Google just released an experimental notebook tool called Notebooklm. One of its best features is the ability to create a podcast on the content you put in your notebook. Of course, I fed it The Quantum Contingent. Take a listen to the fully AI-generated podcast google created, it's startlingly good!
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If you are old enough to remember Zork, or the original Adventure, then I have a treat for you! I am launching Quotient, the Game! It's a tongue-in-cheek interactive fiction adventure featuring the characters of The Quantum Contingent and Quantum Time. You wander around the world by typing commands like "north"... and solve puzzles and collect treasures along the way. You earn points and ranks based on how many points you have. You can give it a try right now, just click the button to open the game in another window. (it's hosted on GitHub)  I've put together a photo gallery of personal photos representing many of the places in my second novel, Quantum Time. Hovering over the image will show a caption, or you can click on the image to see the full photo and caption. Here's a link to the page: www.simpsong00.com/QT_photos.html Enjoy! Greg  Quantum Time is almost here! Thank you for your patience in waiting for the follow-up to The Quantum Contingent. The book is written and the audiobook is recorded.
Here's the draft blurb. (It still needs some work!) Jack and Sarah, sibling spies for Quotient–a global independent spy agency–are back. Vacation is cut short as they work to save President O’Connor and other world leaders from a wind of death. They must race against time in this globe-trotting, techno-spy thriller to save today and tomorrow. Set in two different timelines, the near future of 2028 as well as the far future of 2050, our team is stretched trying to stop multiple threats at once. Quantum Time is an exciting glimpse of the future with richly detailed locations and today’s technologies extrapolated for tomorrow. With its own Spotify playlist and an action-packed story, this is one read you won’t want to miss. Your comments on the blurb are appreciated! (and of course there is a Spotify Playlist. Here's the link: https://spoti.fi/48CGz7i Talk soon! Greg I made a custom GPT using the PDF of The Quantum Contingent. It had some interesting things to say about the book. Do you have any questions you want to ask ChatGPT about The Quantum Contingent? Let me know in the comments and I'll post its response.
Greg What is your impression of Kara? Kara is a complex and multi-layered character in "The Quantum Contingent." Here's a vibrant picture of her based on the information from the book: Interventionist and Protective: Kara demonstrates a protective nature, especially towards Jack. For instance, she intervenes when a guard is about to hit Jack, asserting her authority and showing care for him. Torn Between Ideals and Love: Kara struggles internally with her allegiance to the mission of the Contingent and her past relationship with Jack. She is torn between her attraction to immortality and her belief in Jack's honorable intentions. Mysterious and Enigmatic: Her actions and true intentions often leave others, including Jack, questioning whether she is genuinely seeking an exit from her current path or if it's all a ploy. Strategist: She is seen planning and strategizing, for example, when she knows she needs to get Jack and Sarah away from Hank quickly and does so without hesitation. Playful and Manipulative: Kara displays a playful side, indulging in role-play, but this also hints at her manipulative abilities. Reflective and Doubtful: There are moments when Kara questions her own beliefs and the path she has taken, indicating a depth of character and a capacity for self-reflection. Fashionable and Charismatic: Kara is depicted as a charismatic figure, with a keen sense of style, which she uses to her advantage in different situations. A Source of Light and Passion: She was once a significant source of joy and passion in Jack's life, indicating a warm and lively personality. Assertive and Commanding: Kara often takes charge of situations, commanding respect and obedience, as seen in various interactions with others. Complicated Relationship with Jack: Her relationship with Jack is a central theme, filled with nostalgia, unresolved feelings, and a deep connection that influences many of her actions. Involved in High-Stakes Scenarios: Kara often finds herself in high-stakes, action-packed scenarios, indicating her central role in the overarching plot of the book. In summary, Kara is a character of depth and contradiction, balancing protective instincts, a struggle with her ideals, and a complex relationship with Jack, all while being embroiled in the high-stakes world of "The Quantum Contingent." Give a quick character