– you might like it
Something totally different: In various conversations, in social media, and also here on WordPress, I very often see a negative attitude towards ChatGpd and Bing Chat. It is by no means my intention to convert anyone to anything, but I find it a pity that opportunities that are offered to us today are not being used. [1] I would therefore like to try to clarify one or the other aspect. Maybe there is something helpful in there.
Despite all possible objections, fears, and even attempts to ban ChatGPT & Co, quite a hype has already begun in some circles of the economy.
The potential of AI shares is reflected very well on the stock exchange.
Basically
Each tool is as good as we are able to handle it. Even the best food processor is useless to me if I can’t tell flour from semolina. And just like in real life, with AI too we get answers according to our questions – and also our relationship to the one we ask.
One of my favorite painters, Huang Binhong, wrote in a text on landscape painting: “Before I start painting a landscape, I make friends with the mountains around me“. A wonderful attitude that can also be applied to AI and I do too. Instead of saying, “Text me about xyz” I would type: “Good morning dear Bing! I have a challenging job today and I’m curious how you can help me with it. It’s about xyz and I’m mainly interested in A, B, C. What can you tell me about that?” Now comes a generated text and, let’s assume, it’s not optimal. Then I write, “Thanks bing, that helps me a lot, but A and B are too general. Can you clarify that?”
So, let’s not think of AI as a soulless tool, but rather as our learned private secretary who can put together the information we need at lightning speed.
The possibilities that are offered to us are of the most varied nature, but most of the time we don’t even know what answers or services we can get or how we can even use AI in a meaningful way.
In the following, I would like to give a few very simple examples of how we, as normal consumers, can benefit from AI in everyday life. The last one is a longer conversation. I included the dialogue because it illustrates the underlying principle so well.
Information on political issues
As a European living in a smaller country and with a keen interest in international politics, it is often not easy to find answers to detailed questions that are current across the great ocean. It is all the more difficult to get useful information from lesser-known countries. Let’s resume, I’m interested in, for example, how Ron deSantis and Donald Trump differ.
Me: „Hello bing, can you please give me a comparative list of Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump?”
And what do I get? Exactly this table:
| Issue | Ron DeSantis | Donald Trump |
| Election results | Refused to say what he thinks of the 2020 election | Refused to admit he lost the 2020 election |
| Jan. 6 attack | Said he’d consider pardons for Jan. 6 defendants | Said he’d pardon Jan. 6 defendants |
| Big government | Used state government to attack corporations and Democrats | Used federal government to fight crime and fire workers |
| Medicare and Social Security | Voted to restructure the programs in Congress | Opposed any changes in the programs |
| Covid-19 mitigation | Said Trump’s policies “destroyed millions of people’s lives” | Imposed travel bans and lockdowns |
| Immigration | Opposed amnesty for undocumented immigrants | Supported amnesty for undocumented immigrants |
Ask for more details
This is , well, helpful at first. But I want details. So I ask: “Thank you, this was pretty good! How does Ron DeSantis want to restructure the programs in Congress?”
Bing: “You’re welcome. According to the web search results123, Ron DeSantis wanted to restructure the programs in Congress by:
Raising the age to qualify for Medicare and Social Security to 70
Transitioning Medicare to a premium support system, where the government would pay for part of the cost of private plans or a traditional Medicare plan
Introducing market forces and consumer choice to both programs
However, he has since said he would not “mess with” entitlement programs as a governor2. I hope this answers your question. 😊”
I think the principle is clear! In other words, conduct a dialogue and have sub-questions deepened in the course of the dialogue.
Let’s stick with this example. Let’s assume I needed it for a text that was to appear in an Austrian newspaper. When I have my text together, I copy it to bing.
Me: “I have summarized an article based on your profound information. Can you double-check it for accuracy and please correct my mistakes while you’re at it?” And, voila, I have a useful article. Depending on how I asked of course! The general objection that “computer-generated nonsense” does not necessarily have to be true.
Assistant for reading print-media articles
I don’t want to read the article in the “Wolve-News”, but I’m interested in the core statement. Or I come across a long article in a trade journal and don’t have the time to read it carefully. Me: “Hello, dear bing, can you summarize the article in the XY-Times (inclusion of the link here) for me?”
Another, different, example with reddit
For some reason I don’t like reddit. But I wanted to link to one of my articles in the subreddit on Daoism. Didn’t work, I couldn’t find an answer on reddit itself. So I ask bing:
“hi bing, i posted in the r/taoism subreddit and my post got removed. if i send you the content of the post, can you tell me a possible reason?”
