Comments

1. 
   jtjohnston | Feb 24, 2023 10:42pm | #1

   Really enjoyed the podcast (as usual). As both an AI-professional (mathematician who designs, trains, and deploys AI models to pay the bills) and hobbyist woodworker, I thought I might chip in my two-cents.

   I tend to agree with Larissa that AI won't ruin everything (there are a lot of cases where AI is likely to do actual harm, but that's another topic). A good use of AI tends to expand what we are capable of doing (like any good tool). I think of it as analogous to the advent of the calculator and computers and how those tools have impacted mathematics. For the last 4-500 years or so, since the advent of Calculus, a person's ability to use mathematics (to understand science, invent/engineer, etc) was limited by that person's ability to do arithmetic (accurately and in volume). Computers (and calculators) made arithmetic (generally) more accurate and faster removing traditional hurdles (the fact that math classes still tend to focus on arithmetic is an unfortunate legacy that we can't seem to get over). But, having computers means that even people who can't dependably "do arithmetic" can still design, experiment, run simulations, etc. It allows people to focus on the concepts and the meaning of the result rather than focus on the mechanics of "getting numbers."

   I see that (AI, or AI-assisted design) impacting (positively) furniture making in (at least) two ways.

   First, I think it will make design more accessible to more people. People who feel like they can't draw probably don't spend most of their time trying to draw or design. If they begin the craft of woodworking, they may always stick to pre-made plans, or modify those slightly. The idea of design may just seem out of reach. For those people, a tool like this could be door opening... even if only as a tool that helps them draw (they describe ideas and the AI tries various ways to render the idea with feedback from the designer).

   Second, when I'm in the process of design, I may make many rough sketches iterating on ideas. Once I have something I mostly like, I may try to make detailed "plans." This process can be very lengthy though--because making even a 100 sketches takes a non-trivial amount of time, and making careful plans for one of those is no fast feat either. But, if I could use an AI tool to generate (quickly) a bunch of designs (most of which are terrible) that I could then pick my favorites and iterate (i.e. tell the AI to discard some, and make more like "these," or say, blend these two or three designs together, etc) then I might iterate though thousands of sketches in an evening (again, most may be garbage, but if a couple are decent... then it's a win).

   I don't expect the AI to "just generate something great" on its first try with no feedback from me. And, I would probably never "just use" whatever the AI had designed. But I think it could provide a fast way to generate ideas, explore them, and iterate. Could the AI also make the furniture? Perhaps. Though, for me that would remove all the enjoyment... so I don't see myself asking an AI to "make it too."

2. 
   curmudgeon | Feb 28, 2023 12:03pm | #2

   Watched this a few days ago. I really enjoyed it (although I had my doubts when I read the title). Changes and advances are what keep things fresh. Imagine what some of the "old time" hand-tool workers thought when power tools showed up.

3. 
   jbaker323 | Mar 09, 2023 08:26am | #3

   Vic, Ben, and Larissa

   I love the show! Last year on a road trip I listened to almost all the first few years in the archives, but I really enjoy following the current ones.

   Some thoughts from the show:
   I thought this was funny, there are numerous blender classes for modeling furniture. (I still need to learn sketchup LOL)
   https://www.udemy.com/course/create-furniture-in-blender/
   Yes, we missed the boat already.

   Vic, thank you for the eztensioner mention, Im embarking on a few walker turner vintage bandsaw rebuilds, I will be sure to reference your articles as well as the great Michael Fortune.

   Like anything else, I think good design and good craftsmanship will never be replaced by anything programmatic (im a software engineer). Its just another tool in the arsenal to be used by a creative mind.

   Keep up the great work guys!
   PS. Im taking a road trip to Charlotte this April, any woodworking highlights to hit?

   Jeremy