The Pims! Wednesday Link Digest # 03
Strange worlds, wooden pixels, and AI in the classroom
Weekly Link Round-Up
1. AI-Generated Worlds with Google’s Genie 3 Model
Earlier this month, Google announced Genie 3, which pushes the envelope of interactive, AI-generated worlds. It’s hard to wrap my head around what life might look like in 20 years if AI keeps advancing at its current pace. We may not get a fully immersive holodeck anytime soon, but the combination of improved holographic displays and AI-driven world generation promises to reshape how we entertain ourselves. The future is going to be weird.
2. Interactive Wooden Pixel Display
Meanwhile, someone built a wooden analog pixel display that people can interact with over the internet. Sometimes, old school is best. We need more people tinkering at the fringes of art and tech, and I’ll always support fun projects like this one.
3. A ChatGPT Study Mode FAQ
OpenAI recently launched a study mode for ChatGPT, designed to help students master whatever they’re studying. I’m a big fan of using AI to scaffold understanding of a subject, especially when paired with more intensive, offline techniques. Definitely worth checking out.
4. Thanks AI, But Students Still Need to Learn How to Write
Love it or hate it, AI isn’t going anywhere, and its role in education is only just beginning. But it’s also important to understand its limits. Meredith Coffey has a thoughtful piece outlining why students still need to learn how to write the old-fashioned way. Somewhere in the back of my mind, Marshall McLuhan’s warning that whatever technology extends in humans, it also atrophies keeps ringing. New tools often replace old cultural practices, and that comes with real costs we should be mindful of paying.
Quick Recap
Genie 3: Google’s new model creates interactive AI worlds that hint at a strange future for entertainment.
Wooden Pixel Display: A handmade, analog internet-connected pixel display shows that tinkering still matters.
ChatGPT Study Mode: OpenAI’s study mode helps students learn more effectively with AI scaffolding.
Writing Still Matters: Meredith Coffey explains why students need to learn traditional writing skills.
That’s this week’s random round-up: Strange worlds, wooden pixels, and AI in the classroom. Tune in next time for more!