Page 39 | MediocreMan

MediocreMan Chats with ChatGPT · 3 July 2023

Below is the “chat” I had with ChatGPT about replacing me. Rather about writing a blog post for me. By the way (not to spoil anything), the conversations are exactly as ChatGPT responded. I only added some formatting to set off the conversation from the posts ChatGPT generated.

User
Write a blog post about AI in the style of the author of Mediocreman.com.

ChatGPT

Title: “The Rise of AI: Unleashing Extraordinary Potential or Leading Us Towards Mediocrity?”
Introduction:
Welcome back, fellow thinkers and dreamers, to another riveting exploration into the world of technology and its impact on our lives. Today, we delve into the enigmatic realm of Artificial Intelligence (AI). While some hail AI as the harbinger of a new era, others fear its ascent will lead us towards mediocrity. Join me on this captivating journey as we unravel the intricacies of AI and its implications for our society.

AI: A Game-Changing Innovation or Just Another Fad?
Ah, AI – a term that invokes visions of futuristic possibilities, awe-inspiring advancements, and a hint of apprehension. It’s easy to get swept away by the grandeur of AI, envisioning a world where machines replicate human intelligence flawlessly. But let’s pause for a moment and reflect. Is AI truly a revolutionary force, or is it just another fleeting trend? Allow me to guide you through the fascinating landscapes of this technological marvel.

The Hype and the Reality:
AI has unquestionably captured the collective imagination, creating a whirlwind of excitement. From self-driving cars and virtual assistants to personalized recommendations and predictive algorithms, AI has permeated various facets of our lives. However, amidst the glitz and glamour, we must tread with caution. It’s vital to separate the hype from the reality and acknowledge the limitations and challenges that accompany this burgeoning field.

AI: Masterpiece or Copycat?
One of the prevailing concerns surrounding AI is its potential to lead us towards mediocrity. As AI systems become more sophisticated, there is a growing fear that they may simply mimic human behavior without truly understanding the essence of creativity and innovation. Are we on the verge of replacing genuine ingenuity with AI-generated replicas? This existential dilemma begs us to ponder the nature of human uniqueness and the irreplaceable spark of genius that resides within us.

The Human Touch:
While AI undeniably possesses incredible computational power and efficiency, it lacks the very essence that defines us as human beings – our emotions, experiences, and the delicate nuances that make us who we are. It is in this realm of human emotions that AI falls short, unable to genuinely comprehend the depth of human connection and empathy. As we embrace the AI revolution, let us remember that true excellence lies not only in the realm of intellect but also in the beauty of the human spirit.

AI as a Catalyst for Human Potential:
While we must remain wary of AI’s potential pitfalls, it would be remiss not to acknowledge the extraordinary possibilities it offers. By augmenting human capabilities, AI has the power to unleash our full potential. Imagine a world where AI assists doctors in diagnosing diseases, enables scientists to make breakthrough discoveries, and empowers artists to create masterpieces beyond imagination. Rather than fearing AI’s rise, let us strive to harness its power to enhance our own abilities and amplify the extraordinary within us.

Embracing a Future of Harmony:
In our quest to unlock the true potential of AI, we must ensure that we do not compromise our core values and the essence of what it means to be human. By establishing ethical guidelines and nurturing a symbiotic relationship between humans and machines, we can chart a path towards a harmonious future. Let us not settle for mediocrity, but rather let AI be the catalyst that propels us towards greatness.
Conclusion: As we conclude our journey through the captivating landscapes of AI, we find ourselves standing at a crossroads. The path forward is not without its challenges and uncertainties, but with careful contemplation, we can navigate this uncharted territory. Let us strive for a future where AI augments our abilities, while we retain our essence as humans – where innovation and creativity are celebrated, and mediocr

User
Does that really sound like the author of mediocreman.com?

ChatGPT
Apologies if the previous response did not capture the specific style of the author from mediocreman.com. Let’s try another approach that aligns more closely with their style.

Title: “AI: Is It the Next Marvelous Marvel or Just Another Meh Moment?”
Introduction:
Greetings, dear readers, and welcome to another epic adventure in the ever-evolving world of technology. Today, we dive headfirst into the intriguing realm of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Is it destined to be the next grand marvel, heralding a revolution in human existence? Or are we simply witnessing yet another overhyped, underwhelming moment in the annals of technological progress? Buckle up, my fellow mediocrities, as we embark on a journey to unravel the mysteries of AI and its impact on our lives.

