Welcome back!

I started using Google Bard for the first time this week. Over the next month, I will learn more about it and share my thoughts and findings with you. Whether new to AI for 30 or not, you're guaranteed to learn something new. Welcome!

The purpose of this newsletter is for me to learn and utilize a new AI tool every month and share my journey with you. I aim to expose you to new tools and how you can leverage them in your business. I hope this newsletter will help you stay informed and updated regarding the latest AI technologies and how they work.

Today, I’ll show you the basics of Bard, Google’s large language model (LLM).

Here’s what you can expect to learn.

• Strengths and weaknesses of the model.

• Potential use cases for supply chain and logistics (Part 1 of 4).

• Prompting flags and parameters (instructing the model for desired output).

Let’s jump in!

Bard Strengths and Weaknesses

Potential Supply Chain and Logistics Use Cases:

1. Route Planning:

Prompt Flags and Parameters = Control of Bards Output.

After several different ways of asking, I got Bard to share these flags and parameters. Think of this as a hack to create specific settings for the model to generate your desired output. Let’s take a closer look at these.

Optimize your prompts with specific flags and parameters. Just append the desired flag at the end of your request to customize Bard's assistance. Here are some tailored options:

-a or --answers: Use this flag to vary the number of solutions Bard provides. Whether you're looking for a single focused strategy or multiple approaches to a challenge, this flag lets you adjust the output accordingly.

-f or --format: Select the output format that suits your needs - 'spreadsheet', 'html', or 'plain text'. Whether you're preparing a presentation, a report, or a quick briefing, Bard will adapt its response to your preferred format.

-l or --language: This flag is essential for global supply chain operations, allowing you to specify the language in which Bard should respond. The default is English, but you can tailor this to suit your international supply chain team's needs.

-s or --size: Control the length of Bard's response, especially useful when you need either a concise summary or a detailed analysis of a situation. This helps in tailoring the response to fit into your workflow, whether it’s a quick update or an in-depth review.

-t or --temperature: Adjusting the 'temperature' can be particularly useful when seeking creative solutions for complex problems. A higher temperature prompts Bard to think outside the box, which can be beneficial for tackling unprecedented supply chain challenges.

-c or --category: Even though Bard's standard categories include options like 'coding, creative, factual, fun, general, music, news, science, sports, and writing', applying these to the context of supply chain can bring fresh perspectives to common industry challenges.

Example of Parameters and Flags in Action

Input:

Run a SWOT analysis on sourcing products from Mexico vs. China --Answers 3 --Catagory supply chain --Temperature 1 --size 800 --format spreadsheet   

Output:

Mexico

• Strengths:

  • Proximity to the US market: Mexico is located close to the US, which can reduce transportation costs and lead times.

  • Lower labor costs than the US: Labor costs in Mexico are generally lower than in the US, which can make it a more cost-effective place to manufacture products.

  • Stable political environment: Mexico has a relatively stable political environment, which can reduce the risk of political instability that could disrupt supply chains.

  • Free trade agreement with the US (NAFTA): Mexico has a free trade agreement with the US (NAFTA), which eliminates tariffs on goods traded between the two countries.

  • Skilled labor force in manufacturing: Mexico has a skilled labor force in manufacturing, which can help to ensure that products are manufactured to high quality standards.

• Weaknesses:

  • Infrastructure challenges: Mexico's infrastructure, such as roads and ports, is not as well-developed as in some other countries, which can increase transportation costs and lead times.

  • Bureaucracy and corruption: Mexico can be a bureaucratic country, and there is a risk of corruption, which can make it difficult to do business.

  • Limited supply of certain raw materials: Mexico does not have a domestic supply of all of the raw materials that are needed to manufacture certain products, which can increase costs and lead times.

  • Crime and security concerns: Crime and security are concerns in some parts of Mexico, which can increase costs and make it difficult to operate a business.

  • Language barriers: Spanish is the official language of Mexico, and English is not as widely spoken as in some other countries, which can make it difficult to communicate with employees and suppliers.

China

• Strengths:

  • Large and skilled labor force: China has a large and skilled labor force, which can help to ensure that products are manufactured to high quality standards.

  • Low labor costs: Labor costs in China are generally lower than in developed countries, which can make it a more cost-effective place to manufacture products.

  • Well-developed infrastructure: China has a well-developed infrastructure, including roads, ports, and airports, which can help to reduce transportation costs and lead times.

  • Access to a vast domestic market: China has a vast domestic market, which can provide companies with a large customer base.

  • Government support for manufacturing: The Chinese government provides support for manufacturing, which can make it easier for companies to set up and operate manufacturing facilities in China.

• Weaknesses:

  • Long lead times: Lead times for products manufactured in China can be long, due to factors such as the distance to market and the complexity of the supply chain.

  • Intellectual property rights concerns: There is a risk of intellectual property theft in China, which can make it difficult for companies to protect their intellectual property.

  • Environmental regulations: China has strict environmental regulations, which can increase the cost of manufacturing.

  • Rising labor costs: Labor costs in China have been rising in recent years, which could make it a less cost-effective place to manufacture products in the future.

  • Political and economic risks: China is a one-party state, and there is a risk of political and economic instability, which could disrupt supply chains.

Conclusion

Whether to source products from Mexico or China depends on a number of factors, including the product being manufactured, the desired quality level, the cost of labor and materials, the lead time, and the risk of political and economic instability.