So tell me about your vision.
My vision.
My vision actually changes quite a bit,
depending on what I'm most interested in.
I think if I were to define an overall vision,
it would be one of success, one of abundance, one of happiness.
And that would be just some of my basic definition
of success.
That's kind of the vision.
The specific vision and how I get there,
that's what often changes quite a bit.
Amazing.
Tell me more about that.
Well, very often, I tend to be focused
on a specific vision or goal.
And I realize that at some point down the road,
that that's not exactly what I'm most interested in.
It's something else that I'm interested in.
Or I realize that what I'm trying to accomplish
is maybe not that simple.
And it's not just not simple, but it's too impossible
as can be without actually physically being impossible.
So you start to kind of reevaluate
your goals and priorities.
And you say, yeah, I'm sure I could get this done
if I spend another four years doing it.
However, the path to my ultimate vision
would be a lot easier, a lot quicker, a lot more efficient
if I change directions a little bit
and focused on something else.
So I think it's overall what I'm referring to as flexibility.
And having that kind of flexibility,
that's what it's actually a good plan
to keep that flexibility in your vision.
So what are you currently focusing on as part of your vision?
Currently, specifically, I am still
working in the book publishing industry.
And I'm working with artificial intelligence
and trying to incorporate AI more into the book publishing
process, the book writing process, the publishing,
the marketing, all aspects of it.
And I'm focusing on being kind of a
leader in that specific area through my apps,
through my programs, and through my contacts in the industry.
That's fascinating.
AI in the marketing and book publishing industry.
Where did this wave of innovation come from?
Where did this vision come from?
It came from, I guess, me.
Or more specifically, where did the vision originate in a way?
Well, I've been working in the industry for a long time now,
probably close to 15 years.
And through that time, especially at the beginning,
there was a lot of frustration involved because I was trying
to get somewhere and it was taking a long time.
And there were a lot of obstacles and roadblocks.
So ultimately, the goal was to reduce those obstacles
and roadblocks.
And I saw AI as a way to do that efficiently.
So that's kind of where it came from.
It came from both experience and frustration and experience
with the frustrations in order to see a future where AI can be
a much bigger part of this process.
And it could free up authors to do some more of the creative
work that they want to do instead of the more monotonous
work, especially of wording things correctly and having to
articulate your creative ideas and your thoughts.
Let AI do that.
It could do a fantastic job.
You be the captain and let AI do all the work.
You mentioned, and I'm assuming that were you in the book
publishing industry before you went on this embarking journey
of using AI in the book publishing industry?
Yes.
Yeah, I've been doing this for about 15 years.
AI has just been around commercially for the past year
and a half.
So that's when everything changed, when I had access to AI
in order to help with this process.
So my next question for you, Bo, is what will be your goal
for being on the show?
Well, I enjoy doing podcasts and interviews like this just
because I enjoy talking to interesting people and sharing my
ideas and thoughts with other people who might be interested
in the same kind of content.
So I'm hoping to accomplish that.
Amazing.
My next question for you, Bo, is where are you going with this vision?
Ultimately, the goal is to create the leading company in the book
publishing industry that incorporates AI.
And that's where I'm headed.
And so far, it's looking pretty good.
One of the biggest challenges that AI specifically is facing,
and I think you're probably aware of that, is the ethics issue.
Sure.
Have you incorporated that in your process of using AI?
Well, philosophically, that's a big question.
Like ethically, how does AI fit in with kind of everything we do?
And it's also an issue in book publishing in smaller ways.
Like, for example, an ethical issue that we deal with is when
authors will ask us, is it ethical for me to use my own name with a book
that AI has technically written?
And I try not to answer ethical questions because I think like that's
something that people need to think about on their own.
Like, I don't want to be the moral or an ethical guide for other people
in this industry.
I mean, that's not my place, I don't think.
But I kind of ask them to think about some of the implications.
Like, do you think it's misleading?
How much of the work did you actually put into this book?
Like, how much of it is yours versus AI?
And based on that, that's how I think you should make the decision.
Another ethical question that comes up, and this one I kind of have a
pretty firm answer to, but of course I let the authors make their own
decisions, when the author comes up with a pen name for the work, very
often that's what people choose to do because they don't want to take
credit for AI's work, is it ethical to give that pen name credentials
and like degrees like Phil Johnson PhD?
Like, is that ethical?
And for me I'd say no, I say that's crossing the line.
I don't think you could come across, you can say a PhD wrote this when
a PhD did not actually write it.
Similarly with any kind of designations after the name, I think that
definitely crosses the line.
But again, I offer my guidance, I'm not the morality police.
If somebody wants to do that, they could do it and deal with the consequences.
Thank you for being here today.
I'm really happy that you tuned in to Vision Pros Live.
I'm looking forward to seeing your reactions as these episodes continue
to move forward.
This is going to get more and more fun.
We'll have more and more engagement as well.
We'll invite people to participate in the show.
And thank you for giving us your time and attention.
Have an excellent time building out your vision and becoming a Vision Pro yourself.