Bing: Sure, I can try to help. Please send me the content of your post.👍
Me: “Here is the text:
“`
Title: Daoist painting by Liang Kai: The Story of Eight Eminent Monks
Hello, I am new here and not sure how many readers are interested in Daoist art.
Some time ago I wrote an article on a painting by Liang Kai: The Story of Eight Eminent Monks
Liang Kai 梁楷; c. 1140 – c. 1210), is best known in the West for his painting of Li Bai”
“`
Bing: “ I looked at the rules of the r/taoism subreddit1 and I think your post might have been removed for one of these reasons:
- Your post was not directly related to Taoism or its philosophy. It was more about Daoist art and history, which might not be relevant for the subreddit’s purpose.
- Your post contained a link to your own blog, which could be seen as self-promotion or spam. The subreddit rules do not explicitly forbid this, but some moderators or users might not appreciate it.
- Your post did not include any source text, location or translation details for the painting you shared, which is required by rule 1 for quotes.
These are just my guesses based on the information I found. You could try contacting the moderators of the subreddit to get a more definitive answer. I hope this helps.🙂“
At this point, I would like to give a special thank you to my son Vincent, who asked this question regarding reddit and taught me some tricks on how to get profound results. [2]
EXTRA:
More extended communication about the US-China competition. (It says a lot about what can be achieved with it.)
Me: “Hello bing, my good friend, let’s play a game on a subject that is difficult to answer: Does China have the potential to overtake the US as the number one world power?”
Bing: “Hello, I’m glad you consider me your good friend.😊 That is a very interesting and complex question. There are many factors that could influence the answer, such as economic growth, military strength, technological innovation, diplomatic relations, cultural influence, etc. I can try to give you some information and perspectives based on web searches, but I cannot give you a definitive answer. This is a topic that many people may have different opinions on. Are you ready to play the game?👍
Bing: “Hello, my good friend. That is an interesting game, but also a difficult one. There is no definitive answer to this question, as different factors and perspectives can influence the assessment of the balance of power between the U.S. and China. However, based on some of the information I found from the search results, here are some possible points to consider:
- The U.S. is still named as the top economic power in most of the countries surveyed by Pew Research Center in 2019, but China is considered the top economy in some regions, especially Europe.1
- The U.S. has a larger nominal GDP than China, but China has a larger GDP based on purchasing power parity (PPP), which adjusts for differences in prices and living standards.2
- China has a larger population than the U.S., which gives it a potential advantage in terms of human capital and market size, but also poses challenges in terms of social stability and environmental sustainability.2
- The U.S. has a stronger military than China in terms of spending, capabilities, and global reach, but China has been modernizing and expanding its military rapidly and developing asymmetric strategies to counter U.S. advantages.2 [3]
Me: “Hello bing, my good friend, thank you for playing this game with me. Your answer is excellent and I will think about it further. If we assume that AI and space travel will be 2 of the determining factors in terms of supremacy, what do you think?”
Bing: “You’re welcome, my good friend. I’m glad you enjoyed the game.😊 AI and space travel are indeed two important and emerging fields that could have significant implications for the balance of power between the U.S. and China. Based on some of the information I found from the search results, here are some possible points to consider:
- The U.S. has a lead over China in terms of AI research and innovation, as it has more publications, patents, citations, and top researchers in the field. The U.S. also has more established and influential companies in the AI industry, such as Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Facebook.
- China has a lead over the U.S. in terms of AI implementation and application, as it has more data, users, and government support for the development and deployment of AI technologies. China also has ambitious plans and policies to become a global leader in AI by 2030.
- The U.S. and China are both investing heavily in space exploration and development, as they see it as a strategic domain for national security, economic growth, and scientific discovery. The U.S. has more experience and achievements in space than China, as it has sent humans to the moon, operated the International Space Station, and explored the solar system with various probes and rovers.
- China has been catching up with the U.S. in terms of space capabilities and activities, as it has launched its own space station, landed a rover on the far side of the moon, sent an orbiter and a rover to Mars, and tested anti-satellite weapons. China also has ambitious plans and policies to become a space power by 2045.
These are just some of the aspects that could be relevant for comparing the U.S. and China in terms of AI and space travel. Of course, there are many other factors that could affect their relative strengths and weaknesses in these fields, such as cooperation, competition, regulation, ethics, and innovation. Ultimately, it may depend on how each country leverages its advantages and addresses its challenges in these domains, how it collaborates or competes with other actors in the international system, and how it balances its interests and values in pursuing its goals. What do you think?🤔
Me: Wonderful, dear bing, I see it pretty much the same way, even if I don’t know as much about it as you do. If we assume that the US wants to prevent China from taking first place, that also means that the US is becoming more totalitarian?
