How AI Will Replace Learners and Memorizers with Commanders and Curators
A step-by-step case study of creating a Word macro without knowing what a “macro” is or any VBA programming
I’m fascinated by AI tools like ChatGPT, Rytr, and AI Writer like anybody else.
I’m not only excited by their performance to create text ranging from computer code to children’s stories but also what they mean for our society, for education, and especially for the new kind of humans they will force evolve.
My conclusion is they will eliminate all traditional learners who memorize things and replace them with commanders and curators. That’s the future of workforce in every country, starting with developed countries but rapidly spreading around to every other country in the world thanks to the Internet.
Why “Commanders”?
Because we will all be reduced or elevated (depending on your POV) to asking AI systems to do things, ask questions, instead of guessing the answers.
“Asking questions” now means “giving commands.”
If you can give the right command you’ll get the correct answer and will move on with your life with a pat on your back and cash in the bank. The future will look something like that.
Why “Curators”?
Imagine going to a museum. Did you create any of the pieces in the museum? No. A curator brought together all the already-created pieces for your enjoyment and edification.
That’s how all museums work. The visitors don’t create any content in a museum.
Content curation will be reduced or elevated (depending on your POV) to putting information obtained as a result of intelligent commands together into a presentable whole, or a whole that is again tested by AI and proven to work before offered for public consumption.
A Test Case: Ordering a Word Macro
Here is a test case.
It’ll be a bit long but I’ll show you how you can order ChatGPT to create a macro that creates a TOC for any Word document without you knowing a single line of VBA, the language under the hood that keeps all Microsoft Office products humming.
Remember: just 3 months ago you had to read a thick book or take a long course to learn how to program in VBA. No more.
“But you at least have to know what a macro is?” I can hear you say. Not really. As long as you have a rough idea, a general question in your mind as to what to do, you can still create an object called “macro” without even knowing its name.
Let’s do it.
Here is my Word document:
Since I know what I want, I start with this question for ChatGPT:
What is the name of the MS Word menu item that, when I select it, it automatically creates a TOC in the beginning of a Word article?
ANSWER:
The menu item in Microsoft Word that allows you to automatically create a table of contents (TOC) at the beginning of a document is called “Table of Contents”. This option can be found under the “References” tab in the ribbon, in the “Table of Contents” group.
Alternatively, you can also use the keyboard shortcut “Alt + N + T” to open the Table of Contents dialog box.
It is worth noting that the Table of Contents feature in Microsoft Word uses the headings in your document to create the TOC, so you need to properly format your headings with the Heading styles (e.g. Heading 1, Heading 2) to create a TOC.
Great answer but not what I want.
So I repeat my order:
Give me the name of the method to perform a series of steps in a Microsoft Word document with just one click of a button?
ANSWER:
The name of the method to perform a series of steps in a Microsoft Word document with just one click of a button is called a “macro”. A macro is a series of instructions that you group together as a single command to accomplish a task automatically. In Word, you can create a macro by recording your actions, or by writing the macro code yourself using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA). Once the macro is created, it can be assigned to a button, so when you click the button, the macro runs, and performs the series of steps that you have recorded or written in the code.
You can also assign macros to keyboard shortcuts, ribbon buttons, or to a QAT (Quick Access Toolbar), so you can easily access the macro and run it when you need it.
Perfect!
I’ve got it this time.
A NOTE TO MYSELF: The more specific and detailed the command, the more accurate and correct the AI answer is.
So, here is my next command:
Write the code for a macro that would create a TOC from Heading 1 style headings
See, I didn’t even have to mention that I need a Word macro since AI does not forget the context of my inquiry. It already knows I’m talking about MS Word an not (let’s say) MS Excel.
Here is what I get:
I copy and paste this code as a new module into MS Word VBA window of my sample document (Alt + F11) and save it.
Then I switch to my Word document to test the macro named “Create TOC.”
I run the macro, and bullseye! I get a perfect TOC.
Important points to consider:
I did not tell ChatGPT what my operating system was (Windows 11).
I did not tell ChatGPT what version of Word I was using (Microsoft 365).
I did not even start by knowing what a “macro” was. I told her what I was looking for in plain English and she told me that what I was looking for was something called a “macro.”
In repeated steps it did not forget that I was talking about MS Word all along, thus saving me needless repetition of the keyword “MS Word.”
The Point
You may of course say “but what’s the fuss? Word already has a TOC creation menu.”
Correct. But this was just a simple example.
The main point is to accomplish ANY TASK in a MS Office product by just ordering the AI in plain English what it should do. Isn’t that exciting?
Recap
In this exercise I was not the guy with the answers or memorized knowledge.
I was not a programmer.
I was a commander who gave orders and a curator who put together an idea with ready-made code that brings that idea to life and executes the task right away — just like a museum curator who puts together art objects to create an exhibition. My “exhibition” was a Word macro that worked at first try.
Thus goes a day in the life of a content curator who is still learning to be an efficient commander in English.
May all your curations and command missions bring you much fun, good health, and prosperity.
Ugur, I love your AI pieces- love the energy. We are on the edge of something big. D