Iterate Weekly - Issue 102
This week we talk about AI dating, ChatGPT for teachers, Flammable e-bike batteries, RIP AM radio, and Shrinking!
Welcome to issue 102 of Iterate Weekly!
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Let’s jump into this week’s stories.
🤖 Tech
Create an AI to go on dates for you!
We’ve talked a lot about AI over the past year or so. But this really seems like an AI use case that could prove to be extremely valuable if you’ve been unlucky in the dating scene.
A dating app called Snack is using AI to allow users to create avatars to go on dates for you.
Let that thought sink in for a second. In theory, this means you could train your avatar to be so much like you that it could go on virtual dates with other avatars and accurately evaluate if that person would be a good fit in real life.
It sounds both amazing and extremely frightening right? We all know that half fun of finding true love is all the work that goes into weeding out those who are incompatible. But this idea still shows a lot of promise.
Snack is obviously aimed at a younger, Gen-Z audience who would be more comfortable with this sort of thing. You may actually remember me writing about them last year when they decided to implement a strict no-ghosting policy. You have to give them credit for pushing the envelope of online dating innovation right?
Training an avatar to date people for you may sound crazy and futuristic but online dating profiles are already weeding people out and putting forth somewhat of an avatar of your real self anyway. This seems like a natural progression. And I’m sure there are plenty of people who’d love to skip all the small talk to just get a lowdown on their potential partner from their AI. Then maybe those first dates could feel a little more substantial than the typically awkward, light conversation.
Oh, and speaking of dates. Snack has a grand ambition for the future. They claim that the real goal is to allow users to go out on dates in a metaverse-like virtual world before deciding whether to meet in person. Hmm, that could end up saving people a lot of money on expensive dates when they’re not sure they actually like the person. And it can also be a lot safer to get to know someone in a controlled environment like that before a physical date.
Anyone eager to start training their dating avatar?
🎓 Education/Productivity/Work
Teachers are using ChatGPT more than students
When ChatGPT started to gain popularity, one of the first concerns was that it was going to make cheating so much easier for students.
But it turns out, that teachers seem to be using ChatGPT more than their students.
Surprised by that? Yeah, I was a little. But it also reasons to believe that teachers were made aware of the technology sooner than most kids. And I think because of all of those concerns about cheating, many teachers wanted to familiarize themselves with the platform so they knew what they’d be up against.
The survey was conducted by the Walton Family Institute and here’s exactly how they came up with this data.
They asked 1,002 K–12 teachers and 1,000 students (ages 12-17) nationwide for their views on the technology, and on using it for school work. It found that nationwide, 51% of teachers use ChatGPT for school, compared to only 33% of students.
So the numbers aren’t all that far apart. It is clear that both teachers and students seem to be utilizing this new tool and it likely won’t go away anytime soon. It also seems like many teachers are allowing (and even encouraging!) their students to give ChatGPT a try. Why is that? Well it reminds me of those “cool” parents who allow their kids to try a little bit of alcohol within a safe environment at home. You know the kids are going to try it anyway, so why not just get ahead of them and give them permission? Maybe if enough teachers say that ChatGPT is allowed, it won’t be cool anymore and kids will go back to writing papers with no help!
All jokes aside, this is probably one of many new AI-innovations that will radically change the way that both teachers and students operate in the coming years. Good for the teachers who are getting ahead of things and learning to use this as a tool to ultimately help their students grasp new topics. And for the students out there, just be smart. Letting AI entirely write papers for you will never help you in the long run. But use AI to push yourself out of your comfort zone and rework pieces of your writing that could use help? That just seems like being a good writer to me.
♻️ Health & Environment
Electric bike batteries and fires
Electric bikes have been a big topic of interest for me over the past few years. Yes, I have one and I ride it almost daily. Which makes me especially concerned about the growing buzz about the dangers of e-bike batteries causing fires.
In New York City in particular, this has become a hotly debated topic.
