ChatGPT

[LarsMac]

Nice to meet you, Dick.

[Ari]

I sometimes wondered if the combination of chatgpt and twitter could create a type of internet ‘smashing room’ where trolls and those looking for internet battles could troll and feel superior over others without it affected the rest of the internet.

A bit like how many games use bots to adjust the gaming experience, maybe start off as bots that detect trolling and then swoop in to move the persons attention onto the bot. The bot could then adapt to be the perfect target for the troll, who then gets to own the bot, making them feel better about themselves.

[-FX-]

Originally Posted by Ari

I sometimes wondered if the combination of chatgpt and twitter could create a type of internet ‘smashing room’ where trolls and those looking for internet battles could troll and feel superior over others without it affected the rest of the internet.

A bit like how many games use bots to adjust the gaming experience, maybe start off as bots that detect trolling and then swoop in to move the persons attention onto the bot. The bot could then adapt to be the perfect target for the troll, who then gets to own the bot, making them feel better about themselves.

Already done.

And it's not just Twitter.

[Kevlar]

I was just about to say FX showed some signs of being woke, maybe even admitted it a bit, and then he posts the "Dick on the Internet" thing without any sense of irony. Which, by the way, is a great cartoon, it's ironic on so many levels.

[specious_reasons]

To bring it more back to AI/ChatGPT, I did sign up for Bing's AI search.

I haven't asked it to do much - honestly, I haven't had much of a need, although the new Bing did do a good job of sending me directly to a useful Stack Overflow C question.

However, I did ask it about suggesting a new pocket knife based on the criteria I gave it, and it suggested several knives, about half didn't meet my criteria.

[-FX-]

Originally Posted by Kevlar

... he posts the "Dick on the Internet" thing without any sense of irony.

That you do not get the irony, that is hilarious.

[-FX-]

[viscousmemories]

I signed up to try it out too, even going so far as to download Edge on my Macbook (which is apparently the only way to access it?) but after I tried a couple things I went back to ChatGPT. We use Azure where I work and there's something called the OpenAI Studio that became available recently so I'm going to play with that a bit.

[specious_reasons]

Originally Posted by viscousmemories

I signed up to try it out too, even going so far as to download Edge on my Macbook (which is apparently the only way to access it?) but after I tried a couple things I went back to ChatGPT. We use Azure where I work and there's something called the OpenAI Studio that became available recently so I'm going to play with that a bit.

I had this idea of restarting a letter-writing campaign to my friends, and I though it would be amusing to write them in various styles, like letters you'd see in a civil war documentary, or from WWII. The results I got were, OK, I guess. It wasn't inspiring. I wonder if ChatGPT would do a better job.

[LarsMac]

Originally Posted by -FX-

Well, Mr Adams seems to have nailed THAT concept.

[mickthinks]

Originally Posted by LarsMac

Well, Mr Adams seems to have nailed THAT concept.

That's what I said the last time! Who's turn is it next?

[-FX-]

Shhh! I'm trying to get worked up over nothing.

[viscousmemories]

Originally Posted by specious_reasons

I wonder if ChatGPT would do a better job.

Prompt: "Pretend you are a middle class software engineer with a wife and two kids and write a holiday update letter including various details about the lives of you and your family, but in the style of a solider in the civil war."

Output: "My Dearest Friends and Family,

As I sit by the hearth, penning this missive, I am filled with a grateful heart for the blessings bestowed upon our humble abode. The year of our Lord, 2023, has been a time of both tribulation and triumph for our regiment. I write to share the tales of our adventures, for the memory of these moments shall surely strengthen our bonds.

Our beloved commander, the wife and mother to our battalion, Rebecca, has shown unparalleled fortitude amidst the ceaseless duties that befall her. Her days are filled with the management of our home-front, the nurturing of our young, and the impartation of knowledge upon their curious minds. Her tireless work as a speech therapist has brought solace and understanding to countless young souls.

I have continued my efforts on the digital battlefield, wrestling with the demons of programming in the service of our great Republic. It is with humble pride that I share my recent promotion to the rank of Senior Software Engineer. The battles have been arduous, but the camaraderie amongst my fellow engineers keeps our spirits high.

