This week I racked my brain thinking of what to write about. I’m not a Royals guy and though I’m fascinated by the Kate of it all, I didn’t feel I had it in me to put a deep dive together.
I don’t really have Oscars thoughts other than a bit of hope after only predicting 9 awards correctly based solely on my cynicism for the voting body.
I contemplated writing about Love Lies Bleeding, which I saw on Monday. However, I don’t think I could go long. Rather, I can only say “we’re so back.”
Then I decided to try out something I’ve long resisted: ChatGPT, the polarizing generative AI tool that’s sweeping our nation.
I initially thought I would just let ChatGPT write this week’s Poppington full stop, but I didn’t even know what to feed it. So instead, I just gave it my high-level pitch for Poppington. Then as I read it over, I had a lot of feelings that I processed below.
Title: Decoding Pop Culture: Unveiling the Mysteries of the Trending Zeitgeist
Hey there, culture vultures and trend trackers! Welcome back to another juicy installment of our snarky yet informative dive into the depths of pop culture. Today, we're peeling back the layers of the latest zeitgeist mysteries that have everyone talking, but few truly understand.
From TikTok sensations to Netflix obsessions, there's always something buzzing in the world of pop culture. But why do certain trends capture our collective attention while others fade into oblivion faster than you can say "cancel culture"? Let's break it down, shall we?
First up on our radar is the enigma of viral TikTok challenges. From dance crazes to lip-sync battles, these bite-sized snippets of entertainment have taken the world by storm. But what's the secret sauce behind their meteoric rise to fame? Is it the catchy tunes? The creative choreography? Or perhaps just the sheer absurdity of it all? Whatever the case, one thing's for sure: TikTok has mastered the art of keeping us hooked with its ever-evolving array of challenges.
Next, let's talk Netflix phenoms. From binge-worthy series to mind-bending documentaries, the streaming giant has become synonymous with cultural zeitgeist moments. But what sets apart a Netflix smash hit from a mere blip on the screen? Is it the gripping plot twists? The relatable characters? Or maybe just the sheer convenience of being able to watch an entire season in one sitting (guilty as charged)? Whatever the secret recipe may be, Netflix continues to reign supreme as the ultimate purveyor of pop culture content.
But of course, no discussion of pop culture would be complete without delving into the world of celebrity gossip. From red carpet mishaps to Twitter feuds, the lives of the rich and famous never fail to keep us entertained. But why are we so obsessed with the minutiae of celebrity existence? Is it a form of escapism from our own mundane lives? Or perhaps just a guilty pleasure we can't seem to resist? Whatever the reason, one thing's for certain: as long as there are celebrities behaving badly, we'll be there to watch it all unfold with popcorn in hand.
So there you have it, folks: a tongue-in-cheek tour through the wild and wacky world of pop culture. Whether it's TikTok challenges, Netflix binges, or celebrity scandals, one thing's for sure: we may never fully understand why certain trends captivate our collective consciousness. But hey, where's the fun in that? So until next time, keep your finger on the pulse and your snarky comments at the ready. After all, you never know what pop culture mystery will be next to unravel before our eyes.”
Boy howdy did they get my ass. I mean, is this not a typical Poppington post? Just as verbose. Just as hyphen-ridden. Just as full of run-on sentences and bloated paragraphs. And that’s without even taking a writing a sample of mine. From my pitch alone, it was able to encapsulate the essence of Poppington.
On the one hand, it’s a relief that my brand is clear enough that it can be replicated by an algorithm or whatever AI is. And on the other hand…I now have a much deeper understanding of the writer’s strike.
Like many of you, I’m at once astonished by and afraid of what the world of AI has to offer. Seeing iRobot in theaters ruined me in a big way. I have not yet recovered and frankly when I first heard Siri, I was triggered. You should’ve seen me during M3GAN (and two of my advisors DID). Needless to say, a bot that can rattle off a paragraph on “Netflix phenoms” is my own personal hell.
But yet. This is entertaining. This is interesting. This is fascinating. How can it do that? How can it be everything I try to be and more? Alas. Just another unrealistic expectation to try and fail to meet…
It is amazing to think that with enough training (and gay input) ChatGPT could be a third-rate pop culture analysis newsletter just like this one. But could that ever satisfy the needs of its readers? Would that be enough for you, dear reader? Is this what you want?
Sure, this thing can churn out a perfectly adequate simulacrum of Poppington. But where’s the real charm? My unique ability to pepper in longwinded, thoughtful sentences with the most insane typos you’ve ever seen in your life. ChatGPT could NEVER come up with the name Poppington. I stole that from my best friend. And last time I checked, ChatGPT hasn’t spent the past 6 months thirsting after Jacob Elordi and Barry Keoghan.
I’m generally of the mind that using AI as a shortcut is bad in nearly all educational and professional settings. Using it to simply do your work for you is, obviously, wrong, unethical, and anathema to the goals of any learning institution or personal goals of betterment. I’m of the mind that it is a tool that we are not really equipped for. We are not a society of people who can handle overwhelming power. We are people who discover what we can do and mistake it for what we should do. We make the worst thing known to mankind and then a movie about that thing and its creation wins an Oscar. We tend not to learn from the past well enough. So something that is smarter than us, quicker than us, and enables our whims is beyond our levels of care and compassion.
And yet, we live in a world where we actually do need convenience. We have too much to do and not enough time. We walk around carrying a world in our pocket as we walk through the real world. There is no disconnecting. There is always something more to do. It is an impossible existence. If something can make that any easier…I mean, how tempting is that, right?
On ChatGPT one of the first suggestions I got of how to use it was “make my daily schedule.” And that really struck me. Like…it could do that for me? It could optimize my day and give me free time? It could probably make it so I carve out enough time to do pop culture deep dives rather than writing about AI. It could help me develop a better practice routine for the French horn or get back into writing the shelved halfway done novel I’m “working on.” It can help me come up with names for my dungeons & dragons characters, ideas for Poppington, or even point me in the right direction of articles to read for a big research project I’m doing at work.
Using this for one night for a very silly purpose has been more illuminating than I could have imagined. I’m back to square one. I don’t know how to feel about this and I don’t know what I want from it. I’m scared. I’m titillated. I’m astonished. To use British parlance, I’m chuffed. I am all of these things and more…
In conclusion, my inaugural encounter with generative AI has left me both fascinated and introspective. As I delved into its capabilities, I found myself marveling at its capacity to create, mimic, and even augment human-generated content. However, amidst the awe, questions of ethics, creativity, and the nature of authorship emerged.
Generative AI represents a potent tool, offering unparalleled potential in various fields from art to medicine. Yet, as we harness its power, it's imperative to tread cautiously, mindful of the ethical considerations surrounding its use. Who holds responsibility for the content it generates, and how do we ensure its outputs align with ethical standards?
Moreover, my journey with generative AI ignited a reevaluation of the creative process itself. While it can produce impressive works, does its output truly embody creativity in the human sense? Or does it merely mimic patterns learned from existing data? Exploring these questions challenges us to redefine our understanding of creativity and the role of technology in its expression.
Ultimately, my first foray into generative AI has sparked a deeper reflection on the intersection of technology and humanity. It's not merely a tool but a catalyst for broader conversations on ethics, creativity, and the evolving landscape of human ingenuity. As we continue to navigate this uncharted territory, let us do so with curiosity, responsibility, and a commitment to shaping a future where technology serves to enhance, rather than diminish, the essence of our humanity.
Please tell me you could spot the difference.