I hope you had a good weekend. As programmers and engineers, we’re always looking for inspiration. To start your week in the best place possible, I’m here to provide you with a bit of wisdom.
Three, Two, One…
In this series I’ll share three ideas, two quotes, and a question. The topics I cover are usually computer science, problem solving, design improvement, and business development. If you enjoy this then be sure to sign up for my newsletter.
Ideas
Artificial Intelligence to Optimize Code
AI is rapidly becoming a programmer’s best friend. Tools like ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot can be used to develop solutions and assist engineers.
Some of my colleagues have expressed concern that this sort of technology may eventually replace the need for software engineers. I see it as a resource to increase productivity and improve quality. Read this article I wrote about how I used an artificial general intelligence chatbot to code a side project for one of my clients.
Computationalism
Computationalism is the idea that likens to the human mind to a computer. Before the rise of the digital age, other technologies were often used as metaphors for how our brain works. During the Industrial Revolution, the steam engine was used as a metaphor for the human mind. Other examples include the clock, the camera, and even the telephone.
This topic is explored in “The Beginning of Infinity“, a book by physicist and philosopher David Deutsch. He argues that computers and machines can be useful analogies for certain aspects of the mind, but it is ultimately a unique and irreducible phenomenon that cannot be fully understood or replicated using any kind of technology.
Resources:
Face It, Your Brain Is a Computer
The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations That Transform the World
Business is a form of alchemy
Just as the ancient tradition that sought to transform base metals into gold, so too does a successful business transform raw materials and resources into valuable products and services. Moreover, it contributes to the greater good of society. I hope this idea inspires you to be a wizard amongst engineers and make the world a better place.
Quotes
“AI is the most important technology ever developed by humans. It is likely to become more powerful than any other technology in history.”
– Max Tegmark, physicist and AI researcher
“I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it’s the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It’s probably the most important thing in a person.”
– Audrey Hepburn, actress and humanitarian
Question
What is your next challenge?
This is a question I borrowed from a mentor who had a large influence on how I think and do business. I still ask myself and others this regularly. In recent years, I’ve adjusted it to “What is your next adventure?”
What’s yours? Leave your answers in the comment section below.