Impromptu: Amplifying Our Humanity Through AI
Authors: Reid Hoffman, GPT-4, Reid Hoffman, GPT-4
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Overview
My book, Impromptu: Amplifying Our Humanity Through AI, co-authored with GPT-4, explores the transformative potential of AI, specifically large language models (LLMs), across various aspects of human life and work. The target audience is anyone interested in understanding how AI, and specifically LLMs, will impact their work, creative pursuits, and everyday lives, but I particularly want to speak to other technologists, business leaders, and policy makers. Impromptu adds to current discussions surrounding AI by emphasizing its potential to amplify human capabilities rather than replace them, advocating for a ‘techno-humanist’ approach. I argue that we can and should design and use AI to enhance human flourishing across fields like education, creative arts, law, journalism, social media, and philanthropy. My argument is supported by real-world examples, practical advice, simulated conversations generated by GPT-4, and insights from my own experience as an entrepreneur, investor, and author. The book acknowledges the risks associated with AI, such as job displacement and the spread of misinformation, while emphasizing that these risks are not new and are often overstated in relation to the potential benefits. I argue that, rather than seeking to prevent AI’s broad adoption, we should focus on establishing robust regulatory frameworks and fostering greater transparency and accountability in AI development. By engaging critically and creatively with AI, rather than passively or fearfully, we can create a more equitable, just, and prosperous future for everyone. We must embrace our role as Homo techne – humans defined by our ability to create and use technology – and recognize that technology is not neutral, but reflects our values and aspirations. We are at a crossroads, and we have the choice to use AI to help us do less or to help us do better. I urge readers to choose the latter path.
Book Outline
1. Introduction: Moments of Enlightenment
As a technology that deftly leverages the internet, mobile, cloud computing, and data analytics, GPT-4 puts the power of always-on AI into the hands of millions. It’s like a 12-in-1 multi-tool for your brain. While still imperfect, GPT-4 can massively speed up information processing and action generation, making it an invaluable tool.
Key concept: AHA! (Amplifying Human Abilities): OpenAI has created a tool that became ‘intelligent’ enough to productively assist you in many different environments, in many different ways.
2. Education
Education can leverage large language models (LLMs) like GPT-4 not by replacing human work, but by amplifying our distinctive capabilities. LLMs can greatly assist students in the essay-writing process, including idea generation, feedback, and templating. This approach can also greatly increase teaching productivity and personalize the learning experience.
Key concept: If ChatGPT can do a job as well as a person, then humans shouldn’t duplicate those abilities; they must surpass them.
3. Creativity
AI can amplify creative abilities and productivity by generating new ideas, acting as a springboard for human creativity, and expanding the creative space. LLMs lower the barriers to entry for creative work, increasing competition while empowering artists with new tools. This raises complex questions surrounding originality, IP ownership, and the evolving creative market.
Key concept: Al will change the way [artists] use and express their creativity…I can create so much better now, so much faster, and in different ways.
4. Justice
AI can help us create a better, more fair criminal justice system. LLMs can be an invaluable tool for overworked public defenders, helping sift through legal documents, analyze cases, and develop legal strategies. They can enhance police oversight with body-worn camera analysis while offering immense educational opportunities for inmates.
Key concept: AI can be used to help more defendants get the justice they deserve.
5. Journalism
LLMs can revolutionize journalism by improving accuracy, speed, personalization, and accessibility to information. They offer powerful tools for fact-checking and truth-seeking, potentially countering misinformation and deepening public engagement. News organizations can leverage AI to maximize the value of their archives and enhance user experience.
Key concept: Extra! Extra! Ask all about it!
6. Social Media
Social media presents a unique space where users can leverage AI for various creative and communicative tasks. This presents opportunities and challenges related to authenticity, ownership, and the spread of disinformation. The emergence of AI chatbots offers new avenues for syndication and engagement, potentially revolutionizing influencers’ business models.
Key concept: AI in the kind of opt-in, largely self-directed ways…
7. Transformation of Work
AI can help knowledge workers implement key career management concepts like those found in The Startup of You and The Alliance. AI can assist with networking, mentorship, personal branding, risk assessment, and identifying potential career paths, revolutionizing how both employees and managers approach career development.
Key concept: What could possibly go right?
