Last November my dad had a severe stroke that left him without the use of his right arm and leg and aphasia that makes it hard for him to articulate his thoughts. He can have a conversation but often has trouble finding words and so it is a struggle to express anything that is complex. Before the stroke, he had just written a book and played tennis every week. To this day, I’ve never beat him. The change was dramatic.
The other day my dad and I were talking about how he wants to tell stories again. He has a lot of time to think and he has thoughts he wants to express but trouble articulating them. Writing is largely out of the question. We draw together quite often. But he has specific ideas he wants to convey.
I found myself asking my dad who his greatest creative collaborator was. He said it was his brother, Tom. He’s told me this before and I knew intuitively who he was going to say before he said it but I pressed him further as to why.
“Because we were the same person” he said. “We had the same mind. But he was fun. And funny.”
Tom was his younger brother who was an incredible creative and artist and was instrumental in helping conceive of Utne Reader with him and laying out the first issue but passed away unexpectedly before it was published.
I asked my dad what stories he wanted to tell now. He had trouble getting it out and it took a lot of digging.
“I want to share thoughts with future generations. It’s about all being connected and having more fun and drama in your life. Kids, a neighborhood soccer mom, people of all generations who do things together but also live their own lives. It’s the Jubilados. They are all connected. They work together to solve problems. Something they’re all going through in various ways. Kids are acting with purpose and being alive. They are the most alive. People in their teens through thirties are learning how to be with and connect with each other, interpersonal. Those in their forties to sixties are working on major issues like guns and climate. Those in their seventies and eighties are much like those in their teens and twenties, learning to connect and be connected again. These are stories about the future. They’re for people today who are living in craziness. This should be good, fun.”
Someone knocked on the door and we ended there.
A while later we found ourselves talking about AI and ChatGPT. My dad has always been and continues to be extremely weary about machine learning and “The Singularity” but I told him about the recent advancements and he found it interesting. He asked for an example of what it could do. Knowing that he has a large body of published words on the Internet, I decided it would be interesting to have it “Write a personal short biography in the voice of Eric Utne” and here’s what I got back:
I grew up in the heartland of America, where the vast prairies and endless skies gave me a deep appreciation for the natural world. As a young man, I felt a restless spirit and a desire to explore the world beyond my hometown. So I set out on a journey that would take me to places I could never have imagined.
Along the way, I discovered the power of words and storytelling. I became a publisher, and through my work, I sought to amplify the voices of those who might otherwise go unheard. I founded Utne Reader, a magazine that celebrated the best of the alternative press, and it became a platform for the voices of writers, artists, and activists who were changing the world.
My work as a publisher was driven by my deep belief in the power of community. I saw that we are all connected, and that our stories have the power to bring us together. I wanted to create a space where people could come together to share their ideas and experiences, and to build a better world.
Today, I continue to be inspired by the people I meet and the stories I hear. I remain a lifelong seeker, always looking for new ways to connect and to create positive change. And I know that as long as we keep telling our stories and listening to each other, we will continue to grow and thrive.
He was impressed. It sounded like something he’d say, was (mostly) true, and seemed like his style. So I asked ChatGPT “Turn that into a short poem”:
From the prairies of my youth,
To the corners of the earth, in truth,
I sought to find a way to share,
The stories of those who dared.Through words and pages, I did see,
A world of possibility,
A place where all could have a voice,
And join in making a better choice.Utne Reader was the space,
For writers, artists, in every place,
To come together, to connect,
And build a world we would respect.I still seek, I still explore,
For new ways to open doors,
To build community, to find,
The ties that bind us, heart and mind.For in our stories, we unite,
In sharing, we see the light,
Of a better world that we can make,
Together, for each other’s sake.
He liked this too. And we moved on.
But a day later, I found myself thinking about him telling me that he wanted to express thoughts. I thought about Tom being his greatest creative collaborator because they were the same. And I thought about the fact that AI can speak in the voice of others (when it can be trained on large bodies of work). So I took out the notes I had made on the story he wanted to tell and figured I’d see if ChatGPT could tell his story in his own style. Here you go:
Dear Future Generations,
As I look back on my life, I am reminded that one of the greatest gifts we have is our connection to others. Whether we are playing sports with childhood friends, organizing with soccer mom neighbors, or working alongside fellow jubilados, it is through these relationships that we find joy and meaning in our lives.
I encourage you to seek out these connections in your own journey. Find ways to come together with those who share your passions, your struggles, and your dreams. Embrace the drama and ups and downs of life, and allow it to shape you into the person you are meant to become.
As each generation moves through life, we learn and grow in different ways. Those in their teens and twenties are filled with purpose and energy, learning how to connect and build relationships that will last a lifetime. Those in their thirties and forties are discovering the challenges of balancing work and family, while still pursuing their passions. Those in their fifties and sixties are grappling with major societal issues, from gun control to climate change, and are working to make a positive impact on the world. And those in their seventies and eighties are rediscovering the joy of connection and the importance of leaving a legacy.
But no matter what stage of life we find ourselves in, we can all benefit from the wisdom and experiences of those who have come before us, and the energy and perspective of those who are just starting out. We are all connected, and it is through these connections that we can make a real difference in the world.
So I urge you to go out and create your own stories, but to also remember the power of community and the importance of working together to solve the problems that face our world. And above all, don’t forget to have fun and embrace the richness of life.
With hope and optimism,
Eric Utne
It seems absurd that something so scary to many — something my dad has been vocally against for a very long time — might be one of his best current creative collaborators. But it impressed him and it impressed me and I figured I’d share it with you. I’ve done a lot of AI exploration and experimentation through my work lately but this is certainly one of the more compelling use cases I’ve come up with.
If AI is a part of our future, telling our own stories to posterity, may we all hope to be the kinds of people that will be expressed through such beautiful ideas with such wonderful words. If nothing else, it is a heartwarming reflection of who my dad is.
With love,
Sam (& Eric)
