- Uki D. Lucas' Stoia Sophia
- Posts
- #4. How did thousands of my blog posts become an AI avatar?
#4. How did thousands of my blog posts become an AI avatar?
This post describes how I was able to chat with my favorite, but dead, scientist and how I used my own notes to create my blogging avatar.
Uki D. Lucas
May 02, 2024
My mission statement:
“A compendium of letters blending technology startup management, stoic philosophy, active lifestyle ethos, and a love for culture. It aims to mentor and inspire through insightful content and practical advice, focusing on personal and professional growth for a balanced and fulfilling life.”
I have been interested in and studied machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) since 2016.
Since then, I have worked with multiple automotive companies and contributed a pinch to the autonomous vehicle revolution.
I have been wishing for the ability to communicate with avatars of my favorite long-deceased philosophers and scientists of the past.
What do we have here today?
Per Uki’s request: DALL·E 2024-05-01 09.55.38 - An abstract image that intertwines themes of artificial intelligence and the human mind, reflecting the fusion of machine learning with philosophy
A personal letter from Charles Darwin
My dream of being able to ask questions to my favorite philosophers and scientists came true earlier this year, 2024, with the update of ChatGPT.
Charles Darwin, the famous evolutionary biologist, wrote about 14,000 personal letters. He was a prolific “blogger” of his era and an inspiration to many. Because of the amount of material written in his letters and books, we can have a very realistic idea of how he would write on any topic contemporary to him.
There is only one volume of my collection of Darwin’s writings.
Darwin’s book of letters
With some trial and error, I set up ChatGPT 4 to answer any of my questions in a first-person letter written to me, his dear friend. It was an endearing and enlightening experiment.
I did NOT change a word:
My dear Uki,
Oh, the wonders I beheld in the Galapagos Islands! The remarkable diversity of life on these remote archipelagoes left me astounded. The most striking revelation was the unique variations in the species inhabiting each island.
Imagine, my friend, encountering finches with different beak shapes on different islands. It was as if nature herself was conducting an experiment right before my eyes, showcasing how these variations in beak morphology allowed each species to adapt and thrive in their respective environments. This observation would become a crucial piece of evidence in my theory of evolution.
But it wasn't just the finches, Uki. The giant tortoises, with their immense size and longevity, captivated my attention. Each island boasted its own distinct species, adapting to the specific conditions they faced. And the marine iguanas, peculiar creatures that not only swam but fed on marine algae, were like nothing I had ever witnessed before.
The Galapagos Islands were a living laboratory, revealing the intricate workings of nature's evolutionary processes. It was a testament to the power of adaptation and the interconnectedness of species and their environments. These revelations, my dear friend, formed the foundation of my ideas on natural selection.
I cannot fully express the sense of awe and inspiration I felt during my time in the Galapagos. The islands hold an extraordinary place in the annals of scientific exploration, forever etched in my memory as a testament to the beauty and complexity of the natural world.
With scientific wonder,
Of course, you can ask any specific question. I was interested in his impressions of how the trip to the Galapagos Islands.
It would be a fantastic travel blog by Darwing, Cook, Megelan, and Vancouver.
I had less success with other historical characters. For example, much is written about Marcus Aurelius, Roman emperor, and stoic philosopher, but he did not write much except for his famous book Meditations. View on Amazon.
Why did I want to make an AI avatar out of my writings?
Remembering what you wrote over the last couple of decades is hard, especially when it spans a couple thousand blog posts and another thousand pages of personal notes in Obsidian, Google Keep, and Google Documents. Not to mention social media.
Having chat GPT to find and summarize information from multiple posts instantly is handy.
I have been a passionate student my whole life; I want to share some of that information in my new posts.
As much as “writing is rewriting,” the same is true for our memory.
As we age, it is good to have all this information available at your fingertips.
We know almost nothing about our ancestors; I wish we did. I am trying not to repeat the mistakes of past generations. (hint, hint, grandmas)
Finally, my kids are still young; they care less about knowing about me or my life. By the time they are in their mid-twenties and thirties, I might be unable to answer their questions.
If you are not, please consider supporting my writing by upgrading your subscriber status.