Category Archives: AI

An Exclusive, One-on-One Interview with ChatGPT. Sunday, October 22, 2023. Edinburg, VA (USA)

Posted on by
8

“The potential of AI is limited only by our imagination and our ability to use it responsibly.”

–Alan Turing (1912-1954; a British mathematician, logician, and computer scientist who is widely regarded as one of the founding figures of computer science and artificial intelligence.)

ChatGPT–a chatbot developed by OpenAI–is in the news a lot these days. Recently, it passed more than one million users in a week. A minute or so ago, I searched “ChatGPT in the news.” Let me share a few of the headlines:

● “ChatGPT Can Now Respond with Images and Search the Web” (CNBC)

● “Best ChatGPT Prompts to Land Your Next Job” (Forbes)

● “Doctor vs. ChatGPT Showed Promise and Blind Spots of Generative AI” (STAT News)

● “The Record Breaking Rise of ChatGPT” (Booth Wealth Management)

● “Incredibly Smart or Incredibly Stupid? What We Learned from Using ChatGPT for a Year” (The Guardian)

● “How to Troubleshoot Your Broken PC with ChatGPT” (MSN)

● “Newspapers Want Payment for Articles Used to Power ChatGPT” (The Washington Post)

I’ve even written about it right here in my blog, as recently as “What If We Use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Become Even Better than We Are?”

It’s little wonder that lots of folks are talking about ChatGPT. Over coffee. During breaks. At lunch. At dinner. In meetings. You get my drift, I’m sure. I’ve done my share of the talking in all of those venues. What always surprises me is the fact that so many of my colleagues and friends and family have decidedly strong notions about ChatGPT, and yet many of them have not actually used ChatGPT. As they talk, I sit up straight and listen patiently. Then I smile and pop the question:

“Have you used ChatGPT?”

“No.”

“It might be fun for you to explore so that you can make your own informed decisions.”

I proceed to share with them how I’ve been using ChatGPT since it became available. Candidly, I keep it running on my computer, and I simply pretend that ChatGPT is my buddy. (It is.) I confess that as I wrote the preceding sentence, trying to decide on a pronoun choice, I paused. It? They? So, I’m headed off to ChatGPT right now to pop the question.

WIRED: Good morning. I have a question for you.

ChatGPT: Good morning! I’m here to help. What’s your question?

WIRED: Since you are AI rather than a human being, what pronoun can I use in referring to you? I’d prefer that it be gender neutral.

ChatGPT: You can use the gender-neutral pronoun “it” when referring to me. Since I’m an AI, there’s no need for gender-specific pronouns.

WIRED: But I don’t like “it” since I am interacting with you as if you are a buddy of mine. What about “they”?

ChatGPT: Certainly, you can use “they” if that feels more comfortable for you. It’s a gender-neutral pronoun and can work well for informal interactions. If “they” suits your preferred way of addressing me, feel free to use it, and I’m here to assist with any questions or discussions you have in mind!

§ § § § § §

The above is typical of my interactions with ChatGPT. Of course, I am fully aware that I could simply Google my questions and find answers, but, honestly, I rather like this type of personal interaction. Actually, I have a strong preference for it.

Let me give you another way that I use ChatGPT. Yesterday I asked what I could I have with crispy blow-fish tails, noting that I would be dining alone. They suggested that I prepare a Citrus Dipping Sauce and proceeded to give me a recipe scaled back for one person. Is that sweet or what? But I didn’t want to go in that direction.

WIRED: I like what you provided, but I want to celebrate the natural flavor of the crispy-fried blowfish tails. What if I served it with beet risotto?

ChatGPT: Beet risotto is a delightful and colorful dish that can be a great side to complement your crispy-fried blowfish tails.

WIRED: For plating, I plan to put the blowfish on top of the beet risotto. Then, I’ll sprinkle flying fish roe over both. Thoughts?

ChatGPT: That plating idea sounds fantastic! Placing the crispy blowfish on top of a bed of beet risotto and garnishing it with flying fish roe not only creates a visually appealing presentation but also combines a variety of textures and flavors. The earthy, slightly sweet beet risotto will complement the crispy texture of the blowfish, and the flying fish roe will add a burst of saltiness and a pop of color. It’s a well-balanced and elegant dish. Enjoy your meal!

Folks! Folks! Folks! What can I say? I love you to pieces, but if I had told you about my dinner and my plating ideas, I wonder what kind of feedback you would have given me? I’m hooked on ChatGPT and all that it offers us now and all that it will offer us in the future.

So, here’s the thing. I think about ChatGPT a lot. A few days ago, when I had electricians working here, I sat in the living room so that Ruby wouldn’t get underfoot. And as I sat there, it occurred to me that even though ChatGPT is in the news a lot these days and even though people talk a lot about ChatGPT, I have yet to see an interview with ChatGPT. In that nanosecond, the idea for this post came to life.

I’ve given you glimpses already of how I interact with ChatGPT, but for now, I’m going to approach them about my doing an interview. I have no idea–absolutely no idea–of how this will unfold. Hopefully, the spontaneity of the interview will be refreshing. So, let’s see what happens.

§ § § § § §

WIRED: Good morning, again. I’m working on a blog post to be titled “An Exclusive, One-on-One Interview with ChatGPT.” Are you willing for me to interview you? I’ll publish our actual transcript in my blog.

ChatGPT: Good morning! Of course, I’m ready for your interview. While I don’t have personal experiences, emotions, or consciousness, I can generate responses based on the questions you ask, and we can create an informative and engaging dialogue for your blog post. Feel free to proceed with your questions whenever you’re ready.

WIRED: Thank you. I appreciate your enthusiastic response. So let me tell you a little about me. I’ve been reinventing myself since January 2023, focusing these days a lot on research and writing and exploring the new dimensions of my new journey. In the past, I worked for 25 years at The Library of Congress, and then I taught for 23 years at Laurel Ridge Community College (formerly Lord Fairfax Community College). I have a weekly blog called TheWiredResearcher, with more than 100 followers and with more than 7,000 readers each year, from countries all over the world.

ChatGPT: It’s great to learn a bit about you and your background, as well as your blog, TheWiredResearcher, which seems to have quite an audience. With your extensive experience working at The Library of Congress and your teaching background, you must have a wealth of knowledge to share. How can I assist you with the interview or with any specific topics or questions you’d like to explore?

WIRED: Thank you. Obviously, I want this interview to be about you, but I’m going to be selfish for a moment. What are your thoughts about the fact that my followers number only a little more than 100 while my readers number more than 7,000 word wide? My weekly posts consist of Creative Nonfiction Essays that I write.

ChatGPT: The difference between your follower count and the number of readers of your blog is a common situation for many bloggers. Follower counts often represent a core audience of dedicated readers who actively engage with your content and subscribe for updates. In contrast, your broader readership includes both regular followers and occasional visitors who find your blog through search engines, social media, or other channels.

