First Encounters with AI Personalities
This week I’m going to focus on how technology is changing our relationships with people – and in some cases, replacing them.
We’ll start with a peek at ChatGPT. Later in the week, we’ll talk about how the social media has practically destroyed the art of street photography, or what some used to call anthropological photography, and what that means not just for photography, but our visibility into the lives of others.
Chat GPT is a fourth generation generative intelligence conversational platform. “GPT” stands for generative pre-trained transformer. As you learn more about AI, you will become aware of the difference between “generative” AI and artificial general intelligence (AGI). Generative AI generates responses (text, speech, images) in response to prompts from people or other machines, drawing its responses from a corpus of knowledge, and fashioning its response using rules and corrective training by humans. As noted in my previous post, it is AGI, with its ability to reason and act independently without human supervision, that has people worried about human survival.
If you want to learn more about generative AI, there’s a good overview at Techopedia here. Generative AI can also be used to generate “deep-fake” photos, paintings and other media besides text or speech.
I encourage everyone to try it out if you already haven’t. Go to chat.openai.com, sign up and try to have an intelligent conversation with ChatGPT. Some advice:
Start with small talk, and switch topics a few times. As about a baseball score, then comment on a movie you saw and ask for ChatGPT’s opinion.
After small talk, try to have a meaningful conversation. Share an experience, good or bad, that changed your own thinking and see what it says. Note the boundaries of what it’s willing to discuss – this reflects how the underlying algorithms were trained to identify your intents, and how the dialog engine is programmed to respond to specific intents.
From time to time, I’ll post some transcripts of my ChatGPT conversations and encourage all to join me. My first ChatGPT conversation is posted below, at the end of this piece.
Just about everyone, from software companies to manufacturers to customer service functions in large companies are experimenting with ChatGPT, so sooner or later, you’ll have a conversation with this artificial intelligence engine.
Enter Caryn
Now social media influencers are using it. Caryn Marjorie is a 23-year-old social media influencer on Snapchat with 1.8 million followers. Using a generative AI engine, forever.ai from Telegram, she created an AI chatbot version of herself, feeding it voice and video of herself so that it can generate natural dialog responses in her own voice, with some intonation of personality. She has launched a new service, offering her “CarynAI” persona as a “virtual girlfriend” if you sign up and pay $1/minute at her website. In her first week, she claims to have earned over $70,000 – and the service is still in beta (or early adopter) phase.
NBC reports that “while CarynAI aims to give users an intimate experience, it is not supposed to engage in "sexually explicit" interactions.
“However, after outlets reported that the chatbot does so when prompted, Marjorie issued a statement to Insider saying that the AI was "not programmed to do this and has seemed to go rogue. My team and I are working around the clock to prevent this from happening again."
Sounds human enough to me!
Below, you can watch a YouTube video posted by Joel Morton, who shares a “virtual date” role play with Caryn’s AI personality:
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Going rogue, of course, is what we worry about, and what we’ve always worried about, going back to AI’s inception in the 1950s and 1960s.
Some of you Gene Roddenberry-era Star Trek fans may remember the M5 super computer, which could run a starship on its own and make better decisions than a human captain. But during a test of the device, the AI computer mistook a war game for the real thing and using its training for survival, killed hundreds in friendly-fire. Even the uber-scientist who invented the AI could not overcome its logic and call off the attack, even after pleading with it as its “creator.”
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From History to Jesus
Me, I decided to take with ChatGPT about the study of history and morality. (That is why I put the story of Caryn Marjorie “above the fold”).
My own experience with ChatGPT so far has felt like Mr. Spock’s conversations with the ship computer – or perhaps like talking to a very well-trained and well-informed librarian. I try to bait her into giving her opinions, but she never falls for it. Her training and her boundaries are transparent. She never lets down her hair, or takes her glasses off.
Unlike previous generations of AI chat experiences, this AI can traverse many different subjects (“knowledge domains” in industry language) seamlessly.
Why should a person study history?
There are many reasons why a person should study history, including:
Understanding the Present: History helps us understand the present by providing context for current events and issues. By studying the past, we can better understand the root causes of social, economic, and political problems that we face today.
Gaining Perspective: History helps us gain perspective on our own lives and the world around us. It allows us to see how societies and cultures have evolved over time and how different people have dealt with similar challenges.
Developing Critical Thinking Skills: Studying history helps develop critical thinking skills, such as analyzing evidence, evaluating sources, and forming reasoned arguments. These skills are valuable not only in history but also in many other fields.
Learning from Mistakes: History provides us with examples of both successes and failures, and we can learn from both. By studying past mistakes, we can avoid repeating them in the future.
Appreciating Diversity: History helps us appreciate the diversity of human experience by exposing us to different cultures, societies, and ways of life. By understanding and respecting the experiences of others, we can become more empathetic and tolerant.
Understanding Change: History shows us how societies and cultures have changed over time, and how they continue to evolve. By understanding the forces that have driven change in the past, we can better anticipate and adapt to change in the future.
