ChatGPT and Identity

Week #35

Hello! I’m Aaron Kardell. In my Sunday newsletter, I pick one random topic to go deep on and have some disparate quick hits at the end.

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Somehow, a recent conversation with my kids stemmed into me asking ChatGPT 4 “Who is Aaron Kardell?”

ChatGPT dutifully responded:

As of my last update in January 2022, Aaron Kardell is an entrepreneur and business leader based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He founded HomeSpotter, a company that provides software solutions for the residential real estate industry, aimed at simplifying the complexities of real estate marketing, transactions, and relationships. HomeSpotter's products include advertising automation, collaboration tools, and other marketing services for agents, brokers, and MLS organizations. HomeSpotter was eventually acquired by Lone Wolf Technologies, and Aaron Kardell transitioned into a leadership role within the acquiring company, typically as VP of Product Management.

In addition to his work with Lone Wolf and HomeSpotter, Aaron Kardell has been involved in other entrepreneurial ventures and has a reputation for being a serial entrepreneur. He often talks about the joys and challenges of building businesses, the significance of team dynamics, and the importance of product management. However, specific details may have evolved, and it would be a good idea to look for the most current information if you need up-to-date details.

My immediate reaction was a mix of both pride (sorry, I’m vain) and fear stemming from the simple fact that ChatGPT knew who I was. Was information on me really part of the ~1.7 trillion parameters its large language model was apparently trained on?

It’s been a couple weeks since I asked ChatGPT that and I’ve had a nagging thought since then… I sure hope when I leave this earth I’m known for more than the business I built and sold and where I worked afterwards. I wished ChatGPT had responded that I was a good husband and father, that I wanted to leave the world in a better place, and that I happened to be an entrepreneur.

It’s been a couple of weeks since I asked ChatGPT that and I recently remembered that I gave ChatGPT some instructions about me. Maybe its language model doesn’t know me independently after all. I went back and looked what I had given it as custom instructions about myself previously:

I am based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I am a software entrepreneur, having built and sold multiple businesses. I currently work as VP of Product Management for Lone Wolf, the company that bought my last startup, HomeSpotter. Lone Wolf provides software for the residential real estate industry. In addition to that work, I own and manage a short-term rental business with a property in Puerto Rico. My goals are to be a good father and husband, to live a balanced life, and to leave the world in a better place than I entered it.

Hmm. This sparked so many questions for me. Here’s a small sampling of the rabbit holes I went down.

Does ChatGPT know who I am without the custom instructions?

No. But also, yes. Let me explain…

Turning off my custom instructions, if I ask ChatGPT “Who is Aaron Kardell?”, I don’t get much:

As of my last update in January 2022, Aaron Kardell is not widely recognized as a major public figure in the same vein as some celebrities, politicians, or industry leaders. It's possible he could be a private individual or a professional in a specific niche that isn't broadly recognized in mainstream media. Alternatively, he might have gained prominence after 2022.

If Aaron Kardell is related to a specific industry, topic, or event, providing more context might help. However, if you're inquiring about someone in a more private capacity or someone who has recently become notable, the best approach would be to consult more recent sources or databases.

OK. So, I’m not famous! Duh.

If I get more specific and ask ChatGPT “Who is Aaron Kardell, the software entrepreneur in Minneapolis?”, I get something pretty specific:

As of my last update in January 2022, Aaron Kardell is a software entrepreneur based in Minneapolis. He is best known for founding several technology startups, including the mobile real estate app HomeSpotter (previously known as Mobile Realty Apps). HomeSpotter offers tools for real estate agents, brokers, and MLSs that make the buying and selling process smoother for both agents and their clients.

Kardell's journey as an entrepreneur began at a young age, and he has been recognized for his contributions to the tech scene in the Twin Cities area. Over the years, he has been involved in various ventures, and his innovations in the real estate tech space have garnered attention and accolades.

Like many tech entrepreneurs, Kardell's career is evolving, and it's possible he has been involved in new projects or roles since 2022. If you need the most recent details on his endeavors or career, you might consider checking recent news articles or updates on professional networks like LinkedIn.

Does ChatGPT know anything about my professional history outside of HomeSpotter?

No. It literally just makes stuff up.

“What other startups did Aaron Kardell launch?”

As of my last training data in January 2022, Aaron Kardell's most notable startup was HomeSpotter (previously known as Mobile Realty Apps). However, before HomeSpotter, he founded other ventures:

1. LocalMaven - A platform designed to reward individuals for referring businesses they love to others.

2. altruik - A software solution focused on search engine optimization.

Kardell, like many entrepreneurs, may have been involved in various other ventures or experiments at different stages of his career, whether they achieved wide-scale recognition or not. For the most up-to-date information on Aaron Kardell's ventures, it would be best to refer to his personal LinkedIn profile or recent interviews and publications where he might discuss his current and past endeavors.

