Greetings friends!
It’s Saturday, so it must be time for another round of reading, writing, and randomness. I went back through some of my recommendations from the past 52 weeks of this, and I wanted to update you on some of the topics I explored. But first, a fresh quote!
Quote of the Week:
“If you don't know where you're going, any road will get you there.”
―Lewis Carroll
New Reading with the Latest AI:
The Monad by Kirk Ouimet. Last year, I posted Kirk’s convos with ChatGPT3, and they blew my mind. Then ChatGPT4 dropped, and the whole world is still trying to pick up the fragments. AI has come a long way, and it certainly has much room for improvement, but it is still stunning what these large-language models can produce. Whatever opinions you have about the future of artificial intelligence, you will surely find this meta-discussion worth checking out.
A Writing I Remember Every Spring:
Dedication
Brief blooms the lily –
hints its fragile scent
then clasps as quickly back
its supple shades.
Of this transience
so much is made,
yet few remark
on its untapered bravery
at seeing elsewhere
otherwise (in nodding rows,
the hyacinth and daffodils)
and staying steadfastly impermanent,
knowing endurance needn't be
so unakin to brevity.
Random Video of a Human Machine:
The Best of Rodney Mullen. Technology can produce amazing new things, and it can take over many human tasks … but it will always have its limits. I would argue that skateboarding is one of those limits. When you watch this video, you might be tempted to think it’s a deep fake, or that Mullen is not quite human. Trust me — this guy is the real deal. AI can take a ton of info and rearrange it in new ways, but Rodney showcases that it takes a human mind to truly create novelty (he invented most of the moves you’ll see).
And that's it! Did you like what you saw? Please share Lau’s Little List with anyone who you think would enjoy an extra dose of reading, writing, and randomness in their lives!
I would greatly appreciate any feedback you'd like to provide. Which recommendation was your favorite? What would you like to see more or less of in the next installment? Do you have any other suggestions? Feel free to leave a comment below with your thoughts.