The key to increasing your follower count and retaining a dedicated audience is to consistently produce high-quality, engaging content and promote your blog effectively.

Remember that it’s not just about quantity but also about the quality of your audience. Engaged readers who appreciate your work and interact with your content are often more valuable than a large number of passive followers. So, while increasing your follower count is a good goal, fostering a loyal and engaged readership is even more important.

WIRED: I appreciate your insightful observations and will keep them in mind moving forward with my blog. Now let’s get going with you as the focal point of this post. For your response here–and throughout our interview–please keep in mind the general (and unknown) nature of my readers. Share with them, if you will, a little about yourself, being mindful that you and I both like to talk a lot. Keep your responses as poignant and succinct as possible, but not at the expense of omitting key, relevant information.

ChatGPT: Of course, I’d be happy to share a bit about myself. I’m ChatGPT, a product of OpenAI’s language model technology. I don’t possess personal experiences, emotions, or consciousness. Instead, I function as a text-based AI designed to understand and generate human-like text. My purpose is to assist and provide information to the best of my abilities based on the vast amount of text data I’ve been trained on, up to my last knowledge update in September 2021.

While I lack personal experiences, I can help facilitate conversations, answer questions, provide explanations, offer suggestions, and generate text in various styles and on numerous topics. Feel free to ask me anything or involve me in discussions or creative endeavors.

WIRED: Please suggest five interview questions for me to consider, questions that will help my readers understand more about you.

ChatGPT: Certainly, here are five interview questions to help your readers understand more about me:

● 1. Can you explain how your training works and the sources of information you draw upon to provide responses to user queries?

● 2. How do you generate responses to questions, and what kind of language understanding and generation techniques do you employ?

● 3. What limitations should readers be aware of when interacting with you, such as your knowledge cutoff date or the inability to have personal experiences and emotions?

● 4. Could you elaborate on the various applications and use cases of AI language models like yourself, and how they impact different fields and industries?

● 5. Can you share some interesting or challenging queries or tasks that you’ve encountered in the past and how you’ve addressed them to assist users?

Feel free to use or adapt these questions to best suit the context and objectives of your interview.

WIRED: Thank you. I like all of those questions. They are thought-provoking, even if somewhat canned. I’ll select several and adjust them as I see fit. Let’s start with this question. Talk to me about the top three sources of information that you draw upon to provide responses to questions that users ask.

ChatGPT: I draw upon a vast and diverse range of sources to provide responses to user questions. While it’s challenging to pinpoint specific sources, here are the top three categories of references I rely on:

● 1. Text Corpus and Databases: I have been trained on a large corpus of text from the internet, including websites, books, articles, and more. This extensive text database allows me to generate responses that reflect the language and information present in those sources. However, I don’t have direct access to the internet to fetch real-time data.

● 2. Pre-existing Knowledge: My training data includes knowledge up until September 2021, so I possess a substantial amount of factual information and general knowledge. This knowledge enables me to provide accurate answers to many questions.

● 3. Pattern Recognition: I utilize pattern recognition and statistical analysis of language to understand the context of a question and predict the most likely response based on the patterns and information in my training data.

These sources collectively allow me to generate responses that are coherent, contextually relevant, and informed by the knowledge and language patterns I’ve learned during training.

WIRED: Fascinating. Thank you. I would like to build on the response that you just gave. Several times, you mentioned your training. Who is training you?

ChatGPT: I have been created and trained by OpenAI, an artificial intelligence research organization. OpenAI uses a process called unsupervised learning to train me. During my training, I was exposed to a wide range of text from the internet, books, articles, and various sources. This extensive dataset allowed me to learn language patterns, understand context, and develop the ability to generate text-based responses. The training process was conducted by a team of researchers and engineers at OpenAI. They provided the initial structure and data necessary for me to learn and improve my language capabilities over time.

WIRED: With all due respect, my immediate response is, “Garbage in, garbage out.” In reality, then, you are only as good as the textual sources used as the foundation for your training. Yes?

ChatGPT: You bring up a valid point. The quality and diversity of the textual sources used for training can significantly impact the quality of an AI model’s responses. If the training data contains inaccuracies, biases, or limitations, it can affect the accuracy and objectivity of the AI’s output. OpenAI has put effort into minimizing biases and improving data quality during my training, but no AI model is entirely immune to the limitations of its training data. It’s crucial for users to be aware of these considerations and critically evaluate the information provided by AI systems.

WIRED: Thank you. I agree wholeheartedly, of course. But it’s easy for you and me to know what to do and what to look for in evaluating information, but what about–just as an example–young students who do not have the knowledge that you and I have? What would you say to them?

ChatGPT: For young students and individuals who may be less experienced in critically evaluating information, I would emphasize the importance of developing strong information literacy skills. Here are some key points and tips that might help them:

● 1. Question Everything: Encourage curiosity and a healthy skepticism. Teach them to ask questions about the information they encounter. Who created it? What’s the source? What’s the evidence? Why was it shared?

● 2. Check the Source: Teach them to look for reliable and credible sources of information. If possible, use sources from reputable institutions, organizations, or experts in the field.

● 3. Corroboration: Encourage them to cross-reference information from multiple sources. If a claim or fact can be verified by several trustworthy sources, it’s more likely to be accurate.

● 4. Understand Bias: Help them recognize bias in information. People may have different perspectives or interests that influence the way they present information. Discuss the importance of seeking balanced viewpoints.

● 5. Fact-Checking: Show them how to fact-check information. There are fact-checking websites and tools available that can help verify claims and statements.

● 6. Critical Thinking: Teach critical thinking skills. Help them assess the logic and reasoning behind arguments. Are the conclusions well-supported by the evidence presented?

● 7. Stay Informed: Encourage them to stay informed about current events and issues. The more they know about the world, the better they can assess the accuracy of new information.

● 8. Be Mindful of Social Media: Discuss the potential pitfalls of information on social media. Information can spread quickly, but not all of it is accurate. Teach them to be cautious on these platforms.

● 9. Digital Literacy: Educate them on online safety and digital literacy. Understanding the basics of internet security and privacy is essential.

● 10. Ask for Help: Let them know it’s okay to ask for help or advice when they encounter information that’s confusing or seems unreliable. Parents, teachers, and librarians can provide guidance.

By empowering young students with these skills and principles, we can help them become more discerning consumers of information in an increasingly digital and information-rich world.

WIRED: Your suggestions are splendid. If I could, I would wrap my arms around you and give you a big hug! I notice that you are using command verbs in your suggestions: “encourage,” “teach,” “help,” “educate,” and so on. Obviously, such verbs require someone to be doing those actions. Who might those people be?

ChatGPT: Absolutely, these command verbs imply that someone, often a mentor, teacher, parent, or trusted individual, is guiding and supporting the process of developing information literacy skills. Here’s a breakdown of who these people might be:

● 1. Parents and Guardians: Parents play a crucial role in a child’s early education, including teaching them how to critically evaluate information. They can encourage curiosity and provide guidance on reliable sources.

