Right, so AI, I have a lot to say about it, as do we all. Originally, when I first conceived of this series, I thought that I’d have AI write me a story, talk a little about the future of AI regarding writing, and share my thoughts about what it means for writers. But then in the many weeks that had elapsed from when I first gave the AI the writing prompt and the first email I sent regarding the topic, a lot had happened that I have thoughts about. I also got COVID for the first time, and because my day job is at a hospital, I’m probably one of the last people to contribute to COVID statistics considering May 11th is the end date. Glad COVID agreed to this end date because I was thinking, man, can we read about something else in the news.
Back to AI, at the rate the technology is improving and making headlines, by the time this email comes out, we’ll either be living as beings of pure energy upload by our benevolent machine gods or living in the future depicted in the Terminator. Hang on, there is a man outside asking for my clothes, my boots, and my motorcycle. But seriously, what I thought would be a couple of pieces about AI writing a story seemed a little too narrow in scope for what was unfolding before my eyes.
The two big developments were ChaosGPT and text to video. We’ll start with the one that doesn’t want to destroy humanity first (at least actively). The first is Gen-2, an AI that can generate videos using text. Now, I don’t know its capabilities because I haven’t had the opportunity to mess around with it. However, it doesn’t take rocket science (I should know, my brother is a rocket scientist), to deduce a simple theorem:
Postulate 1: Humans like creating misinformation.
Postulate 2: Text to video will make it easier to do so.
I can see already how that would make sorting fact from fiction difficult to do so. For example, if a person wanted to make up a story about, I don’t know, losing an election because it was rigged. Then all they need to do is create a couple of videos to “prove” it was stolen and release them into the wild. While generative video probably won’t stand up in court or the scrutiny of experts, but you don’t care about those people. You’re trying to convince the everyday person.
Sure, there were already people willing to believe in “fake news” long before the invention of generative video. Some Old Timers might remember certain grocery store publications that run headlines like “Bat Boy Found in Cave” or “JFK with Aliens, Says He’s Doing Great.” And before that people drank radium elixirs they thought they were healthy.
I’m sure this phenomenon goes back all the way to the stone age.
Gruk: Don’t go cave. Saber tooth tiger eat arm. Gruk lost arm last week.
Larg: Gruk still two arms.
Gruk clubs Larg over the head and drags the body away. When Gruk comes back, Tac walks up.
Gruk: Don’t go cave. Saber tooth tiger eat Larg.
While humans have been generating fake content as long as they were humans, I think the proliferation of fake videos will exasperate the problem. Rather than just that crazy uncle sharing poorly though out articles jammed packed with information, now there will videos that might give any person pause. For example, say you’ve seen hundreds of people “caught on video” stuffing ballots or using dead people to vote, it might be harder to dismiss as misinformation.
The easiest inoculation against misinformation is requiring writers provide proof of their claims. Now what if I’m able to generate that proof with a video? Perhaps we need to up our inoculation standards.
Wow, this email is already getting too long, so I’ll have to write about ChaosGPT next time, so I’ll leave you with a little teaser: ChaosGPT, an AI programed to destroy humanity. Yes, it exists. I’ll see you next time.
Here’s more the AI generated story:
The woman nodded understandingly. “Well, the nearest town is about a day’s ride from here. You might want to rest up first. We have a motel just down the street. I can show you the way if you like.”
Carlos nodded gratefully. “Thank you, that would be great.”
As they walked down the street, the woman introduced herself as Maria. She worked at the diner and had lived in San Ventura her whole life. Carlos asked her about the town and its history, trying to get a sense of where and when he was.
Maria told him that San Ventura was a small, quiet town that hadn’t changed much over the years. It was known for its local cuisine and its annual chili cook-off, which drew people from all over the state.
As they reached the motel, Maria wished Carlos luck on his journey and went back to the diner. Carlos checked into his room, feeling grateful for the opportunity to rest and figure out his next move.
He spent the next few hours pacing back and forth, trying to come up with a plan. He knew he couldn’t stay in the present day forever, but he also didn’t know how to get back to the past.
As he sat on the edge of his bed, lost in thought, he heard a knock at the door. He got up to answer it, wondering who it could be.
When he opened the door, he saw Maria standing there with a plate of food.
“I thought you might be hungry,” she said, holding out the plate. “I brought you some of our famous burritos.”
Carlos felt a pang of nostalgia as he looked at the plate. He had eaten his fair share of burritos during his time as a time traveler. He took the plate from Maria and thanked her.
As he ate the burrito, he felt a strange sensation wash over him. It was as if he was being pulled in different directions at once. He felt dizzy and disoriented, and he knew that something was happening.
And then, just as suddenly as it had started, the sensation stopped. Carlos looked around, feeling confused. He was no longer in the motel room. He was somewhere else entirely.
He looked around, trying to get his bearings. He was standing in the middle of a bustling market square, surrounded by vendors selling all sorts of goods. People bustled past him, speaking in a language he didn’t recognize.
Carlos felt a surge of panic as he realized what had happened. He had been transported back in time again, but this time he had no idea where or when he was.
He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down. He knew he had to figure out where he was and how to get back to the present day.
As he wandered through the market, he heard a familiar sound. It was the sound of meowing, coming from somewhere nearby.
He followed the sound, and it led him to a small alleyway. There, he saw a group of cats gathered around a man who was huddled over a small pot.
The man looked up as Carlos approached. He was an old man, with a long white beard and a kind face.
“Can I help you with something?” the man asked.
“I’m looking for some cheese,” Carlos said, hoping the man would know what he was talking about.
The man’s eyes lit up. “Ah, cheese! You must be one of the Time Travelers.”
Carlos felt relieved. It seemed that he had landed in the right place after all.
The man introduced himself as Miguel. He was a cheese maker, and he was known throughout the region for his rare and delicious cheeses.
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Time Burrito 