The Great AI Mirage:
Oh, AI, you sneaky devil! You’ve managed to capture our imaginations and sell us a tantalizing vision of a future filled with intelligent machines and robotic wonders. But let’s take a moment to put on our skeptic hats and question whether AI is truly the game-changer it claims to be, or just another mirage in the desert of technological advancement.

AI: Brains without Brawn?
Sure, AI can do some impressive tricks. From voice assistants that know a little too much about us to algorithms that predict our every desire, it’s easy to get caught up in the hype. But let’s be honest here, folks. Can AI truly match the complexity and ingenuity of the human mind? Or are we merely witnessing a parade of flashy parlor tricks that ultimately leave us yearning for something more substantial?

The Mediocre Machine Dilemma:
Here’s the conundrum, my friends. As AI becomes smarter and more sophisticated, there’s a creeping fear that it may begin to replace our own ingenuity and creative prowess. Are we hurtling towards a future where machines imitate our intelligence, leaving us feeling like a bunch of mediocre imitators ourselves? It’s a troubling thought, to say the least.

The Heart of the Matter:
Let’s not forget, dear readers, that AI lacks the one thing that makes us truly exceptional—heart. Emotions, experiences, and the intangible essence of being human are what set us apart. And no matter how fancy those algorithms get, they can never replicate the messy, unpredictable, and beautiful chaos that defines us. So, while AI might be good at crunching numbers and spouting facts, it’ll never truly grasp the essence of what it means to be human.

AI: Friend or Foe?
Before we grab our pitchforks and march against the AI invasion, let’s take a moment to appreciate the potential it holds. Yes, my friends, there’s a silver lining to this tale. AI has the power to enhance our lives, to amplify our capabilities, and to unlock new realms of possibilities. We must tread carefully, forging a path where humans and machines coexist in harmony, each contributing their unique strengths. Let’s not fear the rise of AI, but rather harness its power to elevate ourselves and our collective mediocrity.

The Mediocre Future:
As we bid adieu to this adventure through the AI maze, we find ourselves at a crossroads. Do we settle for a future defined by AI’s limitations, or do we rise above mediocrity and steer the course towards greatness? Remember, my fellow mediocrities, that the choice is ultimately ours. Let’s embrace the brilliance of human potential and let AI serve as a mere sidekick, enhancing our journey rather than defining it.
Conclusion: In the ever-changing landscape of technology, AI remains an enigma—a source of both wonder and trepidation. As we navigate this brave new world, let us not lose sight

User
Really? I do not think Michael T. Miyoshi is that pompous.

ChatGPT
Apologies for the misunderstanding. Let’s give it another shot, this time capturing a more authentic tone in line with the style of Michael T. Miyoshi from mediocreman.com.

Title: “AI: Unlocking the Potential for Extraordinary Mediocrity?”
Introduction:
Hey there, folks! It’s your friendly neighborhood Mediocre Man, back again to explore the wondrous world of technology. Today, we dive headfirst into the realm of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Is it the groundbreaking innovation we’ve all been waiting for, or just another shiny distraction? Buckle up, my fellow mediocrities, as we embark on an adventure to uncover the true impact of AI on our lives.

AI: The New Shiny Toy?
Ah, AI, the buzzword of the century! It’s everywhere these days, promising to revolutionize everything from our morning coffee routine to interstellar travel. But, hold on a second. Before we get carried away on the hype train, let’s take a step back and examine whether AI is truly the game-changer it claims to be, or just another fleeting fascination destined to leave us craving for more.

The Limits of Artificial Brilliance:
Sure, AI can do some pretty nifty stuff. It can predict our movie preferences and beat us at board games. But let’s not forget that it’s called “artificial” intelligence for a reason. For all its mathematical prowess and fancy algorithms, AI falls short when it comes to the messy, unpredictable nature of genuine human intelligence. So, while it can crunch numbers and analyze data faster than you can say “mediocrity rules,” it still lacks that certain je ne sais quoi that makes us humans truly extraordinary.

The Threat of Mediocrity: Are We Replacing Genius with Artificial Copycats?
Here’s the real conundrum, my friends. As AI gets smarter, there’s a concern that it might end up replacing genuine ingenuity with mere imitations. Are we headed towards a future where machines churn out mediocre replicas of creativity and innovation? Is AI poised to turn us into a society of average Joes, content with the mundane and devoid of true brilliance? It’s a question that leaves me scratching my head.