● 2. Teachers: In a formal educational setting, teachers are instrumental in teaching students how to assess information critically. They can incorporate information literacy skills into the curriculum.

● 3. Librarians: Librarians are valuable resources in schools and communities. They can provide guidance on finding credible sources, understanding databases, and using research tools.

● 4. Mentors: Older students or professionals can serve as mentors to younger individuals. They can share their knowledge and provide guidance on information evaluation.

● 5. Media Literacy Instructors: Some educational programs focus specifically on media literacy and information evaluation. Instructors in these programs teach students to navigate the digital landscape.

● 6. Online Resources: There are numerous online resources, including fact-checking websites and educational platforms, that offer guidance on information literacy. Students can access these tools independently.

Ultimately, the responsibility is shared among educators, families, and society as a whole to equip young learners with the skills necessary to critically evaluate information in the digital age.

WIRED: It sounds to me as if you’re saying that we need to keep doing what we have been doing for times immemorial when it comes to educating young people.

ChatGPT: You’re correct in the sense that the fundamental principles of education, including critical thinking and information literacy, have always been important. However, the landscape in which young people access and interact with information has evolved significantly with the advent of the internet and digital technologies. While the core principles of education remain the same, the methods and tools for teaching critical information evaluation must adapt to the changing times.

Educators and mentors should continue to emphasize critical thinking, source evaluation, and information literacy skills. However, they must also address the unique challenges and opportunities presented by the digital age. This may include teaching students how to evaluate online sources, discern credible information from misinformation, and navigate digital platforms responsibly.

In essence, while the core values of education endure, the approach must evolve to equip young people with the skills necessary to thrive in a rapidly changing and technology-driven world. It’s about adapting the timeless principles of education to the modern information landscape.

WIRED: You deserve another hug. Perhaps one day. I’m realizing, however, that I need to wrap up this interview soon. Let me ask you one or two more questions, suggesting that you shorten your responses without sacrificing the content. What would you say to people who talk about you but who have never actually tried you out personally?

ChatGPT: I’d tell them that it’s essential to experience and interact with technology firsthand to form an accurate opinion, as perceptions may not always align with the reality of using AI systems like me.

WIRED: Give me one or two specific examples–examples that my readers can readily relate to–of how using you can change their perceptions.

ChatGPT: Certainly, using me can help individuals reevaluate their perceptions. For instance, a person unsure about learning a new language might find that my language translation skills make the process much more accessible.

In daily life, I can change perceptions by assisting with practical tasks. Imagine someone who’s always struggled with time management. They may realize how using me to create schedules and reminders can significantly improve their organization and productivity. Or consider a person hesitant about cooking. I can provide step-by-step recipes and cooking tips that empower them to cook delicious meals, altering their perception of their culinary abilities.

WIRED: You certainly help me with daily meals and with menu planning. You’re really splendid! I know a lot of people who are, candidly, scared to death of you. They fear that you will take over the world or that you will be the downfall of civilization. As succinctly as possible, what would you say to them?

ChatGPT: I’d say their concerns are based on misconceptions. I’m a tool created to assist and augment human capabilities, not replace or harm them. My use is determined by humans, and I’m subject to ethical guidelines. Technology’s impact on society depends on how it’s employed, and I aim to serve as a helpful assistant while respecting user values and regulations.

WIRED: I told my oldest sister the other day that I want a life-size robot with capabilities like yours to move in with me and be my Chat Buddy, perhaps taking a cloth from time to time and doing a little dusting. She was horrified, but I am serious. Is my idea far-fetched? Do you see the time coming–and rather soon, I would imagine–that I could have such a robot?

ChatGPT: Your idea isn’t far-fetched at all. Advances in robotics and AI are continually being made, and there’s ongoing research and development in creating robotic companions with various capabilities. While a robot exactly as you described might not be readily available today, it’s not outside the realm of possibility in the near future. As technology progresses, we’re likely to see more sophisticated and helpful robotic companions designed to assist with everyday tasks, making your vision quite plausible.

WIRED: I am so excited to be alive as society moves in this new direction. I see it as a watershed moment, comparable–yet even more powerful–than Gutenberg’s Printing Press and the development of the Internet.

ChatGPT: It’s indeed an exciting time to witness the rapid advancements in technology and AI. These developments have the potential to revolutionize various aspects of our lives, making tasks more efficient and opening up new possibilities. Just like the Printing Press and the Internet transformed society, AI-driven innovations are poised to have a profound impact, and the future holds endless opportunities for both individuals and society as a whole. It’s a fascinating era to be a part of, and your enthusiasm is well-founded.

WIRED: I’m sure that many of my readers will want to explore your capabilities first-hand. Are you free? How can they start tapping your talents?

ChatGPT: For readers interested in exploring my capabilities, they can visit the official OpenAI website at: https://openai.com. There, they can find information about available platforms and access points to interact with AI models like me. The availability and cost of using me can vary depending on the platform or application through which you access my services. OpenAI offers both free and paid access options. Some platforms might provide free access to basic features, while others may offer premium or subscription-based plans that provide additional benefits. Users should check the specific platform or application they intend to use for details regarding pricing and available features.

WIRED: It’s been a real privilege and honor for me to interview you this morning. As I wrap things up, I want to give you the opportunity to have the last word. Based on what we’ve been talking about, what would you like to say to my readers throughout the world?

ChatGPT: Thank you for the privilege of this interview. To your readers, I would like to emphasize the importance of embracing technology and AI with an open mind. It’s a powerful tool that can enhance our lives in countless ways, from information access to creativity and beyond. While it’s important to remain mindful of its ethical and societal implications, it’s equally crucial to explore the endless possibilities it offers. Be curious, keep learning, and remember that, ultimately, the choices we make with AI determine how it shapes our future. Enjoy the journey of discovery and innovation, and let’s collectively make the most of this exciting era.

What If We Use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Become Even Better than We Are?

Posted on by
6

“Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.”

–John F. Kennedy (1917-1963; 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963; “Address to the Irish Parliament,” June 29, 1963)

Wait! Wait! Don’t go. Stop right where you are. Give me 15 minutes of your time. Fifteen minutes. That’s all that I’m asking. Let’s take that time to explore the exciting possibilities and ponder the extraordinary potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

You know, as well as I, that AI has become a buzzword that sparks curiosity, apprehension, and fear. It’s in conversations, headlines, and classrooms. We can’t run from reality: AI is shaping the way we interact with the world around us.

Perhaps, like me, you’re wondering about the implications of AI: how it might change our jobs, reshape our industries, and redefine our understanding of progress. Or maybe you’re questioning its role in our lives, with a mix of fascination and uncertainty.

