Well, so much for that New Years resolution to clean out the junk drawer. Not only is it still a bit on the messy side, but it’s not teeming with all sorts of goodies.
In case you forgot, the junk drawer has been a go-to feature on Fridays to keep it light and to also highlight a number of media, radio, and tech stores that either flew under the radar or frankly don’t deserve their own post.
And in honor of Artificial Intelligence, today’s edition of the junk drawer actually contains stories that perhaps you missed about AI (the top candidate for this year’s Merriam-Webster’s word of the year. The winner for 2022 was “gaslighting.” We know the team at M-W can do better. Even though it’s only February, I’m campaigning for AI, and hoping that it isn’t nudged out by “unidentified aerial phenomenon.”
So, let’s start with two initials on everybody’s lips: AI
Item #1: One, two, chat, chat, chat – The frenzy continues to eat up as more and more of us seemingly fire up the various AI platforms, especially ChatGPT, of course. Data visualization artists keep looking for compelling ways to depict its insane growth. And then Lori Lewis sent me this one. Game, set, match:
🚨 This may be the chart of the century! The emergence, acceptance and inculcation of GPT into modern life is technology’s new—and perhaps most significant—inflection point. #GPT #GPT3 #ChatGPT #AI #technology @elonmusk @sama @mcuban @pmarca @CathieDWood pic.twitter.com/NDgy2XIFOP
— John Nosta (@JohnNosta) February 15, 2023
But, as impressive as ChatGPT’s meteoric rise has been, it’s ability to write serviceable copy is pretty amazing. Fellow consultant Marty Bender sent me various pieces of copy, including this complaint letter from a listener:
Dear [Radio Station],
I am writing to express my disappointment with the recent programming choices on your station. As a loyal listener, I have always enjoyed tuning in to your station for great music and entertaining shows. However, over the past few weeks, I have noticed a significant decline in the quality of your programming.
Specifically, I am disappointed with the lack of variety in your music selection. It seems that you are playing the same songs on a constant loop, with little to no diversity in the genres or artists featured. I understand that certain songs may be more popular, but as a listener, I would appreciate a wider range of music choices.
Additionally, I have noticed a decline in the quality of your on-air personalities. I used to enjoy listening to the witty banter and engaging conversations between the hosts, but lately, it seems like they are simply going through the motions without any real enthusiasm or energy.
I urge you to take these concerns seriously and make changes to improve the quality of your programming. As a loyal listener, I would hate to have to switch to a different station, but if these issues persist, I will have no choice but to do so.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
I’m sure those of you who’ve sat on the program director’s throne have received considerably more incoherent, irrational, and poorly thought out letters. Actually, this one’s pretty good – logical, straightforward, no rambling, courteous but serious, and absolutely worthy of a considered response.
Note to DOS and GSM types: I’ve read much worse and whiney sales pitches or “Why were we left off the buy?” letters to clients.
For now at least, it’s looking like these platforms have the impressive ability to bang out a first draft (in about 1 second) that requires a little editing from a middle manager or PD (say, 5 minutes).
When are they going to teach these things to schedule a day of music? (Don’t laugh.)
Item #2: Take me to the auto-pilot – Speaking of AI, one of the earlier players was a platform called Jasper. It’s slogan “The #1 AI Copywriter.” (Are you expecting to hear “with fewer commercials and less talk?”)
Way back last April, Seth took Jasper for a spin and catalogued his results in his “Connecting the Dots” blog. The post was titled, “How To Use Artificial Intelligence to Write Blog Post (Even If You’re A DJ” and it nailed all the salient issues we’re talking about right now today about AI.
Seth put Jasper through its paces, and I tried it in a number of applications. So, the other day I was on Facebook, lurking around, and this in-your-face ad from Jasper popped;
It’s like it was speaking to ME!
So, you just never know. One day when you least expect it, you may open up this blog or click on the email, read a pretty decent post….only to find out that was written by an AI engine and not yours truly. It will be my version of lip-synching or voicetracking.
No, I am seriously not at the point, but I am playing around with topics and outlines. I’m also learning that communicating with ChatGPT and other platforms is key to getting what you want – like how you learned to use Google Search all those years ago.
A helpful article in The Atlantic by Charlie Warzel hit the virtual nail on its artificial head: “Talking to AI Might Be The Most Important Skill of This Century.” (Sadly, it is behind a pay wall.) I particularly enjoyed this “take” on the topic:
“Like writing and coding before it, prompt engineering is an emergent form of thinking. It lies somewhere between conversation and query, between programming and prose. It is the one part of this fast-changing, uncertain future that feels distinctly human.”
