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Impromptu: Amplifying Our Humanity Through AI
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER
Amplifying Our Humanity Through AI, written by Reid Hoffman with GPT-4, offers readers a travelog of the future – exploring how AI, and especially Large Language Models like GPT-4, can elevate humanity across key areas like education, business, and creativity.
But, it's not just a book, it's a conversation. In a first, Hoffman doesn’t just write about GPT-4; he interacts and writes with GPT-4, letting readers see the technology’s capabilities — its strengths and limitations alike. Using GPT-4 as his “author’s co-pilot,” Hoffman paints an intriguing, challenging, and often entertaining picture of what’s where trouble may arise, but also crucially, what could possibly go right. His conversation with AI takes us on a journey to the future, where AI is not a threat, but a partner. A partner that can help us unlock our full potential as human beings.
How might humanity use GPT-4 to continue our long-standing quest to make life more meaningful and prosperous? How can we use it to help solve some of the hardest challenges we face? To expand opportunities for self-determination and self-expression?
Along with solutions and opportunities, GPT-4 will also create its own challenges and uncertainties. Impromptu explores how we might address risk as we continue to develop AI technologies that can boost human progress at a time when the need for rapid solutions at scale has never been greater. Impromptu starts the conversation, and invites us to join that conversation to shape our collaborative journey and achieve our destiny.
Amplifying Our Humanity Through AI, written by Reid Hoffman with GPT-4, offers readers a travelog of the future – exploring how AI, and especially Large Language Models like GPT-4, can elevate humanity across key areas like education, business, and creativity.
But, it's not just a book, it's a conversation. In a first, Hoffman doesn’t just write about GPT-4; he interacts and writes with GPT-4, letting readers see the technology’s capabilities — its strengths and limitations alike. Using GPT-4 as his “author’s co-pilot,” Hoffman paints an intriguing, challenging, and often entertaining picture of what’s where trouble may arise, but also crucially, what could possibly go right. His conversation with AI takes us on a journey to the future, where AI is not a threat, but a partner. A partner that can help us unlock our full potential as human beings.
How might humanity use GPT-4 to continue our long-standing quest to make life more meaningful and prosperous? How can we use it to help solve some of the hardest challenges we face? To expand opportunities for self-determination and self-expression?
Along with solutions and opportunities, GPT-4 will also create its own challenges and uncertainties. Impromptu explores how we might address risk as we continue to develop AI technologies that can boost human progress at a time when the need for rapid solutions at scale has never been greater. Impromptu starts the conversation, and invites us to join that conversation to shape our collaborative journey and achieve our destiny.
234 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 14, 2023
625 people are currently reading
1274 people want to read
About the author
Reid Hoffman
30 books950 followersAn accomplished entrepreneur, executive, and investor, Reid Hoffman has played an integral role in building many of today’s leading consumer technology businesses, including LinkedIn and PayPal. He possesses a unique understanding of consumer behavior and the dynamics of viral businesses, as well as deep experience in driving companies from the earliest stages through periods of explosive, “blitzscale” growth. Ranging from LinkedIn to PayPal, from Airbnb to Convoy to Facebook, he invests in businesses with network effects and collaborates on building their product ecosystems.
Hoffman co-founded LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional networking service, in 2003. LinkedIn is thriving with more than 700 million members around the world and a diversified revenue model that includes subscriptions, advertising, and software licensing. He led LinkedIn through its first four years and to profitability as Chief Executive Officer. In 2016 LinkedIn was acquired by Microsoft, and he became a board member of Microsoft.
Prior to LinkedIn, Hoffman served as executive vice president at PayPal, where he was also a founding board member.
Hoffman joined Greylock in 2009. He focuses on building products that can reach hundreds of millions of participants and businesses that have network effects. He currently serves on the boards of Aurora, Coda, Convoy, Entrepreneur First, Joby, Microsoft, Nauto, Neeva, and a few early stage companies still in stealth. In addition, he serves on a number of not-for-profit boards, including Kiva, Endeavor, CZ Biohub, New America, Berggruen Institute, Opportunity@Work, the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI, and the MacArthur Foundation’s Lever for Change. Prior to joining Greylock, he invested personally in many influential Internet companies, including Facebook, Flickr, Last.fm, and Zynga.
In 2022, Hoffman co-founded Inflection AI, an artificial intelligence company that aims to create software products that make it easier for humans to communicate with computers.
Hoffman is the host of Masters of Scale, an original podcast series and the first American media program to commit to a 50-50 gender balance for featured guests as well as Possible, a podcast that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. He is the co-author of five best-selling books: The Startup of You, The Alliance, Blitzscaling, Masters of Scale, and Impromptu.
Hoffman earned a master’s degree in philosophy from Oxford University, where he was a Marshall Scholar, and a bachelor’s degree with distinction in symbolic systems from Stanford University. In 2010 he was the recipient of an SD Forum Visionary Award and named a Henry Crown Fellow by The Aspen Institute. In 2012, he was honored by the Martin Luther King center’s Salute to Greatness Award. Also in 2012, he received the David Packard Medal of Achievement from TechAmerica and an honorary doctor of law from Babson University. In 2017, he was appointed as a CBE by her majesty Queen Elizabeth II. He received an honorary doctorate from the University of Oulu, an international science university, in 2020. In 2022, Reid received Vanderbilt University's prestigious Nichols-Chancellor's Medal and delivered the Graduates Day address to the Class of 2022 on the importance and power of friendship.
Hoffman co-founded LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional networking service, in 2003. LinkedIn is thriving with more than 700 million members around the world and a diversified revenue model that includes subscriptions, advertising, and software licensing. He led LinkedIn through its first four years and to profitability as Chief Executive Officer. In 2016 LinkedIn was acquired by Microsoft, and he became a board member of Microsoft.
Prior to LinkedIn, Hoffman served as executive vice president at PayPal, where he was also a founding board member.
Hoffman joined Greylock in 2009. He focuses on building products that can reach hundreds of millions of participants and businesses that have network effects. He currently serves on the boards of Aurora, Coda, Convoy, Entrepreneur First, Joby, Microsoft, Nauto, Neeva, and a few early stage companies still in stealth. In addition, he serves on a number of not-for-profit boards, including Kiva, Endeavor, CZ Biohub, New America, Berggruen Institute, Opportunity@Work, the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI, and the MacArthur Foundation’s Lever for Change. Prior to joining Greylock, he invested personally in many influential Internet companies, including Facebook, Flickr, Last.fm, and Zynga.
In 2022, Hoffman co-founded Inflection AI, an artificial intelligence company that aims to create software products that make it easier for humans to communicate with computers.
Hoffman is the host of Masters of Scale, an original podcast series and the first American media program to commit to a 50-50 gender balance for featured guests as well as Possible, a podcast that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. He is the co-author of five best-selling books: The Startup of You, The Alliance, Blitzscaling, Masters of Scale, and Impromptu.