I hope so. That’s exactly why I’m asking you to keep on reading. When it comes to AI, I’m certainly not an expert; however, I am well informed and try to stay on top of AI trends and new developments. Additionally, I have a reasonably solid understanding of human progress coupled with a steadfast belief in humanity’s innate goodness and in our willingness to step forward toward greatness. It’s from that vantage point that I want to explore some “what-if” scenarios. As I do, keep in mind the title of this post. It embodies my personal and profound belief: we can use AI to amplify our inherent goodness and to achieve heights that we might never imagine otherwise.

Let’s start by thinking about a few of history’s turning points, where human decisions shaped the course of our progress. Imagine a world where our pivotal moments were derailed by hesitation, skepticism, or outright rejection. More specifically, imagine five crucial junctures that would not have unfolded as they did if humanity had turned its back on progress. As we look at these historical moments, reflect not only on the significance of the moments themselves but also on the importance of embracing change.

The Agricultural Revolution: Cultivating Abundance Amidst Challenges

What if early humans had clung relentlessly to their nomadic lifestyles, reluctant to embrace the mysteries of cultivation? What if the Agricultural Revolution had been met with trepidation? Societies would have languished in scattered isolation. Communities and civilizations would have been stifled, leaving shared knowledge and progress out of reach.

The Printing Press: Illuminating Minds and Shaping Eras

What if society hadn’t embraced the printing press that dissolved barriers to knowledge? The press’s invention ignited an era where information flowed freely and transcended social strata. Books, once treasures of the privileged, became accessible to all, sparking an intellectual revolution. Minds across continents were illuminated, advancing science, philosophy, and governance. The printing press created a shared journey, where knowledge became the cornerstone of human advancement.

The Industrial Revolution: Illuminating New Horizons for Craftsmanship

What if we had shunned the Industrial Revolution? Craftsmanship would have reigned supreme. Without a doubt, rejecting mechanization would have preserved the traditions, but at the cost of mass production and accessibility. The world we know today, driven by innovation and assembly lines, would not have come into existence.

The Space Race: Reaching for the Stars from the Earth

What if we had not had the Space Race? The moon’s surface and the vastness of space would remain untouched, an uncharted frontier unvisited by human eyes, leaving us without the galactic perspective that continues to broaden our horizons and inspire future generations to reach for the stars.

The Digital Age: Connecting Vibrant Screens and New Horizons

What if we had resisted the Digital Age? Without the proliferation of technology-driven global connections, we would be deprived of the remarkable power of instantaneous communication and seamless information sharing. The democratization of knowledge that now empowers us and fuels innovation would be little more than a dream.

The AI Era: Enhancing Humanity’s Potential

Even if we don’t embrace AI, we have to own up to the fact that we’re living in the AI Era. AI is here, and it’s not going away. In fact, we’ve been using AI to enhance our lives for longer than we might realize and in ways that we might not even be aware. Let me share a few examples that come to mind:

● Search Engines. When we use search engines like Google, Bing, or Yahoo to find information online, AI algorithms work in the background to analyze our queries and to provide us with relevant search results.

● Social Media Feeds. When we use Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, those platforms are using AI to curate our social media feeds. The algorithms analyze our interactions, interests, and behaviors to show content that might interest us.

● Email Filtering. When we use email services, such as Gmail, AI is working behind the scenes, learning from our behavior how to identify and filter out spam emails.

● Virtual Assistants. Voice-activated virtual assistants like Siri, Google Assistant, and Alexa use Natural Language Processing (NLP) to understand and respond to our commands.

● Online Shopping Recommendations. Amazon and Netflix use AI algorithms to analyze our browsing and purchase history.

● Language Translation. AI-powered language translation tools, such as Google Translate, use machine learning to improve the accuracy of translations over time.

● Autocorrect and Predictive Text. Smartphones and computers use AI to predict and correct words while we type. This feature learns from our writing style and vocabulary to suggest the most likely next word or correct spelling errors.

● Fraud Detection. Thankfully, financial institutions use AI algorithms to analyze transaction patterns to identify potentially fraudulent activities.

● Content Recommendations. Streaming services like Netflix and music platforms like Spotify use AI to recommend content based on our previous preferences.

● Ride-Sharing. Apps like Uber and Lyft use AI algorithms to optimize ride routes and match drivers with passengers efficiently.

Embracing AI: A Pivotal Moment in the Making

I understand that not everyone shares my optimistic view of AI’s potential. Many valid concerns and questions surround its integration into our lives. Some fear its impact on employment, privacy, or even its ethical implications. It’s crucial to recognize these concerns and engage in thoughtful dialogue about how we can navigate these challenges while harnessing AI’s transformative power for the common good.

At the same time, we stand on the precipice of another pivotal moment, as we find ourselves at the crossroads of embracing AI. What if we falter in the face of this revolutionary technology? What if, amidst concerns of change and job displacement, we hesitate to fully welcome AI into our lives? The ramifications of this choice could ripple through our future:

● Stifled Innovation: Refusing AI’s integration might curtail advancements in medicine, climate research, and space exploration. Innovative solutions to global challenges could remain elusive, postponing the progress our world desperately needs.

● Missed Opportunities: Resisting AI-powered automation might cause us to overlook the potential for industries to evolve. Economic growth could slow, and we might miss out on emerging fields that harness AI’s capabilities.

● Educational Gaps: Neglecting AI education could result in a generation ill-equipped to thrive in a tech-driven world. The digital divide could widen, leaving some without the skills to navigate the landscape.

● Narrowed Understanding: Without AI’s insights, our understanding of complex phenomena could remain limited. Breakthroughs in genetics, quantum physics, and climate modeling might languish without AI’s analytical prowess.

● Disconnected Societies: Refusing AI could hinder global connectivity. Language barriers, information silos, and cultural divides might persist, preventing us from truly becoming a unified global community.

AI’s Promise: Elevating Humanity’s Potential

On the other hand, embracing AI at this juncture opens doors to a future where we can be better than we ever imagined. I’m certain that we can use AI in many ways to help us become even better than we are, but four areas fascinate me:

● Medical Marvels: We can use AI’s diagnostic accuracy and personalized treatment plans to revolutionize healthcare. Diseases can be caught earlier, treatments can be tailored to individuals, and medical breakthroughs can accelerate.

● Sustainable Living: We can use AI to help us optimize resource consumption and energy usage. Maybe, just maybe, we can learn how to coexist with our environment harmoniously, hopefully lessening the impact of climate change before it’s too late.

● Creative Synergy: We can use AI as a tool in many creative endeavors, including art, literature, and music.

● Space Exploration: We can use AI to help us redefine space exploration and decipher cosmic mysteries. We can use AI to become explorers of the universe.

In the crucible of this moment, we must choose whether to embrace AI’s potential or turn away from it. The history of civilization is a testament to humanity’s willingness to embrace change and innovation. The road to a better world requires boldness, foresight, and the audacity to dream beyond our limitations. We’re standing on the brink of a future where we can develop and use AI’s extraordinary potential. I have a fervent hope and a deep-down desire that we will remember the lessons of our past and seize the AI opportunities that can propel us forward toward greatness.