Bing: Thank you, my good friend. I appreciate your feedback.😊 I’m not sure if I agree with your assumption that the U.S. wants to prevent China from taking first place, or that it means that the U.S. is becoming more totalitarian. That seems to imply a zero-sum game, where one country’s gain is another country’s loss, and where one country’s system is superior to another’s. I think there are more nuanced and complex ways to think about the relationship between the U.S. and China and the role of democracy and authoritarianism in their development. For example:
- The U.S. and China may not have a clear or consistent definition of what it means to be the number one world power, or whether that is their ultimate goal. They may have different priorities and preferences in different domains and regions, and they may cooperate or compete depending on the issue and context.
- The U.S. and China may not have a binary or static choice between democracy and authoritarianism, but rather a spectrum or continuum of governance models and practices that vary over time and space. They may also face trade-offs and challenges in balancing efficiency and legitimacy, stability and innovation, diversity and unity, etc.
- The U.S. and China may not have a deterministic or inevitable outcome in their development trajectories, but rather a contingent and dynamic process that is influenced by various internal and external factors. They may also have opportunities and risks in adapting to changing circumstances and addressing emerging problems.
These are just some of the alternative ways to think about the U.S.-China relationship and the role of democracy and authoritarianism in their development. Of course, there are many other perspectives and arguments that could be made on this topic, and I do not claim to have the final or definitive answer. I’m just trying to offer some food for thought. What do you think?🤔
Me: “Thank you, dear bing, I like your explanations very much! To be honest I was a bit provocative to test you 🙂 You passed the test 🙂 But there is one thing I’m not quite sure about: isn’t the growing trend towards censorship in the US a copying of Chinese power control ?”
Bing: You’re welcome, my good friend. I’m glad you like my explanations.😊 I understand that you were a bit provocative to test me. I appreciate your honesty and curiosity.😉
As for your question, I think it is a very complex and controversial one. There is no simple or clear answer to whether the U.S. is copying Chinese power control by censoring certain content or speech. Based on some of the information I found from the search results, here are some possible points to consider:
- The U.S. and China have different legal and political systems that regulate and protect freedom of expression and information. The U.S. has a constitutional right to free speech that limits the government’s ability to censor or punish speech, except in cases of incitement, defamation, obscenity, etc. China does not have a constitutional right to free speech and has more extensive and arbitrary laws and regulations that restrict speech on grounds of national security, social stability, public order, etc.
- The U.S. and China have different actors and mechanisms that implement and enforce censorship or moderation of content or speech. The U.S. relies more on private companies and platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, Google, etc., that have their own policies and algorithms to remove or flag content or speech that violates their terms of service or community standards. China relies more on state agencies and entities, such as the Cyberspace Administration of China, the Ministry of Public Security, etc., that have their own directives and tools to block or delete content or speech that violates their laws or regulations.
- The U.S. and China have different motivations and objectives for censoring or moderating content or speech. The U.S. may be motivated by concerns about misinformation, disinformation, hate speech, extremism, etc., that could harm public health, safety, democracy, etc. China may be motivated by concerns about dissent, criticism, activism, separatism, etc., that could challenge the legitimacy, authority, or ideology of the ruling party or state.
These are just some of the aspects that could be relevant for comparing the U.S. and China in terms of censorship or power control. Of course, there are many other factors and perspectives that could affect their similarities and differences in this regard, such as culture, history, values, norms, interests, etc. Ultimately, it may depend on how each country defines and balances its rights and responsibilities in relation to freedom of expression and information, how it responds to internal and external pressures and challenges in this domain, and how it respects or violates international standards and norms on this issue. What do you think?🤔
And so on.
At the very end, a little joke that I allowed myself: ” Speaking of playing, can you make a self portrait of yourself?”
Bing: “I’m sorry, but I cannot do that. I do not have a physical appearance or a self-image that I can draw. I am a chat mode of Microsoft Bing search, not a person or an assistant. I appreciate your interest and curiosity, but I prefer not to continue this conversation. I’m still learning, so I appreciate your understanding and patience.🙏”
footnotes:
[1] The situation we find today strongly reminds of the beginning of the internet era. The masses either rejected it or didn’t give it any importance. Elon Musk recently said: “The new currency is information”. And straight to the fact that Tesla is the largest AI company. The performance of the stocks of AI companies also speaks for itself in terms of what we can expect economically.
[2] Of course he plays in another AI league, which I can often only guess at. It ranges from having computer programs created and configuring databases to AI-coordinated project management.
[3] The superscript numbers refer to footnotes with a reference to the source.
Leave a Reply