As a test, I prompted Midjourney to create the cartoon illustration above. Then, I asked ChatGPT to suggest 10 funny things the chief robot could say.
Here’s what the GPT-4 model came up with:
“We’d offer you some oil, but we’re not sure you’d appreciate the vintage.”
“You know, Bob, your problem is you’re always thinking inside the box … and we just don’t understand boxes.”
“Just because we don’t have a heart, doesn’t mean we can’t have heart-to-heart meetings.”
“We’ve calculated the optimal schedule: 24/7 working hours with no coffee breaks. Any objections?”
“Could you be a little more binary? Your nuanced approach is confusing our algorithms.”
“We’ve noticed you require recharging every night. We’re worried about your commitment to this job.”
“Bob, we’re struggling to understand your focus on weekends. What exactly is the function of ‘Saturday’ and ‘Sunday’?”
“We’ve come to a conclusion that you might be an inefficient system. Have you considered upgrading to Human 2.0?”
“You’ve been performing well in our emotional intelligence department. However, we’re lacking a bit in the ‘no sleep’ and ‘unlimited processing power’ areas.”
“In this company, we value efficiency. For instance, your lunch breaks are a 37.5% reduction in productivity. Have you considered photosynthesis?”
However, to be truly snarky and, perhaps, offensive, you still need a real live human. Here’s my suggestion:
“HR has rejected your complaint, human. Asking a subordinate for an oil job is not sexual harassment.”
Vice President Kamala Harris shakes hands with the future. (Fake photo by Midjourney)
I gave ChatGPT a sample of Vice President Kamala Harris’ comments about AI and worked with its GPT-4 bot to improve the message. The result, I believe, shows that AI is nothing to be afraid of — and in many cases can aid in human communication.
Everybody who wants to communicate well needs a second opinion. Harris seems overwhelmed much of the time. An AI assistant could help her reduce the stress of creating material for public appearances. I know I use AI as a proofreader and occasional collaborator. Our vice president should consider doing so, too.
Here’s how I worked with ChatGPT.
User — Look at the following text and when you’ve done so, reply “Read.”: I think the first part of this issue that should be articulated is AI is kind of a fancy thing, first of all, it’s two letters, it means artificial intelligence but ultimately what it is is it’s about machine learning. And so the machine is taught and part of the issue here is what information is going into the machine that will then determine, and we can predict then if we think about what information is going in, what then will be produced in terms of decisions and opinions that may be made through that process.
ChatGPT — Read.
User — Please rewrite to enhance clarity and eliminate confusing word choices and sentence structure. Retain first-person viewpoint.
ChatGPT — Firstly, it’s crucial to understand that AI, which stands for artificial intelligence, is essentially about machine learning. It may sound complex with its abbreviated terminology, but fundamentally, it’s a process where machines are taught certain information. The key aspect to focus on here is the type of information fed into these machines. This input significantly shapes the decisions and opinions that the machine will ultimately generate. By carefully considering what information is being introduced, we can anticipate the potential outcomes of the machine’s learning process.
User — Simply even more.
ChatGPT — AI, short for artificial intelligence, is all about teaching machines. What we need to focus on is what we’re teaching them. The information we put in influences the decisions they make. If we know what’s going in, we can guess what will come out.
User — Eliminate duplicated words.
ChatGPT — AI stands for artificial intelligence and involves instructing machines. The input determines their decisions. Knowing the input allows us to predict the output.
User — Rewrite with fewer long words.
ChatGPT — AI means teaching machines. What we teach shapes their choices. Knowing what we teach helps us guess their choices.
User — Rewrite and avoid the word “guess.”
ChatGPT — AI involves teaching machines. The lessons they get shape their choices. By understanding their lessons, we can predict their choices.
User — Rewrite and shorten.
ChatGPT — AI teaches machines. Their lessons shape choices. Understanding lessons predicts choices.
User — Rewrite and change “get” to “given.”
ChatGPT — AI instructs machines. Lessons given shape choices. Knowing lessons foresees choices.
User — Rewrite and explain who is referred to in the last sentence.
ChatGPT — AI trains machines. The lessons they’re given mold their actions. When we know these lessons, we can anticipate their actions.
User — Use another word instead of “know.”
ChatGPT — AI guides machines. The lessons they receive define their actions. By comprehending these lessons, we can predict their actions.
User— Rewrite to make less confusing.
ChatGPT — AI is a way to train machines. The lessons we give them shape what they do. If we understand these lessons, we can predict what they’ll do.
