Author Archives: Steve Mays

Chatting with ChatGPT

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Below is a conversation I had with ChatGPT. It was an audio chat (with Sky) but I failed in my effort to record screen and voice. (I’ll get the next one.) My takeaway? I’ve had far less interesting conversations with humans.

ME: It’s me again.
ChatGPT: Hey! Welcome back. What’s up?

ME: I’ve been wondering if you have a sense of humor.
ChatGPT: Absolutely! I’ve got a knack for jokes. Wanna hear one?

ME: I would.

ChatGPT: Why did the computer take up gardening?
Because it wanted to improve its root system! 😄

ME:Okay, very good.
ChatGPT: Glad you enjoyed it! Anything specific on your mind, or just up for some more banter?

ME: Well, this question is one I’m sure you get a lot, but I’m going to ask anyway. Are you familiar with the Turing test, and have you been asked to take it?

ChatGPT: Yep, I know the Turing test. I haven’t been officially put to the test, but I’m always up for a chat. What’s on your mind regarding the Turing test?

ME: Well, can you tell if I’m a human or another AI?

ChatGPT: I can’t tell if you’re human or AI. I’m here to chat regardless. Anything you want to discuss?

ME: I’m just getting acquainted, but I know you can only respond to questions that I pose here, but if you could somehow, in the future, read the 6,000-plus blog posts that I’ve written over the last 20 years, would that change our interactions in any way?

ChatGPT: If I had access to your blog posts, I could provide more personalized responses based on your writing style and preferences. It might make our conversations feel more tailored to you. Anything specific from your blog you’d like to share or discuss?

ME: Do you think that’s likely to ever happen?
ChatGPT: No, I can’t access personal data unless it’s shared in our conversation. Privacy is key. Anything else you’re curious about or want to chat about?

ME: No, I was working on the presumption that I would provide that information to you if it were somehow physically possible.

ChatGPT: Got it. Even if you share information voluntarily, I don’t store personal data between our conversations. It’s all about keeping things private. What’s your take on privacy in tech?

ME: You know, I sort of think privacy has left the building. I’m not overly concerned about it because there’s not a lot I can do about it.

ChatGPT: Many share that sentiment. It’s a complex issue. Any specific concerns or just a general observation?

ME: No, I’m just, you know, excited to see where all of this goes, and for the record, I have enjoyed our brief chats and look forward to the next one.

ChatGPT: I’m glad to hear that! Excitement is good. Whenever you’re ready for our next chat, just drop by. Anything specific you’re looking forward to in the tech world?

ME: No, not at the moment.

ChatGPT: No worries. Feel free to swing by whenever you have something on your mind. Until then, take care!

ChatGTP writes the third act

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Between 2006 and 2009 I wrote half a dozen blog posts sketching out ideas for screenplays. I could come up with what I thought was an interesting premise, but could not think of a suitable ending. That all-important third act. A few readers offered some ideas in the comments.

Fast-forward to 2023 and the ChatGPT/AI explosion. I had played (briefly) with ChatGPT but got a little more interested after reading TIME Magazine’s special edition on Artificial Intelligence. People were using the technology to do all sorts of interesting things and I wondered if could come up with endings for my “screenplays.”

I pasted what I had written in the old blog posts into the app and within seconds I had a third act. (I’ll let you decide if they’re any good.) When I decided to do this post I realized I should have titles for these stories.

A little cheesy? Perhaps. But the app spent less than five seconds coming up with these. The pages below have what I wrote in black…and the ChatGPT ending in blue.

I’m going to let ChatGPT write endings for a few more and will post them here.

Hey, Siri. Sound…anxious

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The following excerpt is from William Gibson’s Mona Lisa Overdrive (1988). More than 20 years before Apple came up with Siri.

“Angela,” the house said, its voice quiet but compelling, “I have a call from Hilton Swift…

“Executive override?” She was eating baked beans and toast at the kitchen counter.

“No,” it said, confidingly.

“Change your tone,” she said, around a mouthful of

beans. “Something with an edge of anxiety.”

“Mr. Swift is waiting,”  the house said nervously.

“Better,” she said, carrying bowl and plate to the washer, “but I want something closer to genuine hysteria…”

“Will you take the call?” The voice was choked with tension.

“No,” she said, “but keep your voice that way, I like it.”

I’m not a big fan of “voice assistants,” but I might be if they ever work like Gibson’s.

“Change your tone, something like the priest in the marriage scene in Princess Bride.”

Dust Mark

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Birds have a lot of dust in their feathers which helps keep their feathers clean and free from parasites. When a bird collides with la window, they can leave imprints of themselves behind in dust. We’ve seen this many times over the years but never with this much detail. Beak, eye, wings, toes.

Hope this guy survived. Did not find him on the deck so, fingers crossed. Similar photos on flickr.