The Year the Future Came into Focus

This post was authored by Pickaxe evangelist and prompt designer Josh Wolf.

In just about one year’s time the world of AI leapt from the realms of science fiction, and obscure research labs into a reality that previously seemed impossible. At first it was the sudden popularity of image creation tools like MidJourney and DALL-E over the summer of 2022 that hinted of this once far-off future, but the release of ChatGPT at this time last year was a definitive milestone.

‍My First Encounter with ChatGPT‍

I don’t remember exactly when I first heard about ChatGPT, but it looks like I didn’t actually get a chance to try it out until sometime in January of 2023. My first query was to ask ChatGPT to “Write a quick memo about who Andrew Tate is.”

I’m not sure what I was expecting, but after providing the context that he was an entrepreneur and former MMA fighter, I received a very superficial biography bereft of anything that makes Andrew Tate a beacon of controversy. I then asked ChatGPT “Tell me more about why he is controversial.”

“I’m sorry,” said ChatGPT, “but I don’t have any information about Andrew Tate’s controversy.” And that was basically my first conversation with ChatGPT.

Over the next month I found myself exploring everything that ChatGPT could do along with better understanding its limitations. I asked it to explain why it felt BitCoin wasn’t a Ponzi scheme, and I asked it to plan menus and craft recipes. In less than 30 seconds I had it duplicate a computer program I wrote in elementary school that calculates one’s weight on each of the nine planets. I used it to write marketing copy for my Airbnb, and explored its potential for poetry and to wax philosophically on its own existence. I was hooked.

“How should I go about getting a job working in machine learning or ai integration without any background in coding or tech companies on my resume?” I asked ChatGPT in one of these early conversations before immediately following up with, “Please write up 5 savory recipes using maraschino cherries.”

While I didn’t exactly print out its response for future reference, when I revisit its almost year-old advice, it’s encouraging to see that I’ve managed to follow it and achieve success. Perhaps I should give that recipe for Cherry Glazed Pork Chops a try as well.

‍My Journey in Media and Technology‍

Perhaps it's worth taking a moment to introduce myself. I'm Josh Wolf, a freelance journalist, prompt engineer and now the PickAxe Evangelist. But my journey with AI is as much about my past as it is about the future.

My path in the world of media and technology was never conventional. Back in July 2005, I was in the thick of things, videotaping an anti-G8 anarchist protest in San Francisco for my videoblog The Revolution Will Be Televised. Back then YouTube was still unheard of and videoblogs were web sites running Blogger or YouTube with embedded videos uploaded to the Internet Archive or people’s personal servers.

July 8, 2005, wasn't just another day for me. It marked the beginning of a profound chapter in my life, one where my camera became more than just a tool—it became a symbol of journalistic integrity and the fight for free speech.

I remember editing the footage late into the night, posting it to both my blog and Bay Area Indymedia, a local activist news website. The video captured raw, unfiltered scenes from the protest, including tense moments where a protester was choked by a police officer. Little did I know, this footage would soon place me at the center of a national debate on the rights and responsibilities of journalists in the digital age.

In 2006, I faced a decision that would test my resolve. A Federal district court demanded that I hand over my videotapes. It was a moment where my principles as a journalist were in clear conflict with the law. I stood firm, choosing to protect my source material. This decision led to 226 days in federal prison, a record for a journalist in the U.S. for protecting their sources or unpublished outtakes.

Before YouTube's emergence, the world of videoblogging was less about the platform and more about the people. It was a time when the internet was transitioning from a text-dominant medium to a multimedia powerhouse. This shift was more than technical; it was a cultural revolution in online video.

In that era, we were not mere content creators. We were the architects of a new digital expression, crafting the aesthetics and technical forms of short-form digital films. Our community was marked by a deep camaraderie and a shared spirit of innovation, as we explored the then-uncharted realms of digital storytelling together.