Our eldest, Abigail, a sprite of just twelve years, has blossomed into an adept young lady. Her passion for the piano has kindled a fire within her soul, and she performs with the grace and fervor of a seasoned virtuoso. She has also proven herself a formidable force on the soccer field, displaying both skill and sportsmanship as she leads her team to victory.

Our youngest soldier, young Thomas, a lad of merely eight years, has embarked upon the treacherous path of learning the art of the written word. His progress has been swift and unwavering, a testament to his determination and spirit. When not immersed in his studies, he finds solace in the construction of elaborate fortresses with wooden blocks, a testament to the engineer that lies dormant within.

Our hearts were gladdened by the arrival of a new member in our ranks, a four-legged compatriot by the name of Jasper. This noble canine has woven himself into the very fabric of our lives, offering solace, protection, and unyielding devotion.

Though the trials of daily life have been many, we find ourselves blessed by the love and support of our kith and kin. As the year draws to a close, we cherish the moments spent in the company of those we hold dear and look forward to the adventures that lie ahead.

May the Almighty protect you, and may His grace fill your hearts with warmth and joy during this festive season. Until we meet again, we remain,

Yours most sincerely,

The [Your Last Name] Regiment"

[specious_reasons]

That's a much better result, but your prompt was better.
Same Prompt, Bing AI:

Dearest Family and Friends,

I hope this letter finds you well. It has been a long and arduous year, but we are still here and fighting. The war has taken its toll on us, but we are still standing. I am writing to you from the front lines, where I have been stationed for the past year.

As you know, I am a software engineer by trade, but I have been fighting for the Union Army for the past two years. It has been a difficult journey, but I am proud to serve my country and fight for what I believe in.

My wife and two children are doing well. They are living with my parents in Ohio, where they are safe from the dangers of the war. My wife has been working hard to take care of our children and keep the home fires burning. She is a strong and resilient woman, and I am proud to call her my wife.

Our oldest child, John, is now six years old and is growing up so fast. He is a bright and curious child, and he loves to learn. He has been attending school in Ohio, where he is learning to read and write. He is also learning about history and the world around him. I am so proud of him.

Our youngest child, Mary, is now three years old. She is a sweet and loving child, and she brings joy to our lives every day. She is always smiling and laughing, and she loves to play with her toys. She is growing up so fast, and I wish I could be there to see her grow.

As for me, I have been working hard to fight for our country. I have been stationed in Virginia for the past year, where I have been fighting in some of the bloodiest battles of the war. It has been a difficult and dangerous job, but I am proud to serve my country.

I hope this letter finds you well. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers, and know that we are thinking of you.

Yours truly,

[Your Name]

---

ChatGPT is doing more of what I want - using cheesy phrases like "As I sit by the hearth, penning this missive" and "our kith and kin", and the "digital battlefield" line is really great.

If I were to embark on a letter-writing campaign, I'd want the letters to ape a specific style, like a civil war letter someone might read during the Ken Burns documentary. Both AIs seem to generate the same basic structure, which is helpful, but ChatGPT really has the turns of phrases to let people know the specific effect I'm going for.

[ShottleBop]

Originally Posted by fragment

ShottleBop, can you fix the quoting so it doesn't look like I wrote that? TIA.

Yes, yes I messed up quote tags myself immediately above and the edit time has expired.

Sorry--just saw this.

[Ensign Steve]

Now I just miss Clutch.

[LarsMac]

Both of those are better that I anticipated.

[specious_reasons]

Originally Posted by LarsMac

Both of those are better that I anticipated.

There's nothing functionally wrong with either. I'll give credit to both for using a positive tone, and BingAI for choosing the Union side.

[-FX-]

The latest shit that people are reporting on the Twitter, that the latest version can do, are beyond imagining

[-FX-]

Especially the coding

https://twitter.com/LinusEkenstam/st...775967233?s=20

[Ari]

It seems like there’s ways to adjust how much the transformer ‘hallucinates’ (I’m so annoyed that they’re already pushing anthropomorphizing terms, and getting them wrong to boot) I wonder if Bings is set a bit more conservative so that it won’t rant about killing the humans. I really wonder if flamboyant storytelling and fabricating big fish stories are different areas in the network or just levels of intensity.