Hoffman earned a master’s degree in philosophy from Oxford University, where he was a Marshall Scholar, and a bachelor’s degree with distinction in symbolic systems from Stanford University. In 2010 he was the recipient of an SD Forum Visionary Award and named a Henry Crown Fellow by The Aspen Institute. In 2012, he was honored by the Martin Luther King center’s Salute to Greatness Award. Also in 2012, he received the David Packard Medal of Achievement from TechAmerica and an honorary doctor of law from Babson University. In 2017, he was appointed as a CBE by her majesty Queen Elizabeth II. He received an honorary doctorate from the University of Oulu, an international science university, in 2020. In 2022, Reid received Vanderbilt University's prestigious Nichols-Chancellor's Medal and delivered the Graduates Day address to the Class of 2022 on the importance and power of friendship.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
March 5, 2024
4.0⭐
Impromptu is a book about GPT-4 written with the help of GPT-4. It focuses on the practical use of the model and is written with a fairly positive attitude.
Among the various chapters, I found the one on education and the one on creativity the most interesting ones. Especially creativity is not something people usually associate with AI.
The usage of prompted replies from GPT-4 was a cool feature, but I feel like the author overused it. A lot of the replies were boring and could have been skipped.
Overall, it has been an insightful read, and I learned some new things. I can only recommend it.
My full review is available here: https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/vie...
I received monetary compensation for providing an honest review of this book.
Impromptu is a book about GPT-4 written with the help of GPT-4. It focuses on the practical use of the model and is written with a fairly positive attitude.
Among the various chapters, I found the one on education and the one on creativity the most interesting ones. Especially creativity is not something people usually associate with AI.
The usage of prompted replies from GPT-4 was a cool feature, but I feel like the author overused it. A lot of the replies were boring and could have been skipped.
Overall, it has been an insightful read, and I learned some new things. I can only recommend it.
My full review is available here: https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/vie...
I received monetary compensation for providing an honest review of this book.
April 9, 2023
A thought-provoking book by Reid Hoffman that explores the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and human behavior.
One of the most positive aspects of the book is that it is well-researched and well-written. Hoffman does an excellent job of explaining complex concepts in a way that is easy for the reader to understand, even if you don’t have a strong background in technology. One of the most interesting strategies in the book is the author’s use of AI to write the book. GPT-4 contributes to much of the book’s dialogue and is used as a tool, to not only display AI’s potential and convince of you its efficiency, but also to display its usefulness in your everyday life.
The book does have some drawbacks. One of the most significant issues is that it can be a bit dry at times. While Hoffman's writing is clear and concise, the book can feel like it is functioning more as an advertisement for AI than an explanation of its potential. There are times when the reader can feel like the tool is being sold to them. However, the sale is completed with transparency and a truthful acknowledgement of the product's downfalls and potential issues.
In the end, I found the information about AI informative and enlightening. I feel better educated, encouraged and excited to use AI tools in my professional and personal life. If you are interested in learning more about how AI is changing our world and the potential that it has to improve our lives, this book is definitely worth reading.
One of the most positive aspects of the book is that it is well-researched and well-written. Hoffman does an excellent job of explaining complex concepts in a way that is easy for the reader to understand, even if you don’t have a strong background in technology. One of the most interesting strategies in the book is the author’s use of AI to write the book. GPT-4 contributes to much of the book’s dialogue and is used as a tool, to not only display AI’s potential and convince of you its efficiency, but also to display its usefulness in your everyday life.
The book does have some drawbacks. One of the most significant issues is that it can be a bit dry at times. While Hoffman's writing is clear and concise, the book can feel like it is functioning more as an advertisement for AI than an explanation of its potential. There are times when the reader can feel like the tool is being sold to them. However, the sale is completed with transparency and a truthful acknowledgement of the product's downfalls and potential issues.
In the end, I found the information about AI informative and enlightening. I feel better educated, encouraged and excited to use AI tools in my professional and personal life. If you are interested in learning more about how AI is changing our world and the potential that it has to improve our lives, this book is definitely worth reading.
October 28, 2023
creating “prompts” is no longer an “im-prompt-u” brainstorm activity, but, as Reid illustrates, this is an important new craft with far-reaching implications. This is a motivating and inspiring read with perhaps the most intriguing ghostwriter ever hired!
January 30, 2026
At face value, I think this book certainly has some good takeaways about AI. I do wish it was delivered from a more neutral stance as it is obvious that Hoffman is all in on this tech. Whether it was the personification of the tools, the random plugs of his investment in it, or the lack of cons proposed, I felt as though I was being told how to think about as opposed to allowing me to frame my own opinions.
I know as well as anybody that AI is going to play a role in the future, considering I encounter just about every day with work. I am not so naive to think it’s a temporary disruption. I do see it as one of those spaces where the financial gain is fogging the vision of these developers thus resulting in lower quality. This technology isn’t a “need” right now. Sure, it helps, but it’s not like the world is going to come to an end if it’s not perfected over night.
The last chapter was a refreshing finish. I would recommend this book to someone who isn’t very tapped in on AI and is interested in learning.
I know as well as anybody that AI is going to play a role in the future, considering I encounter just about every day with work. I am not so naive to think it’s a temporary disruption. I do see it as one of those spaces where the financial gain is fogging the vision of these developers thus resulting in lower quality. This technology isn’t a “need” right now. Sure, it helps, but it’s not like the world is going to come to an end if it’s not perfected over night.
The last chapter was a refreshing finish. I would recommend this book to someone who isn’t very tapped in on AI and is interested in learning.
July 12, 2023
A remarkably captivating book co-written by Reid Hoffman and GPT that encompasses all of the positive and negative remarks associated with AI including the future use cases of it. The author argues that generative AI is more of a super research assistant to figures in any category of work. I hope to see the use of GPT's throughout diverse economies in a positive manner in which it boosts productivity, creativity and safety.
Would recommend this book to an individual of any level.
P.S. it was incredibly satisfying and thrilling to read the various levels of conversations had between Reid Hoffman and GPT-4.
Would recommend this book to an individual of any level.
P.S. it was incredibly satisfying and thrilling to read the various levels of conversations had between Reid Hoffman and GPT-4.
December 5, 2023
This was a book about Reid Hoffman talking about one of his investments (OpenAI), while also playing with OpenAI's product. It is a high level, fairly irrelevant read. I would not recommend it. 2/10
February 11, 2025
Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn and tech investor, offers a thought-provoking look at artificial intelligence, particularly OpenAI’s GPT-4. Unlike many AI books that focus solely on technical details or dystopian fears, this one takes a more balanced approach—exploring AI’s potential as a creative, intellectual, and societal force.
Hoffman treats AI not just as a tool but as a collaborator, something that enhances human thinking, creativity, and productivity. The book itself is a bit of a meta-experiment, with GPT-4 contributing to parts of the writing process, showcasing how AI can assist rather than replace humans. He explores AI’s role across various domains, from business and education to ethics and governance, always with an optimistic but pragmatic lens.
The book is written in an approachable and engaging style, making complex AI concepts digestible for non-experts. Hoffman acknowledges both the risks and opportunities AI presents, steering clear of alarmist narratives and focusing on the practical. The book contains many examples of how AI is already shaping industries, offering valuable insights for professionals in tech, business, and policy.