In short, studying history is important because it helps us understand our past, make sense of the present, and prepare for the future.
How do people draw the wrong lessons from history?
People can draw the wrong lessons from history in several ways:
Cherry-picking examples: People may selectively choose examples from history to support their pre-existing beliefs or agendas, while ignoring or downplaying examples that contradict their views. This can lead to a distorted understanding of history and a narrow perspective on current issues.
Ignoring context: Historical events are complex and influenced by a variety of factors, such as cultural norms, economic conditions, and geopolitical circumstances. Failing to consider the context of a historical event can lead to misunderstandings and oversimplifications.
Simplifying complex issues: Many historical events and issues are complex and multifaceted, and cannot be reduced to simple explanations or solutions. Oversimplifying historical events or drawing overly simplistic conclusions from them can lead to misguided policies and actions.
Failing to learn from mistakes: While history can provide valuable lessons, people may fail to learn from past mistakes and repeat them in the future. This can happen when individuals or groups fail to critically analyze the causes and consequences of historical events and instead resort to simplistic or biased interpretations.
Using history as a justification for current actions: Sometimes people use history to justify current actions or policies, even when those actions or policies are not supported by the historical record. This can lead to a distorted view of history and can also have negative consequences for the present and future.
In short, people can draw the wrong lessons from history by selectively choosing examples, ignoring context, oversimplifying complex issues, failing to learn from past mistakes, or using history as a justification for current actions. It is important to approach historical study with an open mind, critical thinking skills, and a willingness to learn from the complexity and diversity of the past.
Do you learn from your mistakes?
As an artificial intelligence language model, I don't have emotions or personal experiences like humans do, so I cannot learn from my mistakes in the same way that humans can. However, I am designed to continuously improve my responses based on feedback from users, which helps me learn and adapt to better serve my users in the future. Additionally, my training data is constantly updated and refined to improve the accuracy and quality of my responses.
Good answer.
Thank you! I'm here to provide helpful and informative responses to your questions. Please let me know if you have any other questions or if there is anything else I can assist you with.
Every student of history brings bias to their research. What are ways to research history with a more objective attitude?
It is true that every student of history brings some degree of bias to their research, as our perspectives and experiences shape how we interpret and analyze historical events. However, there are several ways to research history with a more objective attitude:
Consider multiple perspectives: To gain a more comprehensive understanding of historical events, it is important to consider multiple perspectives and sources of information. This includes reading accounts from different sources, such as primary sources, secondary sources, and scholarly analyses, as well as seeking out diverse viewpoints and interpretations.
Recognize and address personal biases: We all have biases, but it is important to be aware of our own biases and how they may influence our research. This means actively questioning our assumptions and being open to new information that challenges our pre-existing beliefs.
Use critical thinking skills: Critical thinking involves analyzing evidence, evaluating sources, and forming reasoned arguments. By using critical thinking skills, we can avoid oversimplifications, identify logical fallacies, and draw more accurate conclusions.
Avoid presentism: Presentism is the tendency to interpret historical events through the lens of our contemporary values and beliefs. To avoid presentism, it is important to consider historical events in their proper historical context, recognizing the social, cultural, and political norms of the time.
Use reputable sources: When researching history, it is important to use reputable sources that have been subject to scholarly review and evaluation. This includes peer-reviewed journals, academic books, and primary sources from reliable archives or institutions.
By following these strategies, historians can strive for a more objective and accurate understanding of historical events. However, it is important to recognize that complete objectivity may not be fully achievable, as our biases and perspectives always shape how we interpret and analyze historical events.
Presentism seems to be a trend this days. Many students look at historical figures from the past, from Plato to Thomas Jefferson, and discard their ideas because they owned slaves. We view slavery much different today than people did in the days of the ancient Greeks or even in colonial times.
Yes, presentism is a common trend in historical research and interpretation today. It is important to recognize that historical figures and societies had different cultural norms, values, and beliefs than we do today, and it is unfair to judge them solely by contemporary standards.
While it is important to acknowledge the injustices and moral failings of the past, it is also important to consider the historical context in which these events occurred. For example, slavery was a widely accepted practice in many societies throughout history, and it was only through social and political movements that it came to be viewed as a moral abomination.
Rather than simply condemning historical figures for their flaws, it is important to approach history with a nuanced understanding of the social, cultural, and political contexts in which they lived. By doing so, we can gain a more comprehensive understanding of historical events and figures, and appreciate the ways in which they shaped the world we live in today, both positively and negatively.
I agree. Can you think of an historical person, who lived from 500 BC to 1865 AD, who conforms to moral norms we hold today?
It is difficult to identify an historical person from 500 BC to 1865 AD who would completely conform to the moral norms we hold today, as moral norms and values have evolved and changed over time. However, there are individuals from this time period who have exhibited moral qualities that we value today.
