I’ve probably watched "Coming to America" over a dozen times. But I never imagined it would become a metaphor for understanding artificial intelligence (AI). But as I delve deeper into the world of AI, I’m realizing that the journey of Prince Akeem and his loyal friend Semmi offers valuable lessons about technology, adaptation, and the human experience.
Prompting: “Bark like a dog…”
Prince Akeem was a master of iterative prompting. “Bark like a dog” was his first request of his bride-to-be, and “a big dog” was the second prompt that provided more context for what he expected the result to be. Similarly, in AI, prompting is a crucial aspect. Providing the goal, the context, the source and the expectation in your prompt are proven techniques for getting great results, in addition to using multi-turn “conversation” sessions to fine tune the results. Just as Akeem's prompt led to a specific action, the prompts we give to AI systems guide their responses and actions.
Hallucinations: “I met Dr. Martin Luther the King…”
The owner of the local barber shop claimed he met Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In fact, he was sure of it. While I can’t actually refute the validity of his claim, I feel pretty sure that Dr. King didn’t randomly come up to him and punch him in his chest. Nevertheless, this is a perfect example of hallucinations in AI. Sometimes, AI systems generate information that seems plausible but is entirely fabricated. These "hallucinations" can occur due to the AI's attempt to fill in gaps or create coherent narratives based on incomplete or unrelated data. It's essential to be aware of this phenomenon and verify the information provided by AI.
Content Generation: “Back home I was in the family business…”
Akeem's story about being a goat herder is a great analogy for AI content generation. Just as Akeem creatively crafts a narrative to fit his new identity, AI systems generate content based on the data and context they are given. The ability to produce imaginative and contextually relevant content is a key aspect of AI - imagine how much more creative Akeem's goat herder story might have been if he were given a chance to have an AI tool give him additional details and back story!
Getting You Started: “Mortimer… we’re back!”
AI tools are great for getting you started with you task – for many of us, an initial idea or a first draft to which we can then make our own modifications is all we need to finish strong. When Akeem gives a large sum of money to two currently homeless, formerly financial gurus during a nighttime stroll, it’s all the investment the two of them need to get back on their feet and use their Wall Street savvy to enlarge the investment. Similarly, AI tools can provide valuable assistance and resources to get you started on a project or task, but human expertise and creativity are still needed to complete it successfully.
"Coming to America" is more than just a comedy classic; it's my source of inspiration for venturing into the world of AI. By understanding the importance of prompting, being aware of hallucinations, leveraging content generation, and recognizing the role of AI in getting me started, I can navigate the complexities of AI with the wisdom of Prince Akeem, and finally let my soul glow… 😉
** This blog post references scenes, phrases, and images from the movie "Coming to America." All rights to the movie and its content are owned by Paramount Pictures. The use of these references is for illustrative purposes only and does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by Paramount Pictures.
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