How do we tackle in 2026 this intersection of artificial intelligence and creativity, technology and genuine connection, and what role can a vibrant community like the Puttyverse play in understanding this?
Ted is joined by friends of the podcast Emilie Wapnick and Thomas Beutel for an introspective discussion on understanding AI: what role can/should it play in creativity, and how do we use it without becoming dependent on it?
Thomas has used ChatGPT from its early days, long, long ago in late 2022, and as a professional software developer and coder has seen instant improvements in efficiency and possibility when it comes to his work. Not to mention as a teaching tool for myriad rabbit holes.
Ted meanwhile has resisted getting into AI prompting and research, although as a podcast producer will still use some of the tools that come with today's editing software. But he is wary about relying on it too much.
This description that you're reading right now, for example, was started by AI but was then completely rewritten by Ted (because the AI version was dull and boring).
As for Emilie, she may be somewhere in the middle: intrigued by AI, open to learning and practicing with it, but resistant to letting it interfere with the creative writing process. Editing perhaps, but not original ideas.
And so we enter into a fascinating conversation that explores the balance between exciting new technology and staying authentic to ourselves, and our community. The Puttyverse is very much built on bringing actual people together for real, genuine interactions, even if they are via internet and computer, but with a healthy dose of in-person meetups as well.
Our new Circle platform has been purposefully built with AI features turned off (as much as possible), in an effort to resist some of the pressure to integrate AI into everything.
Puttyland has been around for far longer than AI, and was doing just fine without it! As the community enters its 15th year, we are well-placed with a strong foundation to integrate AI slowly, if at all, and make conscious choices about experimentation.
Discover what Thomas and Emilie are up to these days:
Thomas' website: https://thomasbeutel.art
Thomas and Annie's podcast, Wandering Weirdly: wanderingweirdly.transistor.fm
Emilie's website for writing projects: https://bettersweaterproductions.com
Join the Puttyverse! https://puttylike.com/the-puttyverse-community
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