There is a certain paradox that characterizes my current interaction with artificial intelligence. The unmistakable emergence of this immensely powerful technology promises to revolutionize the economy and redefine our perspectives on art, creativity, and the intrinsic value of human labor. Yet, despite this potential, I find myself grappling with the practical application of AI in my daily work routine.
Seeking clarity on how to bridge this gap and seeking guidance on effectively integrating AI into my life, I turned to Ethan Mollick for insights. As a professor at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Mollick has delved into extensive experimentation with various chatbots, sharing his observations in the newsletter “One Useful Thing” and his latest book, “Co-Intelligence: Living and Working With A.I.”
This dialogue delves into fundamental aspects such as selecting the appropriate chatbot and strategies to maximize its utility. However, it transcends these basics to explore the intriguing, whimsical, and slightly disconcerting ways in which AI interacts with us. Mollick emphasizes viewing chatbots not merely as tools but as relationships, underscoring the importance of this perspective in extracting optimal value from them.
He advocates interpreting this juncture as one of collaborative creation, urging us all to navigate the implications of this technology. Contrary to expectations, major AI companies like OpenAI or Anthropic lack a definitive playbook for leveraging AI in various domains such as writing, marketing, or education. Mollick highlights this ambiguity, stating, “There is no list of how you should use this as a writer or as a marketer or as an educator. They don’t even know what the capabilities of these systems are.”
For the complete conversation, tune in to “The Ezra Klein Show” on the NYT Audio app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or your preferred podcast platform. Explore a curated selection of book recommendations from our guests as well.
This episode of “The Ezra Klein Show” was crafted by Kristin Lin, with fact-checking by Michelle Harris, Mary Marge Locker, and Kate Sinclair. Jeff Geld serves as the senior engineer, with additional mixing by Efim Shapiro. Claire Gordon assumes the role of senior editor, while the production team includes Annie Galvin and Rollin Hu. Original music by Isaac Jones, with audience strategy by Kristina Samulewski and Shannon Busta. Annie-Rose Strasser is the executive producer of New York Times Opinion Audio. Special appreciation to Sonia Herrero.
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