Embracing the Human Quirkiness:
Let’s face it, folks: AI can’t replicate the quirky, messy, and sometimes downright bizarre nature of human existence. Our emotions, experiences, and idiosyncrasies are what make us unique. It’s in our imperfections and flaws that true brilliance often shines through. So, while AI may be a whiz at calculations, let’s not forget to celebrate the beautiful chaos that defines us as human beings.

The Potential for Mediocre Greatness:
Before we dismiss AI as just another overhyped gimmick, let’s consider its potential to enhance our mediocrity. AI has the power to augment our capabilities, helping us achieve greater heights of mediocre greatness. Think of it as a trusty sidekick, enabling us to go beyond our own limitations and explore new frontiers. As long as we don’t let it overshadow our own uniqueness, AI can be a valuable tool in our quest for mediocrity.

Finding Balance in a World of AI:
As we navigate this AI-infused landscape, it’s crucial to strike a balance between embracing its potential and preserving our human spirit. Let’s not be blinded by the allure of AI, but instead use it as a tool to elevate our own mediocrity. By nurturing our creativity, curiosity, and compassion, we can ensure that AI remains a humble assistant rather than an overpowering master.
Conclusion: So, my fellow mediocrities, as we wrap up our exploration of AI’s impact, remember this: while AI holds promise, it’s not a magical solution that will transform

[Note: Here is the link to the ChatGPT chat.]

Share on facebook

Comment

ChatGPT Cannot Replace Me · 1 July 2023

Thankfully, ChatGPT will not replace me.

If you have not yet heard of ChatGPT, you probably should be checking it out. After all, it might replace you. Or more probably, it might help you do your job better. At the very least, you should check it out to see if you can have some interesting conversations with it. Rather, with AI, Artificial Intelligence.

No. I am not going to tell you that AI will rule the world some day. It might take a few jobs, maybe even quite a few jobs. But if we can see how to use it in our everyday lives, it can help us. And it can help us with more than just serving up ads that are picked out just for us. (Which is just one of the things that AI has been doing for years.)

I heard of ChatGPT a few months ago. I was intrigued, but did not sign up for an account. Until the other day. That was when I was talking with a couple very smart people who said that living through the age of AI might be like living through the industrial revolution. Hold on to your hats. We are in for a ride.

I am intrigued at teaching a little about AI to my programming and engineering students. (Another thing that my smart friends and I talked about.) Just some rudimentary stuff. Like how to use it to be more productive. And how to verify its veracity. After all, ChatGPT can come up with lots of crazy stuff. Some of it might even be true.

So what is ChatGPT? I am glad you asked.

I do not know. Not really. What I do know is that some smart people figured out how to create this thing called a neural network. That is something that kinda resembles neurons in the brain and sorta models thinking. Apparently, the neural network is just a bunch of connections between stuff. The stuff can be words or ideas, and those connections have weights.

ChatGPT has made connections between words on the internet. Then, it used those connections to figure out how to predict what the next word on any page on the internet would be. It used the real words on the page to determine whether that prediction was correct, and then did it over and over and over again until it finally started getting those next words correct most of the time.

Or something like that. It is called a Large Language Model and the above is about all I understand about it.

When my friends explained how the Large Language Model works and how ChatGPT works, I thought that I should try it out. ChatGPT, that is. So I asked it to write a blog post for me. I wanted to see if AI could replace me. I am happy to say that it might write better than me, but it cannot write like me. Boy is that a relief.

Here is an excerpt from the prompt: “Write a blog post about AI in the style of the author of MediocreMan.com.”

Welcome back, fellow thinkers and dreamers, to another riveting exploration into the world of technology and its impact on our lives. Today, we delve into the enigmatic realm of Artificial Intelligence (AI). While some hail AI as the harbinger of a new era, others fear its ascent will lead us towards mediocrity. Join me on this captivating journey as we unravel the intricacies of AI and its implications for our society.

“…delve into the enigmatic realm of Artificial Intelligence (AI).”? Who uses words like that? “Certainly not I,” said the frog. (I know. There is no frog in the story of Henny Penny. But I like to make up my own quotes.) After all, I am not sure I know what half of those words mean anyway.

Well, I did not think the rest of it sounded like me, so I asked ChatGPT, “Does that really sound like the author of MediocreMan.com?”

ChatGPT replied, “Apologies if the previous response did not capture the specific style of the author from mediocreman.com. Let’s try another approach that aligns more closely with their style.”