While Hoffman touches on AI ethics, some discussions such as AI bias or regulatory frameworks could have been explored in greater detail. The book feels like it downplays some of the more immediate risks AI poses to jobs and misinformation.
This is an interesting read for anyone curious about AI’s evolving role in our lives. Hoffman’s insights make a strong case for embracing AI as a powerful partner rather than fearing its rise. While the book could benefit from a deeper dive into AI’s risks, it remains an engaging and insightful read for leaders, technologists, and anyone navigating the intersection of AI and human intelligence.
Hoffman treats AI not just as a tool but as a collaborator, something that enhances human thinking, creativity, and productivity. The book itself is a bit of a meta-experiment, with GPT-4 contributing to parts of the writing process, showcasing how AI can assist rather than replace humans. He explores AI’s role across various domains, from business and education to ethics and governance, always with an optimistic but pragmatic lens.
The book is written in an approachable and engaging style, making complex AI concepts digestible for non-experts. Hoffman acknowledges both the risks and opportunities AI presents, steering clear of alarmist narratives and focusing on the practical. The book contains many examples of how AI is already shaping industries, offering valuable insights for professionals in tech, business, and policy.
While Hoffman touches on AI ethics, some discussions such as AI bias or regulatory frameworks could have been explored in greater detail. The book feels like it downplays some of the more immediate risks AI poses to jobs and misinformation.
This is an interesting read for anyone curious about AI’s evolving role in our lives. Hoffman’s insights make a strong case for embracing AI as a powerful partner rather than fearing its rise. While the book could benefit from a deeper dive into AI’s risks, it remains an engaging and insightful read for leaders, technologists, and anyone navigating the intersection of AI and human intelligence.
November 16, 2023
Thought provoking and time sensitive
This book was really thought-provoking, and some parts of are already obsolete. This book is about GPT – four and ChatGPT. The same week that this review is being posted on Amazon open AI released the next version making many of the details in this book, inaccurate, or at least irrelevant. However, the fundamental principles behind this book are not about the details of the technology, but about how LLM AI in general is integrating into our society, both for good and for bad.
In short, while AI is going to make some jobs and tasks necessary, it is going to make other parts easier and still other parts better than they’ve ever been.
My personal take away is that you don’t have a choice on whether AI is going to change the way you live and work. So, we could either fight it and isolate ourselves from the larger flow of society. Or we can learn to use it. It’s much like how calculators freaked out math teachers, but now they are normal part of the curriculum and practice of meth.
This book was really thought-provoking, and some parts of are already obsolete. This book is about GPT – four and ChatGPT. The same week that this review is being posted on Amazon open AI released the next version making many of the details in this book, inaccurate, or at least irrelevant. However, the fundamental principles behind this book are not about the details of the technology, but about how LLM AI in general is integrating into our society, both for good and for bad.
In short, while AI is going to make some jobs and tasks necessary, it is going to make other parts easier and still other parts better than they’ve ever been.
My personal take away is that you don’t have a choice on whether AI is going to change the way you live and work. So, we could either fight it and isolate ourselves from the larger flow of society. Or we can learn to use it. It’s much like how calculators freaked out math teachers, but now they are normal part of the curriculum and practice of meth.
April 17, 2023
The book was a “travel log” of Hoffmann conversations with ChatGPT and showed me more ways to use it. Also it was cool seeing how someone of his stature prompts it (he founded LinkedIn and was an initial funder of OpenAI). I liked the ending of the book the most about how Hoffman considers humans more homo-techne than sapians. if we were just as our name says, we would think and not do. OpenAI’s goal is to put AI and power in the hands of the people for us to use rather than it be used for us (like cctv patrolling zones). He predicted that many would be calling for regulations of LLMs as soon as ChatGPT came out (and was right), but the truth is we end up regulating everything and there is no way to know how to regulate it until you can see what goes wrong like with texting while driving - didn’t know to make it illegal until it happened. While he calls this book a travel log, “we’re still on the ride to the airport.”
December 4, 2023
Some practical examples of how Large Language Models can augment various human endeavours, ranging from education, art, science etc. Bit tedious, the subject matter could've been fleshed out more.
January 6, 2024
A very insightful book! An easy read that is abundant with extraordinary explorations of AI in education, creativity, social media, businesses, and how it all relates to humanity. A true visionary!
March 20, 2023
GPT-4 an update to ChatGPT
This is an excellent resource covering the advantages of using GPT-4 in business and other fields. In fact, Reid Hoffman believes that GPT-4 will eventually become essential to most professionals. I love the idea of how GPT-4 can help with creativity. One of the examples given in the book is how this AI can help artists with writing lyrics and music. Another example is how GPT-4 can help with the justice system here in the US. Although Reid acknowledges the problems with any existing AI in a criminal justice setting, he presents a great argument as to why it can help show us the potential benefits of things like body-worn cameras in policing. I think Reid has a great point of view and has really opened my eyes to the potential benefits of using GPT-4.
This is an excellent resource covering the advantages of using GPT-4 in business and other fields. In fact, Reid Hoffman believes that GPT-4 will eventually become essential to most professionals. I love the idea of how GPT-4 can help with creativity. One of the examples given in the book is how this AI can help artists with writing lyrics and music. Another example is how GPT-4 can help with the justice system here in the US. Although Reid acknowledges the problems with any existing AI in a criminal justice setting, he presents a great argument as to why it can help show us the potential benefits of things like body-worn cameras in policing. I think Reid has a great point of view and has really opened my eyes to the potential benefits of using GPT-4.
January 18, 2024
Amazonia
Incoherent quick cash-in on ChatGPT hype
I'd bought the book excited to learn about strategies and opportunities around using AI. Instead, I could barely follow the unstructured writing mashed with cheesy ChatGPT quotes. Not much value is to be found. The whole book could have been a couple of tweets.
Brett
.......
Crass ad by billionaire for tech he's got a financial interest in
This book merits that distinction because of a glaring conflict of interest, combined with the one-sidedness of the author's (RH's) obvious attempts to make his "co-author," GPT-4, seem credible.
While RH has priced the book at almost nothing, he has a much bigger stake in our learning to love GPT. Here are the two most important sentences of the book, both on page 9
[In late January 2023, Microsoft*, which had invested $1 billion in OpenAI in 2019, announced that it would be investing $10 billion more in the company."
[* I sit on Microsoft's Board of Directors.]
The number of specious arguments overwhelms even my capacity for writing long-winded reviews.
So I'll mention just a few:
-- RH's chapter on "hallucinations
There isn't anything transparent about GPT-4.
1 RH also defends "made-up" texts as productive for works of human imagination; he just leaves out that imaginative works are usually clearly identified as such, whereas the made-up parts in GPT responses are hidden, and asserted as fact.
(RH also tries to make his point by referencing notions from a specific Socratic dialogue and a book by H.G. Wells, but instead of quoting Plato or Wells directly he asks GPT-4 to write in those authors' styles.
When the ground truth about the authors’ words is so easily accessible, why embrace GPT-4’s ungrounded truthiness instead of using direct quotes?)
2 GPT-4 continually touts, as one of its many benefits, the possibility of tailoring educational plans for individual students.