summary of each protagonist. "The Quantum Contingent" features a dynamic duo of protagonists, Jack and Sarah, who are siblings with a knack for espionage and high-stakes adventure. Here's a quick summary of each: Jack: A brilliant mind with a deep understanding of quantum mechanics, Jack is the analytical and cautious half of the sibling team. His background and expertise in quantum computing make him an invaluable asset in dealing with the complex challenges posed by the Quantum Contingent. Jack's thoughtful and methodical approach often complements his sister's more instinctive style. Sarah: Sarah is a fearless, quick-thinking spy with a penchant for action. She's resourceful and exceptionally skilled in languages and physical combat, making her a formidable field agent. Sarah's spontaneous and daring nature often leads her into challenging situations, but her quick wit and agility always seem to help her navigate through. Her deep bond and teamwork with Jack are central to their success. Together, Jack and Sarah form a compelling and complementary team, combining intellectual prowess and physical agility to tackle the threats posed by the Quantum Contingent. Their sibling dynamic adds a unique and engaging layer to their adventures, as they rely on each other's strengths to overcome the various challenges they face. As I continue to explore generative AI, I thought I'd share this fun creation. It's a coloring page for The Quantum Contingent. So, get out your colored pencils and relax your brain. The holiday season is approaching. It should be a time of joy, but sometimes it leads to stress. (The coloring page is at the bottom of the blog.) In addition to the coloring page, I asked ChatGPT who was the most interesting character in The Quantum Contingent and I thought it did a decent job at responding (This was after it read my book) Here's its response (in yellow). Enjoy! (And you are never too old to color.) Greg The most interesting character in "The Quantum Contingent" could be a matter of personal preference, as each character brings a unique flavor to the story. However, one of the central figures that stands out is Sarah, Jack's sister. Sarah is depicted as a fearless, quick-thinking, and multi-talented individual. Her character is multi-dimensional, showcasing a balance of physical prowess, intellectual acuity, and emotional depth. Initially introduced as a proficient agent capable of handling physically demanding and high-risk situations with ease, Sarah's character evolves throughout the narrative. She displays remarkable adaptability and resourcefulness, particularly in situations requiring quick decision-making and strategic planning. Her strong bond with her brother Jack adds a personal and relatable dimension to her character. Their interactions provide insights into their past and deepen the understanding of their motivations. Sarah's ability to maintain a balance between her demanding role in Quotient and her personal life, especially her relationship with Desmond, her husband, adds further depth to her character. Sarah's journey in the book is not just about the physical challenges she faces but also about her internal struggles and growth. She's not a static character; her experiences in the story shape her, allowing readers to see different facets of her personality. This dynamic evolution makes her a compelling and memorable part of "The Quantum Contingent".  2022 was the year of Generative AI. Dall-E generated artwork based on a text prompt. Others, like MidJourney, soon followed. Chat-GPT started generating essays on demand based on text prompts, and the tech giants, Microsoft and Google, started a new search war to create a new chat-based search tool. This is a search where the chatbot can talk to you about almost any topic instead of just showing you a series of links that you need to read yourself. In Microsoft's demo, they reference the sources alongside the conversational answer. In 2023, Microsoft has announced integrations with several of their products, including Teams, Outlook, MS Office, and of course, Bing. This is a chance for Microsoft to gain share in the lucrative search market. Other types of generative AI have also started to gain increased adoption. You can create music, videos, and more, all by typing in a prompt. I decided to try creating an AI generated video this way. I used Midjourney to create an avatar of Kara from The Quantum Contingent and then had the AI from D-id.com turn the image from Midjourney into a talking head. Here's a brief clip of the video. Of course, instead of reading something you or I write, she could just as easily read something generated by Chat-GPT... completing the trifecta of generative AI. You can also use AI generated background music instead of the built in clip I used from iMovie.