If you’re not familiar with this story, I’ll give you a quick primer. Electric bikes and e-scooters rely on the use of lithium-ion batteries. These batteries are generally very safe and are similar to the ones in your computers and phones. But the batteries in bikes tend to be larger and are exposed to far more elements than your usual electronics.
Bikes are used in the rain or stored in cold garages. Moisture and extreme temperature swings can degrade the efficiency and integrity of these batteries. In some instances they can catch fire and cause serious harm to human life and property. A place like New York City can be particularly vulnerable.
New York is obviously densely populated. Fires can spread quickly across buildings that are connected or have shared space. These fires are happening in shared garages where bikes and scooters are left overnight to charge. It can be even more dangerous when they’re charging within an apartment.
The city is also passing legislation to block the sale of unregulated batteries. These are often refurbished or imported cheaply without the proper testing to ensure safety. It’s certainly not good publicity for the micro mobility movement. While it’s certainly understandable to ban these vehicles outright in certain shared spaces until we better understand the root of these fires, I hope we can focus on the specific offenders and remember that these batteries are mostly safe.
If you have an e-bike, I encourage you to make sure your battery is in good condition! Be on the lookout for any corrosion or visible signs of wear. Also, don’t charge your bike overnight if you can avoid. Short bursts of juice throughout the day will be better for your battery and if anything were to happen, you’d be more likely to catch it sooner.
And if you’re buying a new bike, be sure to purchase from a reputable brand or dealer. Batteries from companies that you’ve heard of are usually a good start (Samsung and Panasonic come to mind). And prices that are too good to be true should be questioned. It’s worth it to pay a bit more to ensure a safe battery.
Let’s enjoy our bikes and stay safe out there!
🛍 Grab Bag
RIP AM Radio?
Is the end near for AM radio?
Well, if you’re buying a new electric car from brands like Ford or Tesla, you may notice that your AM dial (or on-screen icon) is missing.
Apparently there can be electromagnetic interference between the car’s battery and the AM tuner. That sounds plausible. I think we’d all agree that keeping the car’s battery safe outweighs the benefits of AM radio, right?
Let’s be real, when was the last time you listened to AM radio? I think I have within the last year but it’s certainly not my go-to form of entertainment. Every once in a while there may be a sporting event being broadcast on an AM station but that’s becoming more and more rare.
The bigger concern is getting out important emergency alerts or weather bulletins. AM has long been the home of such things. But the automakers who are pushing out the AM band claim that all of this functionality can be replaced by Satellite radio or apps that rebroadcast AM feeds. Yeah, that all sounds likely too.
I’m sure the younger generation has no idea what the difference is between AM and FM dials. These days, most people may be more familiar with XM satellite radio if they know any radio bands at all. Hell, I still think SiriusXM is cool.
Anyone going to shed a tear for AM radio? First in the alphabet and first in our hearts. RIP AM.
💬 Quote of the Week
"I don't mind going back to daylight saving time. With inflation, the hour will be the only thing I've saved all year."
-Victor Borge
📺Content Recommendation
Shrinking
Well, the Oscars are over and we can get back to enjoying some good ol’ prestige TV right? Several successful shows are coming back for a new season soon (Ted Lasso and Succession come to mind). But I have a new pick that I’ve really been enjoying.
It’s called Shrinking on AppleTV+
The show stars Jason Segel and Harrison Ford as therapists who do their best to help their patients while also dealing with plenty of their own personal issues.
Segel has always been a favorite of mine going back to “Freaks and Geeks” and he’s fantastic in this. And it’s a nice turn for Ford as well. He kinda has the grumpy old man vibe down, but there is a layer of charm that other actors of his generation can’t replicate. There are plenty of laughs but it also tackles some heady dramatic topics.
The soundtrack is particularly great with a theme song by “Death Cab for Cutie”. It’s become my favorite new show of the year and I highly recommend it.
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The latest Southpark episode also talks about students and teachers using ChatGPT. It's hilarious!