ChatGPT and the Future of AI

Cheery Friday Greetings from Barb Oakley! 

Just a friendly reminder that ChatGPT and the Future of AI: The Deep Language Revolution by Terrence J. Sejnowski, which we previewed a couple of weeks ago, is now available! 🎉

If you were intrigued by our earlier discussion of Sejnowski’s exploration into the fascinating world of artificial intelligence, now is the perfect time to dive in and grab your copy. This book offers an incredible journey through the evolution of AI, from its humble beginnings to the groundbreaking advancements we’re witnessing today. Sejnowski’s ability to break down complex concepts with clarity and connect them to real-world applications makes this a must-read.

Whether you’re passionate about technology, curious about the future of AI, or simply looking for a thought-provoking read, ChatGPT and the Future of AI promises to deliver insights and excitement.

Don’t miss out on this enlightening read—get your copy today and join the conversation about the future of AI!

Free Additional AI Resources for Educators

AI Hacks for Educators is a goldmine of over 50 practical tips to help streamline tasks and save time with AI. Written by a group of fellow educators, this guide covers everything from assignment creation to giving student feedback, all with simple, straightforward hacks. It’s a fantastic go-to if you’re looking to free up time for what matters most—supporting your students.

Alongside it, ChatGPT Assignments to Use in Your Classroom Today offers ready-to-use assignments that can help students build essential AI skills. From crafting good prompts to learning how to evaluate AI output, these assignments make it easy to incorporate AI into learning without a lot of fuss. Perfect for the classroom, these activities turn AI from an intimidating tool into something students can actually learn and grow with.

Songs for Multi-lingual Learning! 

If you’re raising children in a multi-lingual environment (or even if you’re not!), you’ll want to check out Vera Ignatyeva’s delightful YouTube playlist of English songs for children. Vera has created over 150 engaging songs that help develop language skills, motor coordination, and memory—all while creating wonderful bonding experiences between caregivers and children. The songs are simple, upbeat, and perfect for little ones who are just beginning to learn language. Start with her curated playlist of top 20 songs, and for even more musical fun, follow Vera on Instagram @london.mama, where she regularly posts new songs with help from her own children. What a wonderful way to introduce the joy of language learning to the tiny ones in your life!

Cheery Friday Course Reminder

Looking for ways to accelerate your learning (or help your students do the same)? Don’t miss the Accelerate Your Learning with ChatGPT course on Coursera! This course is designed to combine the latest insights from neuroscience with the incredible capabilities of generative AI to boost learning efficiency.

If you’re eager to sharpen your critical thinking skills in the ChatGPT era, check out the Critical Thinking: A Brain-Based Guide for the ChatGPT Era specialization on Coursera! This course series explores how our brains shape reasoning and decision-making—giving you tools to recognize and manage biases, strengthen logical reasoning, and make well-informed choices. The specialization dives into neuroscience-backed techniques that enhance critical thinking and introduces practical exercises to help you apply these insights in real-world situations. Perfect for educators and lifelong learners alike, this course series can transform how you (and your students) approach complex problems.

If you haven’t had a chance to explore these resources, now’s a great time to jump in!

Reinforcement Learning and a Potential Cure for Alcoholism

Traveling is remarkable for the people you meet and things you learn. In my most recent travels, I was fortunate enough to meet an old friend I hadn’t seen for forty years (yes, forty years). Her life had extraordinary twists and turns, and during one of its darker twists, with the loss of her only child, she descended into severe alcoholism.  Alcoholics Anonomous just didn’t work for her–in fact, AA’s lengthy dwelling on relapse seemed to simply make relapses more probable in my friend’s mind.  What worked?  Something called the Sinclair Method, which makes use of retraining the brain using an opioid antagonist, naltrexone, before drinking.  It doesn’t make drinking feel bad–it just takes away the “buzz.” This has been found to be successful in about 80% of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) sufferers. My friend is grateful for the past decade of life, which she would never have experienced without naltrexone. Who knew reinforcement learning could have such profound outcomes?

That’s all for now. Have a happy week in learning!

Barb Oakley

• Uncommon Sense Teaching—the book and Coursera Specialization!

• Mindshift—the book and MOOC

• Learn Like a Pro—the book and MOOC

• The LHTL recommended text, A Mind for Numbers

For kids and parents: Learning How to Learn—the book and MOOC. Pro tip—watch the videos and read the book together with your child. Learning how to learn at an early age will change their life!