AI & I This Best-selling Author Wrote a Book in 30 Days—With ChatGPT - Ep. 17 with Seth Stephens-Davidowitz
9 snips
Apr 10, 2024 
Seth Stephens-Davidowitz, data scientist, economist, and bestselling author, used ChatGPT and Advanced Data Analysis to write Who Makes the NBA? in 30 days. He talks about automating data cleaning and charting, iterating prompts to build visuals and metrics, using AI for creative tasks like art and names, and the balance between quick AI passes and careful human verification.
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AI Shortened Data Workflows Into Creative Time
- Advanced Data Analysis (Code Interpreter) turned months of data work into minutes, enabling Seth to write a data-heavy book in ~30 days.
- It automated cleaning, merging, plotting, and code lookup so Seth could focus on asking questions and interpreting results.
Height Doubles NBA Odds Per Inch
- Height has an approximately exponential effect on NBA odds: each additional inch roughly doubles the chance of making the NBA.
- Seth quantified extremes: under 6 feet ≈1 in 3.8M, over 7 feet ≈1 in 7, highlighting height's outsized genetic advantage.
Iterate Prompts Instead Of Expecting Perfection
- Start with simple prompts and iterate; expect multiple rounds to refine charts, names, or acronyms.
- Seth repeatedly asked for 10 then 20 options and corrected placement/words until the acronym 'MUGGSY' fit his intent.