First, no such talent is demonstrated here: quite the opposite. (see pages 113-114)
But second, no thought is given to how much more difficult a teacher's task becomes if they must evaluate an individual course of study for each of dozens, or hundreds of students.
While it sounds like a great idea, it's incredibly labor-intensive, possibly unless already-overworked teachers like me were to adjust our entire curricula to be based on GPT (I'll bet Microsoft and its Board would be happy about that).
3 RH's chapter on "public intellectuals" is almost entirely made up of imaginary dialogues by GPT-4 purportedly between famous authors.
Unless one fact-checks this, there isn't any assurance that the dialogues accurately reflect the views of the participants named in them, e.g. Iris Marion Young and Jürgen Habermas.
Moreover, since these philosophers' lives overlapped it's easy to imagine that such a GPT-generated "dialogue" could be released under false pretenses, as happened with the race car driver Michael Schumacher.
More fundamentally, RH doesn't seem to be aware that what makes a public intellectual respected as such is not pastiche, but *moral authority,* which is something it is not possible for an AI to have.
4 RH argues that because users have a chance to correct GPT in their prompts, there is something democratic going on that we are developing a tool for ourselves.
Instead what's going on is that users are improving a corporate-owned AI, without compensation for our work.
5 He also argues that just in the space of less than 40 years, humans living in 2060 will be more human than us, because of the technology they are using (@202).
What if they are more alienated, or fewer are living in free societies, or are more oppressed by climate change? I found this argument quite incoherent.
6 RH admits in his conclusion, "So yes, great things are coming with AI. And yes, bad things are coming with AI.
I bring this up simply to ask: where do you want to focus?" (@210).
What's missing from this question is any sense that the benefits and downsides can be of very different magnitudes.
E.g., greater ease and productivity in writing marketing memos vs. a total breakdown of trust in political discourse is not just a matter of focus.
I note that one of RH's assurances to us about how seriously OpenAI and others are taking this product has already been falsified.
The book was released on 2023 March 13, and quotes OpenAI founder Sam Altman as saying "We think it's important that efforts like ours submit to independent audits before releasing new systems."
While it's not clear what such an audit would entail, anyway GPT-4 was released (behind a paywall) on exactly the next day, without an audit.
If you enjoy listening to a billionaire pitch you a pile of self-serving alternative facts while charging you a nominal sum for the privilege, by all means get this book before his tech puts you out of a job. Otherwise, maybe don't.
A. J. Sutter
......
It is easily shown that one can converse with these AIs, but at times it can be difficult to tell whether the author simply has good points or whether they have something to gain in business if they market this product that they have admitted they have invested in financially.
I cannot help to be frustrated by the manner in which he attempts to push this tool to be safer than it might actually be.
Amazone Customere
......
A bit boring and obvious to anyone who has played around with ChatGPT
Thomas Richardson
March 24, 2023
A decent effort by Reid to put his thought and collaborate with GPT-4 to communicate with us the vision of a future living with AI. Key takeaways: accept the current limitation, be open to exploration, and head for a positive future
February 15, 2026
Impromptu: Amplifying Our Humanity Through AI
By Reid Hoffman
Book Review by Michael Attard
Reid Hoffman is an American internet entrepreneur, venture capitalist, podcaster, author and billionaire. He is the co-founder of LinkedIn, the business oriented social network. He is an unabashed believer in the potential of AI to not only create a better world but to spawn more enlightened humans. In his book, ‘Impromptu,’ he explains his reasoning and provides detailed statements created by Chat GPT4. In this review, I want to be as minimally technical as I can. But it is important to understand that GPT4 refers to Generative Pre-trained Transformer 4, which is a “large language model,’ created by OpenAI.
Hoffman points out that AI has been a part of our lives for a while, and this is readily seen in social media. “AI algorithms help tailor content and product recommendations to your own specific tastes.” Contrarily, algorithms can keep non-acceptable content at bay.
Throughout, he is careful to consistently present the possible cons along with the pros. The book as an exploration, or a conversation with GPT4, entertains various spheres of society and work. Areas of discussion include justice, journalism, social media, law, sales and management consulting. It did appear to me however, that many of the pros and cons offered by GPT4 were the same across the topics discussed.
Pertaining to justice, Hoffman wonders how AI could be used, “to give us more justice, not less.” For his inquiry, he chooses a relatively new tool which has been introduced into many law enforcement agencies. He asked GPT4: “How should we be thinking about the potential benefits and risks of body-worn cameras used in policing?” I found the response to be basic, certainly not profound. GPT4 responded that there would be, “improved transparency, accountability and trust between officers and the public,” etc. On the negative side there were “privacy concerns, data security issues,” etc. I do not really see anything new here.
A second point of discussion is AI and journalism, an industry whose business model has been brutalized by the internet and out-played by non-news players for advertising dollars. Hoffman asks GPT4 to “imagine that it is the year 2032, in the months leading up to the US presidential election.” Furthermore, GPT4 is to assume that fake news is everywhere: fake endorsements, false confessions, etc. The question then is, can GPT4 create a “travel advisory” for voters seeking news and information? The response included such statements as, “Do not trust any source of information without verifying its credibility … beware of holograms …. Use fact checking tools … and critical thinking.” My view is that as in the above discussion of justice, there is not anything new being presented.
Nevertheless, Hoffman believes that AI is here to stay and will progress from being useful to essential. He claims that AI will “leverage” some of our most significant technologies. He refers us to the introduction of the calculator in the 1970s. “Teachers and parents were alarmed.” And yet today, everyone recognizes that calculators, “are a critical part of math instruction.” A progression has gone from, “cheating to curriculum.” Time has been freed up to allow for a higher order of thinking.
With respect to regulation, Hoffman states: “I don’t think we have enough information and context yet, to determine what regulations we do need.” This is not to minimize risks but accepts that “technologies are never neutral.” Furthermore, he adds, “Zero risk is only possible in a world of zero progress.” His reasoning is similar surrounding the call to temporarily ban further AI development. “Holding AI algorithms … to error-free standards … will only prevent us from making real progress.” Instead, he offers that we should understand AI as a tool, “that requires human caution, curiosity and responsibility.” He believes that people need to choose to see AI as having human-amplifying abilities. Much easier said than done, I am sure.
One hot issue around AI for many people is the fear of losing their job to AI. Perhaps, somewhat dismissively, he says: “In the past it has always been breakthrough technologies that have created the jobs of the future – No different this time.” Following his line of thinking of AI as a tool, he does not see the replacement of search engines, but rather envisions new ways to gather relevant and useful information.
For Hoffman, AI will be a collaborative partner, not our replacement. He sincerely believes that AI is part of humanity’s progress. He even goes as far to say, “The people of 2060 will arguably be more human than us,” Let us hope so.
In conclusion, I do not see this book as a seminal work on AI. Rather it is a free-ranging discussion with demonstrations of AI as we can examine it today in its GPT4 form. Hoffman has started with a strong belief, and personally, I think that he is probably correct. But the easily readable book is more of an optimistic prediction rather than a deductive conclusion.