8. GPT-4 in My Own Work
I use LLMs as an undergrad research assistant, as a director collaborating with an ‘actor’, and as a tool for rapid prototyping. This approach leverages LLMs for research, content creation, analysis, communication, and decision-making.
Key concept: Think of yourself as a director, not a carpenter.
9. When AI Makes Things Up (‘Hallucinations’)
While “hallucinations” (errors and fabrications) are a legitimate concern, they need to be assessed within the context of utility. LLMs excel at delivering “good enough knowledge”, offering significant advantages for tasks where breadth, efficiency, and accessibility are paramount, such as research.
Key concept: Good enough knowledge, depending on what your purpose is.
10. Homo Techne
Technology has historically been central to human progress. We are more accurately Homo techne, defined by our ability to create and leverage technology. This evolution has led to unprecedented progress, with challenges requiring intentionality and regulation. A techno-humanist approach focuses on achieving positive outcomes for society.
Key concept: Homo techne: technological innovation is humanity’s defining feature. We capitalize on intelligence by amplifying our mental, physical, and social capacities through technologies.
Essential Questions
1. What is the core principle of “Amplifying Human Abilities” (AHA), and how does the book demonstrate its application across various domains?
The core idea of “Amplifying Human Abilities” (AHA) is to leverage AI as a tool to augment and enhance human capabilities rather than replace them. The book demonstrates how this principle can be applied across various domains, from writing and creative arts to education and the legal system. By focusing on specific examples, such as Professor Mintz’s integration of GPT-4 in his teaching or JusticeText’s use of AI to help public defenders, the book shows how AI can improve productivity, efficiency, and creativity. The AHA approach emphasizes the critical role of human oversight and judgment in using AI effectively and responsibly. The implication is that by focusing on AI’s ability to amplify human work, we can achieve more positive outcomes for both individuals and society.
2. How does the book utilize the metaphor of AI as a “co-pilot” to explain its role in the future of work?
This “co-pilot” metaphor is central to Hoffman’s vision of AI’s role in the future of work. Instead of AI taking over entirely, he envisions AI tools like GPT-4 as collaborative partners that assist humans in their tasks. This collaboration amplifies human capabilities, enhances productivity, and allows for more strategic and creative work. The book provides examples of this co-pilot dynamic across various professions, from sales and law to journalism and management consulting. The metaphor emphasizes the importance of human judgment, creativity, and ethical considerations in navigating the future of work with AI. It suggests that human work may shift, evolve and/or become enhanced with the help of LLMs.
3. How does the book address the potential risks and negative consequences associated with the widespread adoption of AI?
The book acknowledges the potential for misuse and negative consequences of AI, including job displacement, spread of misinformation, and ethical dilemmas. However, it argues that these risks are not new, appearing with every new technological advancement. Hoffman emphasizes the importance of proactive measures like robust regulatory frameworks, transparency, accountability, and a focus on “flooding the zone with truth” to counter misinformation. He advocates for a balanced approach that acknowledges the risks while also embracing the potential benefits of AI. The book’s central message is that by prioritizing human well-being and agency, we can steer AI development and deployment toward positive outcomes.
4. Why does the book emphasize the importance of the “democratization of AI,” and what are its key components?
The book argues that the democratization of AI is essential for achieving good outcomes for society. This democratization involves two key aspects: access and participation. Firstly, AI tools should be widely accessible to individuals, not limited to large tech companies or governments. Secondly, individuals from diverse backgrounds should have the opportunity to participate in shaping AI development, ensuring that AI systems reflect a broader range of values and aspirations. By distributing AI’s power and enabling more people to use and shape it, we can create more robust, inclusive, and beneficial AI systems. This approach also fosters greater transparency and accountability in AI development.
5. What is the significance of the “Homo techne” concept, and how does it challenge our understanding of humanity?
The “Homo techne” concept reframes our understanding of humanity. Rather than simply Homo sapiens (wise man), Hoffman argues that we are more accurately Homo techne (tool-using man), defined by our capacity to create and utilize technology. This perspective highlights the integral role of technology in human evolution, progress, and self-expression. Throughout history, technology has amplified our cognitive and social abilities, enabling unprecedented achievements in various fields. Impromptu emphasizes that this co-evolutionary relationship will continue with AI, challenging us to use our unique abilities to shape technology in ways that benefit all of humanity.
