Boost your productivity
🤯The irony of searching
As a millennial, I spent well over two decades living through the evolution of search. It’s my second nature to search for anything to gather information.
Search once used to be relatively straightforward. I type in keywords, and the engine gives me the best-matched results. Nowadays, there is much information competing for each other to grab my attention; ever heard of SEO? Search engines will no longer give me what I want or not so quickly, at least. Often, it pushes irrelevant information toward me simply because someone else paid for it.
So as searching became more complex or greedier, I had to understand and navigate myself for the correct information. This was a very time-consuming task; ironically, I spent time learning to search to save time.
🤮Others must’ve been sick of this shit, too.
I’ve been using ChatGPT since it was introduced in November last year, and it’s been a game changer for my productivity.
As I mentioned, the problem with search engines was that a) I must understand better to get what I want, and b) they give you the results based on their merit.
With ChatGPT, I can simply ask what I want in a plain sentence. Most of the time, I get the answers I was looking for, and if it can’t generate the response, it’ll simply say it can’t. It was clear that I could get what I wanted much faster, uninterrupted by the ads and sponsored pages.
I noticed many existing services and applications adapting to this paradigm. To name a few, Grammarly just announced GrammarlyGo, a generative AI service for ideas. Notion.io also started providing NotionAI, a generative AI for notes, and Github introduced Copilot, a generative AI for coding.
Yeah, it’s about time we do something about this.
🕵🏻Get yourself an assistant.
In the 4-hour workweek by Tim Ferris, he talks about delegating your unimportant work by hiring people or services so that you can focus your energy towards more impactful things, which leads to a better outcome.
I think of ChatGPT or any generative AI as my research assistant. It cannot perform tasks like sending emails on my behalf but can unbiasedly give me the information I request.
Anytime I have a question, I would ask ChatGPT. Since I’m a free-tier user, I don’t get the latest data. However, most of my questions don’t involve the latest data, primarily about programming issues or general curiosities in various topics.
For example, a few days ago, I wanted to buy Joanna a pedal-less bicycle for her birthday. I’ve seen photos of Joanna riding one at daycare, and I could see that she was enjoying it. So I asked ChatGPT.
‘what are the popular brands for pedal-less bikes for three-year-olds?’
There are several popular brands that manufacture pedal-less bicycles, also known as balance bikes, for three-year-olds. Some of the well-known brands in this category include:
Strider: Strider is one of the leading brands in the balance bike market. They offer a range of balance bikes specifically designed for young children, including three-year-olds. Their bikes are known for their lightweight construction, adjustable seat height, and sturdy build.
WOOM: WOOM is a renowned brand that produces high-quality balance bikes for kids. They focus on creating lightweight bikes with child-friendly features such as adjustable seat height, ergonomic design, and easy maneuverability.
KaZAM: KaZAM is another popular brand known for its pedal-less bicycles. They offer balance bikes suitable for three-year-olds, featuring durable construction, adjustable seat height, and puncture-resistant tires.
Response continues…
Okay, so it’s called balance bikes, cool.
‘What about the popular brands for helmets?’
There are several popular brands that manufacture helmets for children, including three-year-olds. Here are some well-known brands in the market:
Giro: Giro is a reputable brand that offers a wide range of helmets for various sports, including cycling. They provide helmets designed specifically for children, with features such as adjustable fit systems, durable construction, and vibrant designs.
Bell: Bell is a renowned brand known for its helmets for both adults and children. They offer a selection of helmets suitable for young riders, including three-year-olds. Bell helmets often include safety features like MIPS (Multi-Directional Impact Protection System) and adjustable fit systems for a secure and comfortable fit.
Nutcase: Nutcase is a popular brand recognized for its colorful and stylish helmets. They produce helmets with unique designs and patterns that appeal to children. Nutcase helmets typically have a lightweight construction, adjustable fit systems, and good ventilation.
Response continues...
What’s cool about ChatGPT is that it takes my previous inquiry in the following question, so I don’t have to explain the context repeatedly.
All this took me less than two minutes.
If I typed “pedal-less bike” on Google, I probably would see the sponsored pages and many purchasing options on the top. I would also have to guess which ones are popular by looking at the price, and all the while I’m going through the list of items, it’ll probably show ads and my previous shopping items to distract me as well.
Seriously, it’s a kick-ass research assistant.
💆🏻♂️Take advantage.
The experience is kind of weird at first because it’s not something we’re used to asking questions on the search bar. I usually have my thoughts laid out and try to fill the gaps by searching, so I’m still used to typing keywords rather than sentences.
Don’t give up so early because you’re not used to this!
I also want to note that generative AI is in its primitive stage. It’s not perfect and won’t change everything immediately, but it’s the first time AI has been available in our familiar context, in text. Siri has been out for over a decade, and I barely use it because voice control is not so natural.
Like the evolution of the internet, smartphone, and social media, generative AI will evolve with us as we leverage this technology.
I recommend taking advantage of ChatGPT.
If you’re a writer, ask to write an outline for your ideas.
If you’re a software engineer, ask how to solve a technical problem.
If you’re curious about a topic, ask about it.
Once you get used to asking questions instead of typing keywords on the search bar, you’ll see how much time you save compared to using search engines.
Stop doing everything yourself and just ask.
Thank you for reading!
Thanks Han. I must admit I find this technology daunting. I guess you could call me primitive in the way I like to see how things unfold before I commit. I understand AI will be a method for the future, but are we outsourcing our own human intuition. I think we need to be cautious. Thanks for sharing.