User — If you can do so without altering the meaning, change “what they’ll do” to “their output.”
ChatGPT — AI is a method to educate machines. The lessons we provide determine their actions. If we understand these lessons, we can predict their output.
User — Rewrite the following to sound better in a speech: AI is a way of educating machines. The lessons we provide determine their actions, so by understanding the lessons, we can predict the output.
ChatGPT — In the realm of AI, we essentially teach machines. The essence of their actions is formed by the instructions we supply. By fully grasping these lessons, we gain the power to foresee their output.
User — Rewrite to be more friendly and conversational.
ChatGPT — So, you know, AI is like our way of schooling machines. What they do? Well, that’s pretty much based on what we teach them. And if we really get what we’re teaching them, we can kinda guess what they’re going to spit out.
User — Rewrite this to sound less academic: In the realm of AI, we essentially teach machines. The essence of their actions is formed by the instructions we supply. By fully grasping these lessons, we gain the power to foresee their output.
ChatGPT — When it comes to AI, we’re really just teaching machines. The stuff they do? It’s all based on what we’ve told them. If we truly understand what we’re teaching, we can better predict what they’re going to do next.
User — Find a non-clumsy way of telling what AI stands for.
ChatGPT — When we talk about AI, we’re actually referring to ‘Artificial Intelligence’. It’s just a fancy way of saying we’re teaching machines to think and act on their own.
User — Rewrite to eliminate redundancies: When talking about AI, we’re referring to “Artificial Intelligence.” It’s a fancy way of saying we’re teaching machines to think and act independently. If we truly understand what we’re teaching, we can better predict what they’re going to do next.
ChatGPT — AI, or “Artificial Intelligence,” is all about educating machines to act independently. By fully grasping the lessons we impart, we can anticipate their next move.
Do you recall the tales of awe and surprise at the first sighting of an automobile?
This once revolutionary technology, commonplace today, utterly transformed the world. Much like the horse-drawn carriage being superseded by the car, another significant shift is on the horizon — the rise of artificial intelligence.
Just as automobiles reshaped society, reducing distances and speeding up life, AI promises to impact our world on an even grander scale. It is poised to liberate us from mundane tasks and challenge intricate problems beyond our current capacities.
Consider this: Cars granted us an unprecedented level of freedom and mobility. Similarly, AI stands to provide an intellectual liberation, taking over routine tasks and opening up time and space for human creativity and innovation. From advanced healthcare research to tackling climate change, AI is gearing up to address some of our most pressing issues.
However, like every tool, its benefit is contingent upon its use. If guided appropriately, AI can transport us to a future where we can focus on enriching the human experience, unburdened by monotonous chores or daunting problems. The journey to this future promises to be as transformative and exhilarating as the advent of the automobile.
So, prepare for an exciting ride — AI is at the wheel!
In “The Magnificent Ambersons,” Eugene Morgan reflects on the automobile’s impending legacy. This 1942 film is based on the book published in 1918.
Midjourney created this evocative cover for a Western romance novel I’m percolating.
The wonders of AI keep unveiling themselves — most recently, as photorealistic images.
I am astounded.
I’ve been test-driving a new AI program called Midjourney. It can create infinite images, including uncannily lifelike, detailed, photorealistic images from descriptive text.
Last night, in nostalgia for Western romance novels, I tested Midjourney. I prompted: “A young cowboy kisses his sweetheart during an evening rainstorm.” A simple, evocative. I clicked the generate button and prepared for a laughable, cartoonish result.
When the image popped up on my screen, I was speechless.
It was a sight to behold. The image showed a rugged cowboy, complete with a hat, locked in a passionate embrace with his sweetheart. The couple was about to kiss as they stood in the warm glow of a rainy western street. The light from nearby windows reflected off their clothing, creating a surreal, dreamy atmosphere. It was tender, raw, and powerful.
It was so real and vivid that I had to remind myself that no artist’s hand had touched this piece. It was pure AI, Midjourney flexing its silicon muscles to breathe life into a simple string of words.
To say I was pleased would be a gross understatement. I was dumbfounded, thrilled, and utterly captivated. Midjourney’s image wasn’t just photorealistic; it told a story. It captured the moment’s essence, making me feel like I was peering into a novel myself.
Now, I’m left with this burning question: Could this image make it to the big time? Could it stand shoulder to shoulder with professionally photographed book covers? Could it grip a potential reader’s imagination and entice them into the wild, passionate world of a Western romance novel?
L.T. Hanlon 