain waves at Coney Island when you are shooting images of the Polar Bears. 

Coney Island Polar Bear Plunge

Sounds like the rule of thumb for everything. It is all a learning experience that helps us get smarter.

Anat Returns

Anat’s brief employment as a hotel chef in Aruba concluded. She only worked for a few days. She didn’t accomplish her goal. So she came home to wreak havoc.

Marc was pluggin’ away and wishing for better pitching. Alana was fairly calm.

Anat strolled into her apartment and went right for her dried fruit. She ate tons of it. She was powering up. She did so some soul searching in Aruba. She wondered if she really had to take out Jen? Or if she caused enough damage? She was tired of being alone. She played she didn’t need friends or a boyfriend. But deep inside she would love to have both.

She couldn’t figure out what was wrong with her. Let’s face it. She went to a great school, earned high grades and had money. She is a bit odd. But who isn’t?

She wondered about her parents. They haven’t spoken in years. They missed her college graduation. That was about 20 years ago.

She took a look in the mirror. She knew she wasn’t Drew Barrymore. But she certainly didn’t think she is ugly.

She tightened the laces on her boots and walked out of her building.