Saturday Series with Jasmine
VOLUME 2
Pt. 1 - The Intro
blog
6 min read
Introduction
Welcome to the Saturday Series, a weekly exploration where I showcase what I’ve learned and created as a software engineer outside the confines of my regular nine-to-five job. In an era where Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to expand its capabilities, it has become essential for professionals like myself to not just regard AI passively, but to actively integrate it into our workflows. This week, I reflect on AI’s remarkable journey and share how it has become an integral part of my life and work.
The AI Skeptic Turned Advocate
Two years ago, when GPT made its debut, I stood with the skeptics. The idea that AI could someday rival the complexity of the human mind or even threaten my career felt improbable. Fast forward to today, and the landscape has shifted dramatically. The word “naive” eerily echoes the presence of “AI” itself, as if signaling the shift from skepticism to embracing AI’s potential. Despite these advancements, I’m confident my job remains secure, provided I harness AI’s capabilities to enhance my work efficiency.
AI Tools in My Daily Workflow
In recent weeks, I’ve been diving deep into the world of AI tools to streamline my projects. Here are a few that have significantly impacted my workflow:
-
Cursor: This tool has revolutionized the way I approach coding tasks. It has become an indispensable companion in writing and refining code with precision and speed.
-
Granola: Say goodbye to tedious meeting notes. Granola excels in summarizing meetings, ensuring I capture all the essential details without getting bogged down in minutiae.
-
Perplexity: For in-depth research, Perplexity has been a game-changer. It’s remarkably effective in navigating complex documents and extracting valuable insights.
Venturing into Prompt Engineering
A recent focus of mine has been improving my prompting skills. Effective prompts are the backbone of fruitful AI interactions, and with AI Engineering by Chip as my guide, I’ve embarked on this journey. Chapter one of this highly recommended book delves into the core differences between AI engineering and Machine Learning (ML) engineering. It explains fundamental concepts like tokens, the underpinnings of ChatGPT, and AI’s historical evolution. Understanding these aspects has empowered me to be a better prompter by gaining a comprehensive understanding of what happens behind the scenes.
Anthropic Prompt Engineering Guide
AI Engineering by Chip Huyen (affiliate link)
Looking Ahead
I am excited about where this path might lead. Join me next week as I offer a more detailed exploration of Chapter One, unraveling the intricacies of AI and ML engineering. My aim is to demystify these concepts and share actionable insights that will empower you to embrace AI with confidence.
Stay tuned as we continue to unravel the myriad possibilities AI holds for us. Until next time, happy learning and innovating!