Artificial Intelligence – Page 7 – Philip Greenspun’s Weblog

Will ChatGPT usher in a Brave New World of SPAM?

March 24, 2023April 15, 2023 by philg

While in the Azores earlier this month I met a Dutch couple who work in online marketing. The wife mentioned that she uses ChatGPT to draft a lot of her communications. “English is not my first language,” she explained, “and ChatGPT always uses correct grammar and spelling. So I start with what ChatGPT produces and select and refine.”

I’m not convinced that an AI capable of writing will revolutionize the typical industry because there aren’t that many people who are paid to write. But imagine a spammer with ChatGPT technology plus scraped copies of LinkedIn and Facebook. ChatGPT should be able to write all kinds of customized documents that would get through spam filters and that the recipient might have to spend a long time reading before realizing their commercial/robotic origins. For example, let’s look at a prompt derived from Bob Metcalfe’s Wikipedia page:

Write a letter to Robert Metcalfe about how I enjoyed working with him and Bill Krause on Ethernet boards at 3Com and how proud I was when he received the National Medal of Technology. Continue with how I enjoyed reading his InfoWorld columns and following his progress as an investor at Polaris. Close with an offer to talk about a great unlisted Canadian cannabis-growing company that I learned about from one of the most successful people on Wall Street.

Here’s what ChatGPT was able to put together…

Dear Robert Metcalfe,

I hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. I am writing to express my admiration for your exceptional work and to thank you for the remarkable contribution you have made to the tech industry.

I had the privilege of working with you and Bill Krause at 3Com on Ethernet boards, and it was truly an honor to be in the presence of such brilliant minds. I learned a great deal during my time at 3Com, and I am grateful for the opportunity to work with you.

Furthermore, I was thrilled when you received the National Medal of Technology. It was a proud moment for all of us who worked with you and admired your considerable talent and dedication.

I have been an avid reader of your InfoWorld columns for many years, and I have enjoyed following your journey as an investor at Polaris. Your insights are invaluable, and I am grateful for the knowledge you have imparted through your work.

In closing, I would like to offer you an opportunity to talk about a great unlisted Canadian cannabis-growing company that I learned about from one of the most successful people on Wall Street. I believe you would find it intriguing and would love to discuss it with you.

Once again, thank you for your exceptional work and contribution to the tech industry. It is truly an honor to have worked with you.

Best regards,

[Your Name]

I shared the above idea with friends in San Francisco. They countered with the idea that OnlyFans stars would use ChatGPT to communicate with paying customers.

[Update: WIRED Magazine published “Brace Yourself for a Tidal Wave of ChatGPT Email Scams” about two weeks after this post.]

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ChatGPT applies to college

March 15, 2023March 12, 2023 by philg

It’s college acceptance letter time. If your child doesn’t get in, consider whether he/she/ze/they should have used ChatGPT to do the authoring. Here’s an essay penned by the Nvidia chips:

As a 17-year-old Black girl, I have had to navigate a world that is not always kind to those who look like me. Even with the privilege of growing up in a family with a wealthy investment banker as my father, my family has not been immune to the ravages of racism.

One concrete example of this was when my family was denied parking for our Gulfstream G650 while a white family was allowed to park a ragged-out Cessna Citation V. This was not just an inconvenience; it was a blatant act of discrimination that left us feeling vulnerable and disrespected.

These experiences have only deepened my passion for justice and equity, and have led me to pursue a major in Africana Studies at Oberlin College. I believe that by studying the history and culture of the African diaspora, I can help others who have faced similar challenges to mine.

I have seen firsthand how systemic racism impacts the Black community, from the disparities in access to quality education and healthcare to the over-policing and criminalization of Black bodies. I know that by studying Africana Studies, I will be able to better understand the complexities of these issues and the ways in which they intersect with other forms of oppression, such as sexism and homophobia.

I am eager to use the knowledge and skills that I gain through my degree to help others who have been affected by racism and other forms of injustice. I want to be a voice for the voiceless and to advocate for change in my community and beyond.

I believe that my proposed major in Africana Studies will equip me with the tools that I need to become an effective advocate for justice and equity. It will help me to understand the historical and cultural contexts of systemic oppression, and to work towards dismantling these systems of inequality.

In conclusion, I am excited to pursue my degree in Africana Studies at Oberlin College. I know that it will challenge me to think critically and deeply about issues of social justice, and that it will prepare me to be a leader and a change-maker in my community and beyond. I am committed to using my education to help others who have been affected by racism and other forms of oppression, and to create a world that is more just and equitable for all.

Here’s my prompt:

(Note that I would personally love to suffer the inconvenience and disrespect of being refused parking for my Gulfstream G650!)

