Charming Yaowarat

 I went to explore Yaowarat, our Bkk Chinatown late last week and there are several things to share besides too many people everywhere kaa! 

1. My cousin bought 30 vouchers from being a Dusit Gold member, allowing him to use them in any Dusit hotel nationwide at a very low price. It was the deal he got during COVID ka. What do you think about it ka? I think survival leads to some different business models to offer to the affordable (who are ready to take some risks amid the pandemic ka!)

Talking about models, it sounds funny yet trendy to go try traditional egg noodles using Wongnai's suggestions ka.

2. Visiting unseen temples and places made me discuss with my cousin why we didn't really know our areas (My cousin lived in Yaowarat area and I was around Wat Trimitr) I felt kind of embarrassed about it. He said it was our parents' way of bringing us up then. Kids weren't allowed to go out that much. It was true and for me, it was one of the reasons I was quite scared and had to try to become more brave as I was growing up. It was no one's fault but it was just the context then na ka.

3. One unseen temple... Wat Chaiyapumikaram was amazing ka. It's located on the 7th floor so we have to go up there to visit or tamboon ka. the other 6 floors are parking lots ka. I have no idea why it is so but being located in the middle of Yaowarat with very limited space for parking, this temple may have had its new thinking about the temple's existence and income na ka.....must have been through lots of arguments!

4. I also discussed with my cousin about 'collaboration'. One agency called 'Mission to Top U' approached my podcast page to seek our view if we want to collaborate with them. I told my little team to turn it down since it seems to be for profit only which isn't our aim at all.

My cousin said his daughter was on a short  list for a company's scholarship. Since then, she was approached frequently to use some similar services which came in a package especially to help write essays for top schools by identifying stories and key messages to share. It would cost around 500,000 baht for the whole process ka.

Shocking how expensive it is na ka. Many don't know how to write nor how to think of their own stories that could be worth telling. I know quite a number go for such services these days. Besides the lack of some desirable skills, the gap between the rich and the poor keeps widening ka. Quietly think how we can learn from ChatGPT without copying it na ka.

Thank goodness our CU alum association and my Fulbright circle will have a 2-hour session on essay writing to stress stories and passion ka. Hope it'll help at least a few students and alums ka.

Ending my stories from Yaowarat kaa:))!

ChatGPT replacing jobs and 'creativity'?

 Hello all. I've read an article that may be of your interest ka. It's entitled, 'ChatGPT: 4 Jobs That Will Change (or Be Fully Replaced) by This AI-Powered Chatbot' 

https://medium.com/geekculture/chatgpt-4-jobs-that-will-change-or-be-fully-replaced-by-this-ai-powered-chatbot-97e8118b2475

Though some of you are getting sick of reading about it too often, I think this is something simple for us to think along ka.

Here are some jobs that will change or be fully replaced by chatGPT.

1. Copywriting

2. Content Writing -- this makes quite a number of content creators feel a little insecure as ChatGPT can write complete essays and even blog posts. We don't see that many who can write well and I'm thinking of my own Fulbright circle. Even with English proficiency, there's a lot of room for improvement, let alone the ones who can't jump across the language barrier ka.

I like this example in the article to ask Chat GPT to give 5 eye-catching titles for a blog post about productivity.

Here are the responses ka:

- 10 Proven Strategies for Boosting Your Productivity

- The Ultimate Productivity Toolkit: Boost YOur Efficiency Today"

- Maximizing YOur Productivity: Simple Habits for Success

- The Secret to Being More Productive: Time Management Tips and Tricks

- Boost Your Productivity and Get More Done in Less Time.

I think if we use it wisely, we'll have a very good assistant with more ideas while saving time....though requests for me to help could also be gone because of it kaa!

3. Customer Support
ChatGPT can not only provide support to customers through emails and messages but also give that 'empathetic help' (this is threatening nidnueng mai ka?) that makes customers feel like they’re talking with a real person.

