A massive new comparison suggests some AI models can beat average human creativity scores on a standardized test, but the most creative people still outperform every system tested, and the gap grows at the top end.
My son went over to a friends house this afternoon, when my wife had been planning on helping him with his French homework. This meant she had an hour or so of unexpected free time. Momentarily at a loss, she asked me what she should do, and my reply was βslack offβ, meaning do something fun and creative instead of doing housework or whatever. Take a break! She jokingly replied that slacking off wasnβt on her to-do list, so she wouldnβt even know how to start.
But as with every joke, thereβs more than a kernel of truth to it. We often get so busy with stuff that weβve got to do, that we donβt leave enough time to slack, to get bored, or to simply do nothing. And thatβs a pity, because do-nothing time is often among the most creative times. Itβs when your mind wanders aimlessly that you find inspiration for that upgrade to the z-stage on your laser cutter, or whatever the current back-burner project of the moment is.
You donβt get bored when youβre watching TV, playing video games, or scrolling around the interwebs on your phone, and itβs all too easy to fall into these traps. To get well and truly bored requires discipline these days, so maybe putting βslackβ into your to-do list isnβt a bad idea after all. My wife was right! And thatβs why I volunteered to take my son to parkour on Sundays β itβs and hour of guaranteed, 100% uninterruptible boredom. How do you make sure you get your weekly dose of slack?
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Feel like taking your creativity levelβ¦ a bit higher? Available for booking beginning this week, Seth Rogen partnered with Airbnb to unveil βA High-ly Creative Retreat,β providing a unique getaway in Los Angeles with ceramic activities.
The retreat features a ceramic studio with Rogenβs own handmade pottery, a display of his cannabis and lifestyle company Houseplantβs unique Housegoods, as well as mid-century furnishings, and βsprawling views of the city.β
The Airbnb is probably a lot cheaper than you think: Rogen will host three, one-night stays on February 15, 16, and 17 for two guests each for just $42βone decimal point away from 420βwith some restrictions. U.S. residents can book an overnight stay at Rogenβs Airbnb beginning Feb. 7, but book now, because itβs doubtful that open slots will last.
βI donβt know whatβs more of a Houseplant vibe than a creative retreat at a mid-century Airbnb filled with our Housegoods, a pottery wheel, and incredible views of LA,β Rogen said. βAdd me, and youβll have the ultimate experience.β
According to the listing, and his Twitter account, Rogen will be there to greet people and even do ceramics together.
βIβm teaming up with Airbnb so you (or someone else) can hang out with me and spend the night in a house inspired by my company,β Rogen tweeted recently.
Guests will be provided with the following activities:
Get glazed in the pottery studio and receive pointers from Rogen himself!
Peruse a selection of Rogenβs own ceramic masterpieces, proudly displayed within the mid-century modern home.
Relax and revel in the sunshine of the spaceβs budding yard.
Tune in and vibe out to a collection of Houseplant record sets with specially curated tracklists by Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg and inspired by different cannabis strains. Guests will get an exclusive first listen to their new Vinyl Box Set Vol. 2.
Satisfy cravings with a fully-stocked fridge for after-hours snacks.
Airbnb plans to join in on Rogenβs charity efforts, including his non-profit Hilarity for Charity, focusing on helping people living with Alzheimerβs disease.
βIn celebration of this joint effort, Airbnb will make a one-time donation to Hilarity for Charity, a national non-profit on a mission to care for families impacted by Alzheimerβs disease, activate the next generation of Alzheimerβs advocates, and be a leader in brain health research and education,β Airbnb wrote.
In 2021, Rogen launched Houseplant, his cannabis and lifestyle company, in the U.S. But the cannabis brandβs web traffic was so high that the site crashed. Houseplant was founded by Rogen and his childhood friend Evan Goldberg, along with Michael Mohr, James Weaver, and Alex McAtee.
Yahoo! Newsreports, however, that Airbnb does not (cough, cough) allow cannabis on the premises of listings. The listing, however, will be filled with goods from Houseplant. Houseplant also sells luxury paraphernalia with a βmid-century modern spin.β
People living in the U.S. can request to book stays at airbnb.com/houseplant. Guests are responsible for their own travel to and from Los Angeles, California and comply with applicable COVID-19 rules and guidelines.Β