How to Use Generative AI, Part 5: Weave

Large Language Models are incredible in their ability to synthesize and recombine vast stores of knowledge, serving as powerful tools for creative and analytical tasks alike. Of all their skills, we think this one is perhaps the most powerful for most users.

By weaving together disparate concepts into novel combinations, these models demonstrate an unparalleled capacity to "innovate", drawing from their extensive training data that spans virtually every domain of human knowledge. This capability allows LLMs to make connections across disciplines that might elude human observers, often bringing to light associations and parallels that spark new ideas or solutions to complex problems. For instance, an LLM might link principles from ecology to urban planning, suggesting a biomimetic approach to city design that enhances sustainability and resilience.

LLMs are useful in reframing unfamiliar in terms that are relatable, using cross-contextual juxtapositions that make complex subjects accessible. You can use them to demystify advanced topics and other complex subjects by drawing analogies to everyday experiences, which broadens your understanding and appreciation of challenging topics. This analogizing power not only aids in education but also stimulates innovation by encouraging you to approach problems from unexplored angles.