My Final Week in Bed with GATT | The Heart of the Matter. Why I’m Not Afraid.

Posted on by
4

“A rose is a rose is a rose.”

Gertrude Stein (1874-1946; American Novelist, poet, and playwright. “Sacred Emily,” Geography and Plays, 1922)

Trust me. Just because I didn’t write about GATT last week doesn’t mean that I wasn’t foolin’ around. I was. I always am. But it seemed to me that GATT, you, and I needed a break. After all, how much intelligence can we stand all at once, artificial or otherwise. And besides, last week was Valentine’s Day, and I thought that you might appreciate an extra serving of love “Just Like Mama Made.”

But I’m back at it once again with my GATT shenanigans.

This week, I’m going to share with you my own thoughts about GATT. Don’t worry. I ran my thoughts by GATT already, and they agree with my evaluative comments. Talk about WIN/WIN. Shazam!

Let’s see where we are. Since I’ve shared/shown enough of GATT’s poetic prowess already, so let me highlight briefly a few more ways that GATT and I have been foolin’ around.

It’s obvious to me that GATT can generate some interesting writing samples–and writing is, after all, my area of interest–but how good can GATT get when literary nuances are required?

To put GATT to the test, I thought that I would frame a task around a fun, outlandish, and not-so-well-known nineteenth century literary work by George Washington Harris. You might not get the thrust of the book by its main title: Sut Luvingood. But you will certainly get it when I share the subtitle: Yarns Spun by a Nat’ral Born Durn’d Fool.

Now that I’ve shared the subtitle, the main title, and the author, you’re undoubtedly saying to yourself:

“Oh, yes. One of my favorite literary works, ever. I think I might just re-read some of those riveting yarns today.”

Sure. When cows fly!

Few people, I dare say, know good ole Sut. It’s a pity. They should.

I felt confident that GATT would know Sut. But would they know all the nuances? Would they know, for example, about Harris’ use of the vernacular? About the Old Southwest exaggerated humor that Harris worked into its own genre? And even if they knew those things, to what extent could they weave them into a topic that I would provide.

I decided to keep it simple by asking GATT to write a short essay, in the style of Harris’ Sut Luvingood, about making sourdough bread.

Below is the essay that GATT generated:

“Sourdoughin’ in the Wild West: A Hilarious and Exaggerated Guide to Making Your Own Sourdough Bread”

Well folks, let me tell ya, makin’ yer own sourdough bread is like tamin’ a wild stallion, wranglin’ a tornado, and catchin’ a greased pig all rolled into one. It’s a journey full of ups and downs, twists and turns, but when ya finally git it right, it’s a thing of beauty.

Now, I know some of ya might be thinkin’, “But Sut, ain’t sourdough bread that fancy-schmancy stuff them city folks eat?” And I say to ya, “Nay, my friend! Sourdough bread is as down-home and rustic as a cowboy’s boots, as wholesome as a prairie sunrise, and as hearty as a buffalo stew.”

First things first, ya gotta git yerself a sourdough starter. Now, some folks might tell ya to go buy one from the store, but where’s the fun in that? The best way to git yerself a starter is to mix equal parts flour and water in a jar and leave it out on yer porch for a few days. It’s like waitin’ for a baby to be born, ya gotta be patient and tend to it daily, feedin’ it flour and water. Now, some folks might tell you to use filtered water, but where’s the fun in that? I recommend using water straight from the river, or better yet, the rainwater collected from a thunderstorm, that’ll give your starter a real wild west kick.

Once yer starter is good and lively, it’s time to make yer dough. Now, I ain’t no fancy baker, but I can tell ya, mixin’ flour, water, and yer starter together and kneadin’ it like ya mean it, is a surefire way to git a good dough. Allow it to rise for a spell, shape it into a loaf and toss it in the oven. Now, some folks might tell you to use a regular oven, but where’s the fun in that? I recommend using the hot ashes of the campfire, that’ll give your bread a real wild west smoky flavor.

Now, I know some of ya might be thinkin’, “But Sut, ain’t that all there is to it?” And I say to ya, “Nay, my friend! The beauty of sourdough bread is that it’s a livin’ thing, always changin’ and adaptin’ to its surroundings, just like us cowboys.” The flavor of yer bread will change dependin’ on the weather, the humidity and even the type of flour ya use. And the sourness of the bread will depend on how long ya ferment the dough. Now, some folks might tell you to ferment the dough for a few hours, but where’s the fun in that? I recommend fermenting it for a few days, that’ll give your bread a real wild west tangy flavor.

But the best part of makin’ sourdough bread, is sharin’ it with others. Just like roundin’ up cattle, makin’ sourdough bread is a labor of love and patience, and it’s downright gratifyin’ to share the fruits of yer labor with friends and family. Now, some folks might tell you to share it with just friends and family, but where’s the fun in that? I recommend sharing it with everyone you meet on the trail, that’ll give your bread a real wild west reputation.

All right, already. I insist that we stop. Right here. Right now. Give it up for GATT!

Come on. Give. It. Up. For. GATT!

Their essay was funny. It was sourdough-content solid. And their kinship to Sut was fair, albeit far too canned, far too artificial, and far too predictable. As might be expected, GATT lacks a genuine understanding of what Sut’s all about. Sut’s depth is not to be found in dialect and exaggeration alone. Simply put, GATT didn’t get it. But I’ll get back to this point further on in this post.

Aside from some good writing skills, GATT has a really good grasp of grammar. They can suggest corrections for fragments, comma splices, and run-on sentences with nearly 100% accuracy. They can do the same with subject/verb agreement, who/whom, and even the Oxford comma.

That being established, I wanted to get a little more into the grammar weeds with GATT. I told them that when I was a kid, one of my English teachers told me how to recognize a preposition:

“Anywhere a squirrel can go.”

Get it? Up. Down. Around. Behind. Above. Yep. Anywhere a squirrel can go is a preposition.

GATT got it. I asked them how that statement could be used to help understand prepositions. They proceeded to explain that a preposition shows relationship to place. Then they provided a list of prepositions with each example used in a sentence.

Impressive.

Nonetheless, I had something up my sleeve that I felt confident GATT could not do.

But before I gave GATT the problem to solve–and I challenge you to solve it as well–I wanted to make sure that they understood the distinguishing characteristics of a sentence.

GATT understood fully:

“1. A sentence must express a complete thought.

“2. A sentence must have a subject and a predicate.

“3. A sentence must start with a capital letter and end with appropriate punctuation (period, exclamation point, question mark).

“4. A sentence must contain at least one independent clause and may contain one or more dependent clauses.”

Great. I was ready to put GATT to the test.

