LOWEEN TRADITIONS n to Skittles The version of Halloween we’re all familiar with didn’t arrive until the 1800s, when Irish and Scottish immigrants brought their customs to America. Stories of mischievous spirits came with them, along with small pranks and carved turnips meant to ward off evil. (Yes, turnips; pumpkins came later.) By the early 20th century, Halloween was becoming more of a neighborhood event. Parades and harvest parties replaced superstitions. Trick-or-treating really took off in the 1950s, helped along by candy companies that were more than happy to get involved. Even now, some of those early ideas linger in the modern Halloween tradition. Whether you’re lighting up a jack-o’-lantern or telling ghost stories by the fire, you’re still part of something old. Halloween has shifted over the years, but at its heart, the holiday is about crossing boundaries between seasons, between fear and fun, and maybe even between worlds.
I’ve been playing around with ChatGPT lately and have found it can save a tremendous amount of time on many office-related tasks. No, I don’t try to write briefs with it, and I am no expert at using it. But I read a great article recently that helped give me a helicopter view of what’s happening out there with AI. One thing I hadn’t fully appreciated is how much of the hype around this technology is due to clever marketing. Tech companies are masters at creating buzz, and big announcements about the latest AI developments are hard to miss these days. But those “breakthrough” announcements are typically not based on peer-reviewed studies. They're just press releases, and the latest so-called breakthroughs are often more limited than the headlines suggest. PUTTING AI IN PERSPECTIVE Between the Hype and the Help
It’s also worth knowing the difference between automation and AI. Some tools and systems in use today are dressed up in “AI” branding, but they use nothing more than the computer-executed automation that has been
around for decades. ChatGPT is a different animal, though. Instead of running on pre-set rules, it uses natural language processing to generate coherent text. But it’s still not actually intelligent, and it’s certainly not magic. The tech simply strings words together based on patterns it has seen before. That means it can be unreliable at times.
Maple Bourbon Smash Cocktail Inspired by InspiredByCharm.com
Ingredients Spiced Maple Simple Syrup • 1/2 cup water • 1/2 cup maple syrup • 2–3 cinnamon sticks • 1–2 star anise • 1-inch piece fresh ginger • Maple Bourbon Smash • 1 orange wheel • 1 sprig fresh rosemary, plus extra for serving • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice • 2 tbsp fresh orange juice • 2 tbsp spiced maple simple syrup • 2 oz bourbon • 5 drops orange bitters • Ginger beer or soda water
Directions 1. In a medium saucepan over
medium-high heat, add simple syrup ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium- low and simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from heat, strain out spices, and let cool (this makes enough for multiple cocktails; store in the fridge).
Still, I think there’s some value in using it. The tech can be great for
2. In a cocktail shaker, add
brainstorming and generating ideas, but its outputs should only be viewed as a starting point. AI tools like ChatGPT
orange wheel, rosemary, lemon juice, and orange juice. Using a muddler or spoon, muddle together and add 2 tbsp of the spiced simple syrup. Pour in bourbon and orange bitters, and shake well to combine.
are just that — tools. And like any tool, they’re only as good as the person using it. Our job as users is to fact-check, edit, expand, and shape the raw outputs AI gives us into something better. So, if AI fits into your day-to-day work, I say use it. You may be able to save time and even gain some perspective you hadn’t considered before, but don’t let the bots run the show. Take some time to learn more about how these systems work, and experiment with what they can and cannot do. And try not to get too caught up in the hype.
3. In a glass, add ice and strain bourbon mixture over ice, topping with
ginger beer or soda water. Garnish with rosemary.
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