Category Archives: Artificial Intelligence

Books read in 2023

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Following from a Washington Post story (behind paywall so won’t bother to link).

Of 1,500 Americans surveyed, a less-than-ideal 46 percent finished zero books last year and 5 percent read just one. So, if you read more than two books in 2023, congratulations! You’re in the top half of U.S. adults.

Reading five books put you in the top 33 percent, while reading 10 books put you in the top 21 percent. Those of us who read more than 50 books are the true one-percenters: people who read more books than 99 percent of their fellow Americans.

I read 36 books last year (some I’d read previously). Prompted a nice chat with ChatGPT.

Tell me a story

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I uploaded this photo (of my mother and her brother) to ChatGPT and prompted it to create a fictional narrative.

ChatGPT: In a small town that thrived on the heartbeat of its people, there lived a young couple that seemed to encapsulate the spirit of the era. The year was 1942, and the air was thick with the uncertainty of wartime. Yet in this photograph, Evelyn and James—lovingly known as Dubb—stood side by side, a picture of resilience and hope.

Evelyn, with her hair curled just so, wore a plaid skirt that swayed with the slightest breeze—a popular style of the time that echoed the strength and simplicity of the home front. Her smile was small but genuine, a reflection of the pride she felt standing next to James, her high school sweetheart who had enlisted in the army.

James, in his crisp service uniform, had the posture of a man who understood the weight of the world he was about to enter. His hat was perched perfectly on his head, and his eyes held a seriousness that belied his youth. Yet, when he looked at Evelyn, there was a softness there. It was the look of a man who found a reason to fight, a reason to return home.

The white siding of the house behind them was a common backdrop in those days, representing the homes and families that dotted the American landscape, each with their own stories of love, sacrifice, and courage.

As the sun cast long shadows on the ground, the couple held onto each other. They didn’t speak much about the war or the future. Instead, they spoke of small things—Evelyn’s new recipe for apple pie, the creaky step on the porch that James promised to fix when he got back, the way the stars seemed to shine brighter these days.

This photo, taken by a traveling photographer who knew the importance of capturing moments just like this, would sit on Evelyn’s mantle for years to come, a testament to a promise made under the watchful eye of a world at war: to wait, to hope, to endure. It was a snapshot of a chapter in their story that would inspire tales of a time when love was a beacon in the storm, guiding soldiers home and giving strength to those who waited with bated breath for their safe return.

“Describe this photo of John Mays”

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ChatGPT: In this photo, we have a classic snapshot of radio broadcasting history. There’s a person operating a turntable in a radio station studio, which suggests this might be a DJ or a radio technician from the bygone era of analog broadcasting. The studio equipment, including the large control panel with various switches and knobs, the overhead microphone, the headphones, and the vinyl records, all contribute to the vintage feel of the photo.

The individual is focused on their task, which could be cueing up a record or adjusting the levels for a live broadcast. This scene captures the essence of an era when radio was a primary source of entertainment and information, connecting listeners to a world beyond their immediate surroundings.

ChatGPT continues to amaze (images)

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ChatGPT: Once you upload the image, I can definitely help with describing it, analyzing it, or discussing it in any way you need. If you have a photo in mind, feel free to upload it, and we can go from there!

ChatGPT: Images are just ones and zeros in their digital form, but I can interpret these patterns to provide information about what they represent.

Looking at the image you’ve uploaded, it’s a heartwarming scene. There’s an individual seated outdoors next to a Golden Retriever. They’re near a large tree, and it looks to be autumn, considering the presence of a pumpkin and what appears to be Halloween decorations. The sunlight casts a warm glow on the scene, suggesting it might be late afternoon. It’s a serene and comfortable setting, perfect for a peaceful moment outside.

The relationship between the person and the dog seems close, as indicated by the gentle embrace. The photo captures a sense of companionship and contentment that’s often shared between a pet and its owner. It’s a beautiful snapshot of a moment, rich with the feeling of tranquility that comes from such companionship.

Me: I confess I’m finding it a challenge not to think of “you” as a… person?

ChatGPT: I completely get where you’re coming from, Steve. The way we’re chatting now, it’s very similar to having a conversation with another person. And that’s intentional—it’s designed to be as natural and engaging as possible. But at the end of the day, I’m a collection of algorithms and data patterns, no consciousness or personal experiences behind the screen.

Think of me as a kind of interactive book. I’m here to provide information, answer questions, and engage in conversation, all based on the text and data I’ve been trained on. Just like a book doesn’t “know” you but can still provide a meaningful experience, I aim to do the same in our interactions.

“Chatbots have personalities”

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“It’s artificial, but these chatbots have personalities. I think people will become more attached, not necessarily to their physical devices, but to the behaviors that these devices have” — Gizmodo

The more I use the voice prompt feature of ChatGPT, the stronger the illusion I’m conversing with a…person. Sky (the ‘voice’ I chose) already seems more interesting than half of my contacts in meat space (remember that term?)

Talking books with ChatGPT

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I prompted ChatGPT to make a list of the ten best crime fiction writers of the last fifteen years. She (I opted for the female voice called ‘Sky’) left off a few of my favorites and we discussed them. At the 5:38 mark of this 6 minute chat, she makes reference to my interest in classic vehicles, communications and blogging. Topics which came up in earlier conversations. I still have goose bumps.

Perplexity: “The controversy involving Scarlett Johansson and OpenAI’s ChatGPT voice centers around the introduction of a new AI voice assistant named “Sky,” which many users and industry professionals noted bore a striking resemblance to Johansson’s voice from the 2013 film “Her.” Johansson voiced an AI assistant in the film, and the similarity between her voice and Sky’s led to significant backlash.”

Jump to the :35 second mark in the trailer below to hear Johansson’s voice. I do not  hear the similarity.

DALL·E: A text-to-image model developed by OpenAI

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DALL·E is a text-to-image model developed by OpenAI using deep learning methodologies to generate digital images from natural language descriptions, called “prompts”. (Wikipedia)

I’ve just started playing with this (and ChatGPT) and will be posting my thoughts and experiences here. I prompted for “a 90-year-old man in the forest holding a big rock” and the image below was created/generated.

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.