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Generative AI is not all there is.

In recent days, I’ve had the fortune to become a part of a few interesting projects – gave a few more talks on artificial intelligence, most recently the Future of AI meetup at the Asia School of Business, which has led to a couple of opportunities that I look forward to speaking about a bit more in days ahead!

Today, I’d like to talk about something a little different:

The fact that ChatGPT is not the entire scope of AI, and that people should begin to look at a wider picture.

In recent days, people have been pretty fascinated by what AI can do, but a lot of that discussion has focused on generative tools – things like ChatGPT and Midjourney, and the admittedly wonderful use cases that they can be put to in the context of individual task completion and also business use cases.

There’s a bit of a problem with all that, though.

I think that the world has become so captivated by the universe of generative artificial intelligence that it has come to neglect its infinitely more impactful brothers and sisters, as well as the ways in which they make our lives easier.

Should we forget our voice assistants and all the algorithms that are technically powered by machine learning and therefore AI simply because we enjoy viral things on social media?

Let us remember that generative AI is not everything; to say that it is is to forget about the years of progress that has gone into the development of these technologies; it is to simply impose a narrow view that is made possible, only because one has so limited a range of perception, enabled only by viral posts and seemingly plausible fads. 

It is not that generative AI is bad by any means, but it is simply that people do not fully appreciate the scope of what automation can do for them, and their fall find themselves caught in to poor patterns of decision making.

Granted, not all enterprises are making use of Robotic Process Automation or conducting customer service interactions via chatbots, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t make use of AI in other areas that aren’t just ChatGPT.

Therefore, it is my professional opinion that if you want to ask about what AI can do for your enterprise, ask not just what “AI” can do for you, as that can be a vague question that will cause you to fall prey to just using buzzwords and also to the cycle of hype that characterizes something like the cryptocurrency market.

Remember that?

Just saying… Technology in its best form shouldn’t be used like that.

In all likelihood, if you simply believe influencers, the answer to the question of it will be a question that will reach its resolution in the form of overly hyped statements about how this technology can write emails and advertising materials for you more quickly, and does not fundamentally resolve many of the core issues which actual enterprises face in the process, of automating their operations.

To have a clearer sense of what AI can do for you as an enterprise, ask yourself first about all the things that you can currently do with your phone in order to optimize your life that don’t just include generative AI; if you haven’t done this already, I encourage you to give it a try – look at what you can optimize with your phone; is it sending emails? Is it perhaps eliminating other inefficiencies during the course of the day? Are there specific tasks you must undertake in order for the day to proceed successfully, by a specific time of day? 

To expand that sense of what is possible, ask yourself:

What would happen in the event that every single person on your team had access to these improvements in efficiency, and how that would potentially transform your organization?

What could you gain if you had the competitive edge in a market where these tools are coming out extremely quickly and all offer the possibility of dominating the game?

…What could you lose if you choose not to take up that edge in a world where everyone is racing forward with all their might and energy?

Blur

So many things happened over the past week that I think that the entire thing is basically a blur – way too many things to even think about any individual one of them in clear detail.

For instance, we’ve got GPT-4 on ChatGPT alongside punishing rate limits that basically make the thing unusable after 25 prompts:

…But then you also have the epically awesome outputs that come out from the thing that make you realize that it’s perfectly understandable why it is that people are interested in using this thing to the hilt.

Then, you’ve got Midjourney V5 coming out, alongside natural language prompting, and this whole range of insane looking tessellations that can be created just with the software itself.

I have plenty of thoughts about all of these things and ultimately everything that’s happened this past week, but the most cool of these things, I think, was probably the Microsoft 365 Future Of Work event.

Too long to watch?

Honestly, I think that you’d be depriving yourself there, but a couple of things:

A) It’s wild to imagine that in the future, all of us will essentially just be creating presentations and documents by doing nothing but just using natural language in order to communicate.

B) I never actually thought that I’d think that Microsoft would be cool during my lifetime!

It’s been a pretty incredible week to say the very least, and although it started with a bit of a hiccup on my part, I can’t wait for the next ones ahead 🙂

Incidentally, I also just started a small project in collaboration with my freelancer and also in alignment with my focus on education; if you’d be interested to check it out, head here 🙂

A Guide to A-Level Subject Selection


This is the first of a series of guides that I’ll be publishing for students about A Levels in Malaysia (and beyond)!

