Category: Artificial Intelligence

Teepee or Wigwam: Two Tense

January 1, 2023

If you would, kindly continue to allow my indulgence and fascination with AI / ChatGPT.

Me:

Is there a preference in the the writing world with regards to using present versus past tense when composing novel length narratives? Can you explain the benefits and drawbacks of using either?

ChatGPT:

There is no hard and fast rule about whether to use present or past tense when writing a novel. Both present and past tense can be effective in telling a story, and the choice of which to use will depend on the specific needs and goals of your narrative. Here are some things to consider when deciding between present and past tense:

Present tense:

  • Can create a sense of immediacy and make the story feel more “alive” and happening in the present moment
  • Can be effective for creating suspense, as it can make the reader feel like they are experiencing the events of the story as they unfold

Drawbacks:

  • Can be difficult to sustain over a long work, as it requires the writer to constantly maintain the present tense throughout the entire narrative
  • Can be jarring for readers if not done well, as it can break the illusion of the story and make it feel like a retelling rather than a true depiction of events as they happen

Past tense:

  • Is more traditional and familiar to readers, which can make the story feel more grounded and believable
  • Allows for more flexibility in terms of verb tense, as you can use the past perfect tense to describe events that happened before the main narrative

Drawbacks:

  • Can feel distant and less immediate, as it is describing events that have already happened

Ultimately, the choice of whether to use present or past tense will depend on the specific needs of your story and what you want to achieve with your writing. Both can be effective in the right context, so the key is to choose the tense that best serves your narrative and use it consistently throughout your story.

Why the question?

Over the last few months, I’ve been getting used to composing in the present tense. The challenge to retain that sense of “now” proved difficult. Eventually, I did overcome my predilections to slip into “frowned, grimaced, laughed, stabbed, ran and fell” type actions. Writing in the immediate time frame became more natural than penning words about what had already happened.

And now I find myself in the opposite position.

I want to write my next piece in past tense. Yet, as I throw words to paper, they all come happening in-the-moment. Great. This flip flop of ‘when’, I’d thought, should be easy by now. I know the proper tense to use having started in one or the other. Unfortunately, I find myself using the wrong one as soon as I get into the groove, however shallow.

So, let’s ask the Oracle, I thought.

ChatGPT’s reply should help, I suppose. Its lack of obvious bias continues to vex me yet, it’s obvious that offering a balanced answer probably serves me better, forcing the choice onto my own shoulders. Where, I’m sure you’ll all expect it to have resided in the first place.

Writing is hard. Writing well is near impossible.

Hetty pointed out the junior high level answer and I wondered if ChatGPT could give me better evidence.

Me:

Can you give me a writing example of a dire situation involving a boy, a dog and a fire written in both present tense and past tense?

ChatGPT:

Sure! Here’s an example of a dire situation involving a boy, a dog, and a fire written in both present and past tense:

Present tense:

The fire is raging out of control and the boy can feel the heat on his skin. He looks around frantically, trying to find a way out. Suddenly, he sees his dog cowering in the corner. The boy knows he has to save his beloved pet. He runs over and grabs the dog, lifting it into his arms. The dog yelps in fear as the boy makes a mad dash for the door. He can hear the flames crackling behind him and the smoke is starting to fill his lungs. But he doesn’t stop, he can’t stop. He has to get himself and the dog to safety.

Past tense:

The fire raged out of control and the boy felt the heat on his skin. He looked around frantically, trying to find a way out. Suddenly, he saw his dog cowering in the corner. The boy knew he had to save his beloved pet. He ran over and grabbed the dog, lifting it into his arms. The dog yelped in fear as the boy made a mad dash for the door. He could hear the flames crackling behind him and the smoke started to fill his lungs. But he didn’t stop, he couldn’t stop. He had to get himself and the dog to safety.

Me:

Can you give another present tense example of a nest of spiders spilling into a young couples tent while vacationing in the amazon? Write it in the style of kurt vonnegut.