I most definitely didn’t found either of those. I don’t have any connection to them whatsoever.

“What other jobs has Aaron Kardell had?”

As of my last update in January 2022, specific details about all of Aaron Kardell’s previous employment might not be comprehensive, as my knowledge is dependent on publicly available information. Before founding his known startups, Kardell might have engaged in various roles that helped him accumulate experience and skills in the tech and entrepreneurial spaces.

For precise and detailed information regarding his career history, Aaron Kardell’s LinkedIn profile or other professional networking profiles would be the best resources to consult, as individuals often list their past positions, responsibilities, and accomplishments on these platforms. Alternatively, interviews, press releases, or articles featuring Kardell might also provide insight into his professional background and experience.

If you need up-to-date and comprehensive details about his career, consider referring to the most current resources, as this information might have changed or expanded since my last knowledge update in January 2022.

What, if anything, does ChatGPT know about HomeSpotter?

Kind of a lot, I guess.

“Tell me everything you know about HomeSpotter please.”

Certainly! As of my last training data in January 2022, HomeSpotter is a real estate technology company known for its suite of tools and services that cater to real estate professionals. Here's a detailed overview:

Background:

1. Founder: HomeSpotter was founded by Aaron Kardell.

2. Former Name: Originally, the company was known as Mobile Realty Apps before rebranding to HomeSpotter.

Products and Services: HomeSpotter offers a range of products for brokers, agents, and MLSs (Multiple Listing Services):

1. Connect: This is a branded home search app for brokers. It provides real-time MLS data and allows agents to collaborate with their clients directly within the app.

2. Boost: Boost by HomeSpotter is an automated advertising platform. It automates the process of creating, placing, and optimizing online ads for real estate listings. It's particularly known for its ease of use and its capabilities to create ads for social media platforms like Facebook.

3. Spacio: A digital open house solution, Spacio helps agents automate visitor registrations and follow-ups. It captures leads and integrates with other CRM tools to make the lead management process seamless.

Philosophy and Mission: HomeSpotter emphasizes collaboration and streamlining communication. Their tools are designed to make the relationship between real estate agents and their clients more efficient, interactive, and productive. By integrating real-time data, user-friendly interfaces, and collaborative features, HomeSpotter aims to modernize the real estate buying and selling experience.

Growth and Recognition: Over the years, HomeSpotter has expanded its services and has achieved recognition in the real estate tech industry. The company has collaborated with numerous MLSs and brokerages, and its tools are used by a significant number of real estate professionals.

Other Features: Apart from the primary tools mentioned, HomeSpotter also offers features like integrated messaging, which allows agents and their clients to chat within the app. This feature is aimed at reducing the back-and-forth often associated with traditional means of communication and simplifying the home search process.

This is a broad overview of HomeSpotter based on information available up to 2022. For the most current details, new product offerings, or changes to existing services, you might want to visit the official HomeSpotter website or look for recent news articles and press releases related to the company.

“What company acquired HomeSpotter?”

As of my last training data up to January 2022, Lone Wolf Technologies acquired HomeSpotter. Lone Wolf Technologies is a leading provider of residential real estate software, and the acquisition of HomeSpotter was in line with their strategy to expand and enhance their suite of digital technology solutions for the real estate industry. This acquisition further solidified Lone Wolf's position in the real estate tech space and allowed them to offer an even more comprehensive set of tools to real estate professionals.

Does ChatGPT know anything about me that isn’t related to my professional experience?

If it does, it’s not letting on.

“What things are important to Aaron Kardell besides being an entrepreneur, real estate, and startups?”

As of my last update in January 2022, specific personal details about Aaron Kardell's interests and passions outside of his professional life as an entrepreneur were not widely published or discussed in prominent sources. Generally, public figures like Aaron Kardell may have personal interests, hobbies, and commitments that aren't as widely recognized as their professional accomplishments.

If you're looking to get a sense of Aaron Kardell's personal interests, his social media profiles, personal blogs, or interviews might provide more insights. However, it's always important to respect the privacy of individuals and not make assumptions based solely on publicly available information. If you need specific or updated details, you might consider reaching out to Aaron Kardell directly or looking for recent interviews or articles where he may have discussed his personal life or interests.

What did I learn from this vain exercise?

I’m not entirely sure, to be honest. But if ChatGPT 4 knows this much about me unaided by realtime search or full access to the current Internet, it knows a lot about a lot of other things too. And that’s exciting and just a bit scary at the same time.

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This Week’s Quick Hits

• I haven’t written that much up on ChatGPT to date. Any topics you’d be curious to have me dive into more?

• For your unrequested weekly Taylor Swift update… Kate just told me that Brittany Mahomes (wife of Patrick Mahomes) is the biggest winner in this whole Travis Kelce dating thing. Brittany recently went out to dinner with Taylor, Blake Lively, and Sophie Turner. Now you know.

Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash