ChatGPT Conversation – Comparing Ai to Early Graphic Industry Technology

I had a conversation with ChatGPT about the graphics industry in the mid 1990’s, specifically about the disruptive impact technology had during that time. I lived through those changes. The current state of AiThe file extension for a native Adobe Illustrator file is .ai. AI is short for Adobe Illustrator. (A... More has me reflecting on that period of time.

I wanted to see if ChatGPT could write an opinion piece for me about this topic and keep the tone of the writing in my voice. It took three tries to get there. ChatGPT appeared to learn from our conversation.

The final entry in greenGreen is the second of three primary colors in an additive color model. The "G" in RGB. More was shared on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Theresa

I’d like to have a conversation with you. Can you teach me how I should ask you questions?

ChatGPT

Of course! When asking me a question, it’s best to use a clear and specific question word such as “what,” “how,” “why,” or “can.” Additionally, it’s helpful to provide context or background information related to your question, so that I can give you a more accurate and informative response. For example, instead of just asking “What is the capital of France?”, you could ask “What is the capital of France and what is the population there?”

You can also ask follow-up questions to clarify or expand on the information I’ve provided. I’ll do my best to understand and respond to your questions to the best of my abilities.

Theresa

Do you know anything about Scitex image editing workstations from the early 1990’s?

ChatGPT

Scitex was a company that manufactured and sold high-end computer-based workstations for the prepress and publishing industries in the late 1980s and early 1990s. These workstations were primarily used for tasks such as image editing, layout, and color correction.

Scitex workstations were notable for their high resolutionImage resolution measures the number of pixels in an image as it is displayed or printed. Pixels Per... More and color depth, as well as their advanced image editing capabilities. They were widely used in the printing industry for tasks such as color separationColor separation is the process of separating a color image into four ink plate colors, CMYK.  ... More and film outputOutput transfers information from a digital file to an external device like a monitor, or printer. More, and were also used in the graphic design and advertising industries.

Scitex was acquired by Creo in 2000 and rebranded as CreoScitex, which later became part of the Kodak company. These workstations were not as popular as it is more recent and advanced technology came in the market.

Theresa

Provide a job description for someone with stripper as their job title working in the lithography or printing industry.

ChatGPT

A “stripper” in the lithography or printing industry is responsible for removing the excess film or paper from the printing plates after they have been imaged. This process is known as “plate stripping” and is an essential step in the printing process.

The job duties of a stripper include:

• Operating plate stripping equipment to remove the excess film or paper from the printing plates
• Inspecting the plates to ensure that all of the excess film or paper has been removed
• Cleaning and maintaining the plate stripping equipment
• Communicating with other members of the printing team to ensure that the plates are ready for the next step in the printing process

To perform this job, a person should have knowledge of the printing process and lithography workflows, and experience working with printing equipment. They should also have good attention to detail and the ability to work quickly and accurately.

Theresa

That isn’t the job description I was searching for. I want to know about a “stripper” who assembled negative film on mylar flats, and used rubylith to cut masks. These mylar flats were used to burnBurn is a technique used to darken an image. The term is borrowed from darkroom photography. More an image onto a printing plate for an offset press. Can you provide a job description for this type of stripper?

ChatGPT

I apologize for the confusion. A “stripper” who assembles negative film on mylar flats and uses rubylith to cut masks is responsible for preparing the film negatives used in the offset printingOffset printing is a common commercial printing process. CMYK inks are applied to printing plates an... More process. This is a specialized type of printing, known as offset lithography, which relies on the separation of the image into four primary colors, Cyan More, MagentaMagenta is the second of the three primary colors in CMYK. M stands for Magenta. The color can be de... More, YellowOne of the three primary colors in a subtractive color model. The "Y" in CMYK. More and BlackBlack is the fourth color in the process of four-color printing. The "K" in CMYK. Black adds tonal d... More (CMYKWhat is CMYK? Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black (or Key) are the four colors of ink used in four-colo... More) which will be printed on a plate and then transferred to paper.

The job duties of this type of stripper include:

• Assembling negative film on mylar flats, which is a transparent plastic material, by carefully aligning and splicing the film sections together
• Using rubylith, which is a redRed is the first of three primary colors in an additive color model. The "R" in RGB. More colored film, to cut masks, which are used to block certain areas of the image from being printed
• Ensuring that the film negatives are properly registered and aligned on the mylar flats
• Communicating with other members of the printing team to ensure that the film negatives are ready for the next step in the printing process
• Cleaning and maintaining the equipment used for assembling negatives film and cutting masks.