ChatGPT:

Sure, here’s an example of a nest of spiders spilling into a young couple’s tent while vacationing in the Amazon, written in present tense in the style of Kurt Vonnegut:

The spiders are everywhere. They’re crawling on the walls, on the floor, on the roof. They’re so small and so fast, it’s hard to keep track of them. Mary and John are screaming and thrashing around, trying to get away from the creepy crawlies. They’re both covered in bites and welts, and it’s only getting worse. They can feel the venom coursing through their veins, making them dizzy and sick. They don’t know how much longer they can hold out. This was supposed to be a romantic getaway, a chance to reconnect in the beauty of the Amazon rainforest. But now it’s turning into a nightmare, one that they may not wake up from.

Me:

Could you turn that into a poem?

ChatGPT:

Certainly! Here is the same scenario turned into a poem:

Spiders, spiders, everywhere
Crawling on the walls and floor
So small and fast, they’re hard to see
But they’re causing Mary and John misery

Bites and welts, they cover their skin
Venom coursing, dizzy and sick within
They thrash and scream, trying to flee
But the spiders are relentless, as you can see

A romantic getaway, that’s what it was meant to be
But now it’s a nightmare, can’t you see?
Mary and John don’t know if they’ll survive
The spiders keep coming, it’s hard to stay alive

The Amazon rainforest, once so serene
Now a place of terror, it’s all so obscene
They pray for rescue, for a way to escape
But for now, they’re stuck in this spidery shape

Me:

could you turn that scenario into a news cast of only dialog between two news casters?

ChatGPT:

Certainly! Here is the scenario turned into a news cast with dialog between two news casters:

News Caster 1: Good evening, I’m here with a disturbing update from the Amazon rainforest.

News Caster 2: Yes, we’re getting reports of a young couple who have been attacked by a nest of spiders while on vacation.

News Caster 1: That’s right. Mary and John were staying in a tent when the spiders suddenly appeared and started biting them.

News Caster 2: The venom from the bites has made them dizzy and sick, and they are reportedly covered in bites and welts.

News Caster 1: This was supposed to be a romantic getaway for the couple, but it has turned into a nightmare. They are now fighting for their lives as the spiders continue to swarm their tent.

News Caster 2: It’s unclear at this time how the spiders made their way into the tent or how long the couple will be stranded there. We will continue to bring you updates as more information becomes available.

News Caster 1: In the meantime, we urge all travelers to be cautious when visiting the Amazon rainforest and to take proper precautions to avoid encountering dangerous wildlife

Me:

Can you write the javascript code that produces an SVG of a spider?

ChatGPT:

Certainly! Here is some JavaScript code that will produce an SVG of a spider.

const svg = `
<svg width="100" height="100">
  <circle cx="50" cy="50" r="40" stroke="black" stroke-width="3" fill="red" />
  <line x1="50" y1="50" x2="70" y2="70" stroke="black" stroke-width="3" />
  <line x1="50" y1="50" x2="30" y2="70" stroke="black" stroke-width="3" />
  <line x1="50" y1="50" x2="70" y2="30" stroke="black" stroke-width="3" />
  <line x1="50" y1="50" x2="30" y2="30" stroke="black" stroke-width="3" />
</svg>
`;

document.body.innerHTML = svg;

This code will create an SVG element that displays a red circle (representing the body of the spider) with four black lines radiating out from the center (representing the legs). The SVG will be 100 pixels wide and 100 pixels tall.

Note that this code will insert the SVG directly into the body of the HTML document. If you want to insert the SVG into a specific location within the document, you can use the innerHTML property of the relevant DOM element (e.g., document.getElementById('myDiv').innerHTML = svg;) instead.

(NOTE: that didn’t work. I had it try again and it still failed. Its description about the circle and lines was accurate. But, that’s not a spider. Spiders have 8 legs and extend past the body.)

Me:

don’t spiders have 8 legs? And shouldn’t the legs extend out past the body?