By Reid Hoffman
Book Review by Michael Attard
Reid Hoffman is an American internet entrepreneur, venture capitalist, podcaster, author and billionaire. He is the co-founder of LinkedIn, the business oriented social network. He is an unabashed believer in the potential of AI to not only create a better world but to spawn more enlightened humans. In his book, ‘Impromptu,’ he explains his reasoning and provides detailed statements created by Chat GPT4. In this review, I want to be as minimally technical as I can. But it is important to understand that GPT4 refers to Generative Pre-trained Transformer 4, which is a “large language model,’ created by OpenAI.
Hoffman points out that AI has been a part of our lives for a while, and this is readily seen in social media. “AI algorithms help tailor content and product recommendations to your own specific tastes.” Contrarily, algorithms can keep non-acceptable content at bay.
Throughout, he is careful to consistently present the possible cons along with the pros. The book as an exploration, or a conversation with GPT4, entertains various spheres of society and work. Areas of discussion include justice, journalism, social media, law, sales and management consulting. It did appear to me however, that many of the pros and cons offered by GPT4 were the same across the topics discussed.
Pertaining to justice, Hoffman wonders how AI could be used, “to give us more justice, not less.” For his inquiry, he chooses a relatively new tool which has been introduced into many law enforcement agencies. He asked GPT4: “How should we be thinking about the potential benefits and risks of body-worn cameras used in policing?” I found the response to be basic, certainly not profound. GPT4 responded that there would be, “improved transparency, accountability and trust between officers and the public,” etc. On the negative side there were “privacy concerns, data security issues,” etc. I do not really see anything new here.
A second point of discussion is AI and journalism, an industry whose business model has been brutalized by the internet and out-played by non-news players for advertising dollars. Hoffman asks GPT4 to “imagine that it is the year 2032, in the months leading up to the US presidential election.” Furthermore, GPT4 is to assume that fake news is everywhere: fake endorsements, false confessions, etc. The question then is, can GPT4 create a “travel advisory” for voters seeking news and information? The response included such statements as, “Do not trust any source of information without verifying its credibility … beware of holograms …. Use fact checking tools … and critical thinking.” My view is that as in the above discussion of justice, there is not anything new being presented.
Nevertheless, Hoffman believes that AI is here to stay and will progress from being useful to essential. He claims that AI will “leverage” some of our most significant technologies. He refers us to the introduction of the calculator in the 1970s. “Teachers and parents were alarmed.” And yet today, everyone recognizes that calculators, “are a critical part of math instruction.” A progression has gone from, “cheating to curriculum.” Time has been freed up to allow for a higher order of thinking.
With respect to regulation, Hoffman states: “I don’t think we have enough information and context yet, to determine what regulations we do need.” This is not to minimize risks but accepts that “technologies are never neutral.” Furthermore, he adds, “Zero risk is only possible in a world of zero progress.” His reasoning is similar surrounding the call to temporarily ban further AI development. “Holding AI algorithms … to error-free standards … will only prevent us from making real progress.” Instead, he offers that we should understand AI as a tool, “that requires human caution, curiosity and responsibility.” He believes that people need to choose to see AI as having human-amplifying abilities. Much easier said than done, I am sure.
One hot issue around AI for many people is the fear of losing their job to AI. Perhaps, somewhat dismissively, he says: “In the past it has always been breakthrough technologies that have created the jobs of the future – No different this time.” Following his line of thinking of AI as a tool, he does not see the replacement of search engines, but rather envisions new ways to gather relevant and useful information.
For Hoffman, AI will be a collaborative partner, not our replacement. He sincerely believes that AI is part of humanity’s progress. He even goes as far to say, “The people of 2060 will arguably be more human than us,” Let us hope so.
In conclusion, I do not see this book as a seminal work on AI. Rather it is a free-ranging discussion with demonstrations of AI as we can examine it today in its GPT4 form. Hoffman has started with a strong belief, and personally, I think that he is probably correct. But the easily readable book is more of an optimistic prediction rather than a deductive conclusion.
November 3, 2023
- The good -
There are some good ideas on things you can do today with LLMs, like:
- Help write speeches, wedding toasts, job offers, novels, verse... remember that you can ask for writing about something (like losing a sock) from any known style or author ("in the style of the U.S. Constitution")
- Help figure out meals from leftovers in the fridge
- Have an extended conversation/interview with LLM acting as historical figures, or with "an expert in such-and-such field"
- Career guidance and development advice (ask it to assess your skills based on a resume and what skills you still need), it can create a resume, help prep for a job interview by having it ask you questions...
Also some good advice:
- Treat LLM like an undergrad research assistant, not an omniscient oracle
- Think of yourself as a director of the LLM, not a carpenter.
- Throw away a bad response and just ask for another!
There are also some cool ideas about future uses, such as bots for news organizations that can summarize or answer questions about the days' news, or you can ask for counter-arguments to op-eds using only the newspaper archives. [Even better would be social media bots that can analyze and respond to news with facts and sources when they get posted, or even inform people before a post goes live?]
- The bad -
The text from GPT-4 is often dry and I feel my eyes roll back in my head processing it. This is partially due to the lack of creativity in prompt questions, and partly from just letting it be too verbose. Unfortunately, this makes some portions of this short book a slog to get through.
Maybe it could have just used better editing?
The author is very optimistic, but I'm sure helping launch OpenAI has nothing to do with that . Perhaps this is the revolution we think it is, time will tell... hopefully specialized CPUs can bring down the immense power consumption of these LLMs.
And lastly, a lot of this could be gotten easier from much shorter and digestible online sources.
3.5 stars
There are some good ideas on things you can do today with LLMs, like:
- Help write speeches, wedding toasts, job offers, novels, verse... remember that you can ask for writing about something (like losing a sock) from any known style or author ("in the style of the U.S. Constitution")
- Help figure out meals from leftovers in the fridge
- Have an extended conversation/interview with LLM acting as historical figures, or with "an expert in such-and-such field"
- Career guidance and development advice (ask it to assess your skills based on a resume and what skills you still need), it can create a resume, help prep for a job interview by having it ask you questions...
Also some good advice:
- Treat LLM like an undergrad research assistant, not an omniscient oracle
- Think of yourself as a director of the LLM, not a carpenter.
- Throw away a bad response and just ask for another!
There are also some cool ideas about future uses, such as bots for news organizations that can summarize or answer questions about the days' news, or you can ask for counter-arguments to op-eds using only the newspaper archives. [Even better would be social media bots that can analyze and respond to news with facts and sources when they get posted, or even inform people before a post goes live?]
- The bad -
The text from GPT-4 is often dry and I feel my eyes roll back in my head processing it. This is partially due to the lack of creativity in prompt questions, and partly from just letting it be too verbose. Unfortunately, this makes some portions of this short book a slog to get through.
Maybe it could have just used better editing?
The author is very optimistic, but I'm sure helping launch OpenAI has nothing to do with that . Perhaps this is the revolution we think it is, time will tell... hopefully specialized CPUs can bring down the immense power consumption of these LLMs.
And lastly, a lot of this could be gotten easier from much shorter and digestible online sources.
