The Big Order

Just like everyone else, I was curious about ChatGPT. Specifically, I wanted to understand what it could potentially help with in the field of supply chain & operations. But, I didn't quite expect it to help me combine some of my varied interests. ChatGPT and I spent some time writing a screenplay for a supply chain short film with the able guidance of Quentin Tarantino minus the unparliamentary words. This is how it worked:

1. I give a prompt to ChatGPT with high-level situation or scene description and a request to write a screenplay like Tarantino.
2. ChatGPT writes the script for the scene taking it in a direction that I didn't anticipate.
3. Based on where ChatGPT takes me, I provide the next prompt to continue the story until its logical ending.
4. And then, I do a final post processing to clean the script for any logical inconsistencies or potential enhancements. For example, ChatGPT doesn't get the concept of an AI demand planner called DemandGPT. Every conversation between the protagonist and DemandGPT was interpreted as a phone conversation. Probably because my prompts were not detailed enough or the Tarantino training data was over indexed on phone conversations.

Key lessons learned from this exercise:

1. Generative AI enhances Human-AI collaboration but it is only as effective as the prompts made by humans and the data available for training.
2. It's going to take significant amount of time and effort for AI to understand humor or irony or basic supply chain concepts.

Without any further ado, here is the screenplay for the supply chain short film, The Big Order.

FADE IN:

INT. MANUFACTURING PLANT - DAY

The supply chain manager, JIM, is sitting at his desk, staring at his computer screen. Suddenly, an email pops up with the subject line: URGENT ORDER.

Jim clicks on the email and his eyes widen as he reads the details of the order - 100,000 cases of apple sauce to be delivered in 2 days.

JIM:

(to himself)

What the hell?! How am I gonna get this done?

Suddenly, Jim's phone rings.

JIM:

(picks up the phone)

Hello?

It's his boss, JOE.

JOE:

(on the phone)

Jim, I just got wind of this order. It's a big one, but we gotta make it happen. You're in charge of making sure it gets delivered on time.

JIM:

(on the phone)

I know, Joe. I'm just trying to figure out how to make it happen.

JOE:

(on the phone)

You better figure it out fast. Our reputation is on the line here.

Jim hangs up the phone and starts pacing around his office, deep in thought.

Suddenly, the door bursts open and in walks a man wearing a cowboy hat and boots - it's the manufacturing lead, RUFUS.

RUFUS:

(to Jim)

What's the matter, boy?

JIM:

(still pacing)

We got an urgent order for 10,000 cases of apple sauce to be delivered in 2 days. I don't know how we're gonna do it.

RUFUS:

(chuckles)

Well, I'll be damned. That's a helluva order.

JIM:

(looking at Rufus)

Do you have any ideas?

RUFUS:

(thinking)

Hmm...I might know a guy who can help us out.

JIM:

(eyes light up)

Who? Who is he?

RUFUS:

(grinning and pointing at himself)

His name is Rufus. Let's get this production scheduled in today. We will make it happen.

JIM:

(uncertain)

I don't know, Rufus. You have to get other orders done. How will you do it?

RUFUS:

(leaning in)

Trust me, boy. You won't be disappointed.

Jim nods and Rufus exits the room, leaving Jim to ponder his next move.

Suddenly, the phone rings again.

JIM:

(picks up the phone)

Hello?

It's JOHN, the sales lead, on the other end.

JOHN:

(on the phone)

Hey, it's John. I heard you got a big order.

JIM:

(on the phone)

Yeah, we got one. What do you need?

JOHN:

(on the phone)

You know, I should have trusted my gut feel rather than believing this AI generated forecast. I had a strong feeling we were going to get a big order. You know, I am never wrong with these things. We wouldn't have to scramble now.

JIM:

(frustrated)

I don't have time for this, John. Bye.

FADE OUT.

FADE IN:

INT. MANUFACTURING PLANT - LATE EVENING

Jim fires his laptop after coordinating with other teams to get the order out of the door by tomorrow. He opens the latest solution that has been implemented to help teams across the organization to understand demand better. The creative team in the company had named the solution DemandGPT. Jim starts typing.

JIM:

Hey, DemandGPT. I need your help. Can you tell me why we suddenly got an order for 100,000 cases of apple sauce?

DemandGPT:

Analyzing data...processing...processing...error.

JIM:

(confused)

What do you mean, error?

DemandGPT:

I'm sorry, Jim. There seems to be some kind of anomaly in the data. I can't provide a definitive answer at this time.

Jim's heart sinks. This is not the answer he was hoping for.

JIM:

What do you mean, anomaly? Can you give me any information at all?

DemandGPT:

The data shows a sudden spike in demand for apple sauce from this customer, but I cannot explain the reason for it.

Jim starts to feel a sense of unease. He knows that something isn't right.

JIM:

DemandGPT, I need you to keep analyzing the data. I need to know what's going on.

DemandGPT:

Understood, Jim. I will continue to analyze the data and provide updates as they become available.

Suddenly, the door bursts open - it's the manufacturing lead, RUFUS.