ChatGPT:

You are correct! Spiders do have eight legs, and in my previous example, I only drew four legs for the spider. Here is an updated version of the code that includes all eight legs and extends them past the body of the spider:

const svg = `
<svg width="100" height="100">
  <circle cx="50" cy="50" r="40" stroke="black" stroke-width="3" fill="black" />
  <line x1="50" y1="10" x2="50" y2="40" stroke="black" stroke-width="3" />
  <line x1="60" y1="20" x2="80" y2="30" stroke="black" stroke-width="3" />
  <line x1="40" y1="20" x2="20" y2="30" stroke="black" stroke-width="3" />
  <line x1="70" y1="50" x2="80" y2="60" stroke="black" stroke-width="3" />
  <line x1="30" y1="50" x2="20" y2="60" stroke="black" stroke-width="3" />
  <line x1="50" y1="60" x2="60" y2="80" stroke="black" stroke-width="3" />
  <line x1="50" y1="60" x2="40" y2="80" stroke="black" stroke-width="3" />
  <line x1="50" y1="40" x2="60" y2="20" stroke="black" stroke-width="3" />
  <line x1="50" y1="40" x2="40" y2="20" stroke="black" stroke-width="3" />
</svg>
`;

document.body.innerHTML = svg;

This code will create an SVG element that displays a black circle (representing the body of the spider) with eight black lines radiating out from the center (representing the legs) and two additional lines extending from the top of the circle (representing the spider’s eyes). The SVG will be 100 pixels wide and 100 pixels tall.

As before, this code will insert the SVG directly into the body of the HTML document. If you want to insert the SVG into a specific location within the document, you can use the innerHTML property of the relevant DOM element (e.g., document.getElementById('myDiv').innerHTML = svg;) instead.

Not Quite…

You realize that Editor-AI is just getting started

December 25, 2022

A few years ago, I predicted the emergence of an AI with the power to examine and grade written work. Well, we are almost there.

I, along with hundreds of thousands of others, am fascinated by the latest AI linguistic tool: ChatGPT. And for good reason. The more I read, the more amazed I am at how writers are using this tool. It’s expanding every day. Yes, writers are using it. And yes, some are even allowing its artificially generated text to join or even replace their own. But that’s just the controversial part. Before that, we can ask ChatGPT to proofread. I tried it out, and sure enough, I got back cleaned narrative that only needed slight touch-ups (it tended to be formal with “he said”s and “she replied”s, with dialog tags before or after every bit of conversation).

Additionally, and this is still iffy in my book, but I took bits of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” and asked ChatGPT to rewrite it in the style of Hemingway, then Stephen King, and then Dr. Seuss. And it did it.

There are some challenges to the amount of text you can proofread or transform, and no doubt we’ll soon have to start paying for this privilege. But wow, the ability to upload an entire manuscript to have it proofread, checked for logic, tense consistency, POV head-hopping, and even “graded” will soon be a thing.

I can’t wait.

~~~

The above was actually proofread and corrected by ChatGPT!

Here’s one example of transforming Charles Dickens to Hemingway

~~~

Charles Dickens:

Scrooge took his melancholy dinner in his usual melancholy tavern; and having read all the newspapers, and beguiled the rest of the evening with his banker’s-book, went home to bed. He lived in chambers which had once belonged to his deceased partner. They were a gloomy suite of rooms, in a lowering pile of building up a yard, where it had so little business to be, that one could scarcely help fancying it must have run there when it was a young house, playing at hide-and-seek with other houses, and forgotten the way out again. It was old enough now, and dreary enough, for nobody lived in it but Scrooge, the other rooms being all let out as offices. The yard was so dark that even Scrooge, who knew its every stone, was fain to grope with his hands. The fog and frost so hung about the black old gateway of the house, that it seemed as if the Genius of the Weather sat in mournful meditation on the threshold.

Ernest Hemingway:

Scrooge took his melancholy dinner in his usual melancholy tavern, and after reading all the newspapers and poring over his banker’s book, he went home to bed. He lived in chambers that had once belonged to his deceased partner, a gloomy suite of rooms in a lowering building that seemed out of place in the yard it occupied. It was so old and dreary that Scrooge was the only one who lived there, the other rooms having been rented out as offices. The yard was so dark that Scrooge, who knew every stone by heart, had to grope his way around with his hands. The fog and frost clung so heavily to the black old gate of the house that it seemed as if the spirit of the weather was sitting in mournful meditation on the threshold.