4. Programmers
'ChatGPT can debug code, solve coding questions, translate code from one programming language to another, and more!' Its ability will impact entry-level programmers but for the experiences, ChatGPT could become 'an opportunity to automate some tedious coding tasks'. I think right now, many are discussing how to use it to lessen some less important tasks while being more creative to see how best to work with it ka. 

In fact, there's another article from Time, entitled, 'Why 2023 Could Finally Be the Year of the 4-Day Workweek' https://time.com/6248369/4-day-work-week-2023/ 

For me, I think working less could be linked with our wise use of advanced technologies which could make us happier to have more work-life balance (harmony/integration). It also seems from a few book summaries and podcast sharing that the more advanced the world is, the higher degree it is for us to yearn for wellness and joy in life na ka.

Well! for those who have to work harder at present, hope it isn't a blue Monday ka.

Rate the 5 signs to see how smart we are

 Happy Wednesday kaa!

The past week gave me an opportunity to prepare a one-page write-up to share what happened in that very first Asian event. This task made me feel thankful to the habit of writing to this egroup for over 2 decades even I keep telling myself I don't like writing kaa!

Yesterday, I read this article and it should be fun to share na ka. The title is, '5 Signs You’re Much Smarter Than Average' by Dr. Travis Bradberry, Chief People Scientist at LEADx. It can be one little game for you to start your day ka.

The 5 signs are drawn from research studies and so it seems to be a good one loei ka. They are:

1. You’re anxious. There's evidence that being anxious might not be all bad.......the most anxious participants were also the most focused and effective at executing tasks. 

I passed this one.....if far too anxious occasionally is allowed ka:))!

2. You were an early reader. Learning to read early impacts our development and makes us smarter. Let me quote this one ka......'So, if you were an early reader, it might not be because you’re smart. It may be that you’re smart because you were an early reader.'

Another tick for me to thank my parents for it ka!

3. You’re left-handed. It's said that, 'One large study demonstrated that left-handedness is associated with divergent thinking, all the more so in males.'  

A 'No' for me kaa.

4. You took music lessons as a kid.  Lots of studies support that 'musical training enhances verbal intelligence and executive function, a skill that’s critical to focus and self-control.'

Another 'No'!

5. You’re funny.  'Research shows a strong connection between being funny and having high scores in both verbal intelligence and abstract reasoning.'

I rate myself 'yes'.

I've got 3 out of 5.....could be just a little smarter than average. Yours la ka?

ChatGPT on top of the list

trends for the following year.

A little late to greet Happy New Year to you all ka. Been out of Bangkok last week ka.

Every year’s end, we’ll have some good opportunities to listen to analysts predicting the trends for the following year.

This time is no difference ka.

Quite a few mentioned about the prolonged war between Russia and Ukraine, the reopening of China,  inflation, recession, climate change, the era of EV, etc.

Mission to the Moon on January 1st talked a little more about ChatGPT which ignited my interest in addition to what I’ve learned and tried ka. I was surprised to see the result given from a simple question about good fruit in Asia and amazed that it could help propose my travel plan to Japan.

Khun Ravit, CEO Srichand, listed many more ChatGPT could do and I’d like to share what I like ka:
- give expected questions for us to prepare on our presentations,
- develop games and one was for an 11 year old boy which turned out to be a blast,
- coach us about our health through its designed programs
- draw teaching/ training courses to fit with audience
- suggest responses to unpleasant reviews/comments,
- simplify complicated philosophy or theories or concepts

No wonder the arrival of ChatGPT has led Sundar Pichai, Alphabet CEO to call for an urgent meeting as it could disrupt google’s search capabilities. If it's similar to several big tech firms, this new tool could be under M&A consideration for Google to sustain healthily for a while la ka??????

For me personally, when it’s further developed, it’ll change the ways we work and learn enormously. Some professions like researchers or lecturers will find it easier and could gradually disappear.

TIME predicted decades ago that teaching professions would be gone. I start to believe it can turn true sooner or later ka.

We may work less like what has been said for decades ago too!?!?!

Any comments mai ka?