1. What is the core principle of “Amplifying Human Abilities” (AHA), and how does the book demonstrate its application across various domains?
The core idea of “Amplifying Human Abilities” (AHA) is to leverage AI as a tool to augment and enhance human capabilities rather than replace them. The book demonstrates how this principle can be applied across various domains, from writing and creative arts to education and the legal system. By focusing on specific examples, such as Professor Mintz’s integration of GPT-4 in his teaching or JusticeText’s use of AI to help public defenders, the book shows how AI can improve productivity, efficiency, and creativity. The AHA approach emphasizes the critical role of human oversight and judgment in using AI effectively and responsibly. The implication is that by focusing on AI’s ability to amplify human work, we can achieve more positive outcomes for both individuals and society.
2. How does the book utilize the metaphor of AI as a “co-pilot” to explain its role in the future of work?
This “co-pilot” metaphor is central to Hoffman’s vision of AI’s role in the future of work. Instead of AI taking over entirely, he envisions AI tools like GPT-4 as collaborative partners that assist humans in their tasks. This collaboration amplifies human capabilities, enhances productivity, and allows for more strategic and creative work. The book provides examples of this co-pilot dynamic across various professions, from sales and law to journalism and management consulting. The metaphor emphasizes the importance of human judgment, creativity, and ethical considerations in navigating the future of work with AI. It suggests that human work may shift, evolve and/or become enhanced with the help of LLMs.
3. How does the book address the potential risks and negative consequences associated with the widespread adoption of AI?
The book acknowledges the potential for misuse and negative consequences of AI, including job displacement, spread of misinformation, and ethical dilemmas. However, it argues that these risks are not new, appearing with every new technological advancement. Hoffman emphasizes the importance of proactive measures like robust regulatory frameworks, transparency, accountability, and a focus on “flooding the zone with truth” to counter misinformation. He advocates for a balanced approach that acknowledges the risks while also embracing the potential benefits of AI. The book’s central message is that by prioritizing human well-being and agency, we can steer AI development and deployment toward positive outcomes.
4. Why does the book emphasize the importance of the “democratization of AI,” and what are its key components?
The book argues that the democratization of AI is essential for achieving good outcomes for society. This democratization involves two key aspects: access and participation. Firstly, AI tools should be widely accessible to individuals, not limited to large tech companies or governments. Secondly, individuals from diverse backgrounds should have the opportunity to participate in shaping AI development, ensuring that AI systems reflect a broader range of values and aspirations. By distributing AI’s power and enabling more people to use and shape it, we can create more robust, inclusive, and beneficial AI systems. This approach also fosters greater transparency and accountability in AI development.
5. What is the significance of the “Homo techne” concept, and how does it challenge our understanding of humanity?
The “Homo techne” concept reframes our understanding of humanity. Rather than simply Homo sapiens (wise man), Hoffman argues that we are more accurately Homo techne (tool-using man), defined by our capacity to create and utilize technology. This perspective highlights the integral role of technology in human evolution, progress, and self-expression. Throughout history, technology has amplified our cognitive and social abilities, enabling unprecedented achievements in various fields. Impromptu emphasizes that this co-evolutionary relationship will continue with AI, challenging us to use our unique abilities to shape technology in ways that benefit all of humanity.
Key Takeaways
1. AI can significantly enhance creative productivity while also increasing competition.
AI tools like GPT-4 can significantly enhance creative productivity in various domains. They can generate initial drafts, explore different variations, provide feedback, and overcome creative blocks. However, Impromptu emphasizes the importance of human involvement in guiding the creative process, refining AI-generated output, and ensuring that the final product aligns with the artist’s vision. By viewing AI as a tool that complements rather than replaces human creativity, we can unlock new levels of artistic expression and achieve outcomes that neither humans nor AI could achieve alone.
Practical Application:
A marketing team could use LLMs to brainstorm campaign slogans and visuals, personalize messages to target audiences, and monitor social media sentiment to adjust campaigns in real-time. By leveraging the speed and creative potential of AI while retaining human oversight for brand alignment and ethical considerations, the team can achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness.
