Generative AI and Freemasonry part 11 | TMR 480

Introduction

Introduction

Welcome back to the Masonic Round Table—a weekly program where Masons from around the world get together to talk about Masonic news and opinions in a friendly and social manner. As a reminder, the thoughts and opinions expressed here are solely those of the participants and do not represent any official statements or positions of any Grand Lodge. Make sure you keep your conversations open for the public and on the level. To interact with us, send questions or comments live on Facebook or YouTube. Love seeing the chat—those are always fun! Remember, your comments may even show up on the show. If you can't catch us live, catch the replay on your favorite podcasting app.

Introductions

You know me; my name is John Ruark. I'm a past Master of the Patriot Lodge number 1957 in Northern Virginia. Next up is Jason Richards. How's it going, Jason?

Commentary and Shoutouts

Jason: Good, how are you, John? John: Fantastic!

Jason: Hi, everybody. I'm Jason Richards, a past Master of Vacation Lodge number 16 in Clifton, Virginia, and I'm super glad to be here.

John: So tonight, Joe is officially visiting somewhere, probably to meet the Grand Master in town, and RJ is taking some good time off with the family, so you're stuck with us two nerds. But that's fine because we can't wait to nerd out about this topic!

Jason: For those who don't know, John and I are huge nerds for artificial intelligence. I do AI, specifically generative AI, for my job.

John: Same here; I've done Pilots for my occupation as well.

Jason: This episode will be a little more hands-on and different than most of our other TMR episodes. We are super stoked to nerd out with you all for an hour or so.

John: Before we dive in, I want to give a special shoutout to the patrons who support the show! You guys are awesome. If you want to support the show and keep this decade-long free Masonic education out there, head to patreon.com/themasonicroundtable.

Jason: It's the tip economy. We're going to turn the iPad around, and you can select 10% or 20%.

The Main Segment: Generative AI

John: You know what's not strange, Jason? The tarot card of the week!

Jason: Yes, I love it! So what tarot card deck are we using this week?

John: Since it’s our Generative AI episode, what if we had AI pick the tarot card of the week and generate the response on what it meant?

Jason: Let's do it.

The Tarot Card of the Week

John selected ChatGPT, upgraded to version 4, to pick a random tarot card from the traditional Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot deck, including reversals, and briefly explain the symbolism of the card selected, tailored to the lessons of Freemasonry.

Card Drawn

The card drawn was "The Hanged Man" (reversed). This signifies resistance to change, inability to let go, and a period of stagnation. It can indicate reluctance to see things from a different perspective.

Freemasonry Application:

• Open-mindedness
• Overcoming stagnation
• Embracing sacrifice
• Adapting for growth

Summary: The Hanged Man reversed reminds Freemasons of the importance of being open to change, engaging in self-reflection, embracing sacrifices for the greater good, and adapting for growth, which are foundational principles of Masonic philosophy.

Generating AI Art

Jason demonstrated using Leonardo AI, a tool for generating visuals, to create an image of the "The Hanged Man" tarot card in the Rider-Waite-Smith style:

Prompt Example: "Generate a stunning gilded image of 'The Hanged Man' tarot card in the style of the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot Deck."

Challenges:

• The AI misinterpreted some elements like the position and Roman numerals.
• Needed prompt engineering to refine the output.

Text-Based Generative AI

John showcased the advances in textual models like ChatGPT, which now allow the inclusion and training of custom data.

Use Case Example: Uploading A.E. Waite’s "Secret Tradition in Freemasonry" from 1911, and asking ChatGPT to summarize it and outline a 10-minute presentation for a Masonic lodge.

Output:

• Summary of key points
• Presentation outline with time stamps
• Thought-provoking quotes

Tools for Brainstorming

Perplexity AI: Offers a combined approach by pulling data from various indexed sources and generating responses while citing those sources—a valuable tool for verifying data accuracy.

Example Inquiry: "Help me understand how Freemasonry is different across the globe."

Looking Ahead

John and Jason discussed potential advancements in AI, speculating on enhanced multimodal interactions and AI agents acting autonomously.

Final Thoughts

Jason emphasized the importance of high standards and human involvement in refining AI-generated content. These tools can massively enhance Masonic education and content creation.

John: We are heading towards a world with more personalized and intelligent digital assistants that free us to be better versions of ourselves, aligning well with the goal of Freemasonry of taking good men and making them better.

Keywords

• Generative AI
• Freemasonry
• ChatGPT
• Prompt Engineering
• Perplexity AI
• Masonic Education

FAQs

What is Generative AI?

Generative AI creates new content, such as text, images, or music, based on training data.

How can Generative AI be used in Freemasonry?

It can be used to generate educational content, summaries, presentations, and visualizations relevant to Masonic teachings.

What are some challenges of using Generative AI?

Challenges include prompt engineering, ensuring content accuracy, and the need for human oversight to refine and verify AI-generated content.

Is it ethical to use AI-generated content for Masonic presentations?

Yes, as long as the human uses the tool responsibly, verifies the accuracy, and refines the content to meet high standards.

What tools are recommended for generative AI in Freemasonry?

Recommended tools include ChatGPT for text generation, Leonardo AI for visual art, and Perplexity AI for combined text and data sourcing.

Where is Generative AI headed in the next year?

The focus will likely be on enhanced multimodal capabilities, AI agents acting autonomously, and integrating AI seamlessly into daily tools for better personalization and efficiency.

And with that, thank you all very much for watching. Keep searching for more light in Freemasonry!