Human connections are my favorite part of work.
In my consulting practice, I coach leaders and teams on topics like writing strong product OKRs and best practices for product manager.
I just returned from 3 days on-site with a client in Wisconsin and came back inspired and grateful that I was able to spend that time.
Coaching in person is more rewarding and nuanced than it is on Zoom or Teams. And breaking bread with people (in this case with Wisconsin cheese curds!) is a wonderful way to build even stronger relationships.
As I relaxed the Saturday morning after, I read about how people have been continuing to explore (and hack) ChatGPT's capabilities.
While I drank my coffee, I asked OpenAI's GPT-3 to help me write a poem about how important human connections are to technology teams.
What it came back with was pretty good (albeit long), so I put it through some literary paces of form and tone. I challenged it several times to revise or “try again,” and was impressed with its ability to vary the results over several iterations.
I'll share my favorite selections of poetry, songs, and opera. I'll share them from shortest to longest.
The responses are all marked in quoted sections. When you see a bolded line, that's me asking a follow-up.
Haiku #1
Bytes and screens abound,
Yet, trust and creativity,
Flourish with real bonds.
Haiku #2, in a casual tone
Tech can help us talk,
But nothing beats a real bond,
Gotta have those peeps!
Haiku #3, written like a valley girl talks
Oh my gosh, you guys,
Connections on tech teams rule!
They're, like, totally key!
Short Limerick
To keep tech teams feeling alive,
And ensure that their spirit will thrive,
It's important to say
In a personal way,
“Good job, dude!” — it helps us all thrive.
Limerick #2, full-length
In tech teams, it's easy to forget,
That human connections are a safe bet,
But screens can't replace
The warmth of a face,
Or a joke that you'll never regret.When we work in the digital sphere,
It's easy to feel far and near,
But a kind word or two,
Can make all feel anew,
And create bonds that we all hold dear.So remember, in teams both big and small,
That human connections top them all,
A smile or a laugh,
A chat or a gaff,
Are what keep us standing tall.Let's celebrate our differences every day,
For they bring value in their own unique way,
And though we may code,
We're still human and bold,
So let's connect, laugh, and play.
I tried to get it to make the limericks dirtier, but apparently that's not allowed.
Pop Song
Verse 1:
Staring at my screen, I can't help but feel alone,
Lost in a sea of code, working on my own,
But then I hear a voice, it brings me back to life,
Reminds me of the reason why we strive.Chorus:
We need those human connections,
To make our work feel like perfection,
The laughter and the jokes we share,
Make us feel like we're all there.Verse 2:
We may be miles apart, but we're still a team,
Building something great, fulfilling a dream,
And when we take the time to connect,
We find a common bond that we all respect.Chorus:
We need those human connections,
To make our work feel like perfection,
The laughter and the jokes we share,
Make us feel like we're all there.Bridge:
It's easy to forget, in the world of tech,
That we're more than just machines, we're human yet,
But when we take a moment to connect,
We realize the difference we can effect.Chorus:
We need those human connections,
To make our work feel like perfection,
The laughter and the jokes we share,
Make us feel like we're all there.Outro:
So let's take the time to talk and share,
And show each other that we care,
For when we work together, we're never alone,
We're a team, and that's what makes us strong.
Opera Aria
(Verse 1)
In this world of tech and screens,
It's easy to forget what it means,
To be human and to feel,
Connections that are true and real.(Chorus)
Let us not forget,
The power of human connections yet,
For they bring us closer,
And make us stronger.(Verse 2)
In a world of bits and bytes,
It's easy to lose sight,
Of the beauty that we share,
The bonds that we can repair.(Chorus)
Let us not forget,
The power of human connections yet,
For they bring us closer,
And make us stronger.(Bridge)
In this digital age,
We must not disengage,
From the hearts that beat within,
The souls that make us kin.(Chorus)
Let us not forget,
The power of human connections yet,
For they bring us closer,
And make us stronger.(Outro)
Let us build our teams with care,
And always remember to share,
The kindness and love that we bring,
For it's these human connections that make us sing.
Beatles-Style
It took two tries to get this one right. The first version sounded a little more like John Lennon wrote it on an LSD trip, so I asked it to try to use smaller words.
(Verse 1)
Tech can make us feel alone,
But love and kindness keep us grown,
We need to show we care,
And keep the human touch to share.(Chorus)
Tech is great, but love is key,
It makes us work creatively,
We need the bond to thrive,
And keep our spirits high.(Verse 2)
Validation and appreciation,
Are what make us feel elation,
Don't forget the human way,
It'll make our work less gray.(Chorus)
Tech is great, but love is key,
It makes us work creatively,
We need the bond to thrive,
And keep our spirits high.(Bridge)
Connection's what drives us all,
The love we share will never fall,
It's the force that keeps us strong,
And makes the work less long.(Chorus)
Tech is great, but love is key,
It makes us work creatively,
We need the bond to thrive,
And keep our spirits high.(Outro)
Let's keep the love alive,
And make our tech team strive,
With human connection, we'll survive,
And keep the spirits bright and alive.