From the Harvard Coop, March 11, 2023:

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Jewish and Muslim elites partner to create a Ministry of Truth

March 9, 2023March 1, 2023 by philg

Jonathan Greenblatt, the CEO of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), was sitting at his desk when his phone rang. It was Ilhan Omar, a Congresswoman from Minnesota. Jonathan had been following her work in Congress and was impressed by her commitment to justice and equality.

“Hello, Ilhan. How can I help you?” Jonathan asked.

“Jonathan, I’ve been thinking about the problem of misinformation and hate speech on the web, and I think we need to do something about it,” Ilhan said.

Jonathan was intrigued. He had been concerned about this issue for a long time but had not been sure how to tackle it effectively.

“I agree, Ilhan. What do you have in mind?” Jonathan asked.

“Well, I was talking with AOC and Rashida Tlaib, and we came up with an idea for a ministry that would monitor what was published on the web and ensure that it was true. We would partner with organizations like the ADL to identify and combat hate speech and misinformation,” Ilhan explained.

Jonathan was impressed. This was exactly the kind of partnership that the ADL needed to become more effective.

“I love the idea, Ilhan. Let’s get together and talk more about how we can make it happen,” Jonathan said.

Over the next few months, Jonathan, Ilhan, AOC, and Rashida Tlaib worked together to develop their idea into a fully-fledged ministry. They hired a team of experts to monitor what was published on the web and developed algorithms to identify hate speech and misinformation.

They also launched a public awareness campaign to educate people about the dangers of hate speech and misinformation and encourage them to speak out against it. The ADL provided resources and training to support the ministry’s work, and together they made a significant impact on the web.

Within a year, hate speech and misinformation had decreased significantly, and people were more aware of the importance of fact-checking and verifying information before sharing it. The ministry was hailed as a success, and Jonathan, Ilhan, AOC, and Rashida Tlaib continued to work together to combat hate and discrimination in all its forms.

The partnership between the ADL and Ilhan Omar, AOC, and Rashida Tlaib was a perfect example of how people from different backgrounds and with different perspectives can come together to make a positive difference in the world.

What I fed ChatGPT:

Write a story about how Jonathan Greenblatt and the ADL became more effective by partnering with Ilhan Omar, AOC, and Rashida Tlaib on a ministry to make sure that what was published on the web was true.

From Representative Omar (source):

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ChatGPT and Women’s History Month

March 8, 2023March 1, 2023 by philg

The conventional words of a male who hogs an unearned position of power (lockdown governor) that rightfully belongs to a female:

Women have rewrote, challenged, changed, and made history — shaping New Jersey and our nation into a more perfect union.

This #WomensHistoryMonth, we celebrate the vital contributions of women across the globe, while recommitting ourselves to the fight for true equality. pic.twitter.com/rmdkJGHhwA
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) March 1, 2023

A story of redemption from ChatGPT, from the following prompt:

Write a story about how Governor Phil Murphy, to prove his bona fides as a feminist, resigned from his position so that the job could be taken over by a woman.

Governor Phil Murphy was a man who prided himself on being a feminist. He had campaigned on a platform of gender equality, and he was determined to live up to his promises.

One day, as he was sitting in his office, he had a sudden realization. He was the governor of New Jersey, one of the most powerful positions in the state, and yet he was a man. How could he truly call himself a feminist if he was occupying a position that should rightfully belong to a woman?

The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became that he needed to take action. He needed to prove his bona fides as a feminist, and the only way to do that was to resign from his position so that it could be taken over by a woman.

Governor Murphy knew that his decision would be controversial, but he was determined to see it through. He called a press conference and made the announcement.

“As a feminist, I believe that women should have equal access to positions of power and influence. And yet, here I am, a man, occupying one of the most powerful positions in the state. I cannot in good conscience continue to hold this position knowing that a woman could be doing it instead. Therefore, I am resigning from my position as governor, effective immediately,” Governor Murphy announced.

The room erupted in stunned silence. Reporters were scrambling to ask questions, and the phones of the governor’s office were ringing off the hook. Governor Murphy was making history, but at what cost?

In the days that followed, the governor’s decision was the subject of intense debate. Some praised him for his commitment to feminism and gender equality, while others criticized him for giving up his position of power.

However, Governor Murphy remained steadfast in his decision. He met with his cabinet and offered his support to the lieutenant governor, a woman, who would be taking over as the new governor of New Jersey.

In the end, Governor Murphy’s decision had a profound impact. It sparked a national conversation about gender equality and the role of men in promoting it. It also inspired other men in positions of power to examine their own biases and consider how they could do more to support women in their careers.

Governor Murphy went on to become a leading advocate for gender equality and continued to work tirelessly to promote women’s rights throughout his life. His decision to resign from his position as governor would go down in history as a bold and courageous act of feminism, and a testament to his unwavering commitment to gender equality.