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One night I was experimenting with ChatGPT to see if I could prompt a hard sci-fi short story that was constrained in a similar manner to Alastair Reynold’s ‘Revelation Space’ Universe. That means no FTL (Faster Than Light) travel, decades-long journeys, and scientific details that would hold up under scrutiny. I used GPT-4.5 for this task and started the process with ChatGPT’s deep research feature on nearby stars, exoplanets, and other scientific details for the story. My Approach
Why Use An LLM For Hard Sci-Fi?GPT-4.5 handled style and cohesion while I provided the outline, anchored the physics, and directed the story. The model synthesized tone, pacing, and scene transitions, while deep research grounded the numbers, orbits, stellar behaviour, and environments. That split kept the story tight and credible. Pattern Recognition, Language, And New EnvironmentsThe translation arc I wanted in the story mirrors how real understanding grows:
AI Is Already Accelerating ScienceThis workflow reflects where AI is useful today:
Read The StoryIf you’d like to see the finished product of this experiment, you can read the full three-chapter short story here: 
The story follows humanity’s first interstellar voyage—beginning with Earth’s departure, continuing through the Proxima Centauri system, and culminating in first contact on Ross 128 b.  Image generated with ChatGPT. TakeawaysIf you want to prompt great stories with ChatGPT:
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We might be at the precipice of a fundamental transformation in our relationship with technology. Familiar computing paradigms—desktop metaphors, point-and-click interfaces, and even voice assistants—are evolving into something profoundly more personal, intuitive, and interconnected. At the core of this shift is the concept of an AI Operating System (AI OS): A context-aware, intelligent companion that learns, adapts, teaches, and collaborates in real-time. This emerging reality is driven by rapid advancements in multimodal large language models (LLMs), embedded sensors, and distributed AI ecosystems. An AI OS represents a paradigm shift in AI assistance. A shift from commanding machines to a more symbiotic relationship. A Personalized, Adaptive RelationshipImagine an AI OS that leverages contextual data through direct access to cameras, microphones, biometric sensors, and user data. By doing so it could become capable of interpreting your emotional state, recognizing subtle gestures, body language, and vocal nuances. It wouldn’t simply respond to commands but to how you feel, move, and engage. The result would be a deeply personalized user experience that transforms your devices from static tools into responsive collaborators. Whether you're composing documents, debugging code, preparing presentations, or experiencing creative blocks, an AI OS would attune itself uniquely to you. It would recognize your patterns, preferences, and goals, proactively adapting its support. For instance, an AI OS might gently suggest a break if it detects rising stress, offer visual aids if it knows you're a visual learner, or autonomously generate helpful resources when sensing your intention or struggle. Over time, this nuanced understanding would craft an interaction that feels profoundly intimate. Your technology would grow with you, enhancing efficiency and emotional connection in tandem. From Local to Global IntelligenceThe true potential of an AI OS arises when we consider that AI will become ubiquitous, integrated into everything from smartphones and smart homes to vehicles and public spaces. These intelligent systems will communicate and collaborate, creating a dynamic ecosystem of networked intelligence. Imagine your smart glasses recognizing objects and synchronizing silently with your AI OS to present relevant information instantaneously. Your home AI might sense elevated stress after work, prompting your AI OS to suggest relaxation exercises, playing video games, reading, or watching your favourite video show, all while rescheduling less critical tasks. In professional settings, interconnected AI agents could streamline collaboration, anticipate challenges, and transparently mediate conflicts, fostering more productive interactions. This interconnected intelligence surpasses mere productivity. It reshapes our collaborative processes, education systems, healthcare approaches, and governance models, amplifying critical thinking, creativity, and informed decision-making throughout society. A New Cognitive InfrastructureThe convergence of AI capabilities into an operating system would not only be a technological leap but a socio-cultural transformation. An AI OS blurs digital and cognitive boundaries, enabling users to accomplish complex tasks through intuitive dialogue rather than technical mastery alone. The societal implications are profound:
This shift redefines human-computer interactions at a societal scale, bringing us closer to a reality that was previously only imagined in science fiction. Cautious, Grounded OptimismYet, this promising future demands careful consideration. The depth of personal and contextual data required by an AI OS raises significant ethical questions around privacy, transparency, consent, and security. Risks of misinterpretation, manipulation, or over-dependence highlight the necessity of responsible, human-centric development. However, with thoughtful design prioritizing human flourishing, an AI OS holds extraordinary promise—not to replace humanity but to amplify it. It can foster creativity, expand knowledge, increase productivity, and enhance emotional and cognitive well-being. The Future: Not Just Smarter Devices, but Smarter LivesUltimately an AI OS signifies a shift from operating systems managing files and applications to operating selves. Merging tools, intelligence, and emotional understanding into a unified experience for living, learning, and creating. As AI becomes more embedded, empathetic, and socially integrated, our relationships with technology will become more meaningful. We are no longer simply designing interfaces; we are creating and guiding relationships with intelligent machines that listen, adapt, and evolve with us. This marks not only a technological breakthrough but a cultural renaissance, heralding a future of genuine human-AI symbiosis: A future we must build mindfully, courageously, and optimistically. I’m Excited. Are You? Image generated with ChatGPT.