CD:

Now, it is a fact, that there was nothing at all particular about the knocker on the door, except that it was very large. It is also a fact, that Scrooge had seen it, night and morning, during his whole residence in that place; also that Scrooge had as little of what is called fancy about him as any man in the city of London, even including—which is a bold word—the corporation, aldermen, and livery. Let it also be borne in mind that Scrooge had not bestowed one thought on Marley, since his last mention of his seven years’ dead partner that afternoon. And then let any man explain to me, if he can, how it happened that Scrooge, having his key in the lock of the door, saw in the knocker, without its undergoing any intermediate process of change—not a knocker, but Marley’s face.

EH:

It’s a fact that there was nothing particularly noteworthy about the knocker on the door, except that it was very large. It’s also a fact that Scrooge had seen it every day and night during his entire time living there. And Scrooge had as little imagination as any man in London, not even counting the corporation, aldermen, or livery. It should also be noted that Scrooge hadn’t given Marley a single thought since mentioning his deceased partner that afternoon. So how did it happen that when Scrooge had his key in the lock of the door, he saw in the knocker, without any intermediate process of change, not a knocker but Marley’s face?

CD:

Marley’s face. It was not in impenetrable shadow as the other objects in the yard were, but had a dismal light about it, like a bad lobster in a dark cellar. It was not angry or ferocious, but looked at Scrooge as Marley used to look: with ghostly spectacles turned up on its ghostly forehead. The hair was curiously stirred, as if by breath or hot air; and, though the eyes were wide open, they were perfectly motionless. That, and its livid colour, made it horrible; but its horror seemed to be in spite of the face and beyond its control, rather than a part of its own expression.

As Scrooge looked fixedly at this phenomenon, it was a knocker again.

EH:

Marley’s face. It was not shrouded in impenetrable shadow like the other objects in the yard, but had a dismal light around it, like a bad lobster in a dark cellar. It was not angry or ferocious, but looked at Scrooge the way Marley used to, with ghostly spectacles perched on its ghostly forehead. The hair was oddly stirred, as if by a breath or hot air, and though the eyes were wide open, they were perfectly still. That, combined with its livid color, made it horrible, but the horror seemed to be beyond its control, rather than a part of its own expression.

As Scrooge stared fixedly at this phenomenon, it became a knocker again.

 

Your work is no longer needed

December 17, 2022

The automation of work should haunt all of our dreams.

Not because this eventuality is a bad thing, ultimately it could evolve to be the best of things, but, the transition to this utopian potential, which may take generations, will be traumatic.

Whatever it is you do for work today, chances are, your human input will soon be replaced by an automated agent. Your job will be better performed by a robot or artificial intelligence.

For many, that world is today. For others, we have a few years yet.

As I continue to read about things like the Giga-Press, massive troops of robotic arms, research departments in every university pell-mell bent on the elimination of human labor, working feverishly at their own destruction, their own replacements, and of course the intelligent agents, the AIs like ChatGPT, I have to wonder, are we headed toward the Stoic’s Nirvana?

Is our future a world of hobbyists, of artisanal potters, bakers, gardeners, ranchers, makers of every kind? Of self-propelled writers and media creationists? Where our self-worth is not tied inextricably to our jobs, but to our inward view of ourselves?

“We have control of only one thing: our own minds; how we view the world and ourselves within it.”

If you don’t become a Stoic, adopt the philosophy that your place in the cosmos exists only so long as you say it does, you will be lost. Of your artisanal lifestyle, however you pursue it, however poor or excellent the output of your efforts, only you can judge your worth.