2. AI can improve access to justice and create a more equitable legal system.
The book highlights the potential for AI to improve access to justice and create a more equitable legal system. AI tools can provide much-needed support to overworked public defenders, enabling them to handle more cases with greater efficiency. By automating routine tasks, providing access to relevant information, and generating legal documents, LLMs can enable public defenders to focus on the more complex and nuanced aspects of their work, ensuring that low-income defendants receive adequate representation. AI can also enhance access to justice for underserved populations by providing them with easier-to-use interfaces for understanding legal complexities, navigating the legal system, and accessing legal advice.
Practical Application:
A legal aid organization can partner with an AI company to develop a chatbot that provides free legal advice to low-income individuals, answering common questions, directing them to relevant resources, and guiding them through simple legal processes.
3. AI can transform journalism by accelerating production, personalizing content, and improving verification.
AI has the potential to revolutionize journalism by accelerating newsgathering and distribution, personalizing content, and enhancing verification efforts. The ability to quickly analyze large amounts of data, generate different versions of stories, and tailor content to individual preferences can dramatically increase efficiency and engagement. Furthermore, AI tools can offer powerful new capabilities for fact-checking and truth-seeking, potentially countering the spread of misinformation. This transformation will inevitably bring new challenges and ethical considerations for journalists and news organizations, requiring continued adaptation and an explicit commitment to traditional journalistic values.
Practical Application:
A news organization can use LLMs to personalize news feeds for each user, automatically summarizing articles based on their reading habits and interests, generating different versions of the same story for different audiences, and providing targeted recommendations for related content. This can enhance user engagement while freeing up journalists to pursue in-depth investigative reporting and analysis.
4. AI can empower individuals in their career journeys and help them adapt to the changing world of work.
AI tools can empower individuals in navigating the complexities of the modern career landscape. They can identify career opportunities, suggest networking strategies, assess skills gaps, and assist with resume optimization and interview preparation. The book demonstrates how AI can personalize career management, providing tailored advice and support at every stage of the career journey. This is particularly beneficial for individuals from non-traditional backgrounds, like military veterans, who may need assistance in “translating” their skills and experience to appeal to civilian employers. AI can connect the potential of these workers with employers who need their unique skills.
Practical Application:
An individual seeking to transition from military service to a civilian career can use an LLM-powered tool to identify relevant civilian jobs based on their military experience, tailor their resume and cover letter to highlight transferable skills, and practice answering common interview questions. This use of AI can bridge the gap between military and civilian work cultures and improve employment outcomes for veterans.
5. AI can amplify network impact and accelerate the work of philanthropic organizations.
The book highlights the potential for AI to amplify network impact, accelerating positive change in areas like education, philanthropy, and global development. By generating ideas, automating tasks, personalizing outreach, and improving operational efficiency, LLMs can enhance the work of organizations working to solve critical social problems. This amplification allows human workers to focus more on strategic and creative problem-solving while leveraging AI tools to connect with broader audiences and improve their overall impact. This approach expands upon traditional approaches to achieve better and faster progress towards a more equitable and prosperous future.
Practical Application:
A philanthropic organization can develop a chatbot to connect underserved communities with resources and services, automatically answering questions in their native language, tailoring its responses to their specific needs, and directing them to local programs and support networks.
1. AI can significantly enhance creative productivity while also increasing competition.
AI tools like GPT-4 can significantly enhance creative productivity in various domains. They can generate initial drafts, explore different variations, provide feedback, and overcome creative blocks. However, Impromptu emphasizes the importance of human involvement in guiding the creative process, refining AI-generated output, and ensuring that the final product aligns with the artist’s vision. By viewing AI as a tool that complements rather than replaces human creativity, we can unlock new levels of artistic expression and achieve outcomes that neither humans nor AI could achieve alone.
Practical Application:
A marketing team could use LLMs to brainstorm campaign slogans and visuals, personalize messages to target audiences, and monitor social media sentiment to adjust campaigns in real-time. By leveraging the speed and creative potential of AI while retaining human oversight for brand alignment and ethical considerations, the team can achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness.
2. AI can improve access to justice and create a more equitable legal system.
The book highlights the potential for AI to improve access to justice and create a more equitable legal system. AI tools can provide much-needed support to overworked public defenders, enabling them to handle more cases with greater efficiency. By automating routine tasks, providing access to relevant information, and generating legal documents, LLMs can enable public defenders to focus on the more complex and nuanced aspects of their work, ensuring that low-income defendants receive adequate representation. AI can also enhance access to justice for underserved populations by providing them with easier-to-use interfaces for understanding legal complexities, navigating the legal system, and accessing legal advice.