Over the past year, I’ve found myself observing and participating in the online discourse around generative AI. It’s a fascinating mix of optimism, caution, and—often—overcorrection. One recent pattern I’ve noticed among the more anti-AI voices is a tendency to declare that certain quirks of writing automatically “reveal” that a piece was written by AI. Top of the list? The em dash. Apparently, if you use em dashes in your writing, there’s a decent chance someone online will accuse you of being a bot—or worse, of using ChatGPT. Earlier this week I read ‘Revenge of the Librarians’ by Tom Gauld, a fun and nerdy book that includes a comic about ‘Apostrophe Man’. Apostrophe Man is a literary superhero whose superpower is punctuation. He is both absurd and strangely relatable (maybe not so strange to those of us who like (or feel the need) to correct grammar). The combination of that comic and the em dash paranoia online sparked an idea: What if there was a superhero like Apostrophe Man, but for the em dash instead? Thus, Em Dash Man was born. I played around with ChatGPT to create both images and comics based on this idea. Below are two images of Em Dash Man. One in a retro comic book style and another in a dramatic fantasy realism style.
I kept playing around and iterating, eventually cooking up the two comic panels below. I'm not claiming they’re masterpieces, but the process was fun and enjoyable. I always try to take the opportunity to experiment with ChatGPT. It’s a great way to learn, and I encourage others to do the same. There’s something cathartic about channeling these online arguments into something silly and symbolic. Sometimes satire says more than a thread ever could. EM DASH MAN |
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Looking Ahead: The Power of AI Coding Assistance
This experience left me excited to continue exploring coding with ChatGPT. Now that o3-mini-high is available—a model that is supposed to be even more proficient at coding—I’m even more eager to see how it improves code generation, debugging, and refactoring. With each iteration, AI models are becoming more adept at understanding context, implementing changes effectively, and even suggesting improvements I might not have thought of myself.
If this simple Space Invaders game was just the beginning, I can only imagine how far AI-powered coding assistance can take us. Imagine being able to code entirely in natural language! Whether you're a beginner learning the basics or an experienced developer looking to prototype ideas quickly, ChatGPT is proving to be an invaluable tool in the coding process.
I've been playing around with ChatGPT for a while now, experimenting with its ability to generate and refine stories, especially those rooted in science. One of my latest projects was crafting a science fiction short story that balances scientific accuracy with a sense of curiosity and wonder—something in the flavour of Carl Sagan.
Generated with DALL·E.
The process? A mix of notes, structured planning, AI-assisted brainstorming, research, and a lot of tweaking:
- Story Concept & Playtime: I started with a basic idea—a Type Ia supernova unfolding across different cosmic distances—and played around with ChatGPT, bouncing ideas back and forth.
- Academic Meets Creative: I had ChatGPT analyze and draw from one of my old university astronomy papers to reinforce the scientific foundation of the story.
- Outlining the Narrative: I structured the story into five chapters, each set at a different vantage point, from the doomed white dwarf, to an autonomous research probe, to a crewed space ship, to the Earth, to the Andromeda Galaxy. One focus was scientific knowledge, but another was evoking that deep sense of cosmic wonder.
