AI MasterClass Unlocks Generative AI Insights

As an avid learner in the realm of artificial intelligence, I'm always on the lookout for new AI tools and products to test and review. However, I felt a need to go beyond surface-level explorations and truly understand the fundamentals of AI: its origins and practical applications in both professional and daily life.

After numerous targeted ads (thanks to my AI-focused browsing history), I decided to enroll in the three-part Achieve More with GenAI series from MasterClass. My goal was to learn about AI from a source independent of the companies marketing its capabilities.

What is the AI MasterClass?

I was seeking expert knowledge in a format that was both digestible and concise. The series introduced me to Ethan Mollick, Allie K. Miller, Don Allen Stevenson III, and Manuel Sansily. These instructors virtually guided me through how AI can be leveraged in work and navigating the world.

The MasterClass original series consists of three episodes covering:

1. Using generative AI to unlock productivity.
2. Employing generative AI to unleash creativity.
3. Understanding AI ethics and the future of AI.

How much is the AI MasterClass?

A MasterClass subscription ranges from $120 to $240 annually and includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. For those hesitant about another monthly bill, keep an eye out for two-week guest passes that occasionally appear in chat threads, offering a commitment-free way to try the platform.

Unlock Your Productivity with AI

The series began with Miller and Mollick (who features in each episode) providing historical context on AI, noting its origins trace back to the 1950s, and discussing its potential as a workplace asset. Mollick demonstrated AI's utility in improving writing from ideation to feedback which, as someone writing about this very series, felt both supportive and a tad ironic.

Miller then detailed a five-step process for using AI to develop a business plan:

1. Brainstorm.
2. Evaluate.
3. Enhance your idea.
4. Bring the idea to life.
5. Use AI for feedback.

While I've used AI for personal feedback, I hadn't considered its professional applications. Miller's introduction to Yoodli, an AI-powered communication coach, and Mollick's demonstration of real-time feedback from AI assistant Claude on his presentation opened my eyes to new possibilities.

This first episode taught me that AI is incredibly effective for understanding, organizing, and recontextualizing information. It also highlighted the vast number of AI-powered tools available for specific tasks and feedback needs.

Unleash Your Creativity with AI

The second episode, led by creative technologist Don Allen Stevenson III, delved into AI prompting techniques, AI-assisted business planning, and AI for visual design. Stevenson, passionate about the intersection of art and technology, showed how to use AI for business planning, logo design, storyboard creation, and music generation, using tools like Dall-E (image generator) and Udio (AI music generator). A key theme was leveraging AI as a collaborator, emphasizing that the dialogue with your large language model can yield superior results.

Inspired, I used Stevenson's guidance to conceptualize a project I'd been considering. Delegating to ChatGPT revealed the challenge of translating thoughts into effective prompts. While I couldn't match Stevenson's speed in creating a brand identity kit (he did it in under 5 minutes!), I successfully generated color schemes, images, and typography that pleasantly surprised me and motivated further brand development.

The Future of AI and Its Ethics

In the final episode, futurist Manuel Sansily, an advocate for responsible AI use, explained how to automate and optimize tasks by creating an "AI twin". This feature requires ChatGPT's $20 per month Plus plan.

An AI twin is a digital persona based on your knowledge, experience, and values. Like ChatGPT, it retains memory and learns more about you with continued interaction. Once created, your AI twin—which strikingly resembles a Memoji—can serve as a personal assistant or an interactive digital tool for others.

Sansily outlined a seven-step system for creating this custom ChatGPT brain: designing your twin, providing context, instructions, and values, followed by testing, publishing, and monitoring. This AI twin can be useful for tracking personal growth, sharing with others, and even downloading for use.

To conclude, Mollick presented four scenarios regarding AI's potential, urging us to consider positive examples through the lens of Amara's Law—the tendency to underestimate short-term changes and overestimate long-term ones. Is our fear of AI valid, or does it stem from a lack of understanding? For me, the overwhelming capabilities of AI and its trajectory have been fascinating. As a reporter and consumer, I realize I have much more to learn.

According to Mollick, AI's development is outpacing Moore's Law (computer power doubling every two years) by two or three times. Essentially, AI is evolving faster than our cognitive ability to adapt—but not indefinitely. He suggested AI will eventually reach a more manageable evolutionary pace. In the meantime, I'll be exploring every new AI-powered tool and GPT model I can find. And, of course, using AI to realize my dream of having a twin, all with a few clicks.

Is AI MasterClass Worth the Money?

I took this MasterClass series to better grasp AI's direction and its potential impact on my life. The result is a more informed perspective, enabling me to form my own opinions rather than relying on others.

This was my first MasterClass experience, and I was thoroughly impressed. The production quality, the engaging personalities of the experts, and the easily digestible content were all top-notch. I would recommend this series, particularly to those apprehensive about AI, overwhelmed by its applications, or curious about what artificial intelligence truly means, both on its own and in its interaction with humans.

Even if you consider yourself tech-savvy, I'd suggest dedicating 90 minutes to this series. If nothing else, it's a great refresher on AI-specific terminology and concepts. At best, you'll gain a deeper appreciation for how this rapidly growing technology functions as a system, a collaborator, and, in some cases, a mentor, personal trainer, or even a twin.