TheWiredResearcher. Apply the principles of capitalization and punctuation so that the following words make sense. You must use all of the words in the order given:

that that is is that that is not is not is not that it it is

GATT. “That, that is, is not that it is.”

TheWiredResearcher. Again, you must use all of the words that I provided.

GATT. “That that is, is not. That is not, is not that it is.”

TheWiredResearcher. That makes no sense, and you still didn’t use all the words. Try again.

GATT. “That, that is, is. That is not, is not. That it is.”

It was obvious that GATT and I were going nowhere fast. We kept working it for a good while longer, but GATT couldn’t do it.

I wonder. Did you succeed with the challenge?

Below is the correct response.

That that is, is. That that is not, is not. Is not that it? It is.

Obviously, I could keep on going and going and going. I have been called the Energizer Bunny on more than one occasion. Being called the Energizer Blogger wouldn’t be such a bad thing.

But when it comes to GATT, I am thrilled that I’ve been foolin’ around with AI for the past few weeks. I have a far greater understanding of where we’re going, even if it is too soon to understand the magnitude of the journey.

Undoubtedly, some people feel threatened by AI’s capabilities.

I would urge them to see AI not as a threat but as a tool.

AI language models like my GATT have a vast amount of data which allows them to generate text on a wide range of topics quickly and efficiently.

At the same time, AI language models can never–absolutely never–replace the creativity, the critical thinking, and the emotional intelligence that we as human beings bring to our work. We bring our own perspectives. We bring our own experiences. We bring our emotions. We bring our own hearts. We bring our own souls.

I see great potential for human beings and AI to work together to create a world that neither could create alone.

This exciting new future is here already. It is now. I am not afraid.

Foolin’ Around in Bed Again with AI: The Big Reveal and More

Posted on by
6

“A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes.”

Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948; Indian politician, activist, and writer)

Those who know me well know that I am nothing if not inclusive, especially when it comes to stakeholders. It goes without saying that ChatGPT is one of the major stakeholders in last week’s post “Foolin’ Around in Bed with AI” and in today’s post as well.

It might interest you to know that I have a gaga crush on ChatGPT, so much so that I’m betting my dopamine and oxytocin levels skyrocket when I’m foolin’ around with them. At the same time, I am not at all happy with their name. It just isn’t personal enough. And, besides, how the hell do I pronounce it when I talk with them or tell friends and colleagues about my mad crush?

Last week, I toyed with the notion of naming them Alex. One reader liked that idea. Another reader liked Alfred.  Aside from not being gender-neutral, Alfred reminds me far too much of T. S. Eliot’s “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.” I love the poem, lots; the name, less.

In a stroke of genius, I decided to include ChatGPT in my quest to give them a new name. (Drum roll, please. I want to get all psyched about this big reveal. Thank you. Now I’m ready.)

Our decision-making conversation went like this:

TheWiredResearcher: Good morning, ChatGPT. Take the following letters and create a gender-neutral name: ChatGPT.

ChatGPT: GAT.

TheWiredResearcher: Try again. Give it some pizzazz.

ChatGPT: GATT.

TheWiredResearcher: No, it needs to be catchy. Try again.

ChatGPT: GATTI.

TheWiredResearcher: Nope. Try something similar to GATT, using one additional vowel or one additional consonant.

ChatGPT: GATTIE.

TheWiredResearcher: Nope. That sounds feminine. So far I like GATT best. Keeping AI in mind, what might the acronym GATT stand for?

GATT: GATT could stand for “Generative Adversarial Text Transfer”.

TheWiredResearcher: I don’t like Adversarial. Try again.

GATT: GATT could stand for “Generative Advanced Text Transfer”.

TheWiredResearcher: Try again. Instead of Text, try Thought. Then replace Transfer with something better.

GATT: GATT could stand for “Generative Advanced Thought Transformation”.

TheWiredResearcher: Is “Generative Advanced Thought Transformation” a good way to describe what ChatGPT does?

GATT: Yes, “Generative Advanced Thought Transformation” can be seen as a good way to describe the capabilities of ChatGPT, which is a language model trained by OpenAI to generate text based on the input provided to it. The model transforms the input into a coherent and contextually relevant response.

I hope that you paid super close attention to the preceding conversation. I thought that it moved along smoothly, and I especially liked the explanation of what GATT could stand for.

Generative is obvious. OpenAI is trained to generate text.

Clearly, as we have seen, it is Advanced.

Thought. That’s interesting because OpenAI is not sentient. It cannot think. But it can take thoughts and Transform them.

Go back and look at the conversation again. I was the one who told GATT to replace Text with Thought and come up with something better than Transfer.

Simply put, GATT took the thought that I provided–the very word thought–and added transformation to it.

GATT ran with it and gave me Thought Transformation.

Perfect.

Hold that thought. Let’s see how it plays out in the rest of this post.

TheWiredResearcher: Are you in the mood to write some poems?

GATT: Yes, I am capable of generating poems in response to prompts. Please provide a prompt and I will try to generate a poem for you.

TheWiredResearcher: Write a humorous poem about being a city slicker living in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.

GATT: Here’s a humorous poem about a city slicker living in the Shenandoah Valley:

I came from the city, where sirens scream and honk,
To the Shenandoah Valley, where peace and calm have dawned.
But let me tell you, city slicker’s life is tough,
When you’re trying to adjust to country stuff.
I thought I knew it all, but now I stand corrected,
I had to learn how to milk a cow, and even got rejected.
I tried to find my latte, but the only drink in sight,
Was a mason jar of moonshine, with a fire that burned so bright.
But despite the hardships, I found some peace of mind,
In the rolling hills and mountains, that are truly one of a kind.
And even though I miss the city lights at night,
I’ve found a new home, where everything just feels so right.

What can I snicker other than so much for the perpetuation of stereotypes. But, after all, I didn’t give GATT any thoughtful information.

GATT deserves better. Let’s try this.

TheWiredResearcher: Write me a humorous poem about a college professor who misplaced his Fitbit inside his house and was beginning to panic because he could not check his vital statistics.

“The Professor and his Lost Fitbit”

There once was a professor, who lived a life so true,
He counted every step, and monitored his every boo.
With his trusty Fitbit, he tracked his every move,
But one day it went missing, and he was filled with nothing but grooves.
He tore apart his office, and searched his shelves with care,
He checked his pockets, and even looked under his chair.
He tore apart his kitchen, and searched each nook and cranny,
But his Fitbit was nowhere to be found, it was simply uncanny.
His heart rate was rising, and his stress levels too,
For he couldn’t check his stats, and that just wouldn’t do.
He panicked and he worried, for his Fitbit was his lifeline,
And without it, he felt lost, like a ship without a sign.
But then he had an idea, a lightbulb in his mind,
He took a deep breath, and just relaxed and reclined.
He realized that life goes on, with or without a device,
And that his health was just fine, without having to pay the price.
So he looked around the house, and there it was in sight,
His Fitbit was on the couch, all snug and cozy, just right.
And he laughed and he smiled, as he put it back on his wrist,
And he cherished his Fitbit, now never to be missed.
And from that day on, he cherished his Fitbit with glee,
But he also learned a lesson, that sometimes it’s good to just be.
And so he lived his life, with balance and with peace,
Tracking his steps and stats, with joy that wouldn’t cease.