- Experimenting with ChatGPT Models: I tested different inputs, played around with phrasing, and fine-tuned the best output before mixing in my own edits.
Final Touches: Bringing the Story to Life with Video & Music
To enhance the experience, I experimented with Sora to create short videos for each chapter, the title screen, and ending. I compiled these into videos for the story, trying two different approaches:
- Text-Based Generation: I copy-pasted the chapter text directly into Sora and went with whatever it generated.
- Prompt-Based Generation: I asked ChatGPT o3-mini to come up with suitable Sora prompts—one for each chapter, the title screen, and ending. I then put those prompts into Sora with minimal editing. This worked somewhat better but Sora still had issues generating text correctly.
On top of that, I wanted an atmospheric soundtrack, so I used ChatGPT to craft a dungeon synth instrumental prompt for Suno. I’ve been really into dungeon synth lately, and this story felt like the perfect inspiration for something melancholic, immersive, and cosmic.
Suno generated two versions:
After all that experimenting, refining, and assembling, here’s the final outcome: ‘Echoes of a Dying Star’—a story that explores the cosmic scale of a supernova through the perspectives of a doomed autonomous research probe, a distant spaceship, Earth-based observers, and even the Andromeda Galaxy.
Check out the story, and watch the accompanying videos below!
Echoes of a Dying Star
Echoes of a Dying Star - Video 1
Echoes of a Dying Star - Video 2
| When I set out to create Brothers Grimm-style fairy tales, I experimented with different versions of ChatGPT using a simple yet effective prompt. In this document, you’ll find the short stories themselves as well as the exact prompts I used. |  Generated with DALL·E. |
First, I experimented with ChatGPT 4, using the following prompt:
Write a fairytale in the style of the Brothers Grimm to communicate the meaning of the following quote: “insert quote here.”
I then tested ChatGPT o1 with the same prompt.
Write a fairytale in the style of the Brothers Grimm to communicate the meaning of the following quote: “insert quote here.”
I then tested ChatGPT o1 with the same prompt.
With this straightforward instruction, I watched as ChatGPT spun imaginative fairy-tale narratives, each crafted to illuminate the core message of the quote in question. Despite the simplicity of the prompt, the stories that emerged were rich in imagery and moral depth, perfectly capturing that timeless Brothers Grimm flair. ChatGPT 4 tended to produce more intricate plots with rich symbolism and nuanced character development, while ChatGPT o1 tended to generate simpler, more straightforward tales that still conveyed the meaning of quotes effectively. Both versions demonstrated a strong ability to distill meaning into compelling folklore-style narratives.
Collected Brothers Grimm-Style Stories Generated via ChatGPT (GPT-4 & o1)
One of the things that impressed me most was how easy it would be to adapt these short stories for story time programming at public libraries. Librarians can quickly generate age-appropriate tales with built-in morals, lessons, or pop culture phrases, then share them with young audiences in a fun, engaging way. And if you add an image generation tool—like DALL·E or another AI art generator—you can produce simple illustrations to accompany each story, making the entire experience even more magical and visually appealing.
There’s real value in these stories, not just for children but for adults as well. Narratives are a powerful way to communicate values, spark imagination, and provide insight. They allow us to see ourselves in characters and situations, giving life to abstract ideas in a relatable form. Whether you’re reinforcing a personal mantra, teaching a life lesson, or simply entertaining an audience, stories transcend age and background. They capture the heart and the mind all at once.
For those looking to explore creative writing or enhance their library programs, I highly recommend experimenting with ChatGPT. It’s an enjoyable and effective way to bring fresh, imaginative content to life—whether you’re spinning your own fairy-tale world or passing on time-honoured wisdom in new and exciting forms.
Generated with DALL·E.
Introduction
In today's fast-paced digital world, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) can significantly enhance productivity and efficiency. ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, is a powerful language model that can assist with a wide range of tasks, from drafting emails to brainstorming ideas. This guide explores the philosophy behind integrating ChatGPT into your workflow and provides practical steps on how to incorporate it effectively.