3.5 stars
February 24, 2024
In Impromptu, Reid Hoffman provides insight into Artificial Intelligence (AI) to the layperson. This was the first book that I have read about AI and it was very inspirational. Reading this book made me want to learn more about the topic and try the AI apps that are available! In particular, the author discusses ChatGPT and GPT-4 and how they can be used today. Something interesting that the author shares in the book is that any book published about AI is already obsolete because the field is growing so fast!
I thought the book was both very interesting and easy to follow. A lot of people are suspicious of AI and see it as a threat. The author clearly explains how AI is a valuable tool that humans can use in so many areas. My favorite part of the book was when the author gave examples of how individuals can use AI in their everyday lives.
There were a few things that I did not like about the book. I thought that some of the chapters got a little tedious and went into more detail than I was interested in learning. I did not enjoy the “possible interviews” that the author conducted with AI. Although, I do see how the “possible interviews” exercise could be valuable in certain cases, especially the educational realm.
I would rate this book four out of five stars. As much as I liked the book, I could not give it a top rating because the author only pointed out the positive uses of AI and did not go into detail about negative uses of AI. While the author did point out that AI is a tool that can be used intentionally or unintentionally to harm others, he did not discuss this in detail. I think doing this would result in a more honest and well-rounded presentation of the topic.
I would recommend this book to adults or young adults interested in educating themselves on the topic of AI. This book would be extremely valuable in the educational setting as AI is already being used in the classroom.
I thought the book was both very interesting and easy to follow. A lot of people are suspicious of AI and see it as a threat. The author clearly explains how AI is a valuable tool that humans can use in so many areas. My favorite part of the book was when the author gave examples of how individuals can use AI in their everyday lives.
There were a few things that I did not like about the book. I thought that some of the chapters got a little tedious and went into more detail than I was interested in learning. I did not enjoy the “possible interviews” that the author conducted with AI. Although, I do see how the “possible interviews” exercise could be valuable in certain cases, especially the educational realm.
I would rate this book four out of five stars. As much as I liked the book, I could not give it a top rating because the author only pointed out the positive uses of AI and did not go into detail about negative uses of AI. While the author did point out that AI is a tool that can be used intentionally or unintentionally to harm others, he did not discuss this in detail. I think doing this would result in a more honest and well-rounded presentation of the topic.
I would recommend this book to adults or young adults interested in educating themselves on the topic of AI. This book would be extremely valuable in the educational setting as AI is already being used in the classroom.
September 29, 2023
"**Impromptu**" by Reid Hoffman is a book that certainly has its merits, particularly in terms of highlighting the importance of adaptability and agility in today's rapidly changing business landscape. However, it falls short in several critical areas, making it a somewhat frustrating read.
One of the most glaring issues is the book's tendency towards superficial arguments. While Hoffman touches on significant concepts related to adaptability and seizing opportunities, he often fails to provide in-depth analysis or concrete examples to support his claims. The book's brevity is at times a detriment, leaving readers wanting more substance and a deeper exploration of the ideas presented.
Another major drawback is the repetitiveness that plagues "Impromptu." The central themes and ideas are revisited repeatedly throughout the book, making it feel like a collection of loosely connected essays rather than a cohesive narrative. This repetition not only hampers the flow of the book but also gives the impression that the author is struggling to fill pages.
Furthermore, the book could benefit from a more diverse range of case studies and examples. Many of the anecdotes and stories used to illustrate points are drawn from Hoffman's experiences and those of his immediate network, which can limit the book's applicability to a broader audience. It lacks the diverse perspectives needed to make it truly insightful.
In conclusion, "Impromptu" offers some valuable insights into the importance of adaptability and seizing opportunities, but it falls short of delivering a comprehensive and well-structured argument. Its superficiality and repetitiveness hinder its ability to provide genuinely transformative ideas, making it a less than satisfying read for those seeking a deep dive into the subject matter.
- source: chat GPT 😉
One of the most glaring issues is the book's tendency towards superficial arguments. While Hoffman touches on significant concepts related to adaptability and seizing opportunities, he often fails to provide in-depth analysis or concrete examples to support his claims. The book's brevity is at times a detriment, leaving readers wanting more substance and a deeper exploration of the ideas presented.
Another major drawback is the repetitiveness that plagues "Impromptu." The central themes and ideas are revisited repeatedly throughout the book, making it feel like a collection of loosely connected essays rather than a cohesive narrative. This repetition not only hampers the flow of the book but also gives the impression that the author is struggling to fill pages.
Furthermore, the book could benefit from a more diverse range of case studies and examples. Many of the anecdotes and stories used to illustrate points are drawn from Hoffman's experiences and those of his immediate network, which can limit the book's applicability to a broader audience. It lacks the diverse perspectives needed to make it truly insightful.
In conclusion, "Impromptu" offers some valuable insights into the importance of adaptability and seizing opportunities, but it falls short of delivering a comprehensive and well-structured argument. Its superficiality and repetitiveness hinder its ability to provide genuinely transformative ideas, making it a less than satisfying read for those seeking a deep dive into the subject matter.
- source: chat GPT 😉
March 24, 2023
As I began to read this unique and incredibly well written book by the great Reid Hoffman I was pulled into a different literature than I am used to. It challenged me to open my mind to real scenarios that could come from our future. My favorite tidbit in this book was the second page and it read Reid: How many restaurant inspectors does it take to change a light bulb? GPT-3: Only one, but the light bulb has to want to change. I got goosebumps, that answer inflicted a sense of realization that you need to be in tune with your body and reality to create the changes you want to see. Mr. Hoffman really familiarizes himself with how the reader is going to feel. I went through oodles of emotions. Passionate, intrigued, powerful, insightful, scared of the unknown, thrilled, and of course the author made it seem like a good friend telling you a story while being educated. It was beyond humorous. One other vital piece of information I obtained was as stated, “philosophy has a vital role to play in addressing the urgent challenges of our time, such as democracy, violence, ecology, and human rights.” These forms of emotion really speak volume and make you really dig deep into your own beliefs and maybe even change them. I know I have changed my opinion on AI. Last point I have read that spoke to me was, “AI deployed in this way could give individuals incredibly versatile new tools to apply to their careers, professional development, and economic autonomy.” Let that sink in and always think about what this means to you. Thanks for letting us dive deep into the creative world of AI within your writings.
July 6, 2023
Impromptu : Amplifying Our Humanity Through AI (2023) by Reid Hoffman looks at the impact the AI may have on society. In particular it looks at generative AI and parts of the book are written by Chat GPT. Hoffman was important at Paypal and went on to found LinkedIn. He was a founding investor in OpenAI. He also has a Masters in Philosophy from Oxford and seriously thought about becoming an academic before working in the technology industry. He’s an ideal candidate to write about the impact of AI.
For this review I’ll resist the urge to use ChatGPT to write part of the review. It’s also worth pointing out that the ebook of Impromptu is less than a dollar. It’s good to see someone pricing an ebook like this in a sensible way.
There is a good interview on the Conversations with Tyler podcast with Hoffman about AI and the book.