Practical Application:
A legal aid organization can partner with an AI company to develop a chatbot that provides free legal advice to low-income individuals, answering common questions, directing them to relevant resources, and guiding them through simple legal processes.
3. AI can transform journalism by accelerating production, personalizing content, and improving verification.
AI has the potential to revolutionize journalism by accelerating newsgathering and distribution, personalizing content, and enhancing verification efforts. The ability to quickly analyze large amounts of data, generate different versions of stories, and tailor content to individual preferences can dramatically increase efficiency and engagement. Furthermore, AI tools can offer powerful new capabilities for fact-checking and truth-seeking, potentially countering the spread of misinformation. This transformation will inevitably bring new challenges and ethical considerations for journalists and news organizations, requiring continued adaptation and an explicit commitment to traditional journalistic values.
Practical Application:
A news organization can use LLMs to personalize news feeds for each user, automatically summarizing articles based on their reading habits and interests, generating different versions of the same story for different audiences, and providing targeted recommendations for related content. This can enhance user engagement while freeing up journalists to pursue in-depth investigative reporting and analysis.
4. AI can empower individuals in their career journeys and help them adapt to the changing world of work.
AI tools can empower individuals in navigating the complexities of the modern career landscape. They can identify career opportunities, suggest networking strategies, assess skills gaps, and assist with resume optimization and interview preparation. The book demonstrates how AI can personalize career management, providing tailored advice and support at every stage of the career journey. This is particularly beneficial for individuals from non-traditional backgrounds, like military veterans, who may need assistance in “translating” their skills and experience to appeal to civilian employers. AI can connect the potential of these workers with employers who need their unique skills.
Practical Application:
An individual seeking to transition from military service to a civilian career can use an LLM-powered tool to identify relevant civilian jobs based on their military experience, tailor their resume and cover letter to highlight transferable skills, and practice answering common interview questions. This use of AI can bridge the gap between military and civilian work cultures and improve employment outcomes for veterans.
5. AI can amplify network impact and accelerate the work of philanthropic organizations.
The book highlights the potential for AI to amplify network impact, accelerating positive change in areas like education, philanthropy, and global development. By generating ideas, automating tasks, personalizing outreach, and improving operational efficiency, LLMs can enhance the work of organizations working to solve critical social problems. This amplification allows human workers to focus more on strategic and creative problem-solving while leveraging AI tools to connect with broader audiences and improve their overall impact. This approach expands upon traditional approaches to achieve better and faster progress towards a more equitable and prosperous future.
Practical Application:
A philanthropic organization can develop a chatbot to connect underserved communities with resources and services, automatically answering questions in their native language, tailoring its responses to their specific needs, and directing them to local programs and support networks.
Memorable Quotes
Introduction: Moments of Enlightenment. 7
Consider all that’s going on here. First, while GPT-4 apparently ‘assumes’ that I may be asking it to complete a joke, it also wants to cover all the bases—thus, the initial ‘factual’ answer.
Education. 27
If [ChatGPT] can do a job as well as a person, then humans shouldn’t duplicate those abilities; they must surpass them.
Creativity. 47
I can create so much better now, so much faster, and in different ways.
Journalism. 84
The Democrats don’t matter. The real opposition is the media. And the way to deal with them is to flood the zone with shit.
GPT-4 In My Own Work. 123
Think of yourself as a director, not a carpenter.
Introduction: Moments of Enlightenment. 7
Consider all that’s going on here. First, while GPT-4 apparently ‘assumes’ that I may be asking it to complete a joke, it also wants to cover all the bases—thus, the initial ‘factual’ answer.
Education. 27
If [ChatGPT] can do a job as well as a person, then humans shouldn’t duplicate those abilities; they must surpass them.
Creativity. 47
I can create so much better now, so much faster, and in different ways.
Journalism. 84
The Democrats don’t matter. The real opposition is the media. And the way to deal with them is to flood the zone with shit.
GPT-4 In My Own Work. 123
Think of yourself as a director, not a carpenter.