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The Philosophy Behind Using ChatGPT
Enhancing Productivity and Efficiency
At its core, ChatGPT is designed to augment human capabilities. By handling routine or time-consuming tasks, it allows you to focus on more complex and creative aspects of your work.
At its core, ChatGPT is designed to augment human capabilities. By handling routine or time-consuming tasks, it allows you to focus on more complex and creative aspects of your work.
Complementing Human Skills
ChatGPT excels at processing and generating text based on patterns in data it was trained on. While it doesn't possess consciousness or personal experience, it can provide insights and suggestions that complement human intuition and expertise.
ChatGPT excels at processing and generating text based on patterns in data it was trained on. While it doesn't possess consciousness or personal experience, it can provide insights and suggestions that complement human intuition and expertise.
Continuous Learning and Adaptation
Incorporating ChatGPT into your workflow is not a one-time setup but an ongoing process. As you interact with the model, you learn how to craft better prompts, and the AI can provide more tailored responses over time.
Incorporating ChatGPT into your workflow is not a one-time setup but an ongoing process. As you interact with the model, you learn how to craft better prompts, and the AI can provide more tailored responses over time.
How to Incorporate ChatGPT into Your Workflow
1. Identify Suitable Tasks
Determine which aspects of your workflow can benefit from AI assistance. Common areas include:
Determine which aspects of your workflow can benefit from AI assistance. Common areas include:
- Content Creation: Drafting articles, emails, social media posts, and image generation.
- Brainstorming: Generating ideas or exploring different angles on a topic.
- Research: Summarizing information or explaining complex concepts.
2. Set Up Access
Access ChatGPT through platforms that offer the service, such as:
Access ChatGPT through platforms that offer the service, such as:
- OpenAI's ChatGPT Website: Interact directly via the web interface.
- OpenAI's ChatGPT App: Use the official ChatGPT mobile app for iOS and Android, or the desktop application for convenient access and functionality.
- Integrations: Use plugins or extensions that incorporate ChatGPT into applications like Chrome or Microsoft Teams.
- API Access: For developers, integrate ChatGPT into custom applications using the OpenAI API.
3. Craft Effective Prompts
The quality of the AI's output depends largely on the input it receives.
The quality of the AI's output depends largely on the input it receives.
- Be Specific: Clearly state what you need. Instead of "Tell me about climate change." try "Summarize the impact of climate change on coastal cities."
- Provide Context: If the task is complex, give background information to guide the AI.
- Set the Tone and Style: Indicate if you prefer a formal report, casual explanation, or bullet-point list.
Practical Applications
Personal Productivity
Planning Healthy Meals
Use ChatGPT to create meal plans or recipes based on ingredients you have or dietary preferences.
Use ChatGPT to create meal plans or recipes based on ingredients you have or dietary preferences.
- Example Prompt: "Help me create a healthy dinner using salmon, asparagus, and brown rice. I prefer low-carb options."
Developing Meal Plans
Ask ChatGPT to generate a week's worth of healthy meal ideas.
Ask ChatGPT to generate a week's worth of healthy meal ideas.
- Example Prompt: "Plan a 5-day vegetarian meal plan for me, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I need quick recipes that take under 30 minutes to make."
Planning a Trip
Utilize ChatGPT to help organize your travel itinerary, find attractions, or suggest packing lists.
Utilize ChatGPT to help organize your travel itinerary, find attractions, or suggest packing lists.
- Example Prompt: "I'm planning a 7-day trip to New Zealand. Suggest an itinerary that includes hiking, local culture, and must-see landmarks."
Minimizing and Organizing
Get advice on decluttering and minimizing possessions.
Get advice on decluttering and minimizing possessions.
- Example Prompt: "Provide a step-by-step plan to declutter my closet and minimize my wardrobe to essentials."
Time Management
Improve your productivity by optimizing your schedule.
Improve your productivity by optimizing your schedule.
- Example Prompt: "Help me create a daily routine that balances work, exercise, family time, and personal hobbies like reading."
Enhancing Public Library Services
Assisting with Reference Questions
Library staff can use ChatGPT to help answer patron inquiries more efficiently, including reader's advisory and identifying books based on limited information.
Library staff can use ChatGPT to help answer patron inquiries more efficiently, including reader's advisory and identifying books based on limited information.
