CYB #35: Screen Gems, AI Revolution, and Nonprofit Innovation

An image from my Fall 2023 visit to Seattle, WA.

Reflections on great things to watch right now, there are many

Though it took some time to grow on me, I'm now entranced with the cast and storyline of 'Rap Shit' on Max.com, produced by Issa Rae.  Main characters Shawna and Mia, are both brought vividly to life by talented actors, as are characters like Lamont and Francois.  KaMillion is amazing as Mia, Aida Osman brilliantly embodies Shawna, and RJ Cyler is so good as Lamont. I watch every new episode as soon as it drops and keep wanting more.

Another favorite is 'The Buccaneers' on AppleTV,  reminiscent of both  'Catherine the Great' and 'Bridgerton'. Its allure lies in the stunning cast, breathtaking landscapes, elegant attire, and excellent music - easy to watch, amiright?   

Movie-wise, my partner and I recently enjoyed Luc Besson's 2014 futuristic film 'Lucy,,' starring Scarlett Johansson, available on various channels. I couldn't help but wonder what Besson might have to say today about AI, especially considering the advancements since 2014.  On the series side, ' Slow Horses' on AppleTV has quickly become one of my all-time favorites. 'Julia ' on Max is also on our list, improving with each episode of the new season.

Planning: AI in Action: Transforming Nonprofit Work

Back in the early days, when there was an Internet, but no WWW, and  I was reading cyberpunk like Wiliam Gibson’s The Matrix, my sleep was filled with tech dreams – SMTP protocols, machine language, you name it. Lately, it's happening again, but this time with generative AI. Just the other night, after watching 'Lucy,' I dreamt about how using AI might change our emotions, making us less human-like as we try to copy machines.

And of course, my particular interest is in helping people in the non-profit world, where I have worked for the past 15 years, to integrate these tools. There's a lot out there on AI, but not much that's really helpful for this sector. Beth Kanter’s book The Smart Nonprofit: Staying Human-Centered in An Automated World (written with Allison Fine), is a great start for understanding the bigger picture, but we're missing hands-on, practical advice tailored for nonprofit leaders and staffers.

Nonprofits and AI: Filling the Knowledge Gap

There are so many repetitive tasks that AI can handle – summarizing meetings, drafting agendas, writing donor letters, creating social media posts. These are real time-savers for nonprofit staff. It’s important to teach them what AI can do and how to use it effectively.

So, for 2024, I’m setting up training sessions for nonprofit leaders and managers on using Generative AI. Working with a small group of experienced consultants, we're planning in-person and virtual training for nonprofits starting late January 2024. If you’re interested, want to collaborate, or want training for your team, let's connect.

Reading:

Ethan Mollick, An Opinionated Guide to Which AI to Use: ChatGPT Anniversary Edition, is a great read. Mollick urges everyone to subscribe to the more powerful ChatGPT-4, and then offers some workarounds, since it’s not offered to new users right now.  A simple answer, and then a less simple one. 

“The advice that I have for most people who want to use AI is incredibly simple. Of course, once I tell you the simple answer I will complicate it a bit, and then complicate it a bit more, but let’s start with the easy stuff: get GPT-4. And stop using free ChatGPT.”--Ethan Mollick

Ethan Mollick, Centaurs and Cyborgs on the Jagged Frontier, I think we have an answer on whether AIs will reshape work… is also worth a read, especially if you want some future of work productivity data to share with colleagues. 

“Consultants using AI finished 12.2% more tasks on average, completed tasks 25.1% more quickly, and produced 40% higher quality results than those without. Those are some very big impacts. Now, let’s add in the nuance.”--Ethan Mollick

 Susan Mernit, Prompts that Work: Enhancing AI Interactions with Sequenced, Multi-Step Prompts.  This post describes ways to  enhance AI interactions in the non-profit sector through using sequenced, multi-step prompts.

“Using Chain of Thought Prompting can transform the way nonprofits interact with AI, making complex tasks more manageable and less intimidating.”

Open AI Developer’s forum, Prompts for ChatGPT: Scan these discussions for useful links and ideas from a global community. 

Because you made it this far

Urban Bush Women's Hair & Other Stories: Earlier this month, I saw Urban Bush Women in Berkeley, performing their amazing piece  Hair and Other Stories. This full-length piece explored identity, race, family, community and life through the matrix of Black women’s hair, and it was wonderful.  Wow!  What a terrific production, and a talented ensemble. 

  UBW: Hair & Other Stories: Hair Hell Moments, an excerpt from the show

 

Have I really written 35 of these newsletters since March 2020? Amazing.

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All best,
Susan