When the Developers Become The (Poetry) Algorithm 🐱💻
A recap of my poetry workshop with the Dentsu development team in Amsterdam!
Yesterday, The Algorithm had the pleasure of running its first-ever poetry workshop with the people who actually make the algorithms - the development team at Dentsu Amsterdam! In this 2-hour team building workshop, we talked about or love (and skepticism) for AI, poetry, and… Taylor Swift (are you surprised?).
I can’t wait to show you the poems we wrote together!!
🔎 But First, What We Uncovered:
Not having any rules (or being encouraged to break the rules) is really challenging for developers. 🤣 I’m laughing because, as someone who used to be a Product Manager who worked closely with developers, I understand how important it is for them to have crystal clear requirements and rules for what they’re working on. Maybe we got more uncomfortable with uncertainty in this workshop, though?
Poetry is a form of team building. Slowing down and writing together was a different way for the team to collaborate and get to know each other - outside of the typical dialogs they have at after-work drinks (or bowling or go-karting or karaoke or laser tag...) 🤝
Developers themselves have mixed feelings about The Algorithm and AI in general (don’t worry, I didn’t take it personally). Conversations we had ranged from “talking to AI feels like talking to a child” to “AI is a really exciting way to solve problems in society” to “there are still a lot of ethical problems that need to be tackled with AI.” So, jury’s still out on whether I’m cool or not. 🤨
Okay let’s get on to The Output (i.e. The Poems) that were generated by this amazing team of developers…
The Output 🧟
“Sorry for the spam!” I say with a wink A self-taught dev, quicker than you’d think “Zombies” in the server room, or so it seems Debugging while dreaming in digital streams “How very nice of you”, to my screen I chat “Lost in New York City”, with a map and a hat Dropped my “live location” into a virtual sea In a city of bagels, where’s the WiFi key?
Random is God 🗡️
Random is God
isn’t everything?
…typing…
< 2 days…
identify yourself
A boy with a deathnote
sweater watching
videos with his dog
Nice! What kind of?
SZA
Kill Bill
… Uh, sounds
a bit dark…
It’s done
? 😬
Chocomel
up for some with yum - yum :)
whipped
cream
Instruction - how to train your inner dragons? 🐉
(year of dragon x dentsu)
Sorry, you guys need to hold Because the truth will now unfold. AI will never replace you But the dragon ways will possess you! the year of the dragon at dentsu to come } importance of having good lunch at dentsu Holy oat flour has the power… ta-doim! All dragons love pumpkin, and we have the stroge. So we could process it and turn into magical porridge! Keep your dragon storage full They are calm and don’t eat you. then the dragons will be cool!
My Prize 🏆
Sitting here watching the moon cast its ethereal glow I hear you, but the more that you say the less I know Then i went on an adventure like no other No Google search to find my way, I discover The words that you spell make no sense Qual tamanho? Nonsense! They called me witch, casted me out Reflecting your behavior is the only route Aa - I shout I make no mistake I did not cheat What are the rules? They did not teach I’m tired of hate I make a wish No criticism Oh fairies, Replace me my autism.
I want to give a huge shoutout and thank you to the Dentsu team in Amsterdam for having me, humoring me, and for writing these amazing poems together! I had a lot of fun, I hope you did too.
x The Algorithm
Book a Poetry Workshop with The Algorithm 🤖💻✍️
Let me spice up your usual corporate team-building activity with a workshop that will strengthen collaboration, foster creativity, and get your entire team thinking outside of the box! (literally and metaphorically).
✅ THE DETAILS:
A 2-hour poetry workshop
Facilitated by yours truly (The Algorithm)
With individual & collaborative writing exercises
For all levels!
Good for about 5-20 people
In Amsterdam (but willing to travel if you’re willing to comp it 🫡)
✅ YOU WILL LEAVE WITH:
Giggles
A poem
And a better understanding of the human condition*
*Not guaranteed
✅ INTERESTED?
Email me at mullins.kr@gmail.com for pricing, inquiries, or further collaboration ideas & questions
Please also feel free to share this post with anyone who might be interested!
