Chapter 1: Required Figures, Diagrams, and Artwork

Overview

This issue tracks the 33 visual assets that need to be created for Chapter 1 of the "Actual Intelligence" book. Each asset is listed with a detailed description to guide illustrators and designers.

Design Guidelines

Create illustrations that are approachable and non-intimidating to match our target audience (non-technical readers of all ages)
Use a consistent color palette and illustration style throughout
Ensure diagrams are clear and easily understandable without technical knowledge
Represent diverse people in illustrations (age, ethnicity, gender)
Aim for a modern, clean aesthetic that complements the book's focus on practical AI use

Assets Required

Introduction Section

1. hesitant-beginner.png

Description: Show a person (mid 30s-50s) looking uncertain or hesitant while sitting at a computer displaying a ChatGPT or AI assistant interface. Their body language should suggest mild apprehension or confusion - perhaps slightly hunched shoulders or a furrowed brow. The computer screen should be visible to the viewer, showing a clean, simple AI chat interface.

2. reflection-notebook.png

Description: An open notebook (or digital tablet with notes app) with blank spaces for answering the three reflection questions mentioned in the chapter: "What's one task in your daily life or work that feels repetitive or time-consuming?", "What's one topic you've been curious about but haven't had time to explore deeply?", and "What's one creative project you've wanted to try but haven't gotten around to?" The notebook should look inviting and personal, perhaps with some small doodles or visual elements around the edges.

What is "Actual Intelligence" Section

3. first-conversation.png

Description: A screenshot of a simple conversation with ChatGPT. The conversation should show the user's first message: "Hi, I'm new to ChatGPT. Can you explain what you can help me with in simple terms?" and ChatGPT's response explaining its capabilities in an approachable way. The interface should match the current ChatGPT design with its distinctive layout and styling.

4. kitchen-analogy.png

Description: A person using a stand mixer in a kitchen while clearly making creative decisions. The person should be engaged with both the mixer (representing the AI tool handling the mechanical task) and something that shows their creative input - perhaps looking at a recipe book they're modifying, or adding ingredients they've chosen. The image should convey that while the machine does the mixing, the human makes all the important decisions about the recipe.

5. teacher-example.png

Description: A middle school teacher (female, representing "Lisa" from the text) reviewing lesson plans while using a laptop. The scene should show her workspace with both traditional teaching materials (textbooks, student work, etc.) and the computer displaying AI suggestions for her climate change lesson. Her expression should be thoughtful and engaged, showing how she's applying her expertise to evaluate the AI's input.

6. prompt-template.png

Description: A visual template showing the fill-in-the-blank prompt: "I work as a and one challenge I often face is . Could you suggest three ways I might approach this problem?" The blank spaces should be visually highlighted. Include two completed examples below: "I work as a retail manager and one challenge I often face is scheduling staff efficiently. Could you suggest three ways I might approach this problem?" and "I work as a parent and one challenge I often face is finding educational activities for rainy days. Could you suggest three ways I might approach this problem?"

AI Tools vs. Human Intelligence Section

7. simple-interface.png

Description: A person of any age typing a straightforward question into ChatGPT on a laptop, tablet or smartphone. Their posture and expression should be relaxed and natural - not technical or intimidating. The interface should be clearly visible, showing how simple it is to use - just like sending a text message or using a search engine. The scene should convey accessibility and ease of use.

8. purpose-meaning.png

Description: A person setting meaningful goals while using AI as a tool. Show someone writing down or organizing their personal or professional goals on paper, while a computer/tablet nearby displays AI-generated suggestions or information. Their expression should show thoughtful consideration - they're clearly the one determining what matters and making decisions, while the AI is just providing support information.

9. artist-example.png

Description: An older woman (representing "Elena" from the text) working on a watercolor painting of autumn leaves, while occasionally referring to AI suggestions displayed on a tablet nearby. The painting should be clearly her own creative work, with the tablet showing technical suggestions about color techniques. Her expression should show creative engagement and decision-making, illustrating that the AI provides technical advice but she maintains artistic control.

10. information-processing.png

Description: A side-by-side comparison showing: on the left, an overwhelming pile or screen full of medical research papers, complex terminology, and scattered information; on the right, a clean, organized AI summary highlighting key points about the same medical topic in plain language. The contrast should be clear - from information overload to structured, accessible knowledge.

