Fun With Chat GPT

The pistil becomes an elegant gear shift

In the movie, Poltergeist, there is an early scene where the residents of the haunted house play with the ghosts. JoBeth Williams places little Heather O’Rourke on the kitchen floor, and she slides across the room, propelled by an apparently playful poltergeist. The relationship with their invisible guests was enjoyable until it wasn’t.

We’re in the playful stage of our relationship with A.I., artificial intelligence. I suggest we stop referring to this unfolding technology as “AI” and start calling it “II:” Inorganic Intelligence. Something is happening that is fun, interesting, compelling, and ominous.

Let’s have fun with it before it starts having fun with us. I recently signed into my Open AI account to interact with Chat GPT. Chat GPT mines the Internet for information that lets it mimic human communication, allowing it to follow instructions, compose written works, even engage in conversations. It basically absorbs the Internet in total, essentially memorizing all human knowledge. (NASA sent a copy of the entire then-existing Internet on a deep space mission to allow extra-terrestrials to learn our ways; let that sink in.)

I decided to ask Chat GPT to compose three original works: (1) write a 300-word article describing a Georgia O’Keefe painting in automotive terms; (2) write a haiku using the word, “arugula; and (3) write a 200-word essay describing Michelangelo’s David as experienced by a blind person.

Here is the O’Keefe essay:

“In Georgia O’Keeffe’s masterpiece, ‘Blossoming Velocity,’ her exquisite use of automotive terminology infuses the canvas with a captivating energy, bringing together the worlds of art and mechanics in a seamless union. The painting, like a finely tuned engine, roars to life with its vibrant colors and precision brushwork.

At first glance, one is immediately struck by the boldness of the composition, reminiscent of a sleek sports car gracefully tearing through the open road. The fiery red hues dominating the foreground are like the gleaming paint job of a high-performance vehicle, radiating power and speed. These intense tones are juxtaposed against the deep, midnight blue background, mirroring the velvety midnight sky that envelops the fast-moving vehicle.

The focal point of the painting, a single, resplendent blossom, takes center stage like a gleaming chrome emblem emblazoned on the car’s grille. Its petals burst forth like the petals of a blooming engine, each delicate curve reflecting a sense of controlled acceleration. The flower’s pistil and stamen are like the finely tuned components of an engine, working in perfect harmony to create beauty and power.

O’Keeffe’s use of lines is equally remarkable, drawing the viewer’s eyes along the contours of the petals and stems, evoking the sensation of wind rushing past a speeding car. The lines converge and diverge with precision, much like the meticulously engineered pathways of air and fluid in a high-performance automotive design.

In the midst of the floral acceleration, O’Keeffe employs subtle hints of automotive machinery. The pistil becomes an elegant gear shift, ready to engage a higher velocity. The petals themselves are like the aerodynamic body of a race car, designed for maximum efficiency and fluid motion.

With each stroke of her brush, O’Keeffe masterfully captures the essence of automotive speed, translating it into the language of art. ‘Blossoming Velocity’ is not just a painting of a flower, but a symphony of mechanics and aesthetics, merging the elegance of nature with the precision of engineering.

In conclusion, Georgia O’Keeffe’s ‘Blossoming Velocity’ is a mesmerizing fusion of automotive ingenuity and artistic expression. Through her use of color, lines, and form, she creates a dynamic visual experience that embodies the grace and power of a finely tuned racing machine. Like a well-crafted automobile, this painting invites us to take a thrilling journey into the heart of both art and mechanics.”

This is an interesting, if somewhat daffy, essay that might be based on fantasy. I Googled, but could not locate, a Georgia O’Keeffe painting called “Blossoming Velocity.” Perhaps my robot co-author made it up out of whole cloth – or canvas.

Here’s the haiku:

“Arugula’s delight,
Peppery leaves dance with glee,
Nature’s green delight.”

Okay, Chat GPT sucks at haiku.

Finally, here is the David essay:

“As a blind individual stands before Michelangelo’s David, they embark on a journey of sensory exploration that transcends visual limitations. Through the keenness of their touch and the heightened perception of their other senses, they unravel the essence of this magnificent masterpiece.

With outstretched hands, the blind person gently explores the contours of the statue’s body, their fingers following the graceful curves of the marble, tracing the chiseled muscles and the powerful pose of David. The cold, smooth surface under their fingertips reveals the artist’s expert craftsmanship, conveying the essence of strength and determination.

As they move upwards, their hands reach the delicate features of David’s face, discovering the carved lips that seem to be on the verge of speech and the intricately textured hair that adorns the head. They can sense the furrowed brow, capturing the moment of determination before facing Goliath.

The blind person’s fingers continue their journey down to the statue’s legs, feeling the tension in the calf muscles and the positioning of the feet, frozen in the moment of action. They sense the balance and poise that Michelangelo so masterfully imbued into his work.

Moreover, the blind person listens intently to the echo of their gentle taps on the marble, absorbing the statue’s grandeur through the resonating sounds. They listen to the hushed whispers of other visitors, the soft footsteps on the floor, and the faint echoes of admiration and wonder that surround them.

The blind person also perceives the atmosphere around David – the faint aroma of stone and museum, the cool draft that breezes past them, and the distinct feeling of being in the presence of something extraordinary.

Through touch, sound, and smell, the blind person’s perception of Michelangelo’s David is profound and vivid, evoking emotions of awe and admiration, making it a testament to the timeless power of art that transcends the boundaries of sight.”

That would qualify as erotic pulp fiction except the bot forgot David has genitalia.

If you decide to play with Chat GPT and give it interesting tasks like I did, feel free to share. I’ll happily publish your human-AI collaboration in my blog. Just email me a copy to mike@substantialdisruption.com.

© 2023 by Mike Tully

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