Puzzlers and magickers!
In this newsletter: magic and puzzles from the City of Light
Puzzle Hunt Playing Cards: the perfect gift for any puzzler
Magic in Paris: TED@BCG and Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin
Video: France’s Markobi - FISM winner
A brand new crossword! ChatGPT
Puzzle Hunt Playing Cards
‘Tis the season for shameless plugs! I figured I’d put this at the top of the newsletter this week. If you have a magic- and puzzle-lover in your life, these cards are perfect for the holidays.
Enigmas: Puzzle Hunt Playing Cards. Included within this unique deck are four very special puzzle cards. Solve them all to unlock an online Puzzle Hunt! Available here.
Magic in Paris
Last week I flew to Paris to give a TED Talk (my fourth!) and perform an illusion with AI, ChatGPT in particular. I was invited by BCG, who has been collaborating with TED since 2013.
I had been thinking a lot about wonder. Can we still experience wonder even though now with a click of a button we can generate beautiful images or complete paragraphs of text? Can we still be amazed in the era of AI?
Ultimately I argue YES! In fact, we can experience more wonder because of the opportunities that technology creates for us. And here’s a little secret: magicians are always waiting to pounce on the latest technological development so we can harness it for our tricks.
For example, and speaking of Paris, Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin (1805-1871), the father of modern magic, was no stranger to using technology to create miracles. Robert-Houdin (which is where Harry Houdini takes his name, btw) was a clock-maker, and used his ingenuity to craft automata, robots that could fire rifles or swing on trapezes. One of Robert-Houdin’s most memorable illusions “The Light and Heavy Chest” involved secretly installing an electromagnet beneath the stage. He would then invite a child to lift a wooden box with a metal handle. But with a flip of a switch, that electromagnet would make it impossible for even the strongest, burliest person to lift the box.
Of course, this was before electricity was so widely understood. Today, surely no one would feel wonder from such a primitive effect, right? Well, ever try picking up Thor’s hammer at Disneyland Paris? [video here] Same trick, different century! And it’s still great!
My approach was similar — in my trick with ChatGPT some of the technology is apparent and some of it is hidden. What is what? Well that’s just the blurry ambiguity that magicians love to play in! I’ll share the video as soon as I have it!
All in all, Paris was wonderful. The talks that TED and BCG put together were inspiring, enlightening and moving. I can’t wait for you to watch them in the coming months.
Markobi - FISM winner
Did you know that there are an “Olympics of Magic?” As further proof that France is the home of magic, the Fédération Internationale des Sociétés Magiques was founded in Paris in 1937. The World Championship of Magic, which we simply refer to as FISM, was most recently held in Quebec in 2022. And guess who won the first prize in card magic? A Frenchman named Markobi. Enjoy this absolutely masterful and delightful routine!
Incredible right?! Here’s a nice little write-up on Markobi.
New crossword! ChatGPT
Another brand new crossword for you to solve, this one inspired by ChatGPT. Play it now. Would love to hear your thoughts below in the comments!
Events
Interested in booking me for your next event? More info here on private parties, corporate speaking & performances and team-building puzzle hunts.
Upcoming Shows
After a sold out run at The Kennedy Center, The Enigmatist next moves to Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier in May 2024. The Windy City, get ready for the puzzle party! More info here.