To perform this job, the person should have knowledge of the offset printing process and the techniques used in film assembly and mask cutting. They should also have good attention to detail, dexterity, and experience working with precision tools.

Theresa

Excellent. That information is all correct. Scitex workstations used computer technology to replace much of a “strippers” job responsibilities. Do you know what a Scitex Prisma workstation retailed for in the mid 1990’s?

ChatGPT

I’m sorry, I don’t have the specific information about the retail price of the Scitex Prisma workstation in the mid-1990s. However, it’s worth noting that Scitex’s workstations were considered high-end equipment at the time and were priced accordingly. They were intended for professional use in the graphic arts and printing industries, so their cost would have been quite high. These kind of workstations were not sold to individual consumers but to specialized companies and institutions.

Theresa

What year did Apple computer first offer Power Mac workstations to the retail market?

ChatGPT

The Power Mac series was a line of personal computers that were manufactured and sold by Apple Computer, Inc. (now known as Apple Inc.) from 1994 to 2006. The first Power Mac model, the Power Macintosh 6100, was introduced in March 1994, as a replacement of Macintosh LC and Macintosh Performa models. These models were targeted to the consumer and professional markets, and were offered at retail through Apple’s own stores and authorized resellers.

The Power Mac G3, which was the first model to feature the PowerPC G3 microprocessor, was introduced in November 1997. And it was the first Power Mac workstation to be offered with a BlueBlue is the third of three primary colors in an additive color model. The "B" in RGB. More & White G3 case design. This model was widely adopted by professional users and was popular in the graphic arts and video editing industries.

Theresa

The Power Mac computers sold by Apple Inc. in the mid 1990’s disrupted the design and printing industry by offering high-end equipment for professional use at an affordable price. Scitex workstations were way too expensive for the consumer. Apple’s Mac computers completely changed the industry by offering products that could achieve the same results as a Scitex workstation, but priced for the consumer. I was a an offset lithography “stripper”, and I operated a Scitex workstation in the print industry.

ChatGPT

You are correct that the Power Mac computers introduced by Apple in the mid-1990s disrupted the design and printing industry by offering high-end equipment at a more affordable price point compared to specialized workstations like the Scitex. This made it more accessible to individual designers and small print shops, who previously may not have been able to afford the specialized equipment.

The Power Macs, running on Mac OS and later Mac OS X, were powerful computers that were capable of running professional graphic design, layout and pre-press software, which could achieve results similar to those of the specialized workstations like the Scitex. Additionally, Apple’s commitment to design and user experience made the Mac a more attractive option for creatives. The Mac OS’s user-friendly interface and design software like QuarkXPress, Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator made it accessible to a wider range of users, and this helped to democratize the industry.

The Power Mac also had a big impact on the offset lithography industry, with many small print shops and individual designers using the Power Macs instead of specialized workstations like the Scitex. This made it possible for more people to enter the industry and for existing companies to reduce their costs by using the more affordable and versatile Power Macs instead of specialized equipment.

Theresa

Today reminds me of the mid 1990’s. We are on the precipice of major change because of Ai. We can’t know what that change looks like for sure. It scares some people. Change can be scary. I’m more excited than scared, probably because I lived and worked through the disruption of the 1990’s. I’d like you to write an article comparing the current state of Ai technology to the changes in the printing and graphics industry from the mid 1990’s. I will use this article for a blog post. It should be roughly 800 words.

ChatGPT

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly advancing and has the potential to disrupt many industries, just as personal computers did in the mid-1990s. One of the most significant changes brought about by the rise of AI is the democratization of technology, making it more accessible to individuals and small businesses. This is similar to the way that the introduction of the Power Mac computers by Apple in the mid-1990s disrupted the design and printing industry by offering high-end equipment at a more affordable price point, making it accessible to a wider range of users.

In the printing and graphics industry, AI is being used in a variety of ways to automate tasks and improve efficiency. For example, AI-powered image recognition and analysis can be used to automatically detect and correct errors in images, such as color balance and contrast. This can save a significant amount of time for designers and printers, as they no longer need to manually adjust these settingsAn application's behaviors and preferences are controlled with settings. More. AI-powered software can also generate new designs, layouts, and typographyTypography refers to the design of text. It is the arrangement of letters and text. More, freeing up designers to focus on more creative tasks.

