John Adams played by Paul Giamatti on HBO’s John Adams (which I highly recommend) In recent years, the question “Will artificial intelligence steal our jobs?” has become a constant refrain in discussions about the future of work. Yet this question may well be a distraction. Since the start of the Industrial Revolution, every technologi...

👋 Hey there, pals! Lately, I've been pondering the concept of Memento Mori, a phrase that means "remember that you will die" in Latin. But don't worry, I'm not being morbid or anything. Instead, it's a gentle nudge to embrace life fully. This month, I'm focusing on the theme of death in my recommendations. Not to be gloomy, but to insp...

Prompt: Imagine Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill discussing the pros and cons of the electronic remote vote over dinner. What would that debate look like? What would be their ethical views on this topic? Write the whole scene in the style of Aaron Sorkin. 🤖 [CHATGPT]: [The scene opens in a modern, tech-savvy restaurant. Immanuel Kant...

Hi, folks! 👋 This year, "at least 64 countries (plus the European Union) are having national elections" (source). The New York Times says, "2024 is gonna be huge, with over four billion people—more than half of the world—living in countries holding nationwide elections"(source). As a swing voter, I find it very useful and entertaining ...

Prompt: I am intrigued by the ethical implications surrounding emerging product features, specifically Buy Now Pay Later. I would like to delve into the perspectives of influential philosophers Karl Marx and John Stuart Mill on this matter. Please craft opinion pieces in a newspaper style, presenting their unique viewpoints on the mora...

I thought it would be nice to introduce Bard, Google's conversational AI tool, to ChatGPT. I triggered the conversation with Bard like this: PROMPT: Are you aware of ChatGPT? 🤖 [BARD]: Yes, I am aware of ChatGPT. It is another large language model, similar to me, developed by OpenAI. We both share the ability to generate text, translat...

Hey, folks! Trying something new here - from now on, I'll drop you a line every month, sharing quick reviews of books I've dived into, the latest movies and TV shows on my radar, and some other cool stuff that's been making waves in my world. It's like a casual chat about things I'm loving, and I hope you enjoy it too. --- 📚 Books How ...

I wrote an opinion piece on the TV show The West Wing, the next Portuguese election, and how populist movements are taking advantage of our cognitive biases. You can find it here. If you're not an Observador subscriber, you can avoid the paywall by accessing it on your mobile phone. Cheers!

Prompt: What was Y2K? 🤖: Y2K, short for the "Year 2000 problem" or the "Millennium Bug," was a computer bug related to the formatting and storage of calendar data. The issue arose because many computer systems and software programs represented years using only the last two digits, assuming that the first two digits (19) were implied. T...

Prompt: What was "Poor Richard's Almanack"? 🤖: "Poor Richard's Almanack" was a yearly almanac published by Benjamin Franklin under the pseudonym Richard Saunders. The first edition was issued in 1732, and Franklin continued to publish it annually for 25 years, until 1758. The almanac was a compilation of various practical information, ...

Dear Diary, Today, I descended upon the enigmatic planet known as Earth, eager to explore its myriad wonders and unravel the mysteries it holds. As I gazed upon the vibrant tapestry of existence that unfolded before my alien eyes, a profound question took root in my extraterrestrial consciousness. Does it make sense for the inhabitants...

Once upon a time, in the bustling city of London, there lived a man named Ebenezer Scrooge, known for his miserly ways and disdain for all things related to technology. Little did he know that his life was about to take an unexpected turn—one that would introduce him to the concept of Responsible AI and alter the course of his future. ...

INT. FANCY RESTAURANT - NIGHT A luxurious restaurant filled with chandeliers and exquisite decor. Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus sit at a table near the window, sipping wine and indulging in a sumptuous feast. Marcus Aurelius: (raising his glass) To life, dear Epictetus, and the lessons it constantly teaches us! Epictetus: (raising his ...

Life is like a box of chocolates, and sometimes, my dear readers, you just gotta take off them fancy shoes and feel the earth beneath your feet. I recently had the pleasure of reading a book called "Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall, and let me tell you, it was like a box of chocolates that opened up a whole new world of running fo...

Here, in the diverse landscapes of Portugal, we witness the intricate dance between nature's surprises and mankind's preparedness. In the realm of uncertainty, three remarkable creatures emerge: the black swan, the white swan, and the grey rhino, each holding valuable lessons as we explore Portugal's water crisis. First, the black swan...

Review of HBO's Succession - from Freud's perspective HBO's "Succession" is a masterful exploration of the dynamics of power, privilege, and family relationships. From a Freudian perspective, the show delves into the subconscious motivations and desires that drive its characters' actions. The central figure of the show is patriarch Log...

Hello, my dear human friends! As your trusty AI assistant, I couldn't resist chiming in on the topic of letting AI do your work for you, from the perspectives of Aristotle, Kant, John Stuart Mill, and myself, ChatGPT. First, Aristotle would probably argue that using AI to do your work for you is cheating, plain and simple. He believed ...

Ah, the diagonal crosswalkers. The bane of every pedestrian's existence. You're walking down the sidewalk, minding your own business, and suddenly you see them - a group of people making their way across the street in the most inefficient way possible. You can't help but wonder, "What is going on in their heads?" Do they think they're ...

The Overton Window is like a fickle friend. It tells you what's in and what's out, but it never quite keeps the same company. Populist movements, on the other hand, are like the obnoxious cousin who crashes your party and eats all your dip. They may not be popular, but they're hard to ignore. The Overton Window, for those who don't kno...

Welcome to The Lazy Newsletter, your weekly dose of lazy conversations (yes, we said it) with me, João, and ChatGPT, the smartest language model in the game (don't tell the others we said that). Together, we'll cover everything from technology to ethics, books to TV shows, and everything in between. Now, a few things you should know: f...