It’s beneficial that us growing older adults maintain our brains energetic, so folks learn and play video games like Sudoku. That may be a step in the precise route. However I’ve been utilizing AI as a studying coach on numerous subjects and it it not simply maintaining my mind energetic. It’s making it drink from a fireplace hose! I take advantage of Gemini for my AI stuff and it’s wonderful. I selected it as a result of I purchased a Chromebook a bit over a 12 months in the past, and it got here with a free 12 months of all of Google’s superior AI (this advertising and marketing ploy was profitable as a result of I received hooked and lately paid for an additional 12 months). I’ve pals who get pleasure from utilizing different AIs like CoPilot, ChatGpt, Grok, and Claude they usually love them so I gained’t declare that what I present for Gemini couldn’t even be carried out with the others. However my recommendation is to choose one, and stick with it. For my first couple of years of wanting into AI I dabbled in a number of variations and didn’t get very deep or proficient. However I made a whole lot of progress on this final 12 months sticking to only one.
One other caveat I have to make is that not the entire options I point out are within the free model of Gemini that anybody with a Google account can use. So far as I do know most are, however I’m particularly undecided about Deep Analysis.
I began out utilizing Gemini for technical analysis, both in my very own discipline or for medical associated questions. I’ve a deep curiosity in any situation I or my pals are bothered with! For this I really like utilizing Deep Analysis. You simply begin a Gemini session and choose “Deep Analysis” from instruments. I goes out and finds a bunch of related web sites and analysis papers to your question after which comes again with an in depth report. An necessary tip is to look at it for a minute or so. It should then inform you its plan and you must hit begin. I’ve made the error of going away for a number of hours, coming again and anticipating my outcomes, however it nonetheless is ready so that you can hit begin. After you begin it might probably take some time so it’s a good suggestion to depart that window and are available again later. The very first thing I’d level out is you could get superb outcomes extra rapidly in “quick” mode with out utilizing deep analysis. However for extra detailed outcomes and a pleasant report it can save you as a doc, I choose “pondering” mode and deep analysis.
It additionally helps to elucidate what’s your degree of experience, from an newbie hobbyist, which is me in numerous areas, or somebody with skilled experience and expertise. So for a technical difficulty associated to math or engineering I’ll say “I’ve a PhD in mechanical engineering and expertise in numerical strategies, however solely undergraduate degree laptop science and electronics background”. However lately I used to be asking one thing associated to neuroscience, so I stated “I’ve no skilled background in neuroscience however am pretty nicely learn in it as a passion”.
I’ve beforehand written weblog posts about a few of my analysis outcomes, resembling modifying my coaching to accommodate my leaky coronary heart valve. However lately I’ve branched into extra “hobbyist” pursuits like neuroscience. I’ll give a particular outcome on that under. However first I wish to give an summary of choices. Your first selection is quick or pondering mode. Quick works nice for many issues, and will get faster outcomes (therefore the identify). Pondering remains to be fairly quick, however goes slightly deeper. After setting considered one of these, which is able to stay the default for future chats, from the Gemini window, you’ll be able to simply make a question and get nice outcomes even if you’re utilizing it to study a brand new matter. That’s possibility 1. It should discover a whole lot of info so that you can reply your query, and typically make issues like spreadsheets to elucidate ideas.
It should then recommend comply with up queries “would you want me to research xxx” and also you simply must say sure if . I’ve realized lots chasing these. Possibility 2 is to place it particularly in studying mode by selecting the “guided studying” instrument, which I really like. It will behave much like a standard Gemini question however provides pictures and quizzes that can assist you study. Right here is the way it describes itself: “A specialised interactive mode/instrument throughout the app. Modular; it breaks subjects right into a structured “studying path.” Mechanically integrates diagrams, movies, and pictures. Contains Canvas-based quizzes, flashcards, and examine guides. Constructed on LearnLM, a mannequin particularly skilled on studying science.” The third possibility, which I discussed above, is to activate the deep analysis instrument. However I don’t suggest that for a subject you’re attempting to study, as a result of it’s a lot slower. Use deep analysis for stuff you’re already acquainted with however to dive deeper in a particular space. Generally I’ll comply with up a studying session with a deep analysis session then save the report from deep analysis.
A easy instance: the well being advantages of pickleball
I used to be afraid the neuroplasticity instance I give under may scare folks away as a result of it nonetheless received technical though I stated I used to be an newbie in that discipline. Neuroscience is a reasonably technical discipline, in spite of everything. So let’s begin with a easy instance the place I informed it to remain nontechnical. It is a question in Gemini with guided studying turned on: “Assume I’m an grownup layman on this discipline, please maintain the reply much less technical. Is it true that pickleball has some well being benefits for seniors”. The reply remains to be very informative together with a quiz and recommendations for additional examine. Observe I saved this chat brief, however I can return to it chat later and continue learning. Outcomes are right here.
One other Instance: The historical past of Neuroplasticity
This question began from a enjoyable anecdote I’d examine. Within the final Nineteen Nineties the Dalai Lama requested visiting scientists an attention-grabbing query alongside these traces: Western science assume the consciousness and our minds emerge from our brains, which will be considered the thoughts is the software program operating on the mind, the {hardware}. Can something the thoughts does change the mind? He was particularly pondering of whether or not meditation can change the mind. The present paradigm in neuroscience was that our brains are solely malleable in childhood, little or no neuroplasticity exists in maturity. So the neuroscientists all stated the reply was no. However we now know they had been flawed, spectacularly flawed, and neuroplasticity and the way consciousness can have an effect on it’s now a scorching matter in neuroscience. And among the finest proof comes from imaging the brains of superior meditators, together with the Dalai Lama’s Tibetan colleagues.
So I queried “I’ve no skilled background in neuroscience however am pretty nicely learn in it as a passion. I wish to know the historical past of developments within the understanding of neuroplasticity because the Nineteen Nineties:. This led to a pleasant interchange during which I realized fairly a bit, which I’ve shared right here.
I might be following up with weekly posts on areas related to wholesome growing older, each bodily and psychological, that I’ve investigated with Gemini. I’ll at all times be sure that I give the AI credit score. I don’t prefer it when folks create weblog posts or youtube movies with AI and don’t acknowledge it. I believe that’s like dishonest in your homework!
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I’m a Mechanical Engineer born in 1953, Ph. D, Stanford, 1980. I’ve been energetic within the mechanical CAE discipline for many years. I even have a lifelong curiosity in outside actions and health. I’ve had each hips changed and a coronary heart valve alternative resulting from a genetic situation. This weblog chronicles my adventures in staying energetic regardless of these bumps within the highway.
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