- Example Prompts:
- "Provide a simple explanation of the expansion of the universe suitable for a middle school student."
- "A patron remembers a mystery novel about a detective who solves crimes in his dreams, and the book cover features a clock melting. Help identify the book title."
Content Creation: Image Generation
Generating Image Ideas and Descriptions
Use ChatGPT to help conceptualize images or create descriptions for image generation tools.
Use ChatGPT to help conceptualize images or create descriptions for image generation tools.
- Example Prompt: "Describe an image of a public library hosting a community cooking class, with people of all ages preparing meals together."
Creating Prompts for AI Image Generators
Craft detailed prompts to be used with AI image generation models like DALL·E.
Craft detailed prompts to be used with AI image generation models like DALL·E.
- Example Prompt: "Help me write a prompt for an AI image generator to create an illustration of a minimalist workspace with a laptop, notebook, and a cup of green tea by a window overlooking a forest."
Brainstorming Library Programs
Generating Event Ideas
Brainstorm new programs to engage the community.
Brainstorm new programs to engage the community.
- Example Prompt: "Suggest five interactive workshop ideas for adults at a public library focusing on digital literacy."
Personal Learning and Development
Understanding Complex Topics
Leverage ChatGPT to break down complicated subjects and aid in your personal learning journey.
Leverage ChatGPT to break down complicated subjects and aid in your personal learning journey.
- Example Prompts:
- "Explain the process of star formation and the lifecycle of stars in simple terms."
- "What is the significance of exoplanet discovery in our understanding of the universe?"
Tips for Effective Use
Be Clear and Specific
The more precise your prompt, the more relevant the response.
The more precise your prompt, the more relevant the response.
- Ineffective Prompt: "I need meal ideas."
- Effective Prompt: "Provide three healthy dinner recipes using chicken, spinach, and sweet potatoes."
- Ineffective Prompt: "Help me plan a trip."
- Effective Prompt: "Create a 4-day itinerary for a budget-friendly trip to Japan, focusing on onsen, nature, culture, and local cuisine."
- Ineffective Prompt (Library Use): "Help with programs."
- Effective Prompt (Library Use): "Outline a plan for a children's reading hour themed around learning the night sky."
Use Iterative Refinement
If the first response isn't quite right, refine your prompt by providing additional details or asking follow-up questions.
If the first response isn't quite right, refine your prompt by providing additional details or asking follow-up questions.
- Meal Planning Follow-Up: "These recipes are great, but I have a nut allergy. Can you adjust them accordingly?"
- Trip Planning Follow-Up: "Can you include some lesser-known attractions and recommend affordable accommodations?"
- Minimizing Stuff Follow-Up: "I have a lot of books. How can I decide which ones to keep and which to donate?"
- Library Programs Follow-Up: "Great ideas! Can you include suggestions on how to promote these workshops to attract more participants?"
Leverage for Learning
Use interactions as a learning opportunity to deepen your understanding.
Use interactions as a learning opportunity to deepen your understanding.
- Example Prompts:
- "What are the basic steps to start learning a new language effectively?"
- "List some beginner-friendly astronomy projects I can do at home to learn about and memorize constellations."
Limitations and Challenges
Understanding AI Limitations
- Lack of True Understanding: ChatGPT generates responses based on patterns, not consciousness or awareness.
- Potential for Errors: The AI might produce plausible-sounding but incorrect information.
Avoiding Over-Reliance
- Supplement, Don't Replace: Use ChatGPT to augment your work, not replace critical thinking or professional expertise.
- Continuous Learning: Stay informed and keep developing your skills beyond AI assistance.
Conclusion
Integrating ChatGPT into your workflow can be a game-changer, enhancing efficiency and sparking creativity. By understanding its capabilities and limitations, and applying best practices, you can harness this powerful tool to complement your skills and advance your projects. Embrace the collaborative potential of AI, and let it be a catalyst for innovation in your personal and professional journey.
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Remember: The key to effectively using ChatGPT is experimentation and adaptation. As you become more familiar with how the AI responds, you'll discover increasingly valuable ways to incorporate it into your daily tasks.