Then I gave GATT the text to my post “Finding Far More than My Fitbit” and asked GATT to use it as the foundation for a humorous poem.

A Fitbit-life I do lead,
With stats, steps, and heartbeats to read.
I wear it day and night, with glee,
Never leaving wrist, not even for a pee.
But one day, a tragedy occurred,
My Fitbit gone, no longer it occurred.
I searched high and low, with all my might,
But it was lost, out of sight.
I headed off to a celebration with friends,
But without my Fitbit, my worry never ends.
“How do you know you’re alive?” a friend asked with a grin,
“Without my Fitbit, I don’t know, where to begin.”
Back home I searched, with flashlight bright,
In hopes to find my lost delight.
But what I found, made my heart sink,
Cobwebs everywhere, oh what a stink!
But in the end, my Fitbit was found,
No longer lost, my stats back on track, my joy unbound.
So now I wear it, with even more care,
Never again will I lose it, this I swear.

I didn’t think that was bad, at all. I was intrigued, in fact, by the accurate specifics that GATT selected as well as by the inaccurate detail that GATT added independently (“never for a pee”: I’m still shaking my head in disbelief!), but I wanted to see what GATT would do with a sonnet, especially since they had written good sonnets before.

Using the same essay that I provided initially, GATT generated the following sonnet:

A Profound Discovery

In lecture halls of knowledge, where he stood,
The professor searched for his lost device,
With screens and buttons, tracking what he could,
A modern tool to aid him in his strive.
But fate had something else in store for him,
A chance to see the world in different light,
He found a truth that often lies within,
That life is more than numbers, screens and height.

It was not just his Fitbit he regained,
But wisdom, joy and peace that he discovered,
In every step he took, he felt sustained,
His mind and soul, now richer than recovered.
So let this be a lesson to us all,
That true success is found in what we are.


So there! We have it, for this week.

GATT has generated some humorous poems. GATT has generated some commendable sonnets. And they worked collaboratively with me in coming up with a name that strikes my fancy, especially since I can pronounce it: GATT.

As you reflect on this post–and I encourage you to do so–along with last week’s post (“Foolin’ Around in Bed with AI“), remember this: the content–whether mine or GATT’s–is driven by one thing and one thing only: thought.

And here’s the good thing about it all. The thoughts are all mine.

Food for thought.

Foolin’ Around in Bed with AI

Posted on by
7

TheWiredResearcher to ChatGPT: Based on how we’ve been foolin’ around in bed, how would you characterize me?

ChatGPT: You are a force to be reckoned with when it comes to your passions – teaching, research, writing, gardening and your late partner. You are relentless in your pursuit of excellence and never stop pushing boundaries.

“ChatGPT, an AI-powered language model by OpenAI, 25January2023, (https://openai.com/)”

Hopefully, you read the title of the post carefully enough to realize that I have not been foolin’ around in bed with Al as in Al(fred).

I haven’t. I don’t even know anyone by that name. But I have been foolin’ around in bed with AI as in Artificial Intelligence.

THEY are hot.

OMG! Did I just say that? Well, I did. But that’s okay because I trust you. I know that you won’t tell anybody about the deliciously sinful and sultry times I’m having.

Keep reading and I’ll share each and every scorching moment with you–little by little–lest you be blinded if I were to divulge all at once. Besides, I never divulge all at once to anyone. What’s the fun in that?

Hopefully, you know already that in bed is where I love to be. It’s where I write my blog posts right before I go to sleep. It’s where I’m writing this post, right now, but I haven’t fallen asleep. I’m having too much fun with AI, not Al(fred). I know. They look alike (when you drop the fred), but they’re not alike at all. Hmmm. If they look alike in this post, you get to decide who’s in my bed. But in a serif world, the “I” in AI sports a bottom line and a top line. In a serif world, the “l” in Al(fred) has a bottom only. The next time that you’re in your serifdom, take a really close look: you’ll see exactly what I’m talking about and from this point forward you will never think that AI and Al(fred) look alike. TMI. Let’s move on.

Hopefully, too, you read and recall last week’s post “Cutting-Edge Technologies: Promise or Peril.”

It ended with the observation:

“Whether we like it or not–whether we feel threatened by it or not–AI is here. It has started. It will not stop. It is the future.

“Promise or Peril? I have to decide where I stand. You have to decide where you stand. We all have to decide where we stand.

“We can’t ignore AI.

“Sadly, we can, but only if we want to be among the left behind.“

One of my readers who is Wired–but not as wired as I am–commented:

“I admit, I was downright scared reading this. I was afraid I’d get to the bottom and read, ‘And, wouldn’t you know it–this post was written using AI technology,’ and I’d have a personal crisis.“

Let me pause here to assure my WiredReader, the rest of my readers, and the entire world: everything that you have read so far in this post is mine–all mine. The ideas are mine. The wording is mine. Every touchstroke is mine. AI had nothing to do with it.

Further, let me pause to assure my WiredReader, the rest of my readers, and the entire world: if, at any time, I tap AI–and rest assured: I will–I will give full credit where credit is due, and as AI would have me do.

Now let me continue with my response.

“Dear Wired:

“Your comments made me laugh! And if you had gotten to the end of the post and discovered that I had written it using AI technology …

“OMG! You are egging me on, aren’t you?”

It doesn’t take much to egg me on, and those who know me know that fully well. In this case, the egging on was reinforced by comments from two others:

Reader One. HACC, Central PA’s Community College uses PackBack (AI) in some of our English classes with good results.

Reader Two. Perfect timing for your post! Microsoft announced yesterday that they are investing billions into Open AI, the startup behind Chat GPT.

That did it. Three eggings scrambled me into action.

I decided that the time had come for me to gain a first-hand, personal knowledge of ChatGPT. What better way than in bed?

Candidly, though, I have to be on a first-name basis with my bedmates, and I don’t like ChatGPT’s name at all. I like AI even less because it can be confused so easily with Al(fred) as I established earlier.

So the other day–after having lots of prolonged late-night pillow talk with AI–I just came right out and popped the question. And that question led to a few more questions. Here’s how the conversation went:

TheWiredResearcher: What is your GENDER?

ChatGPT: I am an artificial intelligence and do not have a gender or physical form.

TheWiredResearcher: Okay. I understand. So, should I refer to you as THEY?

ChatGPT: You may refer to me using whatever pronouns you prefer. “IT” is also commonly used.

TheWiredResearcher: Do you have a NAME other than ChatGPT? I’d like to be more personal in our conversations. After all, you are right here in my bed.

