
A supportive reader suggested that I try out a new AI tool called NoteBookLM.
I did and here are the basics of how it works:
1 - I submit several articles, reports, etc. on a topic of interest. (Note that it will accept up to 50 sources, and up to 500k words each!)
2 - AI digests these and comes up with a composite overview. (It’s important to restate that the overview will just be about what I sent.)
3 - It is then available as a text or an audio file.
4 - The audio file is an amazing conversation between two AI-generated voices (a man and a woman) who have a pro-and-con discussion about the material submitted. It is extremely realistic!
Here is the test I gave it —
a) I wanted the discussion to be about How to Teach Critical Thinking. I selected four of my Substack commentaries that covered various aspects of this topic (pro & con): here, here, here, and here.
b) After I submitted those four commentaries, it took about five minutes for AI to digest these, come up with an intelligible overview discussion, and to then produce a podcast-like audio file.
c) Click below to listen to it (or go here). It’s about 10 minutes long.
Tell me that this isn’t fabulous… Remember these are NOT real people talking, plus I am controlling what they are discussing (by the materials I submit).
Included with every analysis is a Study Guide which includes: a) quiz questions on the material, b) answers to the quiz questions, and c) essay questions!
There are even more presently available NotebookLM features that I have yet to master — like the ability to get into the conversation with the two hosts by adding comments or asking them a question (!!!).
It is clear that the next step will be to have a video exchange between these two artificial people. The implications of this are profound!
For example, we will no longer need expensive newscasters on TV. They will go the way of the telephone switchboard operators…
To me this again screams out the importance of having Critical Thinking skills!
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C19Science.info: covers the lack of genuine Science behind our COVID-19 policies.
Election-Integrity.info: multiple major reports on the election integrity issue.
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Natural vs. Artificial is targeted distinction but since the “ars” “facio” is a human product and we are natural may I suggest a distinction without a difference? What is the financial benefit from deriving knowledge from a comprehensive summarized distillation of recorded thinking, hopefully true, on selected subjects? It is the reuse of human thought without compensation to the thinker. Replacing original source research for “classic comics” denigrates the result in my opinion.
Yes, its impressive and scary as hell.I believe this is already being done with video of " people" talking. I hesitate to state what made me recognize this talking " person" image as fake. Because of course they would improve it and why make it that much easier!!?? Seemed to be a test of some sort.
It was "forecasting" weather- harmless, heh??
We are all likely to be duped- just like those "grandchildren" scams, calling because they need money wired. THIS is on steroids.
I'm afraid, This goes beyond being able to think critically. I also agree VERY manipulative to personify. GOD help us-