Good evening.
1.
Apologies to my regular readers - I must seem to have given up on this column. The truth is a new work endeavor since last summer and a growing family have rightfully demanded most of my time and energy. Yet the thesis of this column rings as true today as when I started it amid the pandemic in the winter of 2020:
Long after herd immunity is achieved, the effects of the 2020 pandemic will still be felt and lead to a great migration of human activity to a New Edge in ways expected and surprising.
Reports today that Jeff Bezos has finally moved all-in to Miami Beach, though, surprised no one. With parental and personal ties to Miami, Bezos is just the latest to take advantage of life on the New Edge, netting tax savings, answering the call of the shore lifestyle, while building a company that aims to literally take human economic activity to the edge of space.
As a fellow recent migrant to Vice City, I have resisted the urge to write about a place with such a diverse history my family and I are still getting to know. Anything based on a new life only partly-lived here and partly traveling elsewhere seems disrespectful to those with deep, multigenerational roots. And while a travel writer might be forgiven for superficial observations, there is an unspoken obligation for a resident writer to excavate and examine, to offer fresh insight, all in a way that honors the living, breathing local community.
2.
What has been surprising, at least to casual observers, is the unprecedented pace at which generative AI has affected many aspects of our lives. The building block technologies of generative AI have been around a long time, but the conversational interface of large language models such as ChatGPT, Bard, and Claude have suddenly made generative AI that much more accessible and applicable in daily life.
Take for example the following creative writing experiment:
Prompt 1: Are you familiar with the writing styles of magazines such as CondeNast Traveler, Konfekt, and Cereal?
ChatGPT: I am. [Proceeds to provide short descriptions and examples to demonstrate knowledge.]
Prompt 2: Are you able to imitate their voice and tone?
ChatGPT: I am. [Proceeds to provide a short sample writing.]
Prompt 3: In the voice of high-brow travel magazines, write an essay about family life in South of Fifth.
And this first draft was a promising start. The AI knew about the neighborhood and filled in enough detail in the right tone and voice. But it was all praise and no depth. So I prompted the AI to retain much of the first draft but bring to light the less sunny facets of urban living in Miami Beach.
Prompt 4: Great start. Now add balance to the essay challenging aspects of living in South of Fifth. For example, are there questionable practices of the homeowners associations due to loose regulation in Florida? What about strains on the city due to the influx of migrants since the pandemic?
The second draft incorporated ideas in the prompt, though the AI didn’t verify them. The prompt also seems to have discombobulated the structure and flow of the essay. Cliched turns of phrases showed up repeatedly.
Prompt 5: You are a senior editor. Review the above draft, remove overused phrases, and adjust the flow of the essay so it flows more naturally.
The third draft has mostly fixed these surface-level issues, but it still felt breathless and devoid of concrete details. I added some but refrained from over-editing the output, and the following is the final draft.
3.
At the southern cusp of Miami Beach, where the bustle of Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue meets the aquatic whispers of the Atlantic, nestles the enclave of South of Fifth. The neighborhood, with its genteel charm and tropical warmth, provides a verdant haven for young families seeking solace from the rowdy crowd just blocks away.
Upon stepping south of Fifth Street, one can notice a subtle tempo shift. Tamanu trees form a canopy over Meridian Avenue, their tops turning into an arboreal sea of waves with every passing breeze. The sunshine casts a softer glow, and the streets hum with a quiet, congenial cadence. The architectural tableau is a gentle meld of classic and contemporary styles. Art Deco facades, eloquent yet understated, stand beside sleek modern edifices, weaving a unique visual tapestry. Well-kept parks and play areas become sanctuaries for young imaginations, set adrift amidst the soft swaying of palm fronds tall above.
South Pointe Park, the heart of the neighborhood, is an oasis where families converge to savor the balmy weather and picturesque sunsets. Children's laughter echoes against towering cruise ships setting out to sea through Government Cut, passengers waving at the children, and the children waving back. The friendly, international makeup of residents in the neighborhood fosters a sense of belonging, while the eclectic blend of cultures infuses life with a diverse, global perspective…and accents.
As daylight yields to the tender glow of dusk, the bustling cafes and refined eateries enliven with the camaraderie of communal dining. Joe’s Stone Crabs, while featuring a formal dining hall, hosts walk-in guests in an airy, cafeteria-style side room. Call me Gabby, an Italian outfit owned by a French chef, has mastered not only the casual Mediterranean menu but the art of a chic floral garden. Next door, PLANTA offers upscale vegetarian delicacies and Abbalé Telavivian Kitchen shows off Israeli street food paired with wines of the Golan and Galilee.
The elegant charm of South of Fifth comes at a premium, elevating the cost of living for locals and newcomers alike. The dazzling dining spots and elite hospitality institutions, while enticing, demand a substantial fiscal commitment. And beneath the idyllic façade, threads of Southern Florida reality weave through. The influx of migration to Miami, lured by a relaxed COVID policy, income tax advantages, and the shore lifestyle, has undoubtedly stressed the city’s infrastructure. Daily commute has turned into a sluggish cavalcade amidst a chorus of impatient honks. Strikingly modern skylines were now juxtaposed with the languorous pace of endless construction. The sudden growth in population has strained the healthcare system, making simple tasks such as finding a primary care physician a waiting game against lengthy lists. And homeowners associations, loosely regulated in the state, could at times seem negligent at best. This infrastructural strain whispered tales of a city on the cusp of change, striving to balance its allure and the scales of hospitality against urban sustainability.
South of Fifth encapsulates an elegant fusion of serenity and vibrancy, catering to the rhythm of family life with grace. The tranquil backdrop of the ocean and the promising educational landscape provide a fertile ground for young families to thrive. However, managing daily household matters can seem harder than it needs to be and at times strikes a bittersweet chord. Amidst the tropical flora and turquoise shores of the neighborhood, young families discover a realm of nuanced experiences, as enriching as they are unfiltered.
4.
Not bad. Through five sequential prompts, ChatGPT has been able to iterate deeper into nuances. Though it is far from a stellar piece of English creative writing, it is no evidence of ChatGPT’s prowess. I have intentionally kept the prompts basic. More advanced prompts would have certainly yielded a superior output. What is notable, however, is the technology is evolving so quickly that in a few months, even basic prompts will probably produce craftsman-worthy prose, even if it can’t replace boots-on-the-ground investigative journalism (yet).
Oh, if you are listening to this issue, the voice is mine but I didn’t read the essay. It is AI-generated, courtesy of voice clone provider Descript.
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