The book has chapters on what generative AI could do for education, creativity, the justice system and many other fields. The chapter on education makes the case very well that generative AI could have a huge impact on education.
Hoffman also uses ChatGPT to write some interesting dialogues between intellectuals of the past discussing the internet and the impact of generative AI.
The book concludes with Hoffman’s vision of how AI can help the world and is optimistic.
Impromptu is an interesting book about a subject that is fascinating many people. It’s worth a read. Only time will tell how generative AI plays out.
For this review I’ll resist the urge to use ChatGPT to write part of the review. It’s also worth pointing out that the ebook of Impromptu is less than a dollar. It’s good to see someone pricing an ebook like this in a sensible way.
There is a good interview on the Conversations with Tyler podcast with Hoffman about AI and the book.
The book has chapters on what generative AI could do for education, creativity, the justice system and many other fields. The chapter on education makes the case very well that generative AI could have a huge impact on education.
Hoffman also uses ChatGPT to write some interesting dialogues between intellectuals of the past discussing the internet and the impact of generative AI.
The book concludes with Hoffman’s vision of how AI can help the world and is optimistic.
Impromptu is an interesting book about a subject that is fascinating many people. It’s worth a read. Only time will tell how generative AI plays out.
March 17, 2023
Reid Hoffman didn’t write his book by himself, it was co-written with GPT-4, the most recent huge, powerful language model of OpenAl. This is the author’s travel log of GPT-4 experience, a fascinating journey of the strength of artificial intelligence and its limitations. Presented more as a conversation about good and bad possibilities – risks – for humankind, the book illustrates the challenges and intrigue involved in increasing the degree of creativity, and education – all in an entertaining manner to retain your ongoing interest.
What the author wants most is to elevate your desire to encourage you to seek more knowledge about this science-fiction-style technology. And he succeeds in captivating you page after page. You will particularly be impressed and enjoy all the anecdotes revealing GPT-4’s capacity for humor via its joke prompts. Examples demonstrating artificial intelligence's ability to write poems/sonnets are mindblowing. This book is your traveler’s guide to the future. Despite the complexity of the subject, Reid Hoffman writes in clearly understood terms about what lies ahead as a result of the magnitude of GPT-4’s potential to transform the entire world.
What the author wants most is to elevate your desire to encourage you to seek more knowledge about this science-fiction-style technology. And he succeeds in captivating you page after page. You will particularly be impressed and enjoy all the anecdotes revealing GPT-4’s capacity for humor via its joke prompts. Examples demonstrating artificial intelligence's ability to write poems/sonnets are mindblowing. This book is your traveler’s guide to the future. Despite the complexity of the subject, Reid Hoffman writes in clearly understood terms about what lies ahead as a result of the magnitude of GPT-4’s potential to transform the entire world.
March 30, 2023
chatbot coauthor
Reid Hoffman is the co-founder of LinkedIn and co-founder of Inflection AI. Impromptu: Amplifying Our Humanity Through AI is a patchwork of reflections, anecdotes, and interviews, all of which are tied together via conversations with GPT-4. These conversations, which include several sonnets, a script for a play, many essays, and simulated conversations between public intellectuals, do an excellent job at revealing how GPT-4 operates. This is not really a popular-science book but instead describes a vision of how GPT-4 could impact diverse fields such as social justice, business, and art. Hoffman and GPT-4 treat artificial intelligence as a useful technology comparable to smartphones and Wikipedia rather than the frightening specter of sci-fi .The interactions aren't always interesting in themselves, as GPT-4 sometimes writes in a wooden style, but they are still fascinating as examples of an AI describing how it could help solve- and occasionally create- social problems. If nothing else, it provides an educated, intriguing, and entertaining view of the future of AI. Reid helped me understand more about how I can use AI to my advantage. I recommend this book to readers interested in technology and learning more about its pros and cons.
Reid Hoffman is the co-founder of LinkedIn and co-founder of Inflection AI. Impromptu: Amplifying Our Humanity Through AI is a patchwork of reflections, anecdotes, and interviews, all of which are tied together via conversations with GPT-4. These conversations, which include several sonnets, a script for a play, many essays, and simulated conversations between public intellectuals, do an excellent job at revealing how GPT-4 operates. This is not really a popular-science book but instead describes a vision of how GPT-4 could impact diverse fields such as social justice, business, and art. Hoffman and GPT-4 treat artificial intelligence as a useful technology comparable to smartphones and Wikipedia rather than the frightening specter of sci-fi .The interactions aren't always interesting in themselves, as GPT-4 sometimes writes in a wooden style, but they are still fascinating as examples of an AI describing how it could help solve- and occasionally create- social problems. If nothing else, it provides an educated, intriguing, and entertaining view of the future of AI. Reid helped me understand more about how I can use AI to my advantage. I recommend this book to readers interested in technology and learning more about its pros and cons.
April 16, 2023
A book that i found that if you have no interest in Artificial Intellegence and how it is being used to create a future using GPT-4 then it isnt a book to recommend. I liked the idea that using chat and GPT-4 you can ask it relatively anything and it replies with a accurate answer. The solutions and opportunities, GPT-4 will also create for the future we continue to develop AI technologies, Impromptu starts the conversation, and invites us to join that conversation i think is a future very neat idea although cannot help think that the intrnet would turn into a cyberspace of chatbots to message or robots online instead of real people im not sure that the future chat would be a persons way of thinking taken away and exchanged for a chatbot or robots way of returning a reply or answer
I like the idea of a travelog but then dont we do that when blogging, log our footprints across the internet or places we have traveled so not sure what the difference would be although saying that having blogs transfared to a travelog might be a better way of logging everday activities and lesuire.
I like how the book uses GPT-4 conversations so the reader can see what it has to offer for the future of artificial intellegence
i give this book 4/5
I like the idea of a travelog but then dont we do that when blogging, log our footprints across the internet or places we have traveled so not sure what the difference would be although saying that having blogs transfared to a travelog might be a better way of logging everday activities and lesuire.
I like how the book uses GPT-4 conversations so the reader can see what it has to offer for the future of artificial intellegence
i give this book 4/5
March 18, 2023
Impromptu is a very interesting read, the first I've ever read written in part by an AI. GPT-4 and their predecessors are artificial intelligence, getting smarter as we speak, able to respond and perform tasks extremely hard even for humans, this book explores its different purposes and possible applications, on the hand of one of its founders: Reid Hoffman.
I find this very interesting, but at the same time, frightening. I already consider humans to be extremely co-dependent regarding technology, one day without electricity and people get crazy for sure! These new technologies are dangerous and help society to learn even less than before. Has anyone seen a friend or colleague do a math operation without a calculator? I don´t think so. Imagine with AI, specialized basically in whatever you desire, even writing papers or answering whatever's on your mind.
This book is pro-AI, it shows it as a great advance and seeks the benefits of having it. Definitely, the opposite that's on my mind, but it was interesting to read about it just to be more informed.
I find this very interesting, but at the same time, frightening. I already consider humans to be extremely co-dependent regarding technology, one day without electricity and people get crazy for sure! These new technologies are dangerous and help society to learn even less than before. Has anyone seen a friend or colleague do a math operation without a calculator? I don´t think so. Imagine with AI, specialized basically in whatever you desire, even writing papers or answering whatever's on your mind.