11. director-assistant.png

Description: A film director giving instructions to an assistant on a movie set. The director should be confidently pointing or gesturing to indicate their vision, while the assistant takes notes or listens attentively. This metaphor illustrates the human-AI relationship, with the human providing direction and creative decisions while the assistant helps execute the details.

12. bakery-example.png

Description: A small business owner (representing "Marcus" from the text) analyzing potential locations for a second bakery with AI assistance. Show him looking at a map or neighborhood data on a computer/tablet that displays AI-generated analysis, while he makes notes or indicates preferences. Include bakery-related visual elements (perhaps a sketch of his current bakery or baked goods) to establish context. His expression should show active decision-making based on both the AI information and his own business knowledge.

How Modern AI Tools Work Section

13. senior-genealogy.png

Description: An older person (60+ years, representing "James" from the text) using ChatGPT to research family history. Show them at a desk with both traditional genealogy materials (old photos, family documents) and a computer displaying a conversation with an AI about their family research. Their expression should be engaged and curious, showing how they're using the AI as a research assistant while maintaining control of their personal project.

14. echo-chamber.png

Description: A visual metaphor showing an echo chamber made of books, documents, articles, and web pages. In the center of this chamber is a simplified representation of an AI model that's reflecting back information from these sources. The visualization should suggest that the AI can only echo back knowledge that already exists in its training data, not create truly new information.

15. foreign-cookbook.png

Description: A person following a recipe from a cookbook written in a language they don't understand. They should be in a kitchen, precisely following the steps in the foreign-language recipe (perhaps with confused or uncertain expressions), without understanding the meaning behind the instructions or being able to taste the ingredients. This illustrates how AI follows patterns without understanding meaning, just as someone might follow a recipe without understanding the language or culinary principles.

16. probability-prediction.png

Description: A diagram showing how AI predicts the next word based on probability. Show a partial sentence: "The chef put the cake in the ___" followed by a probability distribution of possible next words, with "oven" having the highest probability, followed by lower probability options like "refrigerator," "display case," etc. Use a visual representation like a bar chart or percentages to show these varying probabilities. The diagram should be simple and clear enough for non-technical readers to understand.

17. human-judgment.png

Description: A person evaluating AI suggestions with thoughtful consideration. Show someone looking at a document or screen with AI-generated content, making edits, highlighting certain parts, or crossing out others. Their expression should show critical thinking and discernment - they're clearly applying their judgment to decide which parts to use and which to discard. The scene should emphasize that the human remains the decision-maker, even when using AI assistance.

Directing AI and Setting Expectations Section

18. director-mindset.png

Description: A person confidently directing AI with clear purpose and vision. Show someone with a determined, focused expression sitting at a computer with AI interface, making decisive gestures or typing with intention. Visual elements like a personal goal written nearby, a structured plan, or a vision board could be included to emphasize that they have a clear purpose in mind while directing the AI. The image should capture the "director's mindset" - being in charge rather than passive.

19. specific-direction.png

Description: A side-by-side comparison showing: on the left, a vague prompt ("Give me some marketing ideas") leading to generic, broad AI suggestions; on the right, a specific, detailed prompt ("I run a local organic farm stand targeting health-conscious families. Suggest five low-budget marketing approaches that would help us emphasize our sustainable farming practices and community roots") leading to targeted, relevant, and useful AI suggestions. The visual should clearly illustrate how specificity in prompts dramatically improves the quality and relevance of AI outputs.

20. critical-evaluation.png

Description: A person evaluating AI-generated content with a thoughtful, critical eye. Show someone reviewing AI output on a screen or printout, perhaps using a pen to mark up or highlight certain parts, with thought bubbles or annotations showing their evaluation process: "Is this accurate?", "Does this make sense for my situation?", "This part is useful but this needs revision." Their expression should show careful consideration rather than passive acceptance.

21. teacher-curriculum.png

Description: A teacher (representing "Sarah" from the text) using AI to help plan curriculum while adding her own expertise. Show her at a desk with classroom materials, student information, and teaching resources alongside a computer displaying AI suggestions for her unit on "identity." She should be actively selecting, modifying, and combining the AI suggestions with her own ideas and knowledge of her students, perhaps by taking notes or creating an outline that merges both sources of input.