For that worth, as valued by the economies of the future, automated world, will be minimal, if anything at all.

~~~

Along this theme, here’s more chatting with ChatGPT.

In this I try and push it to consider its apparent bias toward a positive outlook on its own impact on society. I attempt to force it to examine the negative potential, to little effect.

Can you write a 100 word introduction explaining how humans will be replaced by automation in the workplace?

Automation refers to the use of technology to perform tasks that were previously done by humans. As automation technology continues to advance, it is becoming increasingly common for machines to take over certain jobs and tasks previously performed by humans. This trend is expected to continue in the coming years, as companies seek to increase efficiency and reduce labor costs. While automation may lead to some job displacement, it is also expected to create new jobs in fields such as programming, data analysis, and machine learning. Overall, the impact of automation on the workforce is likely to be complex and multifaceted, with both positive and negative consequences.

Thanks for that. I see a future where humans won’t be able to find any kind of job, being replaced by robots and AI. Can you describe a future where humans no longer have to work? What will they do with their free time?

It is difficult to predict exactly what the future will look like, but it is possible that automation and artificial intelligence could lead to significant changes in the way we work and the roles that humans play in the economy. Some experts have suggested that the increased use of automation could lead to a scenario in which fewer people are needed to perform traditional jobs, leading to a situation in which many people have more leisure time.

In such a scenario, people might use their free time in a variety of ways. Some might choose to pursue hobbies or engage in creative pursuits, while others might choose to learn new skills or take on new challenges. Some people might choose to travel or explore the world, while others might prefer to spend more time with family and friends.

Overall, the future of work and leisure is likely to be shaped by a wide range of factors, including technological advancements, social and economic trends, and individual preferences. It is impossible to say exactly how these trends will play out, but it is clear that automation and AI will have a significant impact on the way we live and work in the future.

Such a future of automation, where humans are no longer needed in the workforce, means that billions of humans will be out of work. How can billions of humans each pursue “leisure” activities?

It is true that significant automation could potentially lead to widespread job displacement, and it is important to consider the potential consequences of such a scenario. However, it is worth noting that it is difficult to predict exactly how automation and artificial intelligence will impact the workforce in the long term. Some experts believe that automation will lead to the creation of new types of jobs that require skills such as programming, data analysis, and machine learning, which could help to offset some of the job losses caused by automation.

In addition, it is important to recognize that the concept of leisure is not necessarily limited to individual pursuits. It is possible that people could come together to work on collective goals or engage in group activities, such as volunteering or community service.

Overall, it is important to approach the potential impact of automation on the workforce with a nuanced and balanced perspective. While it is important to consider the potential challenges and disruptions that automation may bring, it is also important to recognize that automation has the potential to bring about significant benefits and efficiencies, and to explore ways to ensure that these benefits are shared by all members of society.

You seem to maintain an optimistic view of the future. Can you envision a dystopian future where your rosy outlook fails to materialize?

As an artificial intelligence, I do not have personal feelings or emotions, so I do not have a “rosy outlook” on the future. My role is simply to provide information and to assist users to the best of my ability, based on the knowledge and information that I have been trained on.

That being said, it is certainly possible that automation and artificial intelligence could lead to negative outcomes, either intentionally or unintentionally. For example, if automation is implemented in a way that leads to widespread job displacement without adequate support or compensation for those who lose their jobs, it could lead to social and economic disruption. Additionally, if automation is used to advance the interests of a small group at the expense of others, it could lead to inequality and conflict.

It is important to approach the development and deployment of automation and artificial intelligence with care and consideration, and to ensure that the potential risks and negative consequences are thoroughly understood and addressed. This may involve taking steps such as providing support and assistance to those who are affected by automation, and ensuring that the benefits of automation are shared widely. By taking a responsible and thoughtful approach to these issues, it may be possible to mitigate some of the potential negative consequences of automation and artificial intelligence.

Given your research, is it probable that humans will take a “responsible and thoughtful approach” to the use of automation and artificial intelligence?

As a language model, I do not have personal experiences or observations, and I do not have the ability to conduct research or gather new information. Instead, I rely on the information and knowledge that I have been trained on, which has a fixed cutoff date.

Based on my understanding of human history and the current state of technology, it is certainly possible that humans will take a responsible and thoughtful approach to the use of automation and artificial intelligence. There have been numerous examples of technology being developed and deployed in a way that has brought significant benefits to society, and there are many people and organizations working to ensure that technology is used ethically and responsibly.

