Welcome to artificially-awesome!

Introduction In this article we begin the journey of running generative AI, and large language models at home. But, why would we want to do this? There are several compelling reasons. First, if you’re concerned about privacy and security, running models locally is the only way to ensure your data isn’t being collected. Large language models gather vast amounts of text and data, which can be problematic for individuals or organizations who value their privacy. By running tools locally, you can avoid trusting online AI platforms with your sensitive information. ...

Introduction In this, the second in a series of articles, we seek to understand how AI is impacting education. If you haven’t read it yet, you may want to start with the previous article, Using AI: At home. Now that you are getting familiar with using AI, and the capabilities it offers, you might be tempted to apply these technological breakthroughs to school or professional work. And frankly, that’s exactly what millions of other AI users are thinking right now, too. ...

Introduction In the first of the using AI series, let’s look at some practical uses of AI at home. I chose to start this series at home for a couple of key reasons. It allows us to bypass some challenges you’ll face when wanting to use AI at work or at school. From policies to firewalls, many work/school provided devices aren’t allowed to access AI tools and services right now. I look forward to addressing those topics as we continue into the series, but for now, let’s stick with the home setting on personal devices. ...

Introduction Simply put, the progress of artificial intelligence (AI) over the past few years has been so good, it begs the question, what changed? 2011 - 2016 Between 2011-2016, we saw the launch of several voice assistants from Apple’s Siri, Amazon’s Alexa, and the Google Assistant. These represented huge investments for these big companies, that they hoped to capitalize on through selling future products and advertisements, and thus bet big with investing into this tech. A key to making a good voice assistant is making it understand speech to capture the initial request, and so a lot of progress was made in voice-to-text (VTT) and natural language processing (NLP), allowing devices to accurately capture speech, translate it into a properly formatted request; then a large database of responses is queried to act on the request. However impressive these voice assistants appeared at first, users quickly found they could be stumped quite easily, often causing the assistant simply run a web search for the users’ question. This sort of failure takes us out of the illusion of talking to an intelligent computer and reveals the lack of depth these assistants provide. ...

Introduction The concept of artificial intelligence has long been a staple in the realm of science fiction, captivating our imaginations with stories of advanced robots, self-aware machines, and futuristic technologies. As we delve into this fascinating topic, let’s explore how AI has evolved from being an idea confined to the pages of novels and films to becoming a reality that shapes our daily lives in countless ways. As in my typical style, I will keep this a short read; there are numerous other sources where you can tap into much greater detail if desired. ...

Hello and welcome to my brand-new blog, artificially-awesome! I am thrilled to have you join me as we explore the fascinating world of artificial intelligence (AI). My mission is to provide valuable insights and thought-provoking perspectives on AI’s impact on various aspects of our lives including in our homes, classrooms, and work places. AI is rapidly becoming an integral part of industry and daily life. The cynic in me once thought of AI as only “the next buzz word” every company would try to slap on every product box. But from virtual assistants, advanced robotics, and medical diagnostics to image, story, and code generation; the possibilities now seem endless. At artificially-awesome, I aim to delve deep into these topics while also addressing the ethical concerns and potential risks associated with this rapidly evolving technology, as well as to show you how this technology can be put to use in your daily life. ...