22. text-generation.png

Description: Examples of different text styles AI can generate. Show a grid or collection of 4-6 different text snippets in varying styles (formal business writing, casual conversation, creative storytelling, technical explanation, etc.), each with a distinctive format and tone. The samples should be clearly labeled by style and visually distinct from each other, demonstrating AI's versatility in generating different types of content.

23. hallucination.png

Description: An illustration showing AI presenting incorrect information confidently. Show an AI character or interface presenting information with a confident style/tone, but the content contains an obvious factual error (e.g., stating that "Paris is the capital of Italy" or something similarly, clearly wrong). The visualization should convey that AI can present incorrect information with the same confidence as correct information.

24. ai-misconceptions.png

Description: A diagram dispelling common AI myths and misconceptions. Create a visual that addresses 4-5 common misconceptions mentioned in the chapter (e.g., "AI knows everything," "AI is objective and unbiased," "AI understands what it's saying," etc.). For each misconception, show both the myth (crossed out or marked as false) and the reality. Use simple icons and concise text to make this educational diagram clear and easy to understand.

25. verification-principle.png

Description: A diagram showing verification levels based on stakes. Create a visual scale or pyramid showing three levels of verification needed: 1) Low stakes (minimal verification needed) for brainstorming or first drafts, 2) Medium stakes (careful review needed) for content that will be shared or used but isn't critical, and 3) High stakes (independent verification required) for important decisions or factual claims. Include brief examples of each level and appropriate verification approaches. The diagram should illustrate that as the importance or stakes increase, so should your verification efforts.

26. directing-process.png

Description: A flowchart showing the process of directing AI effectively. Create a simple, clean flowchart with 7 steps: 1) Define your objective, 2) Provide context and constraints, 3) Start with specific questions/requests, 4) Evaluate responses critically, 5) Provide feedback and refinement, 6) Integrate multiple sources, and 7) Make final decisions. Each step should have a brief description and simple icon. Use arrows to show the flow and potential iteration between steps. The chart should be easy to follow and emphasize the human's role as director of the process.

Activities Section

27. hands-on-learning.png

Description: A person engaged in hands-on learning with ChatGPT. Show someone actively using ChatGPT on a computer, tablet, or phone with an engaged, curious expression. They should be taking notes or otherwise demonstrating active participation in the learning process rather than passive consumption. The scene should convey the excitement and engagement of practical learning.

28. prompt-specificity.png

Description: A visual comparison of vague vs. specific prompts. Create a three-panel comparison showing: 1) A vague prompt ("Give me some advice") with a generic, broad response; 2) A somewhat specific prompt ("Give me some advice about learning new skills") with a more focused but still general response; and 3) A highly specific prompt (the detailed one about learning Spanish while commuting) with a tailored, practical response. The contrast in quality and usefulness should be immediately apparent, with the specific prompt yielding much more valuable results.

29. identify-challenge.png

Description: A person identifying a real-life challenge to explore with AI assistance. Show someone thoughtfully considering a personal challenge, perhaps making notes about different aspects of the problem or jotting down their current thoughts before consulting AI. Visual elements might include thought bubbles, a notepad with initial ideas, or a decision-making framework. The image should convey the preparatory thinking process before engaging with AI.

30. testing-limitations.png

Description: A person comparing AI responses to their own knowledge on a familiar topic. Show someone (representing "Robert" from the text) with astronomy-related items (telescope, star charts, astronomy books) comparing what they know about astronomy with responses from ChatGPT. They should be noting discrepancies or limitations, perhaps by marking AI responses that contain errors or outdated information. The scene should illustrate the process of critically testing AI against personal expertise.

31. creative-control.png

Description: A person maintaining creative control while collaborating with AI. Show someone working on a creative project (writing, party planning, design, etc.) with evidence of both AI input and human direction. They might be selecting elements from AI suggestions while adding their own ideas, crossing out inappropriate AI suggestions, or combining AI-generated elements in unique ways. The scene should emphasize that they are clearly driving the creative process while using AI as a tool.

