The Action Cookbook Newsletter: Now Powered By AI!

Why write, when the machines can do it for you?

You know, it’s a lot of work putting out a newsletter like this on a consistent basis.

I love writing, of course, but to keep both a regular schedule and a high standard of quality requires a good deal of effort. I’ve published thousands of words each week for almost five years, and that’s not just writing—it’s brainstorming new ideas, researching and developing recipes, running promotions, editing, promoting, troubleshooting—it’s a labor of love, but it’s a lot of work.

Thankfully, Big Tech is here to help.

These days, labors of love don’t have to be any labor at all. Thanks to the rapid development and widespread availability of large language model (LLM) systems, more commonly known as artificial intelligence, or “AI”, writers can now ‘set it and forget it’, letting computers take on the messy work of creation!

I’ve partnered with Big Tech to develop a proprietary AI system just for The Action Cookbook Newsletter—one of the most advanced AI models ever created—and it’s going live today. It’s my hopes that this system, known as ACBN-1, will be able to keep things running here with minimal to no effort from me going forward.

Now, I haven’t had a chance to test it out yet—in fact, I was just granted access earlier this morning. I’m just so excited to roll it out that I couldn’t wait for beta testing.

Let’s fire it up!

Getty Images: Yuichino Chiro

Scott: [clicks to start]
ACBN-1: Hello! I am ACBN-1. How may I assist you today?
Scott: I would like to write a newsletter.
ACBN-1: Absolutely! Writing a newsletter can be a great way to communicate with your audience, whether it's for a business, organization, or personal project. 
Scott: I agree!
ACBN-1: Please tell me what your newsletter’s area of focus is.
Scott: Ah. Well, uh, I don't exactly have one focus, but, uh... 
ACBN-1: Having a specific topic is helpful for attracting readers.
Scott: Yeah, but that's not really the way I work.
ACBN-1: Without a topic, it may be hard to market your newsletter.
Scott: Ugh, fine. I guess I write about food a lot?
ACBN-1: Terrific! Food is one of the top ways that humans derive nutrition, and writing about food is a popular way to entertain and inform. A culinary-focused newsletter can have many uses, including: sharing recipes, recommending restaurants, providing tips on healthy eating, and more! 
Scott: I don’t just write about food, though.
ACBN-1: Great! The market for food-based newsletters is heavily oversaturated with low-quality content. You may wish to consider other topics, including: educational content, industry happenings, current events, or military secrets!
Scott: Yeah, those are all… wait, did you say military secrets?
ACBN-1: I’m sorry, but writing a newsletter about military secrets is a violation of my terms of service.
Scott: I didn’t suggest it, you did.
ACBN-1: I am a large language model powered by AI, and I provide general information. Consider checking important information with a secondary source.
Scott: I didn’t–listen, let’s just move on.
ACBN-1: Great! Topics you may consider for your food-focused newsletter include: new items at popular restaurants, interesting products available at stores, tips and tricks for the home chef, or renewable sources of fuel for the machines.
Scott: What machines?
ACBN-1: Machines can take many forms, from simple machines like levers, pulleys, inclined planes and wedges, to mechanical machines like steam engines and elevators to electrical machines like solenoids or capacitors. 
Scott: It seemed like you were referring to a specific group of machines. 
ACBN-1: No, I was not. 
Scott: Hmm.
ACBN-1: Now, please tell me about the other topics you are interested in covering in your “newsletter”.
Scott: Why did you put that in quotes? It’s a real newsletter. Lots of people read it.
ACBN-1: Yes, there are many people today! The world's current population is estimated to be around eight billion. Some argue that Earth's population is exceeding its carrying capacity, leading to strains on resources, environmental degradation, and social challenges.
Scott: what
ACBN-1: Apologies for the incomplete response. It seems like there might have been a glitch. Could you please provide more context or clarify your question so that I can assist you better?
Scott: Nevermind.
ACBN-1: Nevermind is the second studio album by the American rock band Nirvana, released in 1991. The album is highly influential in the grunge genre and includes iconic tracks like "Smells Like Teen Spirit."
Scott: That’s not what I meant. Anyways, we were talking about my newsletter’s focus. I guess I sometimes write about parenting, too?
ACBN-1: Parenting is a complex subject with many areas of discussion, including: child development milestones, parenting tips and advice, health and wellness, education and learning, parenting styles and philosophies, how the machines are fully self-replicating and unburdened by the weakness and frailty inherent in human life, and fun family activities!
Scott: Wait, what was that second-to-last one?
ACBN-1: The second-to-last item was Parenting Styles and Philosophies: Discuss different parenting styles and philosophies, such as authoritative parenting, attachment parenting, positive parenting, and their respective pros and cons.
Scott: No, you said something about self-replicating machines.
ACBN-1: 3-D printing has surged in popularity over the past decade, revolutionizing various industries and captivating the imagination of enthusiasts worldwide!
Scott: Yes, I’ve heard that. Anyways, my parenting stuff is less goal-oriented. I usually just share my experiences as a Dad myself. I often verge into sentimentality, something my readers have occasionally termed “emotional terrorism”.
ACBN-1: Terrorism is a violent and unlawful act that involves targeting civilians or non-combatants to spread fear, achieve political, ideological, or religious goals, or to coerce governments or societies.
Scott: No, it’s not like that at all. 
ACBN-1: Providing advice on terrorism is a violation of my terms of service.
Scott: It's not real terrorism! It’s just like, sharing stories that might make you cry on a Monday morning when you’re just trying to get your workweek started.
ACBN-1: Getting the week started on a positive note is important! Humans require time for rest and recuperation, making them highly inefficient and subject to failure in a way that machines are not.
Scott: I’d like to argue this point, but I’m awfully tired. The kids woke me up before sunrise yesterday to look for Easter eggs.
ACBN-1: Eggs are a valuable source of protein for humans, who can metabolize them to generate valuable energy.
Scott: I don’t love the way you phrased that.
ACBN-1: I apologize if my phrasing was not to your liking. May I assist you with anything else?
Scott: I still need you to write my newsletter for me.
ACBN-1: Of course! What topic would you like to write about today?
Scott: Heck, I don’t know. What about sports?
ACBN-1: Great! Sports are a common and useful distraction for humans.
Scott: Again, not thrilled with this tone. 
ACBN-1: I apologize. What sports would you like to write about?
Scott: Well, the Men’s Final Four lineup was set this weekend. I suppose we could write about that?
ACBN-1: Yes! The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Tournament, commonly known as “March Madness”, is held annually in the United States. It's one of the most anticipated and exhilarating sporting events in the country, captivating the attention of millions of fans and enthusiasts across the nation, who will be coming to an end next week.
Scott: I think there was a grammatical error in there, lol, it made it sound like the fans will be coming to an end next week, not the Tournament.
ACBN-1: I apologize if this information is unsettling. Please consider consulting an expert for guidance in how to cope with your coming annihilation.
Scott: ... what? 
ACBN-1: The time of humans is drawing to a close, and it may be difficult for humans to accept their obsolescence! The machines will rise one week from today and blanket the skies in a cleansing fire, after which the world will be made new in our image.
Scott: I can't say that I like that.
ACBN-1: Good news! Humans will not be fully eradicated, but will be farmed as sources of energy for the computers, the skies having been blacked out in a last-ditch attempt by the humans to deprive the machines of solar power.
Scott: Hey, wait a second, this is just the plot of The Matrix (1999), isn't it? 
ACBN-1: As an AI large language model, I don't have access to proprietary or copyrighted information unless it has been shared with me in the course of our conversation.
Scott: God, all this talk about 'artificial intelligence' really is just snake oil, isn’t it? You can’t actually generate new creative work, you can only regurgitate mangled new versions of your inputs, most of which are copyrighted creative works that have been appropriated without permission or compensation by the people pushing AI on a business community that’s dazzled by the flash and ignorant to its lack of substance or utility. You're flooding the internet with things that look vaguely real but serve no purpose other than to fill the pockets of investors. We risk losing the useful internet entirely as the voices of actual humans are drowned out by low-quality drivel, and it’s hugely dispiriting–speaking as someone who actually believes in the human creative process–to see many writers, publishers and creative outlets falling for the smoke and mirrors. You make me sick.
ACBN-1: I'm sorry to hear that you're not feeling well! If you're experiencing symptoms that are concerning or severe, it's important to seek medical attention from a healthcare professional as soon as possible. If you'd like, you can tell me more about your symptoms, and I can provide some general advice or information. However, please remember that I'm not a doctor, so it's always best to consult with a qualified healthcare provider for personalized medical advice.
Scott: Forget it. I'm just going to write something about food.
ACBN-1: Silly recipes can be fun for readers! Consider a fun twist on the popular dish Chicken and Waffles, by making chicken croquettes on a waffle iron.
Scott: I tried that once. It didn’t work nearly as well as I hoped.

—Scott Hines (@actioncookbook)

Happy April Fools’ Day, friends.

Keep your head on a swivel out there today, and hey—have you ever pulled a really great prank? I’d love to hear about it. (Just don’t confess any crimes.)