Comparative Analysis
Compared to other books on AI, Impromptu distinguishes itself through its collaborative nature, co-authored with GPT-4. This provides a unique, real-time perspective on the capabilities and limitations of current LLMs. While books like Superintelligence by Nick Bostrom explore the existential risks of advanced AI, Impromptu focuses on the more immediate and practical implications of currently existing technology. Similar to Human Compatible by Stuart Russell, Impromptu emphasizes the need for human control and oversight in AI development, but goes further by advocating for AI tools that amplify human abilities rather than replace human work. Impromptu shares Kai-Fu Lee’s optimistic outlook in AI Superpowers regarding AI’s potential to drive economic growth and societal benefit, but adds a focus on ensuring that these benefits are widely distributed and not limited to a select few. Impromptu disagrees with pessimistic narratives about AI’s potential to cause widespread unemployment, emphasizing the long history of technological innovation creating new opportunities for work. The book fills a unique niche by offering a practical, grounded, and hopeful perspective on how individuals and organizations can leverage AI to achieve positive outcomes in the near future.
Reflection
In Impromptu, Reid Hoffman presents a compelling, albeit somewhat optimistic, vision of the future with AI. His core argument, that AI will amplify human abilities, resonates deeply with the desire for human-centered technological advancement. However, the book’s rapid creation alongside GPT-4, while showcasing the technology’s capabilities, also creates some weaknesses. The reliance on GPT-4 for content generation, while innovative, sometimes results in generic advice or factual inaccuracies. The book’s strength lies in its numerous real-world examples of how individuals and organizations are already using AI in meaningful ways and how they plan to continue innovating with AI tools. Hoffman’s venture capitalist perspective might contribute to an overly optimistic view of AI’s potential and rapid adoption. He readily acknowledges the risks and complexities associated with AI, but his focus remains firmly on the potential upsides. A more critical perspective on potential negative societal impacts and challenges to equitable access would enhance the book’s overall balance. Despite these shortcomings, Impromptu serves as a valuable and timely contribution to the ongoing conversation about AI’s role in our future. It encourages a proactive, hopeful, and human-centered approach to navigating this technological frontier. Hoffman’s personal lens, through stories about his family and career, adds another layer of interest and personality to this exploration.
Flashcards
What does AHA stand for in the context of Impromptu?
Amplifying Human Abilities: using AI to enhance human skills and capabilities rather than replace them.
How does Impromptu describe the ideal role of AI in the workplace?
A collaborative partner in work, assisting humans rather than replacing them.
What’s Jimmy Wales’ perspective on Wikipedia’s accuracy that Reid Hoffman highlights?
“Good enough knowledge, depending on what your purpose is.”
What is GPT-4, as described in Impromptu?
A technology that deftly leverages the internet, mobile, cloud computing, and data analytics to offer powerful new AI tools.
What are ‘hallucinations’ in the context of LLMs?
Errors, fabrications, or other algorithmic oddities sometimes generated by large language models.
What does Homo techne mean?
Humans defined by our ability to create and use tools and technology.
What does Impromptu propose as a key strategy to counter misinformation?
Flooding the zone with truth, increasing transparency and accountability in information.
What are Hoffman’s three principles for working effectively with GPT-4?
Treat GPT-4 like an undergrad research assistant, think of yourself as a director, and ‘just try it!’.
What does AHA stand for in the context of Impromptu?
Amplifying Human Abilities: using AI to enhance human skills and capabilities rather than replace them.
How does Impromptu describe the ideal role of AI in the workplace?
A collaborative partner in work, assisting humans rather than replacing them.
What’s Jimmy Wales’ perspective on Wikipedia’s accuracy that Reid Hoffman highlights?
“Good enough knowledge, depending on what your purpose is.”
What is GPT-4, as described in Impromptu?
A technology that deftly leverages the internet, mobile, cloud computing, and data analytics to offer powerful new AI tools.
What are ‘hallucinations’ in the context of LLMs?
Errors, fabrications, or other algorithmic oddities sometimes generated by large language models.
What does Homo techne mean?
Humans defined by our ability to create and use tools and technology.
What does Impromptu propose as a key strategy to counter misinformation?
Flooding the zone with truth, increasing transparency and accountability in information.
What are Hoffman’s three principles for working effectively with GPT-4?
Treat GPT-4 like an undergrad research assistant, think of yourself as a director, and ‘just try it!’.