Learning is the new AI, not AI!

My friend declared that as long as humans continuously use learning as actual insemination of knowledge to give birth to world-changing ideas, he does not fear artificial intelligence. Computers can learn, but they aren't capable of the level of creativity and innovation of humans, so stop fearing and start learning!

Our conversation had me thinking about how exquisite it is to go from not knowing something to having a concept in your mind within a few minutes or hours. After a few days, the concept takes on bones, ligaments, and skin. Over the days, weeks, and months, the more you engage with it, it becomes a living entity. You carry it as it grows. You feed it, nourish it and the next thing you know, you are giving birth to something that takes on a life of its own. 

June and July 2020, after the George Floyd murder and subsequent aftermath, I wanted to go to Africa. My desire started a journey of learning and discovering leading to the birth of Upendo Mkali. 

In April 2022, while in Senegal, we visited Gorée Island. Gorée Island was the arrival and departure point for many slave ships. Before going to the Island, a friend told us we would experience a palpable sadness as it was the last time many Africans would be alive or free. During the tour, our guide explained that off the Island coast, thousands of ships lay at the bottom of the ocean, with an estimated 6 million souls trapped there. The heaviness was undeniable, leading me to journal my experience. As I stared at my journal cover, a whispered thought grazed my brain, do I own any journals with...

October, sitting on a bench on the Africville memorial grounds in Halifax, Nova Scotia. I stare at the waterfront, triggered by the sentence I read in the historical museum "We did this for their good." I'm angry and sad because, before they bulldozed Africville, the area represented Black beauty and brilliance. I recognize that I have an existential crisis. I'm about to attend a three-day conference, where I must be social, but I'm not feeling friendly.

On the contrary, I'm feeling more and more vexed. However, I get through the conference by writing and reasoning through my feelings while enjoying Salty's Crab Cakes. I was feeling salty in my spirit, so it was perfect. But, looking at my journal, I think - I want a journal with Black beauty and brilliance represented. But as I started my search, I couldn't find what I wanted.

Mid-January 2023, David, the Black Boys Code Ottawa Chapter lead, calls; we're discussing Chat GPT, Mid-Journey, Dall-E and a few other AI products exploding on the scene, brainstorming how their Black boys might learn to become Prompt Engineers using the technology. What instigated the conversation was that I had been playing with the AI tools for the last two weeks, developing a process to design my prompted journal with Black female representation on the cover. The idea started on Goree Island and was fortified at Africville; now, it is taking on flesh.

Some friends saw my work between January 9 and January 30 and encouraged me to combine my digital "art" and journaling prompts into a sellable product. (Learning and formulating more and more ideas) 

On January 31, a friend sent me a link to sign up for a vendor's show to conduct a minimal viable product test. (Feeding the idea). I missed the deadline initially, but Juliann from Reveille Afriq asked about my idea/concept. She loved it and made an exception, giving me five days to get the remaining components of the idea from my brain into my computer and out as a physical product. The birthing pains begin.

February 1 to 12 is the longest days yet the shortest time. The birthing pains are real. Finding "doulas" to help my baby and I meant researching and calling in favours to find emergency print shops, product specialists, vendor insurance, vendor checklists, supporters and an event team, setting up social media, buying supplies, picking up products, running around like a crazy lady making sure my baby has a successful start to life.

February 12, we stand at the table with products at Bramalea City Centre. Finally, finally, my idea has a body that people can interact with, and they love my child. During the next 30 days, it was a whirlwind of shows, setting up a Shopify store, selling then soliciting feedback to incorporate changes. Again, my child is growing rapidly.

March 2023. www.upendomkali.com is live.

Ali Adam, a videographer launching the next phase of his career by becoming a documentary filmmaker, interviews me and asks why learning and development.

I love, love, love learning. Nothing else is better than expanding your mind by starting with a thought to seeing a finished product.

Getting feedback from people, Like N - who read my why and cried. Or sitting in a restaurant and having the waitress ask how she could get her hands on one of my journals. Or listening to people tell me how much they love their journaling experience.  

Every great to horrific thing to happen on this planet started with a thought that grew through learning and developed into a living entity. The human mind is a beautifully terrifying thing of creation and birth. And learning is the mechanism that feeds it. 

So, what ideas are sparking in your mind? What thought did you have that started you pondering, Could I? Could the AI of learning birth better AI tools and opportunities?

I can't wait to see your ideas that remove fear and improve our world.

See you soon,

A flawed girl philosopher, living upendo mkali in 2023.

My learning journey prompted me to ask about Africa's most popular ten languages. Number one is Swahili. After playing with Google Translate, I found the words to express my theme for 2023 and my website name, Upendo Mkali, which means fierce love in Swahili.

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