Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Encounter with chatGPT

 

I've been playing with chatGPT for the past couple of weeks. While it offers vast capabilities, it also highlights the limitations of the language model architecture, training datasets, and prompts. I've experimented with it, and you can see the entertaining conversation between the machine and me, which even cleared a Wharton MBA final exam!

If you haven't tried chatGPT yet, here's a quick overview(Thanks to chatGPT ๐Ÿ˜€) :
• ChatGPT is an AI-powered language model developed by OpenAI that generates human-like text in response to user prompts.
• It's built on the transformer architecture and fine-tuned on a large text corpus for coherent and contextually appropriate responses.
• It can be used for various NLP tasks, such as answering questions, generating text, and translating languages.
• The transformer architecture is favored for NLP because it can efficiently process sequential data. Models like GPT-3, BERT, and RoBERTa also use this architecture.

I need to explore and understand more about this technology. Exciting times!







My 2023 Learning Plan



At the start of 2023, I made a list of things to learn, inspired by my colleagues, clients, and friends. It includes reading books, better understanding the industry and new technology skills, and earning external certifications. Please see my 2023 Learning plan here.

  • Read 10 books  - I have created a list of recommended titles in various genres, including autobiographies, innovative thinking, and motivational books. I plan to read/listen a few pages per day or week to stay on track. I will include "Bhagavad Gita" on the list every year as I try to apply the lessons from this masterpiece in my daily life.
  • Advance my skills in cloud and data –  I will enroll in external certification programs relevant to my career goals, such as AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, Snowflake, and Databricks certifications.
  • Enhance my understanding of Insurance Industry Innovations – To enhance my knowledge of AI-led innovations in insurance underwriting and claims, I plan to attend industry conferences and seminars, read industry publications and blogs, and network with other professionals in the field.
  • As an early adopter of chatGPT, explore the potential uses of this technology in the insurance industry. Collaborate with other industry professionals and share your insights with colleagues and peers.

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Nappuccino, Pre-Mortem, Mumbai Dabbawalas, Midpoint Spark, and other lessons

 

https://www.amazon.com/When-Scientific-Secrets-Perfect-Timing/dp/B076MBR89W/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2Z9OKNF26SFD1&keywords=when+daniel+pink&qid=1676438189&sprefix=when+daniel%2Caps%2C110&sr=8-1

Leadership Lessons from the book When – The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing by Daniel Pink.

At the start of 2023, I made a list of things to learn, inspired by my colleagues, clients, and friends. It includes reading books, better understanding the industry and new technology skills, and earning external certifications. You can see my 2023 plan here.

https://anilkumarkar.blogspot.com/2023/02/my-2023-learning-plan.html

One book I've recently picked up is "When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing" by Daniel Pink, the New York Times bestselling author of "Drive" and "To Sell is Human". The author provides practical steps for WHEN to make critical decisions in life and business, explaining the science behind "Timing is Everything."

Here are some key lessons from the book:

Lesson 1 – Team building starts with belongingness.

The Mumbai Dabbawalas, who deliver 200,000 hot home-cooked meals from homes to offices daily with impeccable accuracy, are an excellent example of a tribe that thrives together. Pink cites various studies stating that belongingness leads to satisfaction, purpose, and results. A straightforward suggestion he makes for promoting belonging in your group is to respond quickly to their emails.

Lesson 2 - Pre-Mortem- prepare for the leadership role before you are there.

“The best way to recover from a false start is to avoid one in the first place.” The best way to avoid a false start is to prepare for it beforehand. Pink elaborates on the "premortem" technique, which involves preparing and visualizing yourself in the new role. During the initial days, take time to find and do one task well. Small and measurable wins will provide confidence to you and your new team. Conserve your motivation for the lean period, which will happen after the initial enthusiasm.

Lesson 3 – Turn the midpoint Slump into a spark

Business transactions, such as sales pursuits or projects, have a beginning, an ending, and a midpoint. Neglecting the midpoint can lead to a lack of interest and motivation. Pink suggests turning the midpoint slump into a spark by setting interim goals, publicly committing to them, and prioritizing your top goals.

Interesting add-ons –

  • It's okay to take a 10–15-minute nap between 2-3 pm in the afternoon, as this period is typically the lowest productivity time for most people (known as the Trough). A typical day consists of Peak, Trough, and Rebound periods. Drinking a cup of coffee followed by a short nap can boost sharpness and performance, a combination that Pink refers to as the "Nappucino."
  • Pink writes, "Life isn't always a competition, but it is sometimes a serial competition." If you're not the default choice and pitching against an incumbent or a small set of players, going first can help as you get a fresh look. Going later can confer a small advantage if there are many competitors, and going last can be advantageous. The last person to present gains an advantage over the initial ones as decision-makers reevaluate the baseline, which is more realistic.
  • "Time flies like an arrow" is an example used by Oettinger in a 1966 Scientific American article in the initial days of natural language interpretation, well before the creation of ChatGPT!


Event Blog: Reflections and Update from Covenant House Sleep Out 2023

  Update from Covenant House Illinois (CHIL) Sleep Out 2023 As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, I want to express my sincere gratitude...