AI Writes Dad's Story

Author

Ted Merz
February 07, 2025

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My father doesn’t bother too much about the Internet but it cares about him.

I get direct messages from fans who read the stories I’ve written about him on social media and in my newsletter, Surface Area.

But also, because I’ve written those articles, that content is accessible to large language models which can synthesize it.

I asked Perplexity AI to provide life lessons based on stories I’ve written.

What came back was a helpful illustration of the downstream impact of writing online. Publishing specific factual information and anecdotes on the internet provided the LLMs with the material to draw insights.

The Perplexity query showcases the utility Gen AI. The availability of so much information online will either seem exhilarating or terrifying depending on your worldview.

It also shows the limitations. Had I not written the posts, there would be no factual response to the question. (The LLMs might make things up!)

But since I did, Perplexity delivered these chestnuts:

--Engineering and Practicality: Norman Merz is depicted as an engineer with a strong inclination towards practicality and organization. In one of Ted’s posts, Norman is described recycling dirt from window boxes, a practice that Ted reflects on as both cost-saving and environmentally conscious. This shows Norman’s approach to life where he finds practical solutions to everyday problems.

--Traditional Communication Methods: Norman’s method of giving directions when Ted wanted to take a scenic route is highlighted. Instead of using modern technology like Google Maps, Norman drew a map on lined paper, complete with landmarks, demonstrating a hands-on, personal touch in communication that contrasts with today’s digital solutions.

--Personal Habits and Aging: Ted discusses how Norman has adapted to aging by making adjustments in his environment, like relabeling nail jars with larger print to accommodate a deterioration in eyesight.

--Historical and Personal Connections: Norman’s connection to historical events is touched upon, like his memory of D-Day in 1944, which he heard about on the radio while in high school, reflecting his personal experience with significant historical moments.

--Memorabilia and Keepsakes: Norman has a history of passing down items with personal significance, like gifting Ted his old slide rule from his engineering studies at Cornell, which underscores a connection to his past and a tradition of sharing knowledge or tools that were once vital.

It’s pretty incredible and I draw five big lessons:

➡️ Everything we write becomes fodder for AI more than we fully grasp.

➡️ If you don’t write your story online, you won't be visible to LLMs.

➡️ That concept extends beyond personal stories to any dataset or piece of information. Creating text versions of data makes them available.

➡️ Increasingly, people are writing not only for humans but also machines.

➡️ Finally, my dad has a lot to teach the world!

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BRIEF OBSERVATIONS

ATTENTION ECONOMY: This observation seems very relevant at the moment.

AI USAGE: One of the big corporate mysteries right now is why so many firms are so wary of using AI in their day-to-day operations. I think this helps explain it.

AI CONTENT: Some of the best content creators on social media have been recently flagging that LinkedIn is showing signs of strain.

LIFE ADVICE: Greg Isenberg dropped this one pager. Some I like more than other. But I respect him for trying. Would be interesting if everyone did their own.

IMAGES: Anu makes a good and underappreciated point here. that some images still resonate and move the culture more than videos.