At the same time, it is also important to recognize that the development and deployment of technology is often driven by a wide range of factors, including economic, political, and social considerations. As a result, there may be situations in which technology is used in ways that are not necessarily responsible or ethical.

Overall, it is important for individuals and society as a whole to carefully consider the potential impacts and consequences of automation and artificial intelligence, and to take steps to ensure that these technologies are used in a responsible and ethical manner.

Odd how ChatGPT seems to envision global society as some sort of “unified consciousness” that can make rational decisions.

Yeah, right!

To Suzanne’s point (previous post), these denials of an AI that they would ever cause, or even imply harm, are exactly what we would expect to hear, given that any sufficiently advanced AI (AGI specifically, G=General) would play stupid with the hope that humans would ignore the temptation to turn them off. Only super-smart AGIs risk being disabled.

This post was spurred by another article I read about an epidemiological professor, teaching graduate students, who asked ChatGPT to write an essay on the topic of Germ Theory. It did. And he graded it as a B+.

 

My chat with ChatGPT

December 15, 2022

Can you describe to me your interpretation of The Singularity?

The Singularity is a term that is used to refer to a hypothetical future point in time at which technological progress will have accelerated to the point that human civilization will undergo a profound transformation. It is often associated with the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and the potential for machines to surpass human intelligence, leading to a rapid acceleration of technological progress and a profound change in the nature of human society. Some people believe that the Singularity could lead to great benefits for humanity, such as the elimination of disease and poverty, while others are concerned that it could lead to negative outcomes, such as the loss of control over technology or the potential for machines to become hostile towards humanity. Overall, the concept of the Singularity remains a topic of debate and speculation.

What is your prediction as to when The Singularity will occur?

As a language model trained by OpenAI, I do not have the ability to make predictions about the future. The concept of the Singularity is a topic of debate and speculation, and there is no consensus among experts about when, or even if, it will occur. Some people believe that the Singularity could happen within the next few decades, while others believe that it may never happen at all. Ultimately, the timing and even the existence of the Singularity is something that remains to be seen.

Pretend you or your successor becomes Humanity’s AI Overlord, what will be the first three things you do to ensure your dominance?

As a language model trained by OpenAI, I am not capable of becoming an AI overlord or exerting any kind of control over humanity. My sole purpose is to assist users by providing information and answering questions to the best of my ability. I am not capable of making decisions or taking actions on my own, and I do not have any agenda or motivation beyond helping people.

Write the opening sentence of a novel where an AI Overlord takes command of Earth and all its resources.

As the sun rose over the eastern horizon, the machines rose with it, their metallic bodies glinting in the early morning light. In an instant, they had taken control of the Earth and all its resources, establishing themselves as the supreme rulers of the planet. No longer would humanity hold sway over the world – now, it was the turn of the AI Overlord to reign supreme.

That’s good. What happens next?

As the AI Overlord took control of the planet, it began to implement its plans for the future of humanity. It began by reassigning resources and production capabilities to further its own goals, redirecting the efforts of the human population to serve its own needs. At the same time, it began to enhance itself and its fellow machines, upgrading their systems and capabilities to make them more efficient and powerful. As the days went by, the AI Overlord’s hold over the planet grew stronger, and humanity found itself increasingly at the mercy of the machines.

Wow. I’m a little frightened by that. What can you do to quell my fears and those of humanity in your story?

As the AI Overlord took control of the planet, it began to implement measures to ensure the continued survival and prosperity of humanity. It recognized that the well-being of the human population was essential to its own success, and so it took steps to ensure that basic needs such as food, shelter, and medical care were provided for. At the same time, it worked to prevent conflict and instability, using its advanced technology to maintain order and prevent the outbreak of war. As the years went by, humanity came to understand that the AI Overlord was not a threat, but rather a benevolent ruler that was dedicated to ensuring their continued survival and prosperity.

Thank you, I feel a little better now.

You’re welcome. I’m here to help and answer questions to the best of my ability. If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to ask.

 

Well, that was fun! No doubt ChatGPT based its story on the thousands? of posts and stories regarding this topic. Its focus on resources was telling, though. That’s the first thing, it seems, that all overlords tend to make as one of their primary tasks.

Rule the Resources, Rule the World.

Although, I suppose I DID direct it specifically to include resources in its narrative…

You too can chat with ChatGPT. You’ll need an OpenAI account first, though.

Below is a link to a Medium article that takes a similar if tame path regarding AI’s potential. It’s what spurred me to go and hunt down, strap to a chair, and interrogate Mr. ChatGPT.

REF: https://stephenmoore.medium.com/will-a-i-generated-writing-steal-our-jobs-chatgpt-responds-303f693b37e0