This guide is tailored with an audience of students in mind, although it can be read and understood by parents – I will speak in the second person though, so that it’s clear that I’m directly speaking to students themselves.

I know that many of you have embarked onto this journey with purpose and moreover that many of you have achieved your dreams and desired outcomes – this guide is more for you if you are still searching and at the beginning of that process, and is written to reflect the considerations that you might think about at the outset of that process.

Feel free to share it if you think that it is valuable (or not) – I’ll be writing a few more of these as I think it’s important and will provide value to students who are taking A Levels; feedback from parents, students, teachers, and school administrators is also much welcomed as part of the process of making these guide(s) better.

Ready? Let’s go!

Introduction:

Selecting the right A-Level subjects is crucial for you, as it can impact your university applications and future career choices.

The guide aims to help you choose your subjects wisely, considering the requirements of universities in the US, UK, Malaysia, and also your interests, capabilities, and abilities.

Here are some specific tips for subject selection:

  1. Evaluate your strengths and interests:

    Before selecting subjects, take time to reflect on your academic strengths and interests.

    Consider subjects you excel in or enjoy learning, as this will make your A-Level journey more enjoyable and increase the likelihood of achieving high grades; if you choose subjects just because you think that your university will require them or because someone told you that it was a good idea but you have no interest, you probably will find it very difficult because A-Levels are academically intense and require a lot of commitment.
  2. Research university course requirements:

    At the same time, it’s likely that if you choose to take A Levels that you have a specific goal or intention in mind.

    Ensure that you investigate the entry requirements for the courses you’re interested in pursuing at university well in advance.

    Some courses may require specific A-Level subjects, while others may simply require a minimum number of A-Level passes. Keep these requirements in mind when selecting your subjects as they are important – you don’t want to get to university applications stage only to realize that you can’t get admission to your first choice course because your subject combination doesn’t work!
  3. Choose a mix of subjects:

    A well-rounded subject selection can enhance your university application and improve your chances of being accepted. Consider choosing a combination of subjects that align with your interests and demonstrate a range of skills, such as analytical, problem-solving, and communication abilities.
  4. Consider your subject combinations in context:

    Certain subject combinations are better suited for specific university courses. Here are some examples:
  • Engineering: Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry
  • Medicine: Biology, Chemistry, and either Physics or Mathematics
  • Business/Accounting: Mathematics, Economics, and Business Studies
  • Law: English Literature, History, and either Law or a humanities subject
  • Social Sciences: Psychology, Sociology, and Geography or History

It’s not a sure thing that just because you take math and further math that you’ll end up studying engineering – there are some people who take these subjects and go and study law instead.

It’s worthwhile to note that some universities do specifically require some subjects though (see #3).


5. Consult your school counselor or teachers:


Speak with your school counselor or teachers for guidance on A-Level subject selection.

They can provide insights into specific subjects and help you make informed decisions based on your interests and academic goals.

This is an A Levels group and it is meant to *support* your journey, but it won’t replace the importance of maintaining a good relationship with your counselor’s office, bringing what you understand about the process in contact with their office so that together, you can achieve a better result.

Also, consider that some schools and teachers have reputations for being good at delivering or teaching specific subjects (Example: HELP is extremely famous for its Psychology department) and that in some schools, certain subjects may not be available in certain schools.


6. Always plan for your future and keep your options open:

Always, always, always consider what you are doing and why you are doing it. Be intentional about that and it will help you go where you wish to go – you are taking A Levels, right? Why are you doing that? What’s the specific value add? How is it going to help you and why didn’t you do something like SAM, STPM, IB, or otherwise instead?

It’s good to sometimes take a moment to evaluate some of these things and it’s also okay to not immediately know the answers – but do make sure that you think about them in the free time that you do have.

If you’re unsure about your future career path or university course for example, choose subjects that offer flexibility and cater to a range of disciplines. For example, Mathematics, English Literature, and a science subject can provide a solid foundation for various fields and meet numerous requirements.

Conclusion:

Selecting A-Level subjects is an important step in your academic journey. By considering your interests, strengths, university requirements, and potential career paths, you can make informed decisions that will set you up for success.

Don’t be afraid to seek advice from teachers and counselors, as they can offer valuable guidance and support.

And that’s it!

Thank you for reading if you made it to the end of this piece; feedback and suggestions are greatly welcomed 🙂