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I'll use github copilot as an example, it pulls context from your surrounding code files and code in the same file. Something like that gives it the context you

I'll use github copilot as an example, it pulls context from your surrounding code files and code in the same file. Something like that gives it the context your thinking of and a similar technique may be able to solve that problem here.

danpalmer 4y ago
I think there's a big difference between matching up variable names and the context of what you're working on in a file, and saying "brainstorm 5 marketing strategies for me" like in the examples here. With code, most of the context Copilot needs to do a good job is a) written down and b) parseable in very well defined formats. With business contexts most of the context won't be written down, or won't be in a structure that is useful, or won't be parseable. Let's take the example of the marketing brainstorming. Let's say you're a super organised small business and you write down a report on every marketing experiment you try, and influencer marketing didn't work for the product, so you write a report on why TikTok creators are not a good direction for marketing. To know not to suggest influencer marketing, Notion needs to: have all your documents, know that document is relevant, have the "idea" (let's brush past the fact this was essentially written on someone else's brainstorming list and learnt from), know that the idea is related to that other document(s), know that the conclusion was negative sentiment in the way that matters, and then know that because it's doing brainstorming, lists of ideas should probably be filtered by things that haven't worked in the past. Maybe it's not the worst thing if it generates "influencer marketing", but if you ask it for 5 and it always gives you the 5 you've done before, then you start having to engineer your way around its stupidity – give me 10 ideas, or give me 5 ideas that don't include xyz. Is it providing value over, say, googling "small business marketing ideas" and reading an article full of ads titled "Ten things that will transform your small business marketing". That's low value content, but it seems most likely to me that this will produce largely similar results.
- ianbutler 4y ago
  First off sorry totally missed you had replied and you took time to write a thoughtful response. I think your skepticism is completely warranted, but it sounds like a space where it’s worth a shot. If I’m wrong no biggy this is low risk, but if I’m not that’s a lot of upside. I’ve seen copilot do some truly novel code synthesis, more than just matching up names. I’ve also seen GPT 3 generate compelling marketing copy and many other things so I’m admittedly biased in favor of potential solutions like this.

danpalmer 4y ago

I think there's a big difference between matching up variable names and the context of what you're working on in a file, and saying "brainstorm 5 marketing strategies for me" like in the examples here. With code, most of the context Copilot needs to do a good job is a) written down and b) parseable in very well defined formats. With business contexts most of the context won't be written down, or won't be in a structure that is useful, or won't be parseable. Let's take the example of the marketing brainstorming. Let's say you're a super organised small business and you write down a report on every marketing experiment you try, and influencer marketing didn't work for the product, so you write a report on why TikTok creators are not a good direction for marketing. To know not to suggest influencer marketing, Notion needs to: have all your documents, know that document is relevant, have the "idea" (let's brush past the fact this was essentially written on someone else's brainstorming list and learnt from), know that the idea is related to that other document(s), know that the conclusion was negative sentiment in the way that matters, and then know that because it's doing brainstorming, lists of ideas should probably be filtered by things that haven't worked in the past. Maybe it's not the worst thing if it generates "influencer marketing", but if you ask it for 5 and it always gives you the 5 you've done before, then you start having to engineer your way around its stupidity – give me 10 ideas, or give me 5 ideas that don't include xyz. Is it providing value over, say, googling "small business marketing ideas" and reading an article full of ads titled "Ten things that will transform your small business marketing". That's low value content, but it seems most likely to me that this will produce largely similar results.

ianbutler 4y ago
First off sorry totally missed you had replied and you took time to write a thoughtful response. I think your skepticism is completely warranted, but it sounds like a space where it’s worth a shot. If I’m wrong no biggy this is low risk, but if I’m not that’s a lot of upside. I’ve seen copilot do some truly novel code synthesis, more than just matching up names. I’ve also seen GPT 3 generate compelling marketing copy and many other things so I’m admittedly biased in favor of potential solutions like this.