If you haven't read The Quantum Contingent yet, I encourage you to check it out! I'm hard at work on the sequel, Quantum Time. I'm 45,000 words in, and look forward to sharing it with you when it is done! Drop your comments and questions below! Greg Open AI's ChatGPT is turning lots of heads on the internet. There are numerous articles out there from reputable sources, so I won't try and write a full in-depth article here. I just want to highlight some of the more amazing examples I've seen and talk about some of the implications of such a tool. One of the biggest questions out there is if we are seeing the birth of the tool that displaces Google. Google, the champion of search, is where most people turn to ask questions. The idea of searching for answers on the internet via a search engine essentially gave everyone an augmented intelligence of all of the trivia you might hear at a bar, or every cat video worth its salt. ChatGPT is working to raise the game. Instead of asking google and getting a list of links back that may get you the answer you want if you read through the links, imagine if you could talk with an expert on just about anything and get a well educated answer back on the topic. (and yes Google does surface some answers directly to certain queries now too) \ Here are some simple examples of how ChatGPT could take the concept way beyond Google. The queries can be how to write a program, or to simply be a request to go ahead and be said program so that you can interact with it.  It can explain concepts at different levels.  Heck, it can even make decent jokes.  I got to ask a couple of queries before the system became overloaded with demand. Now that I see what it is capable of, I can't wait to go back and further refine my queries. (Of course I asked it about scenarios I'm working on for the sequel to The Quantum Contingent.) One of my queries is below. (It continued beyond the image shown... I was testing it from my phone) So, yes, my next novel will have a car chase in the self-driving future... it makes for some interesting drama... Want to learn more? I recommend checking out the NYT's article at: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/05/technology/chatgpt-ai-twitter.html This is where I saw the above examples first... (before going to explore further on twitter) Drop you comments/questions below! Greg  AI-generated art is making a splash. What are the implications to creative professions? I've added two images below, inspired by a scene in my book, The Quantum Contingent. One was generated using Dall-E 2 from OpenAI and one by the program Midjourney. Both demonstrate the power of AI artwork. Will this eliminate graphic artists from book cover design, illustrators of books, or even threaten human-generated art in general? Already, artwork generated by Midjourney won an award at the Colorado State Fair. Not all thought this was fair. , https://www.theverge.com/2022/9/1/23332684/ai-generated-artwork-wins-state-fair-competition-colorado I think we will see a separate category for AI generated art in a matter of months if not sooner, but that only helps with contests. Will people buy a painting if you can generate one with carefully selected words and a few iterations of an AI program to create your own unique piece of art? Should AI generated Art list the name of the person who generated it as the artist, or should it clearly call out how it was created? Am I the artist of the images below? I don't think so. Do we create a credits screen for the artwork including the people who developed the AI? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this burgeoning field. (Oh, and do you recognize this scene from the book?) Oh, and what other fields will AI disrupt? https://dallasinnovates.com/chinas-netdragon-has-a-new-robot-ceo-and-north-texas-ties/ Until next time, Greg  Image above was generated using mid journey, image below was generated using Dall-E 2.  First, thank you to all of you who have read The Quantum Contingent. I hope you enjoyed the book. I know I enjoyed the journey of creating it. I had lots of help. One of the common questions I get is, ‘Are you going to write another book?’ And the answer is yes! I do want to write a sequel. I’ve finally learned a little about how this entire process works, so I may as well take my learnings and try again. It should be easier the second time, right? The next book will be a sequel. It will be more complicated than The Quantum Contingent because it will take place in two time periods. (I don't want it to be too easy) First, it will take place shortly following the end of The Quantum Contingent in 2029. In addition, it will have an entangled timeline from 2049… twenty years later. This will allow me to stretch some technology limits to almost sci-fi levels. I’ll still try to achieve a sense of realism, but as a result will explore technologies much more advanced than those in The Quantum Contingent. For example, I’ll take the metaverse beyond the simple virtual reality conference rooms of 2028. My question for you, is what technologies do you want to see? Are there locations around the globe you’d like me to cover? I’ve started the book. (but don’t have that one year retirement anniversary deadline hanging over me this time) I’ve got some fundamental plot points laid out and have some good locations that I didn’t include in the first book. I even have close to 5000 words written. So, I think it will be a reality. I just don't know when. The photo below is from one of the new locations in the sequel. Does anyone know where it is from? Anyway, if you have any thoughts, I’m all ears. Thanks for listening. Greg  |
The BlogGreg's blog will cover some of the things he learned as well as some of the tech and locations he used in his new novel, The Quantum Contingent.  Archives
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