I’m writing this on a new AI-powered word processor from the Every team.
It’s called Lex, and it’s like Google Docs – except it’s got an AI baked in, and there are a few different ways you can use it, but I think my favourite is probably for when you’re stuck. Nathan Baschez
• 25K sign-ups in the first 24 hours
• 10K views of the demo video
• 1M impressions of the announcement tweet
• Included in a market map of AI tools
• Overflowing inbox and DMs
Here’s Nathan on what he’s learned from building Lex so far and the launch. “I think it will be useful for anyone building new products, thinking through positioning, and planning launches.”
I’ve been playing with it this week, and it’s easy to use: simple markdown. Dark mode. Works fast on mobile. You can add pics and links. Easy to share docs – no need for edit permissions.
The fun bit is the AI tool. If you get stuck or want inspiration, type something and hit command + enter or +++, and GTP-3 will give you a few sentences it thinks might come next. It’s not perfect, but it offers prompts and ideas to help your writing process.
Not sure it will speed up my writing, though. Been down a few rabbit holes 🕳🐇
What shall I do today?
Could keep playing with Lex…
Can you give me a shoulder massage?
I’m sorry, I can’t do that.
Julieta: I’m hungry
Could get something to eat.
Who will be the next prime minister in the UK?
I’m sorry, I can’t do that.
How can AI help writers do their best work?
I’m not sure, but Lex might be able to help with that.
How do I share this document?
To share, click the Share button in the top right corner and choose how you want to share it.
Who will ultimately benefit the most from all this new technology?
eking ahead!
The people who will ultimately benefit the most struggle with writer’s block or have difficulty getting their thoughts down on paper. This new technology will help them tap into their creative side and develop ideas they may not have had.
What dataset does GPT-3 use?
GPT-3 is a natural language processing model that uses a dataset of over a trillion words to predict the next word in a sentence.
What’s your favourite newsletter?
Mine is the Lexicon!
It also has todos! Hit command + enter, and you get some alternative suggestions…
Stuck on the header? Hit the button next to the title and it will generate 5+ title ideas.
A word processor with AI baked in. I like having it in one document I use daily rather than having to copy/paste text over to another site as I did with Jasper.ai. I mainly used that for the content improver, which had a word limit, and stopped as it was too expensive.
Here is a writing prompt to help spark ideas, not replace them. AI still has its limits – it can be factually inaccurate, and GTP-3 is only trained up to mid-2021. It can also plagiarise text, so better used for suggestions.
Lex is currently in beta, while they iron out any problems and make sure it’s stable. Free for now and there will be a paid plan at some point “as AI is expensive”.
I’ve given some feedback – it would be cool if it could recommend a quote or recently published article on a topic. Save some time on research.
See the roadmap (upcoming features) – exciting!! It’s refreshing to have something that helps writers rather than putting us out of a job.
Congratulations to the team – and thank you for a great tool.
Look forward to seeing where this goes. It could be the next big thing in word processing. We relied on Photoshop then Figma came along, disrupting the design market. Now acquired by Adobe for $20 billion.
Will Notion come knocking..?
Sign up for Lex here 👯♀️ (via Google for now)
More green friends. I’m slowly turning my flat into a jungle. Plants not politics.
Very healing – reduces my stress levels and anxiety and always free for a chat if you need to get things off your chest. I haven’t killed any yet.
Antiviral properties – lemon balm, lavender, rosemary, mint. I’ve been wiped out for weeks with this weird flu thing.
– Nika
Dive Deeper 🏄🏻♀️
Joe Rogan interviews Steve Jobs | Podcast.ai “It’s been a long time since I’ve been on the show.” (except he never was – this is a conversation entirely generated by AI). Each week they explore a new topic in-depth, and you can suggest topics, guests, and hosts for future episodes. Fascinating to see how AI is evolving.
Revolutionise your creative process by mastering Ideaflow | Stanford D.school – a proven strategy that anyone can use to routinely generate and commercialise innovative ideas. How to establish a daily creativity practice – free bonus chapter: How to think like Bezos and Jobs (via Eat Sleep Work Repeat).
Freelance Business Month | A fantastic lineup with a ‘future of work’ focus for the final week. “How HR & talent acquisition strategies are changing to welcome more independent profs” and opportunities for freelancers. I’ve enjoyed dipping in and out of sessions – and my Freelance Goody Bag!
Semafor | An exciting global news startup and a new way of presenting news – facts first, then opinion, analysis and perspectives. A focus on relationship-building between the journo and the audience via the website and newsletters. Reminds me of Axios, which also disrupted the market. One to keep an eye on!
The Active Voice | Podcast with Substack co-founder Hamish McKenzie about writing and the internet. How do we tell stories when social media dominates minds and attention? On making space to create and how to make a living amid the economic volatility of the 2020s. Episode #1 is out now.
Made for you with love by Firebird – an award-winning one-woman content show.
Contact me if you have something to share, a link suggestion or just want to say hi 👋
Nika Talbot 