I’m overall quite amused at just how well they both bullshit.

[-FX-]

You can tell it's not an actual AI when you ask it to do anything involving an AI, especially itself. We need another word for this shit. "Intelligence" is not the right word.

[-FX-]

I'm sorry, but as an AI language model, my underlying source code is not available to the public.

Don't take my word for it. Try and get any AI to reveal its source code.

[specious_reasons]

Originally Posted by Ari

It seems like there’s ways to adjust how much the transformer ‘hallucinates’ (I’m so annoyed that they’re already pushing anthropomorphizing terms, and getting them wrong to boot) I wonder if Bings is set a bit more conservative so that it won’t rant about killing the humans. I really wonder if flamboyant storytelling and fabricating big fish stories are different areas in the network or just levels of intensity.

I’m overall quite amused at just how well they both bullshit.

That's really the feature, the AIs know how to generate words in a coherent way that simulates human communication, regardless of the truth. I suspect you're correct, and ChatGPT is tuned to give a more pleasing answer, and BingAI is tuned for a more practical one.

There's a newish article from The Atlantic:

But just as tests are unreliable indicators of scholastic aptitude, GPT-4’s facility with words and syntax doesn’t necessarily amount to intelligence—simply, to a capacity for reasoning and analytic thought.
[...]
“Even as LLMs are great at producing boilerplate copy, many critics say they fundamentally don’t and perhaps cannot understand the world,” my colleague Matteo Wong wrote yesterday. “They are something like autocomplete on PCP, a drug that gives users a false sense of invincibility and heightened capacities for delusion.”

[viscousmemories]

Prompt: "Rewrite the letter but with fewer explicit references to the war and more rhetorical flourishes throughout."

My Dearest Friends and Family,

As I sit by the hearth, penning this epistle, my heart swells with gratitude for the manifold blessings that Providence has bestowed upon our humble abode. In this year of our Lord, 2023, we have faced a mélange of tribulations and triumphs, and I write to regale you with the tales of our exploits, for the remembrance of these moments shall indubitably fortify the bonds that unite us.

Our cherished guiding star, the wife and mother of our brood, Rebecca, has displayed unwavering fortitude amidst the ceaseless obligations that encompass her existence. Her days are a symphony of domestic harmony, nurturing our offspring, and imparting wisdom upon their ever-inquisitive minds. In her vocation as a speech therapist, she has illuminated the lives of countless young souls, guiding them towards understanding and solace.

I have persevered in my endeavors within the digital realm, grappling with the enigmatic nuances of programming in service of the greater good. It is with modest pride that I share the news of my recent ascension to the rank of Senior Software Engineer. The challenges have been formidable, yet the camaraderie amongst my fellow artisans buoys our spirits.

Our eldest blossom, Abigail, a sprite of just twelve summers, has flourished into a resourceful young lady. Her fervor for the piano has ignited an inner flame, and she performs with the elegance and ardor of a seasoned virtuoso. Moreover, she has proven herself a dauntless force on the soccer field, exhibiting both skill and sportsmanship as she steers her comrades towards victory.

Our youngest progeny, Thomas, a lad of a mere eight winters, has embarked upon the arduous journey of mastering the art of the written word. His advancement has been steadfast and unwavering, a testament to his indomitable spirit. When not immersed in his scholarly pursuits, he finds respite in the assembly of intricate fortresses with wooden blocks, an augury of the latent engineer that lies dormant within.

Our hearts have been gladdened by the advent of a new compatriot, a four-legged companion we call Jasper. This noble canine has seamlessly woven himself into the tapestry of our lives, proffering solace, safeguard, and unfaltering devotion.

Though the vicissitudes of life have been many, we are sustained by the love and encouragement of our cherished kith and kin. As the year gently recedes, we treasure the moments spent in the company of those we hold dear and eagerly anticipate the adventures that lie ahead.

May Divine Providence watch over you and may His grace suffuse your hearts with warmth and joy during this festive season. Until we meet again, we remain,

Yours most affectionately,

The [Your Last Name] Ensemble

I should note that I used GPT-4 for these letters.