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Despite the AI narrative, human ingenuity wins
Announcing Bambi's tasty return! 🍕
Rob Norris
July 09, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes
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Good morning Launch Key 🚀 community!
Are you tired of hearing about all the wonders of AI?
Being great at your craft still far outweighs the tech assist AI might generate.
Oh sure, you may use AI to offload some grunt work, but let’s be honest, will it replace good old-fashioned human ingenuity?
This month’s Subscriber Story is the perfect example. Dave Oakley had been stirring up the advertising landscape with thoughtful craziness for decades. Sure, he’s moved his agency ahead using technology, but satire? pithy headlines? tongue-in-cheek? decoys under a billboard to enhance a pizza ad?
Yeah – we’re a long way from AI coming up with that on its’ own.
Comment below and let me know if we’re on the right track.
Table of Contents
Pull to Eject
With an AI article published every 10 minutes, its easy to surrender to the “woe is me” idea that AI will take your job.
The augmented view – with AI as a useful ‘little helper’ – is more likely.
Working with AI is like the teamwork of Captain Picard and Data, the human-looking android in Star Trek:The Next Generation.
It’s obvious that Data can do things Picard can’t – like scanning enormous amounts of data and making elaborate predictions. But his lack of ability to think, feel, and judge like a human are why Data remains subordinate to Picard.
Data is a little helper.
AI is great using information that can be calculated, memorized, and repeated. It makes predictions based on what it knows.
But you know who wrote all that information? – We did.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a modern day Luddite.
Do I think AI can help make my life easier?
Absolutely.
AI gives thousands of simulations in the same way Excel allowed us to run a myriad of financial scenarios.
Then we can make decisions leveraging intangible factors, like ethical considerations, corporate change or just plain common sense.
Do I think it can be used to replace creative thought?
Not so much.
Remember the original Duck Hunt?
Yeah – neither does AI.
The AI arms race
AI has become an arms race - similar to how the internet took off in the 90’s.
Billions were over-invested. Many crashed and burned. And despite everyone having access to the same tools – the big boys ended up dominating what we have today.
It sure feels like AI will run the same playbook.
Who can afford the investment?
Only a few governments and mega players.
If you’ve seen the 1983 movie War Games, you remember that the climax is the computer learning stalemate by playing Tic-Tac-Toe.
Simulations might be the best use for AI.
AI can absolutely be helpful in training employees and cut down on years of corporate mistakes. (wouldn’t that be something? 😉)
Simulations also allow individuals to hone their “soft” skills, apply what they’ve learned, and prepare for exercising judgment in various fields, such as negotiations.
In real life, you can’t re-land the plane after a crash.
And you can’t renegotiate a poor deal either.
With AI simulation you can repeat the negotiation process - many times - trying different tactics and methods to figure out what works. Young employees can save years of trial and error and learn ‘why’ deals work.
Decision-making can be improved without real life consequences.
So how will sole proprietors and small businesses survive in the AI future?
Same as it ever was – ingenuity. Employ AI assistance where it makes sense.
The choice is pretty clear: pearl clutch over attention-grabbing headlines or improve your craft.
Humans have been adapting new technologies since the invention of the wheel.
I can’t see us stopping now.
Now go launch something 🚀
Most of the content on the internet is created by average people. So the content generated by AI is on average … average.
Subscriber Stories: David Oakley
David Oakley: Creative Director | Author | Ring Leader
Oakley has been crafting witty copy since his late 80’s New York ad agency days. After moving his family to Charlotte and winning awards for others, he co-founded BooneOakley which he’s been leading for the last 24 years.
His career portfolio includes authoring 2 books; Nobody eats Parsley, and Why is Your Name Upside Down? while winning a slew of awards from the likes of Communications Arts, Clio, One Show, Advertising Age, SXSW, Webby and American Advertising Awards.
He’s got some chops.
In 2017, he was inducted into the NC Media and Journalism Hall of Fame alongside luminaries like Charles Kuralt, Roger Mudd and David Brinkley.
But he’s not finished.
I caught up with Dave recently and learned about their latest outdoor award: OAAA custom installation that made me laugh out loud. Even he leveraged AI to create the Deer, Wild Boar, and Elk for the billboard. Oakley admitted, “AI made producing the idea much faster and easier.”
Knowing full well that the decoys would be stolen, the hang tags might be the best part of the campaign. 😂
Carnivore pizza will never be the same! 🍕
Modern Tools
So there are a few winners in the AI newsletter space.
One is Superhuman AI.
It advertises itself as the world’s biggest AI newsletter for businesses and professionals with 700,000+ readers working at the world’s leading startups and enterprises.
I read it for the timely articles, useful insight and at least 1 cool prompt idea in each issue.
Old School Wisdom
This is one of the more interesting old school stories today.
ResiBrands is the fastest growing Home Service brand in the US. Painting houses, upfitting garages, cleaning windows - all wrapped in a franchise opportunity.
And they just got an infusion and leadership from new skool Codie Sanchez on a mission to build the biggest trade franchise in the world.💥
Free Knowledge
Marc and Ben built the foundational internet tools that we take for granted. Their venture firm is second-to-none in picking winners, but they demonstrate humility about only being right 50% of the time. Their 50% list is incredible.
So when they talk about where they think AI is going, it’s probably smart to listen.
This recent podcast on the state of AI is an hour of answering listeners questions about how startups can compete with Big Tech’s advantage.
Very good stuff.
Recommendations
🌟 Creator Spotlight : Interviews and Creator Economy success stories every Friday.
📰 Marketing Memos : Proven Marketing Tips for Founders in your Inbox.
🏆 IDiyas : Weekly patent newsletter highlighting the most prolific inventors, engineers, executives and entrepreneurs.
🧠 Seven Deadly Stupidities: 80% of Success is Avoiding Stupidity.
💪 Dealroom : Learn directly from billionaire entrepreneurs on how to grow a business.
🤔 Intent : Helping talent in tech become more intentional with their career.
Visual Crapshoot
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