Here’s another interesting tool that integrates ChatGPT’s algorithm: ChatPDF.

What it does is allows you to have a conversation with a PDF that you upload into the platform, and it works pretty well, I’d say. I used a pretty long new research paper from Microsoft about Artificial Intelligence — Sparks Of Artificial Intelligence — and then used the chat function to query the paper about topics I was interested in — art, creativity, etc.

I like that the ChatPDF gives me page number reference points within the PDF itself, allowing me to go into the document to gather more information. It also gives some context to its responses, via ChatGPT.

At 155 pages long, the Microsoft document seemed like too much to take in, but ChatPDF helped me understand the basics. (Note: I realize that I would need to double-check everything the AI pulled out for me, if I were to do more with this tool).

I could see this being very useful for reading — with ChatGPT as your learning guide — long documents, and maybe technical documents, in a way that makes the text more understandable. You can export your “conversations” as a simple text file, as well. Being in conversation with a text itself is a valuable reading strategy, particularly if the text is rather technical in nature.

Peace (and PDFs),
Kevin

This video short was made with Dall-E generated images.

To celebrate the release anniversary of OpenAI’s Dall.E, we are proud to introduce CRITTERZ, the first animated short film utilizing the generative AI power of Dall.E to design ALL the visuals — every character, every background… basically the entire critterz world!

And this is the ‘behind the scenes” video, showing how the movie was made.

Is this one future path of filmmaking? A recent post by Bryan Alexander explored some aspects of this.

Peace (and Critterz),
Kevin

Although ChatGPT is getting all of our attention as a Generative AI platform that is transforming the landscape of writing and learning, Google’s own AI platform — Bard — is getting better, too, and they recently (I think?) added a few buttons that make it even more useful. One button “exports” its answer results to a new Google Doc or Gmail (and I think Slides and Sheets is coming), and it worked just fine for me.

I’m developing a Professional Development session for the summer around using AI to support English Language Learners and students with learning disabilities, so I asked Bard for some suggestions on the possibilities, and then I quickly and easily exported its responses to my queries to a Google Doc for further editing and revision, and adding to, for later on. Easy.

There’s also a Google Search button that allows you to quickly do some search on the topic of the question (I think Bing has this, too). I am still hoping these platforms add some way to cite the sources of the responses, in some fashion.

I wonder if these AI tools by Google are going to be embedded in its Google for Education networks and what kinds of debates are unfolding at Google and in schools around this decision? And will school networks be able to turn off the AI integration into student accounts, when it comes, if that’s what they decide is best for their institution? Will they want to turn them off? Or will these AI tools be modified for student accounts with more guardrails and filters?

The reality is that once Google’s Bard is fully integrated into its common suite of tools (Docs, Slides, etc.), it will likely be the AI that people turn to the most. ChatGPT got out of the gate first, and maybe has powerful applications, but people want the familiar and ease of use, and I predict that Bard will become the prominent Generative AI in most people’s lives in the years ahead.

Lots of questions … but the buttons on Bard are certainly useful.

Peace (Pondering It),
Kevin