The Mediocre Machine Dilemma:
Here’s the conundrum, my friends. As AI becomes smarter and more sophisticated, there’s a creeping fear that it may begin to replace our own ingenuity and creative prowess. Are we hurtling towards a future where machines imitate our intelligence, leaving us feeling like a bunch of mediocre imitators ourselves? It’s a troubling thought, to say the least.

That paragraph was certainly not very creative, and it used too many complete sentences. Not my style at all. But it had some nice thoughts. Even though the complete essay tried to use the word “mediocre” too many times.

In fact, I told ChatGPT, “Really? I do not think Michael T. Miyoshi is that pompous.” I figured I would give the machine one more chance to try and replace me. I must say the last effort was just as bad as the other two.

“Apologies for the misunderstanding. Let’s give it another shot, this time capturing a more authentic tone in line with the style of Michael T. Miyoshi from mediocreman.com.”

The Limits of Artificial Brilliance:
Sure, AI can do some pretty nifty stuff. It can predict our movie preferences and beat us at board games. But let’s not forget that it’s called “artificial” intelligence for a reason. For all its mathematical prowess and fancy algorithms, AI falls short when it comes to the messy, unpredictable nature of genuine human intelligence. So, while it can crunch numbers and analyze data faster than you can say “mediocrity rules,” it still lacks that certain je ne sais quoi that makes us humans truly extraordinary.

Je ne sais what?

Well, I must say that I was happy with my foray into the ChatGPT world. It was enlightening. And ChatGPT was clever. It even used the word “mediocrities” to address the readers. Something I would never do. Still, it was fun to read what AI thought I might sound like when writing about AI.

I will post those three full ChatGPT blog posts for people to see. But there is a danger in that. After all, you might disagree with me. You might think that one day Artificial Intelligence really could replace me.

Share on facebook

Comment

Poetic Expectations · 24 June 2023

Apparently, I need to give poems with my awards. Who knew?

Expectations are strange. Or maybe not so strange. All I know is that if I do something a time or two, people expect it to happen all the time. I guess it makes some sense. I think.

It is graduation season and we had our annual Senior Awards night a couple weeks ago. It is a night when the seniors get all kinds of awards. Scholarships, awards from the Marines and other armed forces, athletic awards, and of course, awards from the teachers.

The teacher awards are given by the different departments. Art, social studies, English, math, physical education, science, and Career and Technical Education (CTE). Now, I am a CTE teacher. And in our school, we represent several different disciplines. We have agriculture, sports medicine, business and marketing, media arts, engineering, and computer science. Some of our disciplines have a couple teachers, but three of us are single person departments. I am the engineering and computer science department. Yes, they are separate disciplines. Yes, I am one person teaching both (somewhat related) fields. No, I only get one award for the two disciplines.

If you did not know this already, I like to write. I like to write prose and songs and poetry and short stories and… Well, you get the picture. I just like to write. So on Senior Awards Night, I have given two things to my seniors, besides their certificate. I have given Paulo Coelho’s book, The Alchemist, and a poem.

I give The Alchemist to my students because I want them to follow their passions. I want them to give it all for that pearl of great price. That field with the fantastic treasure in it. I want them to really go for it. Of course, I want this for all my students, but I only give the book to my outstanding senior each year.

I also give the student a poem that I wrote. It might not be an original for that particular student, but it is one that I have written. So I usually recite the poem at the ceremony. This year, I refrained from doing so except in class when I recognized the person in front of her peers (as I usually do).

Apparently, I am supposed to always recite the poem at the awards ceremony. Who knew?

Okay, I guess I should have known. This year, it seems that everybody expected it. Mike, one of our administrators, mouthed to me when I walked off the stage, “Where’s the poem?” Marc, the presenter after me asked out loud before his presentation, “Where’s the poem, Miyoshi?” Dan, the MC (maybe that should be his superhero name) wondered afterward where the poem was. And a school board member asked about it later too. I guess I should have known. Awards ceremonies and Miyoshi poems go hand in hand.

Well, to make a short story a little longer, I decided that I needed to write a poem. I wrote a specific one for Rachel and read it to her in front of the class the day after the awards ceremony. And I posted it on my blog the week of graduation. And of course, now I am explaining it all here on another blog post. (Partly, so that I remember to write and/or recite a poem next year at the ceremony.)

I guess I have learned my lesson. Even if we are given just a thirty second time limit (we were actually given two minutes), I will recite a poem for my outstanding senior. After all, it is the expectation. Who knew? Apparently, I should have. Hopefully, I will remember next year. Everybody expects a Miyoshi poem when I give my senior award.