My Research Story | My AI Inspiration

Hey there, fellow curious minds and aspiring researchers! Today, I’m excited to share a story close to my heart. This journey led me to discover the remarkable potential of Generative AI while conducting a ‘first-of-its-kind’ research study undertaken in India. Buckle up as I take you through the ups and downs of this adventure and show you how Generative AI can be a game-changer in research, ultimately improving productivity and reducing the time and effort required to conduct research of any magnitude.

Picture this: India, where the land is as diverse as its people. I attempted my final master’s research thesis (M.Sc Performance Coaching), which had never been tried before in the country, and the clock was ticking with just two months to spare. My goal? To analyze the one-year training data of OOTYULTRA 60k runners and transform it into a well-researched article and a predictor model using a combination of GPS records and survey inputs.

The challenges were real. After receiving the ethical board clearance, I had to reach out to the runners, request their participation, and ensure they followed the instructions sent via email. Then came the hurdle of dealing with GPS data from various sources (tracking software), each with its quirks and inconsistencies. Data cleanup became my daily mantra, as I had to make this mishmash of data into a cohesive whole.

But that wasn’t all. Not all data arrived at once, making it feel like a jigsaw puzzle with missing pieces. This endeavor required precision and patience. However, I didn’t back down in the face of these challenges. Instead, I explored Generative AI to craft solutions and software codes, leveraging tools like Excel (Formulae), VBA, Google AppScript, Windows Batch Programming, and Python. I wore multiple hats as a student researcher, OOTYULTRA race director, ultra-runner, programmer, applied practitioner, data analyst, research author, and more…

Considering the time constraints and the standards I set for myself, I directed my focus towards making the best use of Generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Google Bard. I watched hundreds of videos and read blogs about Generative AI capabilities. Whenever I learned something, I tried to get a good hang of using it as a productivity tool. I improved at completing tasks, mastering “getting the job done.”

The magic started when I wrote utilities generated by ChatGPT, starting from descriptive statistics and correlation matrices, charts, and aptly formatted reports. The results were astounding. The accuracy and speed of the data analysis were beyond my expectations, paving the way for this research paper that earned the highest grade from my professors and caught their eyes for turning it into a published research work.

Through this journey, I discovered my new love and passion for prompt engineering and Generative AI. What had initially started as a way to enhance my productivity had evolved into something much more significant. I realized I could inspire friends, family, and fellow researchers to embrace the technology behind Generative AI.

As I built my skills in this field, I envisioned “Adopt AI,” an exclusive consulting practice as part of my KaysFIT Academy. It’s a labor of love where I aim to assist research students, business leaders, and professional groups by blending my decades of experience in engineering, IT product development, program and project management, and business excellence initiatives. My mission is coaching, mentoring, and motivating others to harness the potential of Generative AI and now in custom GPTs.

In a nutshell, my journey to predict OOTYULTRA 60k using Generative AI has been an eye-opener. It’s proof that with determination, the right tools, and creativity, even the most challenging tasks can be accomplished, and if I can do it, everyone else can do it, too.

This story has piqued my curiosity and kindled a desire among my family and friends to explore the limitless possibilities of Generative AI. Let us march ahead and dive into the world of AI to improve personal and organizational productivity. Who knows, like me, you might discover your passion and achieve unimaginable things.

Coach Kay, Founder, Adopt AI by KaysFIT Academy.