Well, folks, it seems I’ve stumbled into a bit of a pickle with my AI ramblings. Here I am, typing away about artificial intelligence and cherry pies, thinking I’m bridging the gap between tech and grandma’s kitchen. But guess what? My friends—you know, the ones who actually read these blogs at this point—are split 30/70 on whether they even care about AI or outright are naysayers. So, that 70% isn’t exactly chomping at the bit for more tech talk, I am sure. Talk about a reality check!
But here’s the kicker: this little conundrum of mine is exactly what I’ve been trying to talk about all along: the AI world, bless its algorithmic heart, is living in a bubble so thick you’d need a laser cutter to pop it. They’re over there creating the next big thing, thinking they’re going to change the world, while much of the world is saying, “Change what now? What for? And you are doing this change by killing the planet and humanity.”
It’s like these tech folks are hosting a high-tech party and forgot to send invitations to, oh, I don’t know, much of humanity. They’re so busy patting themselves on the back for teaching a computer to write a sonnet that they’ve forgotten most folks are just trying to figure out how to program their thermostat – if they even have one.
And yet… There’s yet another company developing AI about to hit the world. Mira Murati, former big cheese at OpenAI, has just launched her new startup: Thinking Machines. Oh boy, another AI company! Just what the world needed, right?
Mira has clout with the tech bros and experience with setting up AI start-ups: she was, after all, an integral piece of the original Open AI (the ChatGPT company), much of it as the CTO (2018 to 2024). She left Open AI to find herself in late 2024. Just kidding. Mira’s a smart cookie, and she never lost herself. Instead, she’s now got a team of brainiacs working on making AI more “widely understood, customizable, and generally capable.” They’re all about “building multimodal systems that work with people collaboratively.” Sounds swanky, doesn’t it?
But here’s the million-dollar question: Are they actually trying to bridge the gap between AI and the average Joanne (or Joe)? Are these AI’sters just inventing problems we didn’t even know we had, or maybe this whole thing is like setting your house on fire so they can sell you fire extinguishers?
What’s a slightly tech-savvy, aging 62-year-old woman to do? Well, I’ll tell you what: I decided to crash the party. That’s right, folks. Your favorite AI-explaining, cherry-pie-loving blogger has gone and applied for a job at Thinking Machines. And not just any job—I’ve pitched myself as an “AI-Human Bridge Specialist.” They didn’t know they needed one.
Now, before you spit out your coffee (or beer, depending on when you’re reading this), let me explain. None of my friends want to read my AI blogs. So, I figure if Mira & Co are seriously trying to be different, they need me to change the narrative from the bottom up. Without further ado, here is my cover letter:
Job Title: AI-Human Bridge Specialist
Dear Mira Murati and the Thinking Machines Team,
I’m writing to express my interest in joining your burgeoning company as an AI-Human Bridge Specialist. As a 62-year-old woman firmly positioned in the middle of the Working Class (until they put me on ice pretty soon) with a passion for technology and a talent for clear communication, I believe you need me.
I will be the human bridge connecting you with the millions of folks who feel like this AI revolution is a party they weren’t invited to, and if they had been invited, they wouldn’t go anyway. Let me open up a real conversation with them about what all this AI mumbo-jumbo actually means – whether they’re over 55 and wondering if it’ll help them find their reading glasses, struggling to make ends meet and hoping it won’t steal their job, or worried about whether AI will make us all forget how to add 2+3 from scratch.
Currently your AI revolution is not theirs.
Here’s what I can bring to Thinking Machines:
- Relatable Communication: I’m not here to explain how the AI sausage is made; frankly, I’m not sure most people actually want to know. I just want to make it clear what this whole AI thing means for their actual lives, not the lives that tech bros think they should be living. My aim is to show, not tell. Most folks aren’t losing sleep over algorithms; they’re losing sleep over bills, bad weather, and whether they’ll ever find a decent job again. So, can AI help with that? If not, what’s the point? And if it can, how do we make sure it doesn’t accidentally unleash killer robots while it’s at it? Let me go and have those chats.
- Diverse Perspective: As someone who doesn’t fit the typical tech crowd, I bring unpolished insights into how your products might jive with real people—especially those who often feel overlooked, like older adults, poor people, disenfranchised folks, the vast number of people who don’t want AI, and who don’t live and breathe technology.
- Engaging Content Creation: My engagement style is as approachable as you can get. (And approachable should not be mixed up with that false flag of “authenticity”. That ship has sailed a long time ago.) Let me crack open intimidating ideas and turn them into something people who are defensive or dead set against AI want to read or hear about – whether it’s a blog post, a product guide, or even a tweet (since you, Mira, seem to keep using X, for heaven’s sake!)
- User Advocacy: I can be the bridge between your no doubt brilliant technical team and the millions of people who you may not actually want to leave behind. You do want to connect with the most basic, average users in ways that feel human, helpful, and inclusive. Otherwise, what’s your point, eh?
Your stated commitment to building AI systems that push technical boundaries while delivering real value resonates deeply with me. I need to point out though that resonance only continues vibrating by including voices like mine in your team. Only together can we ensure that your innovations don’t just work for people but genuinely enrich their lives in ways they can understand and appreciate. It has to make sense to everyone.
I’m excited about the possibility of contributing to Thinking Machines’ mission and would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my unique skills can help you reach the world you need but seem to be leaving behind with the speed of light.
Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to the possibility of joining your team and helping to shape the future of AI in a way that you have not thought about until receiving my application.
Sincerely,
Britt Permien
So, dear blog readers, all one or two of them: maybe next time you hear about a breakthrough in AI, it’ll be explained in a way that actually makes sense – and maybe, just maybe, it’ll be because they hired a slightly sassy and jovial woman who is committed to not going gently into that good night. Stay tuned, folks. This could get interesting. I am definitely going to “Stay tune”!!!!