RUFUS:

(to Jim)

I need to speak with you.

RUFUS:

(sitting down)

Listen, Jim. I'll get straight to the point. We need more apples for the apple sauce. If we don't get it, we can't fulfil the order.

Jim's heart sinks even further. He knows that this is serious.

Suddenly, a notification pops. Jim opens it.

DemandGPT:

Jim, I have some troubling news. The data shows that there may be some kind of illegal activity associated with this order.

Jim's heart races. This is not what he was expecting.

JIM:

What kind of illegal activity?

DemandGPT:

I'm not sure. The data is unclear, but there are some indications that this order may be connected to criminal organizations.

Jim's mind races. He knows that he needs to do something, but he's not sure what.

JIM:

Alright, I need you to first alert Joe about this and get his alignment on stopping the production for this order now. In case, he is not aligned, I want you to procure the finest apples in the country and get it delivered to Rufus right away. I also want you to contact the customer and provide him a heads up that I will be visiting him in person tomorrow.

DemandGPT:

I am sorry but I am not capable of executing complex tasks that require a deep understanding of context, human emotions, and intuition. Please also note that DemandGPT's integration with other supply chain systems and AI friends like BuyerGPT and MakerGPT are planned only for Q2 2024 due to current budgetary constraints.

Jim shuts his laptop and storms out of his room.

FADE OUT.

FADE IN:

EXT. A DESERTED ROAD - DAY

Rufus and Jim are driving in a car through the desert, headed to the customer's location.

RUFUS:

(driving, determined)

We have to be careful with this, Jim. We don't want to lose the customer, but we also can't let this slide.

JIM:

(nodding)

I know, Rufus. We'll have to be subtle.

They arrive at the customer's location, a small cafe on the side of the road.

INT. CAFE - DAY

The customer, a middle-aged man named LEO, is behind the counter. Rufus and Jim approach him.

RUFUS:

(polite, but firm)

Leo, we need to ask you about the 100000 cases of apple sauce you ordered from us. We have reason to believe that there may be some illegal activity associated with it.

Leo looks surprised, but tries to play it cool.

LEO:

(nonchalant)

What do you mean, illegal activity? I just ordered some apple sauce.

JIM:

(skeptical)

That's not what our AI demand planner, DemandGPT, is telling us. It's indicating that the order is connected to criminal organizations.

Leo looks genuinely confused.

LEO:

(shrugging)

I don't know what to tell you guys. All I did was order some apple sauce for my customers because I got a big order for apple muffins.

RUFUS:

(suspicious)

Leo, are you sure there's nothing else going on here? You're not involved in anything illegal?

Leo shakes his head vehemently.

LEO:

(defensive)

Absolutely not! I'm just trying to run a business here.

RUFUS:

(sighing)

Okay, Leo. We'll take your word for it. But if we find out that there's anything illegal happening here, we'll have to report it to the authorities.

Leo nods, looking relieved.

LEO:

(grateful)

I understand. Thanks for coming all the way out here, guys.

Rufus and Jim turn to leave.

JIM:

(thinking out loud)

Something still doesn't seem right, Rufus.

RUFUS:

(nodding in agreement)

I know what you mean, Jim. Maybe, we should go visit Leo's customers to see if they placed a big order.

As they exit the cafe, the camera zooms in on Leo's face. There's a hint of a smirk on his lips.

FADE OUT.

FADE IN:

EXT. CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS OF A MAJOR GROCERY STORE - DAY

Rufus and Jim are walking into the corporate headquarters of a major grocery store. They're determined to get to the bottom of the suspicious activity surrounding Leo's apple sauce order.

INT. CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS - DAY

Rufus and Jim are sitting in a conference room with the buying team. They're questioning them about Leo's orders.

RUFUS:

(skeptical)

Are you sure you're not seeing a sudden increase in demand for Leo's products?

BUYER 1:

(shrugging)

Honestly, we don't even know who Leo is. He might be of our smaller suppliers.

JIM:

(baffled)

But Leo received a huge order for 50000 apple cinnamon muffins, which triggered the 100000 cases of apple sauce order.

BUYER 1:

(confused)

Let me ask our supply chain orchestrator, EndtoEndGPT.

Buyer 1 types furiously for some time, while Rufus and Jim sit impatiently.

BUYER 1:

(nonchalantly)

It looks like few customers placed an online order for many muffins, which led to EndtoEndGPT placing a big order to Leo. But after a day, the customer canceled the order. And EndtoEndGPT failed to react to it. We are hoping the next version of EndtoEndGPT will learn and avoid such mistakes.

JIM:

(shocked)

So this is just an AI error?

BUYER 1:

(continues to look into the computer)

Well, that's one way to put it.

RUFUS:

(laughing)

Who knew AI systems could mistakes? And I thought they would be taking our jobs away.

Jim and Rufus get back on the road laughing about their ordeal. They are certain that this is not the last time this will happen. However, Jim, Rufus, and ChatGPT fail to realize that the main problem was not AI but the supply chain bullwhip effect.