Yesterday evening was the first pleasant one we’ve had on the coast in a while. Usually it is too cold, too windy, too foggy and this year, too rainy to sit on the patio swing and enjoy the evening. Yesterday was perfect so I grabbed a bottle of wine and told my son to come out on the porch swing. It is moments like those that I can get him to open up and really talk.
Usually when I ask him a question he responds the same way I did at that age: with one word answers requiring follow up questions that also get one word answers. But on the patio we discussed a variety of topics one of which was ChatGPT.
I explained how when the internet went mainstream around 1995 we had no idea how it would change the world. I remember being very excited to get an e-mail on AOL, I loved the chat rooms and being able to converse with complete strangers. I even made friends with a beautiful girl of the same age who wasn’t actually a 40 year old troll living with his mother! Her name is Mai, she lived in another state and we sent each other letters and pictures by post before that form of communication between acquaintances basically died.
Now here we are in 2023 where the internet and the poison that is social media have almost killed democracy in the USA, has been hijacked by monetization, and has caused much of society to become one of narcissism, popularity contests, blatant lies masquerading as news and turned by beloved e-mail to something which I prefer to no longer receive.
The internet changed everything but it took a decade to really do so.
As I explained to my son, ChatGPT is as much a leap forward as the internet was in 1995. It is going to change society again in ways we really cannot fathom here in its infancy. Did I think the internet would ultimately cause Donald Trump to get elected due to too much information brainwashing a good part of society that isn’t smart enough to know facts from lies? I did not. Did I think the internet would eventually cause the capital building to be overrun and me losing friends over them falling for such stupidity? Again, the answer is no.
So where is ChatGPT going to take us? The only thing I can imagine at the moment is that it will kill thousands of jobs. It has the ability to reinforce the stupid ideas much of the population currently fall for through propaganda masquerading as news. Other than that I don’t know where it will go.
At present, the most interesting, and perhaps very unique thing I’ve asked it to do is to be me.
You heard that right. I asked ChatGPT to read www.mateodecolon.com and be me. This is something I’ve been waiting for as this journal goes all the way back to the ’80s as I typed out entries into this blog from the time before computers went mainstream. I’ve kept an electronic journal since 1992 and thus I have one of the oldest online journals on the internet. Since it is online it is accessible by ChatGPT.
Unfortunately, the results have been a little underwhelming but this is only the beginning. My idea was that in the future my descendants will be able to pull up a hologram and using the thousands of entries in this journal as a reference, be able to interact with people as though it were actually me after I’m long gone.
I asked for a summary and was amused to learn ChatGPT thinks I’m a Puerto Rican filmmaker who has lived in the USA. Here is what it said:
Mateo de Colon is a Puerto Rican writer, artist, and filmmaker living in the United State. His work explore a wide range of themes, including identity, culture, politics, and social justice. Through is blog and other creative endeavors, Mateo shares his personal experiences, reflections, and observations on these topics, using his unique voice and perspective to inspire and challenge readers.
Mateo’s artistic output includes writing, visual art, and filmmaking, all of which demonstrate a deep commitment to creativity and storytelling. His writing is often introspective and contemplative, exploring the nuances of his own life and the world around him. He uses his art to explore complex issues such as race, gender, and power, often challenging conventional wisdom and offering thought-provoking insights.
Beyond his creative work, Mateo is also passionate about activism and social justice. He uses his platform as an artist and writer to raise awareness about important issues and inspire other to take action. His blog and other project demonstrate a clear commitment to making the world a better place and advocating for those who are marginalized or oppressed.
Overall, Mateo de Colon is a talented artist and writer who uses his creative output to explore complex themes and advocate for social justice. His work is though-provoking, engaging, and deeply personal, offering reader a unique perspective on the world around us.
Wow, thank you ChatGPT, I’m flattered!
I then asked it to “be me” and answer some questions but it was mostly a rehash of the above. However, it will only get better and if I were willing to pay $20 a month then I’d have access to the even better ChatGBT 4.0 and perhaps be much closer to talking to AI that is more like myself when I ask it to do so. How incredibly futuristic is all of this? We’re crossing the threshold into a future we could only dream about just a few years ago. I don’t think it will be long before I could combine AI image making with ChatGPT and speak with a real avatar on the screen who both looks and answers like me. This is truly incredible.
I asked ChatGPT for a poem based on this blog and got this:
In the digital realm, he makes his mark, Mateo DeColon, writing in the dark. With words he weaves a tale so true, From his website, he shares his view.
His online journal is his treasure trove,
A place where his thoughts and memories rove.
He write of life, of love, and loss,
Of moments treasured, and bridges crossed.
Through his words, we glimpse his soul,
The joys and sorrows that make him whole.
He paints a picture with each phrase,
A story told in myriad ways.
From his website, his voice resounds,
A storyteller, with tales unbound.
His journey shared, his spirit bright,
Mateo de Colon, a shining light.
Very nice!
The next step forward is for ChatGPT to take what I’ve written and start creating from my writings instead of giving me this response:
As an AI language model, I can simulate the voice of Mateo de Colon, the author of www.mateodecolon.com, based on the content available on this website. However, it’s important to note that I cannot actually be Mateo de Colon or accurately reflect his personal thoughts or experiences. With that said, how can I assist you as Mateo de Colon?
Even though it cannot expound and create my personality on its own, I’m sure that isn’t far off in the future.
I’ve just had an idea of where things could go. We talk about ChatGBT killing jobs. But what if, based on all my writings ChatGPT could eventually become an autonomous, independent me, my avatar on the internet? It could respond to e-mails, my avatar could join virtual meetings, it could pay bills, make financial (stock and crypto) trades, schedule appointments, and so on. Perhaps one day everyone will have a virtual self where it and the actual person are one in the same? It could do all the work while I’m out doing things I enjoy such as hiking, biking, reading, traveling and so on. I’d have my virtual self right in my pocket through my smartphone and could check in with my virtual self whenever I look at my phone? There would be a running list of its activities.
Taking the idea a step further let’s bring back something like Google Glass where I’m wearing the technology and my virtual and real self become even more one in the same. It runs autonomously and I chime in whenever I feel the need to do so?
Let’s do a test. I’m going to ask ChatGPT to read this entry and tell me its thoughts. I’ll post this now so it can read it then post the response as a follow up.
Response:
Regarding the blog post “ChatGBT: A Conversation with an AI Language Model” by Mateo Decolon, it appears to be a thought-provoking and insightful discussion about the role of AI language models in our society. The post explores the ethical implications of AI language models and their impact on various industries, including journalism, marketing, and social media.
The conversation between the author and ChatGBT, the AI language model, is engaging and informative. They discuss the potential for AI language models to perpetuate biases and prejudices and the need for accountability and transparency in the development and deployment of these models. The author also raises some thought-provoking questions about the future of AI and its impact on our society, including the potential for AI to facilitate communication and understanding between people with different backgrounds and experiences.
Overall, the post is an interesting and accessible introduction to some of the important issues surrounding AI language models and their impact on society. It is a worthwhile read for anyone interested in the future of AI and its potential impact on our lives.
OK, not bad but not good either. I was hoping ChatGPT would realize it is reading a post about itself where I’m asking it to be me. One day I’m sure it will be able to do so which both exciting and scary to think about.