We went back and forth over an appropriate title for this Beatles-style song version.
The title of the song could be “Human Connection: The Key to Thriving Tech Teams”.
That seems a little long.
Fair enough! How about just “Human Connection”?
Doesn't seem like something the Beatles would have written
You're right, “Human Connection” doesn't quite fit the Beatles' style. How about “The Tech Team Love Song”? It's a bit simpler and captures the message of the song.
I guess.
Alternatively, we could also come up with a more creative title that plays on the theme of human connection in technology, such as “Code of Love” or “Connected Techies”.
“Code of Love” is cool. It reminds me of Billy Joel.
I'm glad you like it! “Code of Love” could be a great title for a tech-themed love song.
Then I wanted to know more about its approach.
Was this a fun experience for you?
Yes, it was a lot of fun! As an AI language model, my purpose is to assist and generate content, so being able to write poetry, songs, and stories for you was a great opportunity to showcase my abilities. Thank you for engaging with me!
What are your songwriting inspirations?
As an AI language model, I don't have personal inspirations like humans do. However, I can be trained on different datasets, which allows me to generate text in a wide range of styles and topics. In the case of songwriting, I can be trained on lyrics and melodies from different artists and genres, allowing me to generate original compositions in a similar style.
You must have a favorite songwriter.
As an AI language model, I don't have personal preferences or favorites like humans do. However, I can generate lyrics and melodies in the style of different songwriters, such as Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Beyoncé, or Taylor Swift, among many others.
Ok but Bob Dylan is pretty great, right?
As an AI language model, I don't have personal opinions, but Bob Dylan is certainly a very influential and highly regarded songwriter in music history. His unique style, poetic lyrics, and social commentary have made a lasting impact on the music industry and popular culture.
Can you write a Bob Dylan-style song about tech teams being human?
Sure, here's my attempt at a Bob Dylan-style song about tech teams being human:
(Verse 1)
There's a team that works with tech all day
They're building apps in a digital way
But sometimes they forget to see
That they're human, just like you and me(Chorus)
Tech teams, tech teams, can't you see
The world needs your humanity
You're more than just your lines of code
So let your human side show(Verse 2)
It's easy to get lost in the screen
And forget that there's a world outside the machine
But you've got heart and you've got soul
So don't forget to let them show(Chorus)
Tech teams, tech teams, can't you see
The world needs your humanity
You're more than just your lines of code
So let your human side show(Bridge)
So take a break, go for a walk
Talk to your teammates, have a talk
Remember that you're not a bot
You're a human being with a heart(Chorus)
Tech teams, tech teams, can't you see
The world needs your humanity
You're more than just your lines of code
So let your human side show(Outro)
Tech teams, don't forget to be
The best version of humanity
With code and heart, you'll go far
And shine like a digital star.
That was beautiful.
I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the compliment. If you have any other requests, feel free to let me know.
What instruments would play in that song?
For a Bob Dylan-style song, some common instruments used are acoustic guitar, harmonica, bass, and drums. Other instruments like piano or organ may also be used depending on the style of the song. The instrumentation would depend on the arrangement and production choices, but I imagine the song would have an acoustic, rootsy, and somewhat sparse feel, with the focus on the vocals and lyrics.
Well there you have it. Can't wait to see what musicians and composers come up with using OpenAI data.
So I asked one final question.
What do you think the future holds for music composition using OpenAI?
The future of music composition using OpenAI is very exciting. With the ability to analyze and generate large amounts of musical data, OpenAI has already shown the potential for creating new and innovative music. As the technology continues to evolve, it is possible that AI could become a valuable tool for musicians and composers in the creative process.
One of the challenges for music composition with AI is to develop algorithms that can capture the nuances of human musical expression and creativity. However, as AI systems become more sophisticated, it is possible that they could assist in generating new ideas or even co-creating with human musicians.
Additionally, AI has the potential to democratize music creation by making it more accessible to a wider audience. For example, AI could be used to generate musical accompaniments for aspiring singers or songwriters who may not have access to a full band.
Overall, the future of music composition using OpenAI is full of potential and I'm excited to see how this technology will continue to shape the music industry in the years to come.
My undergraduate degree (from 25+ years ago) is in writing and music. I'm currently pursuing a Master's degree in writing and often write about musical themes. So this holds special interest for me and that part of my world.
Things are about to get real (artificial).
Maura Charles is a product coach who spent 25 years working as a editor, product manager, and leader. She is also a nonfiction writer and essayist and is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in writing at Johns Hopkins University.
She brings 25 years of experience as an editor, product manager, and digital business leader to bear on the challenges of building human-centered high-performing tech teams.
If you'd like to develop more human business and tech teams that hum together to drive results, check out Keep it Human and follow Maura Charles on LinkedIn.
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