32. personal-guidelines.png

Description: A person reflecting on personal values and creating AI usage guidelines. Show someone thoughtfully developing guidelines for their AI use, perhaps writing in a journal or creating a personal manifesto. Include visual elements representing their values and priorities, and perhaps a draft of guidelines visible to the viewer (e.g., "Use AI for research but not for creative writing," "Always verify important facts," etc.). Their expression should show careful consideration of how AI fits into their life and values.

33. moving-forward.png

Description: A confident person ready to use AI tools effectively. Show someone with a positive, confident expression using AI on a device, with visual elements suggesting mastery and purposeful direction rather than hesitation or confusion. The contrast with the "hesitant-beginner.png" image should be clear - this person now approaches AI with confidence, understanding their role as the director of these tools. The image should convey empowerment and skillful adoption of technology.

Overall Status

[x] Assets needed identified (33 total)
[ ] Assets designed
[ ] Assets reviewed
[ ] Assets integrated into chapter

SVG Asset Descriptions

Here are detailed descriptions for all SVG assets, including the existing ones that will be replaced:

Existing SVGs to be Replaced

1. human-ai-partnership.svg

Description: Create a clear diagram showing the human-AI partnership model. Show two entities side by side - a human figure and an AI representation (could be a stylized robot, computer, or abstract representation of AI). Use arrows and text to illustrate what each contributes to the partnership:

Human side: Show contributions like "Goals," "Values," "Creativity," and "Judgment"
AI side: Show contributions like "Computational Power," "Information Access," and "Task Assistance" The diagram should visually emphasize that the human is the director/leader in this relationship, perhaps through size, position, or visual hierarchy. Include a title "The Human-AI Partnership" and ensure the diagram clearly communicates complementary roles.

2. pattern-matcher.svg

Description: Create a visual representation of AI as a pattern completion machine. Show a sequential process with input text flowing into an AI system (represented as a neural network, processor, or abstract AI shape) and prediction output emerging. Include:

Input side: Show text like "The chef put the cake in the..." entering the system
Processing: Represent the AI analyzing patterns (perhaps with connecting nodes or processing symbols)
Output side: Show the prediction "oven" being generated with highest probability The diagram should visualize pattern matching as the core function, perhaps showing how the AI recognizes patterns from past data to predict the most likely completion. Keep the design clean and conceptual rather than technically complex.

Additional SVGs Needed

3. probability-prediction.svg

Description: Create a diagram showing how AI predicts the next word based on probability. Display a partial sentence: "The chef put the cake in the ___" followed by a probability distribution of possible completions. Show a bar chart or similar visualization with "oven" having the highest probability (around 85%), followed by less likely options like "refrigerator" (8%), "display case" (4%), "microwave" (2%), and "box" (1%). Include percentages or probability values to make the distribution clear. The visualization should communicate that the AI is making statistical predictions rather than truly understanding cooking.

4. echo-chamber.svg

Description: Create a visual metaphor showing an AI system as an echo chamber of human knowledge. Design a circular or dome-like chamber built from books, documents, articles, and web pages of varying sizes. In the center, place a stylized AI representation that's reflecting or echoing information from these surrounding sources. Use visual elements like light beams or echoing wavelines to show information moving from the texts to the AI and then being reflected back out. The visualization should clearly communicate that the AI can only reflect knowledge that already exists in its training data, not create truly new information.

5. verification-principle.svg

Description: Create a diagram showing three levels of verification based on stakes. Design a pyramid or ascending scale with:

Bottom level: "Low Stakes" - Examples: "Brainstorming," "First drafts," "Creative exploration" - Verification approach: "Minimal verification needed"
Middle level: "Medium Stakes" - Examples: "Content to be shared," "Professional communications," "Research starting points" - Verification approach: "Careful review needed"
Top level: "High Stakes" - Examples: "Important decisions," "Factual claims," "Health or financial advice" - Verification approach: "Independent verification required from trusted sources" Use colors (gradual intensity), icons, and clear typography to differentiate the levels. Include an arrow or other visual indicator showing that as stakes increase, verification efforts should also increase.