AI is also being used to automate the prepress process, by automatically creating high-quality printing plates from digital files. This eliminates the need for film stripping and manual labor, saving time and reducing costs. With AI, the prepress process can be completed faster and with fewer errors, resulting in higher-quality prints.

In addition to these changes, AI is also expected to bring about new business models and revenue streams for the printing industry. For example, AI-powered print-on-demand services allow customers to customize and order products online, which can increase sales and customer satisfaction. Additionally, AI-powered print management software can be used to optimize print runs, reducing waste and costs.

Just as the introduction of the Power Macs in the mid-1990s disrupted the printing and graphics industry, AI has the potential to disrupt it even more. However, it is important to note that the changes brought about by AI are not necessarily negative. They can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and open up new opportunities for businesses.

It’s important to remember that change can be scary, but it can also bring about new and exciting opportunities. It’s essential for companies and individuals in the printing and graphics industry to embrace the changes brought about by AI and to adapt and evolve to stay competitive. It’s important to stay informed and educated about the latest developments in AI and to continuously develop new skills to stay ahead of the curveA curve, or color curve, is a graphic representation of color and tone. Adjustments to the angle and... More.

In conclusion, the current state of AI technology is similar to the changes brought about by personal computers in the mid-1990s, as it has the potential to democratize technology and disrupt industries. The printing and graphics industry is already seeing the effects of AI, with automation and improved efficiency being the primary benefits. However, it’s important to keep in mind that change can bring about new opportunities, and it’s essential to stay informed and adapt to stay competitive in the industry.

Theresa

I think we can tighten this up some. I’m more interested in comparing consumer computer technology in the graphics industry from the mid 1990’s to the general disruptive changes Ai is creating today. I’m not interested in how Ai is impacting the printing and graphics industry today. I’m looking for a broader discussion about how evolving technology has been and continues to disrupt the way we work. Use computer technology from the mid 1990’s as an example of the past, compared to Ai in general terms for the present. Write another article discussing this. Make it 600 words.

ChatGPT

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to disrupt many industries and change the way we work, just as consumer computer technology did in the mid-1990s. In the past, the introduction of personal computers, such as the Power Mac, allowed individuals and small businesses to access high-end technology that was previously only available to large corporations. This democratization of technology changed the way we work and created new opportunities for individuals and businesses.

Similarly, today, AI is making it possible for individuals and small businesses to access and utilize sophisticated technology that was previously only available to large corporations and research institutions. With the advancement of AI, we are seeing the automation of tasks, the ability to analyze and make predictions from large amounts of data, and the development of intelligent systems that can learn and adapt. These capabilities are making it possible for individuals and small businesses to compete with larger corporations in ways that were previously impossible.

Just as the Power Mac computers in the mid-1990s disrupted the design and printing industry by offering high-end equipment at a more affordable price point, AI is disrupting industries by making sophisticated technology more accessible. This is making it possible for individuals and small businesses to automate tasks, make better decisions, and create new products and services.

However, the disruption brought about by AI also presents challenges. As AI becomes more prevalent, it may lead to job displacement as tasks that were previously done by humans are automated. Additionally, the increasing use of AI raises ethical concerns, such as privacy, bias, and accountability.

It’s essential to understand that the disruption caused by AI is not a one-time event, but a continuous process of change and evolution. As AI technology continues to advance, it will bring about new opportunities and challenges. It’s important for individuals and businesses to stay informed about the latest developments in AI and to continuously develop new skills to stay competitive.

In conclusion, the way that AI is disrupting industries today is similar to the way that consumer computer technology disrupted industries in the mid-1990s. It is making sophisticated technology more accessible, creating new opportunities for individuals and small businesses, but it also presents challenges. It is important for individuals and businesses to stay informed about the latest developments in AI, and to continuously develop new skills to stay competitive in an ever-evolving technological landscape.

Theresa

I’d like this article to sound more personal, like it came from me. I’m going to tell you some things about myself that can be used to personalize the article. I began my graphics career in 1984, working for a small print house. I was a film stripper and operated a stat camera. Film was developed by hand in a darkroom. Within five years I was using a Scitex workstation to digitally compose images and page layouts. In 1992 I started learning Photoshop because I expected it to eventually replace Scitex. I actively encouraged my co workers to learn Photoshop and implored my boss to provide training for everyone. Not everyone embraced this change and many of my coworkers were openly hostile to me for suggesting they learn a new skill. The access to, and potential power of Ai today, reminds me of the that turbulent period of uncertainty. Write a similar article to the previous one but personalize it to include my past experiences.

ChatGPT