The Robots Aren’t Coming, They’re Here!

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I haven’t watched traditional TV in years. My TV habit consists mainly of YouTube with a sprinkle here and there of Netflix and Tubi.

One of my biggest YouTube vices is Tesla. I watch a lot of Tesla fanboys who obsess over Tesla and electric cars.

Because I watch numerous Tesla videos, the YouTube algorithm naturally surmises that I’m into technology. And because the YouTube algorithm believes I’m a technophile, it’s been recommending a lot of videos lately that pertain to something called ChatGPT.

I haven’t watched any of these videos, but they have managed to pique my interest. A quick Google search revealed that ChatGPT is a free artificial intelligence tool operated by OpenAI. You feed it questions, and it returns answers.

Since ChatGPT is free to use and is apparently all the rage, I went to OpenAI and opened a ChatGPT account.

The first question I asked ChatGPT was pretty straightforward:

What are 10 ways for a young adult to save money?

Here’s ChatGPT’s response:

Here are 10 ways that a young adult can save money:

1. Create a budget: This is the first step to take control of your finances and identify areas where you can cut back on spending.
2. Avoid impulse purchases: Before making a purchase, ask yourself if it is a need or a want and whether it fits into your budget.
3. Live below your means: Try to limit your expenses to less than what you earn and save the rest.
4. Save on groceries: Plan your meals, make a shopping list, and buy in bulk to reduce food costs.
5. Reduce energy costs: Turn off lights and appliances when not in use, and consider switching to energy-efficient options.
6. Use public transportation or carpool: This can save on gas and vehicle maintenance expenses.
7. Negotiate bills: Call your service providers and see if they can offer a better rate or discount.
8. Avoid debt: Use cash or debit card instead of credit cards, and pay off any outstanding debts as soon as possible.
9. Save for emergencies: Set aside a portion of your income each month for unexpected expenses.
10. Invest in yourself: Consider taking courses or workshops to improve your skills and increase your earning potential.

Remember, the key to saving money is to spend less than you earn and make it a habit to live within your means.

The next question I asked ChatGPT was inspired by Fritz Gilbert. Here it is:

How would I explain bond ladders to a 5th grader?

And here’s ChatGPT’s response:

A bond ladder is like a step ladder, but instead of helping you reach high places, it helps you with your money.

Think about saving up for something special, like a big trip or a new bike. You might put your money into different jars, each labeled with the date you’ll need it. That way, you always have enough money when you need it and you don’t have to take it all out at once.

A bond ladder is similar, but instead of jars, you have bonds. A bond is like an IOU from a company or the government. They promise to pay you back the money you gave them, plus some extra money, over time. By having a bond ladder, you have bonds that mature (end) at different times, so you always have some money coming in to use when you need it, just like with the jars.

The key to a bond ladder is to have bonds that mature at different times, so you always have some money coming in, even as other bonds are being used. This can help make sure you have money when you need it and can be a smart way to save for the future.

Finally, I decided to have a little fun with ChatGPT by asking the following question:

Who are the 10 most influential bloggers in the FIRE community?

Here’s what ChatGPT spit back:

The FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) community is a growing movement of individuals who are focused on achieving financial independence and retiring early through smart saving and investment strategies. There are many bloggers and influencers who have made a significant impact on the FIRE community and helped to spread its ideas and values. Here are ten of the most influential bloggers in the FIRE community:

1. Mr. Money Mustache (mrmoneymustache.com)
2. The Mad Fientist (madfientist.com)
3. JL Collins (jlcollinsnh.com)
4. ChooseFI (choosefi.com)
5. Early Retirement Dude (earlyretirementdude.com)
6. The Frugal Samurai (thefrugalsamurai.com)
7. Financial Samurai (financialsamurai.com)
8. Root of Good (rootofgood.com)
9. The Physician on FIRE (physicianonfire.com)
10. FIRECracker (firecrackerfinancial.com)

These bloggers have made a significant impact on the FIRE community by sharing their personal experiences and strategies for achieving financial independence, as well as providing valuable information and resources for others who are pursuing the same goal. They have also helped to build a sense of community and support among FIRE enthusiasts, and their work has inspired many others to pursue financial independence and live their lives on their own terms.

Final Thoughts

Holy shit! In less than two minutes, I had the meat and bones of three new blog posts.

Does this mean my blogging career is over? I don’t think so. ChatGPT’s answers were solid but soulless. To be more compelling, those answers would need the secret sauce of personal anecdotes. My blogging career is thus far from over. And neither is the career of any other blogger. But I do think that ChatGPT will dramatically change the blogging world. As ChatGPT gains traction, and as its artificial intelligence grows in prowess, bloggers will find it increasingly hard not to outsource their grunt work to it. After all, why spend hours doing research and composing the basic structure of a blog post when ChatGPT can do that drudgery in seconds?

Okay, groovy freedomist, that’s all I got. What say you? Is ChatGPT a great productivity tool for bloggers? Or is ChatGPT a nothing-burger? Let me know what you think when you get a chance. Peace.