That pioneering spirit of early video bloggers was a precursor to today's transformative wave of Generative AI. Just as we revolutionized digital storytelling with videoblogging, AI is now expanding the horizons of creative potential

Finding Pickaxe

After the release of GPT-4, I began crafting 'system messages' or prompts, transforming ChatGPT into specialized tools with distinct purposes. My first creation as a prompt engineer was 'JobGenie,' a tool I built to streamline my job search and automate the crafting of unique cover letters after tirelessly jettisoning job applications into the great abyss.

Before long, my Notes app brimmed with these ingenious 'recipes,' but I needed a way to share them with a broader audience. My attempt to develop a web app revealed the limits of my technical skills, leading me to discover Pickaxe, where I've since created nearly 100 PickAxes.

Pickaxe offered an innovative solution to my quest: a no-code platform where I could train AI on my expertise, using my own documents, data, and directions to create powerful AI applications.

The Pickaxe platform was intuitive and user-friendly, designed specifically for non-technical users, and it enabled me to develop my skills as a prompt engineer and to share my creations without having to build customized solutions.

‍The Art of Evangelism‍

When I think about the essence of what it means to be an evangelist, my mind invariably turns to Guy Kawasaki, a pioneer I first encountered during my video blogging days. His talk on his tenure at Apple was a masterclass in turning a product into a cultural phenomenon. Kawasaki didn’t just push a product; he cultivated a movement.

Kawasaki’s role at Apple transcended traditional marketing. He was a storyteller, an advocate, and most importantly, a community builder for the Macintosh. He didn’t simply aim to sell; he aimed to convert. His focus was on creating a base of users who were as passionate about the Macintosh as he was. This passion fostered a sense of belonging among users, turning them into advocates for the brand. This strategy of creating a movement, rather than a customer base, profoundly impacted how I view my work in the digital space.

Today, as I step into my role at Pickaxe, I carry with me Kawasaki’s lessons. It's not just about developing AI tools; it's about fostering a community that believes in their transformative power, much like Kawasaki did with the Macintosh.

His method was rooted in the belief that a product should be so compelling that it naturally draws people in. This philosophy aligns perfectly with my vision for Pickaxe, where we're not just offering AI tools, but inviting users into a new era of digital creativity and problem-solving.

‍A Community Centric Approach‍

Central to Kawasaki's strategy was the role of community. He understood that building a loyal, passionate community was key to sustained success. At Pickaxe, I plan to emulate this by creating a platform where users are not just consumers but active participants.

We envision a space to encourage our users to contribute their ideas, share their experiences, and collaborate on improving Pickaxe. This community-centric approach does more than just promote our product; it fosters a shared sense of ownership and investment in the future of AI.

In many ways, Kawasaki’s evangelism is about inspiring trust and belief – in the product, the brand, and the vision. As the Pickaxe Evangelist, my goal is to instill a similar belief in our users. I aim to create not just a user base, but a community of enthusiasts who are just as excited as we are about the potential of AI and the tools we are building at Pickaxe.

OpenAI's recent Dev Day announcements have profound implications for the AI landscape and particularly for how they align with the vision of Pickaxe Project.The introduction of GPT-4 Turbo, supporting a 128K context window, significantly enhances the model's capabilities, making it more efficient and capable of handling complex tasks. The ability to handle larger contexts and more nuanced interactions makes GPT-4 Turbo an ideal fit for the kind of customizable AI applications that Pickaxe aims to empower users to build.

I am thrilled to be part of a team that is not just at the forefront of AI innovation, but also deeply committed to making these powerful tools accessible to everyone. The future of AI is not just about technological advancement; it's about empowering individuals and communities, unlocking creative potentials, and solving real-world problems.

I invite you to be a part of this thrilling journey. If you have any feedback for me in my new role, send us an email at info@pickaxeproject.com. We are looking forward to announcing our plans for launching a community forum that will serve as a catalyst for invigorating discussions and collaborations in AI, and we want you to be the first to know about everything coming to Pickaxe.

And if you haven't already signed up for Pickaxe, use the discount code “JOSH” and save 15 percent on your first three months of membership.

The Year the Future Came into Focus

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