Hot Dayz

This marks the fifth blog I have started since my last post in March. Sixth if you count the one where I literally only opened a new post and never actually wrote anything. No, we aren't counting that one. So, the fifth blog post started since March. I didn't publish the others for one reason or another. 

The first blog I started but never published was all about ChatGPT's image generator, which created the Ghibli craze that swept the planet. I was excited by it but I lost interest in the post after a few paragraphs. 

The second was titled "Status Report". I wrote it in late April, and it touched upon vibe coding and AI in general, even reflecting on what things might have been like if I had access to these AI tools back in my 20s. While it would have been amazing and changed a lot in my life, I do worry about future generations of people who may never know what it's like to have to think for themselves. To make decisions on their own. They will probably make better decisions, but I can't help but worry that they may be missing something in their development. Stick-to-itiveness, good judgement, the ability to think for oneself, these are what I fear may go the way of the Dodo. If everything is done for you, if every decision is not truly your own, if you lose control of your own narrative then we as a species will be nothing more than a flightless bird lost at sea. 

The third blog post was also in Late April, around the time I originally hoped to release the app. I didn't get too far into it, but it was an ode to GPT-4 and its retirement from ChatGPT. 

The fourth was started in mid-May and was an introduction to my new company, as well as a status report on my plans for the company. It was during this time that I realized I was falling behind on the creation of my first app. I had set out several possible release dates back in February when I began this process towards creating a multimedia company. Step one is the release of my first of three apps. 

I have learned a good deal about building apps with AI tools. I tried vibe coding several apps during this time, between February and mid-May. However, I wanted more control over what was being done with the design, and since I had never created an app before, I also wanted to use the time to actually learn about coding. Not like I would ever try to code an app without AI, though. That would be a waste of time. However, I didn't want to just press PROCEED every time either. I am an old gearhead, and I have always been someone who likes to tear things open and see how they work. 

Because I choose to try and understand what makes things tick, the first step in building this new multimedia company --creating the first app-- has taken longer than I would've liked. My plan was to have it out and available by the end of May. That obviously didn't happen. And, to be honest, I was disappointed in myself. Can't cling to that though. If I had just vibe coded the whole thing that might have been possible. I won't go into my entire process just yet, I'll save that for when I can reveal more about the app, which will begin two weeks before its release. How far are we away from that? I'm kind of done trying to predict anything with this app. Yet, I was put on the spot the other day and said my goal is to be done with the app by mid-August. My hope is to release it by September. Fingers crossed and knock on wood.

As much as I have loved building this app and learning about the process, I've gotten to the point where I want to move on to other things. It feels like I haven't done anything with my stories in forever. AI video tools have gone off the rails these past few months, and I haven't been able to dig into that since April. Anyway, we are getting closer every day. I can see the finish line.

I decided to focus on the web app and avoid the headache that is the Apple App store for now. My initial plan was to try and do the initial release just through the app stores. However, that would likely delay things even more. So, a web app and a google app will have to suffice to begin with. I'll add Apple later, once I get my feet under me and we are up and running. This will save me a week or so.

With that time saved, I felt today was as good a day as any to actually introduce my new company. I say new, but I actually spent much of March and part of April starting the company. Who knew that getting a mailbox would require a video call with a notary.

I created an early website for the company, so I guess I can go ahead and share its name even if I can't share more about our first product. Why? I have noticed that a lot of people build in public and just talk about what they are building throughout the process. As a writer, I am always a little guarded about discussing what I am working on before the time is right. With App building, I am even more so because I have never done this before. Unless you count working on creating a few websites a decade or so ago.

The company's name is Storicore, but I have taken to capitalizing all the letters except for the "i": STORiCORE. I did this because the "i" looks like a human and to emphasize that one of my main objectives is to put you the individual at the heart of everything. You can go to the website at storicore.com. It's a basic site at this time since we haven't released anything just yet. As they say whenever a new AI video model releases, this is the worst it will ever be. 

Our goal is to become an AI and Human-powered multimedia company that delivers apps, graphic novels, books, TV shows, movies, video games, and more. Something I have been talking about on here for years. We are leading with apps because every individual's experience is valuable, and we want you to watch, read, listen, and create stories that mean something to you. This part of the business is all about you.

In one way or another, stories are at the heart of every part of our lives. Most stories that we may want to tell tend to go untold, either because we are not used to telling stories or we just don't have the time. I think back on the 20th century, a great century for stories, but in reality most of the stories we could have read were lost to time. At Storicore, we believe that by placing the individual at the heart of our company's objectives, we can help everyone tell their stories. That way, we can all share our stories with whoever we want, empowering us to take ownership of our own creative process.  

The three apps I plan to release over the next year will allow everyone who wants to be a part of the storytelling process to do so. I can tell you from thirty years of experience that if your story matters to you, then that is all that matters. Putting it into words is the first step. 

Beyond the apps, which are focused on helping others, I have my own stories to tell. Some of which I have been sitting on for 20 years. Stories written to be Hollywood Blockbusters, intimate tales of human daily experience, thrilling tales that will make your pulse race and some that will make your skin crawl. Something I realized in 2023 was that with the help of AI, I would be able to not only write all the stories I wanted to write, but I could take any of those stories and turn them into movies, TV shows, and games once the technology caught up to my ambitions. 

After two years, technology has all but caught up to my ambitions for it. That is one of the main reasons I started this company. Once I release this first app, I will dig back into AI video tools in a big way. I have been wanting to create something for over a year, but the tools weren't quite there yet. That has changed, and I am eager to create a few shorts and then something more substantial. 

We are close to release. Just a few more steps. With the delays I've run into over the past six months, I am reluctant to place a day on the release, but I am aiming for September. I hope you'll join me on this adventure into the realm of storytelling. 

While I can't say much, I can say this. Once the app is released, you will be able to use it for free. There will be paid tiers, but there will also be a free tier for you to try it out and see if it is something that helps you. That last thing I will say about the app is that it is something I created not only for others, but also for myself to use. It is based on my use of other tools and a Custom GPT I created late last year. I'll likely release that Custom GPT around the same time as well. Always good to have options.

Don't expect there to be any Custom GPTs to go with the other two apps, but it makes sense to release one with the first app. The app will have a few similarities to the Custom GPT, and it will also have a series of unique features that will make it the perfect tool for creatives. 

Thanks for your time. Enjoy the rest of your summer. I hope to be providing another update within a few weeks.