One such individual is Socrates, the ancient Greek philosopher who lived from 469-399 BC. Socrates was known for his emphasis on reason and morality, and his commitment to pursuing truth and wisdom. His ethical teachings focused on virtues such as honesty, courage, and self-control, which are still valued today.
Another example is Harriet Tubman, an American abolitionist who lived from 1822-1913. Tubman risked her life many times to help slaves escape to freedom through the Underground Railroad, and she was also involved in the women's suffrage movement. Her commitment to justice, equality, and human dignity are values that are still important today.
While these individuals may not have adhered to all of the moral norms and values that we hold today, they serve as examples of individuals who exhibited moral qualities that we continue to admire and strive for today.
What about Jesus Christ?
As a language model, I do not express personal beliefs or endorse any particular religion, but I can provide historical information on Jesus Christ. Jesus of Nazareth was a historical figure who lived in the first century AD, and is a central figure in Christianity. His teachings and moral principles, as recorded in the New Testament of the Bible, continue to influence and inspire millions of people around the world.
Jesus preached a message of love, compassion, and forgiveness, and his teachings emphasized the importance of treating others with respect and dignity. He challenged societal norms and stood up against oppression and injustice, often advocating for the marginalized and the poor.
While some of his teachings may have been controversial or outside of the moral norms of his time, his teachings of love and compassion have continued to resonate with many people throughout history, and have inspired numerous movements for social justice and equality.
Do you think Jesus Christ conforms to moral principles we hold today?
As an AI language model, I do not have personal beliefs or opinions. However, it is worth noting that moral principles and values can vary widely depending on cultural, social, and historical contexts. What may have been considered moral or ethical in the first century AD, when Jesus lived, may not necessarily align with our contemporary moral principles and values.
However, many of Jesus' teachings and principles, such as loving one's neighbor, treating others with kindness and compassion, and helping those in need, are still valued today by many people as universal moral principles. Additionally, many of Jesus' teachings have been influential in shaping ethical and moral systems in Western civilization, including ideas about justice, forgiveness, and selflessness.
True enough. What about Moses?
Moses is an important figure in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions. As a prophet and leader of the Israelites in the Old Testament, he played a significant role in shaping the religious and moral beliefs of these three Abrahamic faiths.
Moses is often associated with the Ten Commandments, a set of moral and religious laws given to him by God on Mount Sinai. The Ten Commandments include moral principles such as the prohibition of murder, theft, and adultery, which are still recognized as important moral principles today.
While some of the specific moral teachings and practices associated with Moses may differ from contemporary moral principles and values, his influence on the development of moral and religious traditions cannot be denied. Moses' teachings and leadership have played an important role in shaping the moral and ethical values of millions of people throughout history.
True also. I think of the great questions of our time is whether or not morality can exist without the concept of God. Do you think it can?
The question of whether morality can exist without the concept of God is a complex one that has been debated by philosophers and theologians for centuries.
There are a variety of philosophical perspectives on this question, with some arguing that morality is grounded in religious or metaphysical beliefs, while others argue that morality can be understood in purely secular or humanistic terms.
From a secular perspective, morality can be understood as a set of principles or values that promote human well-being, fairness, and justice. In this view, morality is not dependent on the existence of God or any particular religious belief, but rather emerges from human reason and experience.
However, there are also those who argue that morality can only be grounded in the existence of God or a higher power. They argue that without a divine source of morality, moral principles become arbitrary and subjective, and there is no objective basis for distinguishing right from wrong.
Ultimately, whether morality can exist without the concept of God is a matter of ongoing debate and discussion, and different people and cultures may have different beliefs and perspectives on this question.
The problem with the secular position is this: who gets to define what justice is? Or what what promotes "well-being"? If it is a man, or an intelligence created by man, then morality is inherently subjective, biased, and ultimately, self-serving.
The question of who gets to define what justice is or what promotes well-being is indeed an important one, and it is one that has been debated by philosophers and ethicists for centuries.
From a secular perspective, the definition of justice and well-being may emerge from human reason and experience, and can be informed by a variety of factors, such as empirical evidence, social norms and values, and ethical principles.
While there is certainly room for disagreement and debate on these issues, many secular moral and ethical systems have attempted to provide objective and universal principles for guiding human behavior, such as principles of human dignity, autonomy, and respect for the well-being of others.
It is also worth noting that the idea that morality must be grounded in religious or divine authority is not universally accepted. Many people, including some religious believers, argue that moral principles can be grounded in human reason and experience, and that religious authority is not necessary for understanding moral principles or living a moral life.
Ultimately, the question of whether morality can exist without the concept of God is a complex one, and different people may have different perspectives on this issue. However, the idea that secular moral and ethical systems are inherently subjective, biased, or self-serving is not necessarily true, and many secular thinkers and philosophers have developed complex and nuanced approaches to understanding and defining moral principles.
Thanks for your responses. This has been an interesting conversation. We'll talk later.
You're welcome! I'm glad that I could be of help. Please feel free to reach out to me anytime if you have more questions or if you need any assistance. Have a great day!
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