Pilot Life, Basics of LLMs, and AI for Beginners | Greg Lettieri, Corporate Aviator

Today I’m joined by my brother Greg Lettieri, a corporate aviator with over 15 years of flight experience.

We discuss the role of automation in flying, life as private jet pilot, the basics of LLMs, and how to handle FOMO around AI (hint - you’re not too late, just experiment).

Enjoy!

Key Lessons

• Consistency is crucial, whether it's maintaining fitness while traveling or pursuing a long-term goal like writing a book.

• While automation plays a significant role in aviation, human pilots are still essential due to the need for discretionary input and handling unexpected situations.

• AI, particularly large language models (LLMs), can be powerful tools when used to augment human capabilities rather than replace them entirely.

• The most effective use of AI for many people is in tasks like distillation, summarization, and enhancing search capabilities.

• It's not too late to start learning about and experimenting with AI, as we're still in the early stages of understanding its full potential and applications.

Links

• https://perplexity.ai

Timeline

[00:00:05] Introduction to the episode featuring Greg, a corporate aviator with over 15 years of experience.

[00:00:37] Greg discusses his experience flying high-profile clients and the nature of private jet life.

[02:24] Explanation of the two-week on, two-week off schedule in corporate aviation.

[03:40] Discussion on the unpredictability of private jet schedules and waiting for clients.

[07:27] Greg shares his strategies for staying healthy and maintaining routine while traveling frequently.

[11:45] Conversation about automation in aviation and why human pilots are still necessary.

[14:37] Greg explains how autopilot works and when manual flying is required.

[17:24] Discussion on the importance of maintaining manual flying skills to prevent skill atrophy.

[18:51] Chris introduces the topic of AI and the risks of over-reliance on technology.

[21:00] Greg shares his limited experience with AI and expresses interest in learning more.

[21:38] Chris explains the basics of how large language models work.

[24:53] Discussion on practical applications of AI, such as summarization and enhanced search capabilities.

[28:48] Conversation about the financial applications of AI and its potential impact on jobs.

[31:29] Chris and Greg explore potential uses of AI in aviation, particularly in expense management and flight planning.

[32:20] Discussion on the fear of missing out (FOMO) surrounding AI and new technologies.

[34:13] Chris reassures Greg that it's not too late to start learning about and experimenting with AI.