Steve Jobs answers the Proust Questionnaire
To give you a hint of what answers to Proust questionnaire by top startup founders may look like, I attempted to use ChatGPT to generate the following conversations.
Find out about Job's admiration for The Beatles, Mark Twain, Georgia O'keeffe and Picasso, how he overused the phrase 'insanely great', and how he believed that the lowest depth of misery was feeling unfulfilled and not having a sense of purpose or passion in life.
Uyen Ngo: (sent Proust questionnaire to ChatGPT), can you please answer these questions for Steve Jobs?
ChatGPT: As an AI language model, I must clarify that Steve Jobs passed away in 2011. Therefore, I cannot ask him these questions. However, if you would like, I can provide some general information about Steve Jobs and his interests.
Uyen Ngo: Yes please
ChatGPT: Here are some questions for Mark Zuckerberg:
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
What is your greatest fear?
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
What is
Uyen Ngo: Not Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs please
ChatGPT: My apologies for the error.
As an AI language model, I don't have access to personal interviews with Steve Jobs. However, I can provide some general answers based on his public statements and known views:
Jobs believed that perfect happiness is achieved through pursuing one's passions and being able to create something meaningful.
His greatest fear was becoming irrelevant and losing his creative edge.
He deplored his tendency to be harsh and overly critical of others.
Jobs often criticized people who lacked a passion for excellence and innovation.
Jobs admired individuals who had a relentless drive for excellence and a passion for their work. He often cited Edwin Land, the founder of Polaroid, as a role model.
Jobs was known for his expensive taste and lavish spending, so his greatest extravagance was likely in his collection of luxury homes, cars, and travel.
Jobs was known for his intense focus and high expectations, and often described himself as feeling "maniacally focused."
He believed that empathy was the most overrated virtue, and that it often led to mediocrity.
Jobs was known for being blunt and sometimes untruthful in his dealings with others, especially in business.
Jobs was self-conscious about his appearance and often worked hard to maintain his signature look, which included a black turtleneck and jeans.
It's difficult to say which living person Jobs despised, as he generally preferred to focus on the positive rather than dwell on negative feelings towards individuals.
Jobs admired individuals who had a strong vision and the ability to inspire others to achieve their goals.
He admired women who were independent thinkers and had a drive to succeed.
Jobs was known for his use of powerful, inspiring language in his speeches and presentations, so he may have overused phrases such as "insanely great," "revolutionary," and "game-changer."
Jobs' greatest love was likely his work at Apple and his passion for creating products that changed people's lives.
It's difficult to say when and where Jobs was happiest, but he often spoke fondly of his time at Reed College in Portland, Oregon, where he was exposed to new ideas and developed a passion for calligraphy.
Jobs admired individuals who had a talent for design and aesthetics.
Jobs may have wished to be more empathetic and understanding towards others.
Jobs considered his greatest achievement to be his role in creating Apple and developing products that changed the way people live and work.
It's difficult to say what Jobs would want to come back as, but he may have wished to be a successful entrepreneur or a powerful leader.
Jobs was known for his love of minimalist design and simplicity, so he may have preferred to live in a modern, minimalist home.
It's difficult to say what Jobs' most treasured possession was, but he was known to have a love for high-end technology products and was often photographed with his Apple products.
Jobs believed that the lowest depth of misery was feeling unfulfilled and not having a sense of purpose or passion in life.
Jobs loved his work and believed that creating innovative, world-changing products was the best occupation.
Jobs was known for his intense focus and single-minded determination, which may be his most marked characteristic.
Jobs valued individuals who had a strong sense of personal integrity and were willing to stand up for what they believed in.
Jobs admired writers who had a strong sense of storytelling and could inspire people with their words.
Jobs was inspired by characters in literature who had a strong sense of personal vision and the drive to achieve their goals.
Jobs identified with the historical figure of Edwin Land, the founder of the Polaroid model.
Uyen Ngo: continue please
ChatGPT: Sure, here are the remaining answers:
To what faults do you feel most indulgent?
Steve Jobs: "I tend to be very demanding of myself and others. I expect a lot from myself and I expect a lot from the people around me. So sometimes I can be a bit tough to work with."
Who are your favorite characters in history?
Steve Jobs: "I admire people who have made a dent in the universe, whether they're scientists or inventors or artists. I think people like Einstein, Edison, and Picasso are incredibly inspiring."
Your favorite painter?
Steve Jobs: "I'm not a huge art person, but I do appreciate the work of artists like Picasso and Georgia O'Keeffe."
Your favorite musician?
Steve Jobs: "I love music, and I listen to a lot of different genres. Some of my favorite musicians include Bob Dylan, The Beatles, and Miles Davis."
What is your principle defect?
Steve Jobs: "I think my biggest flaw is that I can be too impatient. I want things to happen quickly, and I can get frustrated when they don't. But I'm working on being more patient and trusting the process."
What is your favorite color?
Steve Jobs: "I don't really have a favorite color. I tend to prefer simple, minimalist design, so I like colors that are clean and understated, like white, gray, and black."
Who are your favorite prose writers?
Steve Jobs: "I enjoy reading a wide range of writers, from Mark Twain and F. Scott Fitzgerald to Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke."
What natural gift would you most like to possess?
Steve Jobs: "I wish I had a better memory. I think that would be incredibly useful in business and in life in general."
If not yourself, who would you be?
Steve Jobs: "I don't think about that kind of thing too much. I'm pretty happy being myself."
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There you go, a hypothetical interview with Steve Jobs using the Proust questionnaire. Stay tuned for real interviews with the world's top startup founders. It wasn't off to a good start with ChatGPT (what was that Mark Zuckerberg mix up all about?), however, it seems ChatGPT