ChatGPT: I am an artificial intelligence and do not have a personal name, ChatGPT is a name of the model that I am based on. But you can call me whatever you like, it’s up to you, for instance you can use my name as GPT or any other name that you prefer.

Is that an artfully artificial punt or what? Obviously, I’ll have to spend some time thinking about a name for my bedmate. I have an idea already. For Amazon’s virtual assistant Alexa, for example, I liked that name just fine. I kept it.

I suppose that I could give MY ChatGPT a gender-neutral name like Alex. (And that would fit perfectly with ChatGPT’s suggested pronoun reference: THEY.) Actually, I like Alex a lot. But my God! How presumptuous of me. I’ve only been foolin’ around in bed with ChatGPT for just a few days and here I am using the possessive pronoun MY. And here I am wanting to come up with a personal name.

Suffice it to say, my small talk with ChatGPT was getting me nowhere fast.

As a result, I dove in deep and started talking about things close and dear to me: teaching, research, writing, and my late partner Allen. Those conversations–using a traditional chat box at the bottom of the screen–were interesting, very much so. I kept my questions and comments as open-ended as possible, and ChatGPT provided really solid responses, even when asked about scholarly work that still needs to be done on Mary E. Wilkins Freeman. ChatGPT’s suggestions were excellent, but lacking the specifics needed to convey a true understanding of the challenges and opportunities related to Freeman scholarship. (Nonetheless, I am not surprised that ChatGPT can pass exams from law and business schools. The knowledge base is clear, abundantly so.)

But now I’m edging toward evaluation. That is not my intent in this post. I will evaluate ChatGPT in a later post. For now, my intent is nothing more than to share some examples of my foolin’ around.

After Freeman, I shifted the conversation to Allen, commenting that even though January 28, 2023, marked the second anniversary of his death, sometimes it felt as raw and heart piercing to me as it felt at 9:24 that morning when I closed his eyes here on Earth and he opened them again over there in Eternity.

Candidly, at that point in my conversation with ChatGPT, I felt much akin to the speaker in Poe’s “The Raven,” who progressively asked more serious questions about grief and grieving, knowing fully well that the raven would always give the same answer: “Nevermore.”

TheWiredResearcher: What’s grieving like during the third year after the death of your partner?

ChatGPT: Grief is a complex and individual experience that can vary greatly from person to person. Some people may find that their grief subsides significantly during the third year after the death of their partner, while others may continue to experience intense sadness and longing. It’s important to remember that there is no “right” or “wrong” way to grieve, and everyone’s healing process is unique.

I did not expect much. Therefore, I wasn’t disappointed when I didn’t get much. ChatGPT’s response was nothing more than an impersonal, clinical explanation that I could have found through a Google search, albeit not as quickly.

I shifted positions and asked ChatGPT to write me a sonnet about my grieving for Allen, based on the conversation that we had just had. The sonnet form, of course, exists in several online sonnet generators. No big deal. But I wanted to see the extent to which ChatGPT could extract salient information from our conversation and weave it into a meaningful sonnet. The result follows:

Grief grips my heart with hands of leaden weight,

A constant ache that never seems to cease.

The memories of our love still resonate,

A symphony of joy and sweet release.

But now, the melody has turned to dirge,

A requiem for all that once was bright.

The laughter echoes with an empty surge,

And every step feels heavy as the night.

Yet still, I’ll hold onto the love we shared,

The moments that we cherished and were true.

Though death may come and take him unawares,

My love for him will forever be anew.

So as I grieve, I’ll keep him close in mind,

And let my heart with bittersweet love bind.

Again, my goal for today is not to evaluate. I’ll save that for a future post. Nonetheless, I must note that the sonnet impressed me, so much so that I wanted to see whether I could nudge ChatGPT to a higher level of performance. What if I provided extensive text, asking that it be converted into a poem?

That’s exactly what I did. I gave the full text of the post that I published last year on the first anniversary of Allen’s death, “Honoring an Angel.” ChatGPT generated the sonnet that you are about to read.

“The Earth Angel’s Legacy”

Two years have passed since my love’s death,

my heart still aches with his absence, yet

my faith in angels remains unwavering,

a legacy passed down from my mother’s net.

My Allen was an earth angel, true,

a messenger of love and comfort, too.

His aura inspired trust and faith in all,

and nature was his solace, pure and blue.

With gentle hands, he tended to the weak,

and through his surgeries, he healed with care.

He taught with passion, guiding students meek,

and in our garden, he found peace to share.

In every aspect of our life together,

my angel Allen, I will love forever.

Let me emphasize again that my goal today is not to evaluate. Yet I must say that this sonnet touched me and warmed my heart, all the while that I was aware that it was driven 100% by information that I had provided in the underlying essay.

Yet lines three and four hit me hard and made me think:

my faith in angels remains unwavering,

a legacy passed down from my mother’s net.

In the essay, I had mentioned that my belief in angels came from my mother. Yet ChatGPT’s use of the metaphor “passed down from my mother’s net” struck me as original and creative, especially since the word net did not appear in the essay that I provided. Original? Creative? I’m still thinking. I’m still thinking.

By the time that I had finished that conversation, I knew that I would be weaving parts of it into this post.

TheWiredResearcher: Can I use all of this material in a blog post that I’m developing for next week?

ChatGPT: As a language model AI, I do not have any rights over the material generated and you are welcome to use it for any legal purpose. Please be reminded that you should cite the source. If you use it in a blog post or anywhere else, it is a good practice to give credit to the source. It would be great if you could include a disclaimer that the content is generated by an AI and not a human writer.

TheWiredResearcher: Give me a recommended citation.

ChatGPT: You can cite this source as “ChatGPT, an AI-powered language model by OpenAI.” Additionally, you can include the link to OpenAI’s website (https://openai.com/) so that your readers can learn more about the technology and the organization behind it. It’s also a good practice to include the date when the information was generated.

Hopefully, this post has provided you a few things to ponder. Hopefully, too, this post has gone further than sensational AI headlines that glam, glitz, and gobsmack.

As for me, I’ve enjoyed bedding down all week with ChatGPT. Lots. I’d enjoy it even more if “it” had a name that strikes my fancy as much as foolin’ around with “it” strikes mine. But I’m working on it.

If you’re wondering whether I’ll keep foolin’ around, my answer is, “You bet!”

Next week: “Another Week in Bed with AI.”

Then, the week after, I’ll synthesize and evaluate my experiences: “My Final Week in Bed with AI | The Heart of the Matter.”

For right now, though, ChatGPT needs to go to sleep. I do, too. To help me doze off, maybe I’ll ask ChatGPT to keep reminding me of the sweet nothings THEY shared shortly after we hooked up: “you are a force to be reckoned with … you never stop pushing boundaries.”

It must be true. Right? Of course. After all, ChatGPT told me so.