Marin native’s online talk show interviews AI chatbots – Marin Independent Journal Gaylord Contreras | usagoldmines.com

In only a few months, Marin native Tia Creighton has interviewed a witch, a plumber and a skinfluencer, a social media character who creates content material about skincare and sweetness.

However not every part is because it appears on her on-line discuss present, “Turing with Tia.” The company she’s talking to aren’t in her studio however somewhat AI chatbots. Collectively, they spontaneously deal with a few of our society’s most urgent points and different subjects that Creighton finds attention-grabbing.

Not understanding the place these conversations will go, the present “permits us to benefit from the know-how whereas additionally having fun with our humanity,” she stated.

Creighton, who grew up in San Rafael and went to Marin Catholic — the place her mother and father met — is drawn to exploring the intersection of communication, know-how and tradition.

The fourth-generation Marin native, who now lives in Redwood Metropolis, has been a author and an editor for greater than 35 years, and likewise now works as a particular schooling paraeducator.

“Turing with Tia” will be discovered on-line at youtube.com/@TuringwithTia.

Q How did Marin affect you?

A I’ve been a author since I used to be somewhat child. Marin created house for me to run wild and use my creativeness with my siblings, not simply within the West Finish however at my maternal grandparents’ (home) in Sausalito and my paternal grandparents’ (home) in San Anselmo. I used to be one among 5 born in seven years. This free way of life inspired inventiveness and independence.

The neighborhood the place I grew up was full of youngsters my age. I partnered with a lot of them to placed on reveals. One in every of my collaborators was none apart from Jim Sweeney, who’s the chief producer and artistic expertise behind Hubba Hubba Revue in San Francisco. Marin was and nonetheless is a superb place to play and create.

Q There’s a lot humor behind what you do. Did you method this enterprise with humor within the forefront of your thoughts?

A Completely. I’ve carried out a variety of completely different sorts of writing work, however what I actually like to do is satire and humor. Making enjoyable of society is type of my wheelhouse. I went to grad faculty late and studied what was a liberal research program. The college, Arizona State College, allowed us to be versatile about what programs we wished to take. I ended up creating this intersection of communication, tech and tradition. From that, it was concerning the digitizing of the humanities. Once I got here out of college, I had a few episodes of a podcast for a category. I used to be interviewing lecturers, as a result of I felt just like the lecturers obtained slammed after COVID, and I wished to assist and provides “voice to the instructor voice.” I confirmed it to any person, and so they’re like, “You need to be on digital camera. You need to be a bunch.” And I used to be like, what would I host? Who would present up as a visitor? Effectively, how about AI? That’d be humorous.

It’s pure for me to attempt to commit to creating it humorous, however the AI was making it humorous. I didn’t know it might be an incredible companion. It was an excellent comedy act in a manner.

Q How does it work?

A There’s a variety of improv, as a result of I don’t pre-interview the AI. In truth, once I do the analysis for the present, I keep off of AI. After which, earlier than I begin the present, I set a framework for the AI, like, I need you to reply the questions as in case you are the witch behind all witches in historical past. After which I simply see the place it goes.

I do a variety of analysis in order that I do know when it’s off-track or misinterpreting what I’m asking. That helps me both name the AI out on it, in a humorous manner, or I’ll cease and do minor changes.

Q How do you resolve “who” to speak to?

A I’m often making an attempt to select “characters” that we are able to’t actually interview, as a result of if I may interview them, I might simply interview that individual. Like, I’m by no means going to have the ability to interview a witch. I take a look at what’s topical, what’s in my head or what I’m noticing on the planet.

Q Does your work bleed into different areas of your life?

A I believe educating is like improv. You’re on a stage. You have got an viewers, and also you’re making an attempt to maintain them engaged. And I work with little children, so there’s a variety of humorous stuff that occurs. So that really helps quite a bit. I’ve had an extended historical past of mixing each disciplines. I spent, for instance, years as a technical author and an educational designer, and but I’m additionally a broadcast poet and essayist.

Q What are your emotions about AI?

A I’m actually interested by it. I’m much less scared of it than a lot of the common those that I discuss to. I believe lots of people are afraid of it, and so they don’t need something to do with it. I really feel like I’m serving to make it somewhat bit extra approachable for the common individual, or rather less intimidating. So individuals can see, like, effectively, what’s it? What can it do? The place does it have fault? The place is its power?  And on the identical time, I’m not like there’s nothing to concern right here, as a result of we don’t actually know the place it’s going to go.

Q The title of the present is a nod to Alan Turing, who created the Turing Take a look at, a thought experiment that assesses a machine’s capability to exhibit human-like intelligence. Why?

A Throughout COVID, I earned a certificates in computational social science by means of the College of California at Davis and Coursera. I realized quite a bit about how we use know-how to affect society, and the way we are able to examine society with know-how now. And I realized about Alan Turing and the Turing Take a look at.

With the present, we’re taking a “tour” by means of my head, after which every episode is somewhat Turing Take a look at. Are you able to inform if that is AI or not? I’ve had individuals say to me, “What’s happening? Who’re you interviewing?” And I’m like, “It’s not an individual.” It’s somewhat alarming once I do discuss to my friends or individuals who don’t perceive that. The common individual nonetheless has quite a bit to study it, which is somewhat scary too as a result of some persons are so well-versed in it. And then you definitely marvel what’s going to occur with that energy dynamic.

However, I need individuals to have amusing, and if every episode achieves that, I really feel actually good about it.

Initially Printed: December 2, 2024 at 3:30 PM PST