This book is pro-AI, it shows it as a great advance and seeks the benefits of having it. Definitely, the opposite that's on my mind, but it was interesting to read about it just to be more informed.
March 18, 2023
Helpful to understand the AI.
In his book "Impromptu: Amplifying Our Humanity Through AI," Reid Hoffman, the co-founder of LinkedIn, explores how artificial intelligence and human creativity can intersect. Instead of replacing human potential, Hoffman proposes that AI can be used to enhance it, especially in creative pursuits. He suggests that we need to change our perspective on technology and embrace the possibilities of AI to enhance our creativity and collaboration.
The book provides numerous case studies and examples of how AI is currently being used in creative fields such as music, art, and film. Hoffman also addresses the ethical implications of AI, including the possibility of bias and job displacement. He argues that it is essential to proactively shape the development of AI to ensure that it benefits humanity.
Overall, "Impromptu" offers an insightful examination of the potential of AI to amplify human potential, while also highlighting the need to address its risks and ethical implications.
In his book "Impromptu: Amplifying Our Humanity Through AI," Reid Hoffman, the co-founder of LinkedIn, explores how artificial intelligence and human creativity can intersect. Instead of replacing human potential, Hoffman proposes that AI can be used to enhance it, especially in creative pursuits. He suggests that we need to change our perspective on technology and embrace the possibilities of AI to enhance our creativity and collaboration.
The book provides numerous case studies and examples of how AI is currently being used in creative fields such as music, art, and film. Hoffman also addresses the ethical implications of AI, including the possibility of bias and job displacement. He argues that it is essential to proactively shape the development of AI to ensure that it benefits humanity.
Overall, "Impromptu" offers an insightful examination of the potential of AI to amplify human potential, while also highlighting the need to address its risks and ethical implications.
March 20, 2023
Impromptu: Amplifying Our Humanity Through AI written by Reid Hoffman is a book that shows readers how AI (particularly GPT-4 or Large Language Model) has improved humanity in several key areas like education, business, and creativity.
In my personal opinion, I can only give a good and honest comment about it because I love these kinds of topics to read. Learning how AI can facilitate different key aspects of our lives, surely makes you want to try it out. The writer shows that there is great research on the LLM and that it’s evidentiary that it can be used to enhance our lives and reduce the number of tasks that can be seen as time-consuming. To add, the reading was friendly, even a 7-year-old could read it. Hoffmann shows detailed information, in a concise but profound way, by applying day-to-day examples, and asking questions on how GPH-4 can be used in our lives
To finish, for everyone looking to learn more about AI systems ( and if you're interested in using them for your work or academic/personal growth), I would highly recommend this book!
In my personal opinion, I can only give a good and honest comment about it because I love these kinds of topics to read. Learning how AI can facilitate different key aspects of our lives, surely makes you want to try it out. The writer shows that there is great research on the LLM and that it’s evidentiary that it can be used to enhance our lives and reduce the number of tasks that can be seen as time-consuming. To add, the reading was friendly, even a 7-year-old could read it. Hoffmann shows detailed information, in a concise but profound way, by applying day-to-day examples, and asking questions on how GPH-4 can be used in our lives
To finish, for everyone looking to learn more about AI systems ( and if you're interested in using them for your work or academic/personal growth), I would highly recommend this book!
March 20, 2023
If you’ve ever wondered how artificial intelligence fits into our future well, we are pretty much there. With the assistance of AI technology GPT-4 (a large language model or LLM) Reid Hoffman has created a thought provoking book detailing possible ways AI could be used both now and in the future. While asserting that GPT-4 and other programs like it are in no way sentient beings, Hoffman presents practical uses for it in multiple fields including education and business while also showing benefits of bringing AI into the creative realm.
While Hoffman does cover some potential risk in using AI, including treating its data as infallible, he demonstrates how the benefits outweigh these risk as long as AI is used for its intended purpose, as a tool.
Impromptu: Amplifying our Humanity Through AI is a fun read for anyone interested in the development of AIs in our society however, it could be just as useful for those hesitant about AI use to better inform them about the benefits and limitations of this technology.
April 25, 2023
This is very good book on what is currently going on within the Artificial Intelligence space, specifically around #ChatGTP. The author is one of the founders of LinkedIn and is a solid author. He used the ChatGPT interface to co-write the book with him, so this book serves not only as a good overview of AI and similar tools, but also provides guidance in how to use ChatGPT in innovative ways such as having thinkers (alive or dead) interview each other to see how their themes mash up. The other very pertinent way that this book addresses the conversation on AI is that the author goes through many of the often referenced areas of impact such as education, law, and creative work. However, he also reviews some areas which I had not thought through such as how these tools could be used in the pursuit of justice for marginalized communities.
This book is likely for practitioners and strategy people within the technical space, but given how important the topic of AI is right now, I would recommend it for almost any professional.
This book is likely for practitioners and strategy people within the technical space, but given how important the topic of AI is right now, I would recommend it for almost any professional.
March 19, 2023
In "Impromptu: Amplifying Our Humanity Through AI," Reid Hoffman andGPT-4 present a thought-provoking exploration of the possibilities of AI and its potential impact on humanity. The book goes beyond mere theoretical discussions, offering readers a glimpse into GPT-4's capabilities by engaging in a dialogue with the AI.
The book delves into how AI can enhance and revolutionize key areas like education, business, and creativity. Hoffman paints an optimistic picture of AI as a collaborative partner that can help us unlock our full potential as human beings.
However, the book also acknowledges the potential risks and uncertainties that come with developing AI technologies at such a rapid pace. Hoffman encourages readers to join the conversation and shape our collaborative journey towards a better future.
"Impromptu" is a fascinating read that offers valuable insights and raises important questions about the intersection of AI and humanity.
The book delves into how AI can enhance and revolutionize key areas like education, business, and creativity. Hoffman paints an optimistic picture of AI as a collaborative partner that can help us unlock our full potential as human beings.
However, the book also acknowledges the potential risks and uncertainties that come with developing AI technologies at such a rapid pace. Hoffman encourages readers to join the conversation and shape our collaborative journey towards a better future.
"Impromptu" is a fascinating read that offers valuable insights and raises important questions about the intersection of AI and humanity.
March 26, 2023
The popularity of AI has always been around but it has increased recently with new advances and programs. In Impromptu, Hoffman helps show how AI has improved humanity. He focuses on GPT-4. With so many articles and changes happening with AI especially revolving around Chat GPT I wanted to learn more about it and how we are already using it. I really appreciate how well Hoffman explained AI and how it has been used especially in education, creative sectors, justice, journalism, and of course Social media. His real-world examples and explanations of how AI makes weird stuff or mistakes helped me understand it a bit better as well. I was a bit worried that technical terms would get in the way of my understanding, I’m not amazing with technological terms but this book was super easy to understand. I still don’t know my full feelings about AI but Hoffman really helped me fully comprehend what is going on and what has been going on in our daily lives and AI.
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