Item #3: Rockin’ Around The World – Globalization has changed the game, and alas, it’s a small world after all. You can see that clearly in this nifty infographic created by Loudwire.
They analyzed YouTube usage over the past 12 months from all over the world by country to determine “The Most Listened-To Classic Rock Artist By Country.”
We come to find out international music tastes may not be as diverse as you’d think. Overall, the top Rock artists (in order) are Queen (that biopic helped), Guns N’ Roses, AC/DC, Bon Jovi, and Metallica.
When you hit the next five, the list ages a bit, including the Beatles, Stones, CCR, and Pink Floyd. Nirvana is the one Grunge representative.
Channeling my inner Rick Steves, here a few points of interest on our world tour:
- In North America, it’s AC/DC in the U.S. and Canada, but Queen in Mexico.
- The Russians and Ukrainians actually have something in common: Yes, it’s Queen.
- Israel, Lebanon, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE agree on something: Queen, of course. But in Kurwait, they love their Bon Jovi, it’s Metallica in Iran, and Chicago in Oman. (Chicago??).
- Some of the results are logical: #1 in Australia, of course, is the brothers Young – AC/DC. Those headbangers “Down Under” are also the most-listened-to in Ireland – not U2. Same thing in Germany, where AC/DC outranks favorite sons, the Scorpions.
- A few oddities – they stream Bruce Springsteen in Norway (maybe Little Steven’s “Lilyhammer” show on HBO made an impression), while the Eagles take top honors in Fiji.
- Africa has some eclectic tastes. They love their Def Leppard in Botswana, Thin Lizzy in Zimbabwe, U2 in Angola, and they’re rockin’ with Jimi Hendrix in Senegal.
There’s a morning show bit in here somewhere, and also another nice use of data visualization.
Item #4: A ray of hope? – For many of us, it’s been another tough week. In East Lansing,
Buffalo, East Palestine, Ohio, and of course, Turkey where the bad news just keeps on coming.
So, how about a dash of optimism from a pretty smart guy who’s got the time to sit around and consider the world around him? It seem like in every generation, young people contemplate the sense of bringing children into the world. After this past week, can you blame them.
Bill Gates has a different view. In a recent edition of “Power Players” on CNBC, the co-founder of Microsoft contends “it’s better to be born 20 years from now…than any time in the past.”
That’s a pretty heady statement, even for a multibillionaire like Gates. He notes that advances in medicine and public health have cut mortality rates in half for children under five in just the past 20 years.
And of course, there’s innovation, the prime topic of yesterday’s blog post. Gates says it will improve our lives dramatically, curing obesity and cancer.
On the energy front, Gates envisions a greener future as well.
Gates admits it getting better, especially if you go back in the time machine a few centuries: “Zoom out and say ‘OK, where were we 300 years ago? It didn’t matter if you were a king or a pauper, you were subject to huge infant mortality and extremely low levels of literacy. So, the scope of human innovation over time…is a phenomenal story.”
I’m not going to overthink it, and neither should you. I’m carrying this into this Presidents Day Weekend.
Be safe, and listen to some Queen – along with the rest of the world.
Jacobs Media has consistently walked the walk in the digital space, providing insights and guidance through its well-read national Techsurveys.
In 2008, jacapps was launched - a mobile apps company that has designed and built more than 1,300 apps for both the Apple and Android platforms. In 2013, the DASH Conference was created - a mashup of radio and automotive, designed to foster better understanding of the "connected car" and its impact.
Along with providing the creative and intellectual direction for the company, Fred consults many of Jacobs Media's commercial and public radio clients, in addition to media brands looking to thrive in the rapidly changing tech environment.
Fred was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2018.
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ChatGPT… I might be the only 1 on the lawn wondering this… that it’s another way for us to not utilize our most important muscle, our brains to think-speak & feel. Okey doke, now time for more Jeopardy & Wheel of Fortune 😜. Have an awesome weekend.
Tim, I’m getting increasingly concerned that ship has sailed. Keep mowing that lawn.
Great chart! Don’t tell Charles but it looks like the News of the World is that people still prefer the Queen.
You mean Killer Queen.
I asked OpenAI to write a complaint letter about a station’s weak signal. It used virtually the same words in your letter about the music and djs only replacing them with things like “static” and “noise”. It scares me that thrift conscious businesses will opt for the “GPT” version to save a few shinplasters at the expense of creativity. AI has a long way to go to create (and sound) like humans. Sadly that won’t stop the cost-cutters from trying to make it the norm. Does “Chat” work ? Sure. Ask it for a “sermon about sin” – and you’ll get one. Hellfire and brimstone? Nah. You’ll get what’s put into it.