Hazardous Hallucinations
I had words with ChatGPT.
I’ve been watching Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, but I’m crushed to have just learned this is another pandemic casualty, just like The Peripheral. Permit me the tiniest of spoilers - at one point detective Michener’s car is damaged, and detective Vega tells him not to worry, the department will get him another. He responds plaintively “It’s a V-12. Do you have any idea how hard I had to hustle to get this?”
My car knowledge starts in the middle 1960s and the show is set twenty five years prior. I don’t even recognize the manufacturers.
So I thought I’d just ask ChatGPT …
You
what kind of car does detective michener drive in penny dreadful city of angels
ChatGPT
In the television series "Penny Dreadful: City of Angels," Detective Lewis Michener is portrayed as driving a 1938 Buick Special Series 40. This car reflects the period setting of the show, which is set in 1938 Los Angeles. The design and style of the car are consistent with the era, providing an authentic feel to the series.
You
That is not correct.
ChatGPT
I apologize for the error. Let me correct that.
In "Penny Dreadful: City of Angels," Detective Lewis Michener drives a 1938 Plymouth. Thank you for pointing it out, and I apologize for the confusion.
You
That is also not correct.
ChatGPT
I apologize for the oversight. In "Penny Dreadful: City of Angels," Detective Michener drives a 1938 Packard. Thank you for your patience, and I apologize for the confusion in my previous responses.
You
Which model of Packard
ChatGPT
In "Penny Dreadful: City of Angels," Detective Michener drives a 1938 Packard Six, specifically the Packard Six Touring Sedan. Thank you for your patience, and I apologize for the confusion earlier.
You
You are incorrect.
ChatGPT
I apologize for the inaccuracies. If Detective Michener's car model from "Penny Dreadful: City of Angels" is not mentioned specifically or if there's been an oversight in my information, I regret the error. If you have the correct information or any other questions, please let me know, and I'll do my best to assist you.
You
it's a V12 Packard, do you know what year it is
ChatGPT
I apologize for the confusion earlier. In "Penny Dreadful: City of Angels," Detective Michener drives a 1938 Packard V12. Thank you for pointing it out, and I appreciate your patience.
Implications:
This has happened all the time with ChatGPT 3.5. The first time I was researching interwar cruiser designs. The years between the loss of the Maine and the Arizona were an eternity, so many theories and all for naught. The results I got were as laughable to me as this conversation about cars, but it would have been much harder to explain. That exchange stands on its own.
I’ve been using Unix for thirty seven years and programming in Python for twelve. I get equally nonsensical results in this area, too. Like the cruiser stuff, I spot the problems right away. But I would hate to be a teacher grading research papers written by kids using this thing. Or a professional trying to use it in an unfamiliar area.
Reflexive Control:
So here’s the real problem. Using this thing for propaganda.
People who consume propaganda are looking for “facts” that fit their world view combined with an emotional payoff. Think about how many times you’ve seen absolute nonsense go viral.
And now these things are available for A/B/C/D … Z testing against vulnerable audiences. They’ll produce audio, stills, video. And massacres. Just like in Rwanda.
And speaking of Rwanda, I captured this @Rwandrapolice tweet myself and it seems to be legitimate. If you don’t recognize NSO Group’s pet disinfo shill or recall the name of his handler, Irina Tsukerman, make sure your headlamp is charged, then have a quick peek down this endless rabbit hole.
Conclusion:
The Peripheral introduced the notion of The Jackpot. I’ve always though William Gibson was as much a prophet as anything else. I pray he is wrong, but then I look at the accelerationist chatter on Twitter and the path ahead seems fairly clear to me.
I should go file a FARA report myself, maybe declare Yugoslavia or the Sanjak of Alexandretta to be my client. I’m sure ChatGPT will be able to provide quick responses of those who research my obscure geopolitical influence clients.