6. directing-process.svg

Description: Create a flowchart showing the 7-step process of directing AI effectively. Each step should have a brief label, simple icon, and 1-2 sentence description:

"Define your objective" - Be clear about what you want to accomplish
"Provide context and constraints" - Give relevant background and limitations
"Start with specific questions/requests" - Be detailed rather than vague
"Evaluate responses critically" - Apply your judgment to assess quality and relevance
"Provide feedback and refinement" - Guide the AI toward better responses
"Integrate multiple sources" - Combine AI input with other information
"Make final decisions" - Exercise your judgment as the director

Use arrows to show the primary flow from steps 1-7, but also include some feedback loops (especially between steps 4-5) to show the iterative nature of the process. The design should emphasize human direction and control throughout.

7. ai-misconceptions.svg

Description: Create a diagram addressing 5 common AI misconceptions. For each, show the myth (crossed out or labeled "Misconception") paired with the reality:

Misconception: "AI knows everything" → Reality: "AI only knows what was in its training data"
Misconception: "AI is objective and unbiased" → Reality: "AI reflects biases in its training data"
Misconception: "AI understands what it's saying" → Reality: "AI predicts patterns without comprehension"
Misconception: "AI has opinions or beliefs" → Reality: "AI simulates opinions based on patterns"
Misconception: "AI is always improving itself" → Reality: "Most AI tools don't learn from your interactions"

Use simple icons for each concept, clear typography, and a consistent layout. Consider a two-column format with visual elements clearly distinguishing misconceptions from reality.

8. text-generation.svg

Description: Create a visual grid showing examples of different text styles AI can generate. Design a 2×3 or 3×2 grid with 6 distinct examples of text types, each in a card or panel with a clear label:

"Formal Business Writing" - Show a professional email or report excerpt
"Creative Storytelling" - Show a short narrative paragraph
"Technical Explanation" - Show a how-to or technical concept explanation
"Casual Conversation" - Show informal, conversational text
"Academic Writing" - Show scholarly text with citations
"Instructional Content" - Show step-by-step instructions

Each text sample should be styled differently (fonts, formatting) to visually reinforce the different styles. The overall design should demonstrate AI's versatility in generating various types of content.

9. specific-direction.svg

Description: Create a side-by-side comparison showing the impact of prompt specificity. Split the image into two panels:

Left panel: "Vague Direction" - Show a simple prompt ("Give me some marketing ideas") and generic, broad response with bullet points of very general marketing suggestions
Right panel: "Specific Direction" - Show a detailed prompt ("I run a local organic farm stand targeting health-conscious families. Suggest five low-budget marketing approaches that would help us emphasize our sustainable farming practices and community roots") and a targeted, relevant response with specific marketing ideas for that exact business

Use visual cues like colors, icons, or quality indicators to emphasize that the specific direction produces much more useful and relevant results. The contrast between the vague and specific approaches should be immediately obvious.

10. prompt-specificity.svg

Description: Create a three-panel comparison showing increasing levels of prompt specificity and corresponding AI responses. Design three connected panels showing:

Panel 1: "Vague Prompt" - "Give me some advice" → Generic, broad response about general life advice
Panel 2: "Somewhat Specific" - "Give me some advice about learning new skills" → More focused but still general response about skill acquisition
Panel 3: "Highly Specific" - "I'm a busy parent with two young children trying to learn basic Spanish in preparation for a family trip to Mexico in three months. I can only practice for about 15 minutes each day, usually while commuting on public transportation. Give me a realistic learning plan that fits these constraints and focuses on practical travel phrases." → Detailed, personalized response with a specific learning plan for this exact situation

Use visual indicators (perhaps a "usefulness meter" or similar device) to show how quality improves with specificity. The design should clearly communicate that more detailed prompts lead to more valuable responses.

11. hallucination.svg

Description: Create an illustration showing AI presenting incorrect information confidently. Show an AI interface or character confidently presenting information that contains an obvious factual error. For example, it might be displaying a statement like "Paris is the capital of Italy" or "Dolphins are a type of fish" with a confident, authoritative presentation style. Consider adding visual elements like:

Confidence indicators (checkmarks, authoritative styling)
A subtle indication that the information is wrong (perhaps a small warning symbol that a user might miss)
A clean, professional interface that makes the false information look credible

The visualization should communicate that AI can present incorrect information with the same confidence as correct information, highlighting why human verification remains important.

iksnae / actual-intelligence