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Old 29-01-2024, 13:55   #1
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Growing ChatGPT use on the site.

I didn't know where else to post this, but I didn't want to contaminate other threads. As an example:
https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ml#post3865085

This is starting to happen often. This is obviously an A.I. In fact as a test, I asked ChatGPT the question and got a very similar and almost identical response.

An A.I. by itself isn't able to make a post. My guess is that someone(s) are developing an interface/application that will use ChatGPT and scan the site to generate quality answers, or to generate content to use on other sites. For example, an automated Facebook post based on recent discussions.

That is only a guess of the why, but ChatGPT is here, on this site. Are the owners doing anything about it? I am concerned that without early action, in time this site will be unusable, plagued with most posts made by A.I., poorly generated from past posts or posts on other sites.
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Old 29-01-2024, 14:02   #2
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Re: Growing ChatGPT use on the site.

The only thing I can think is that this/these accounts are trying to establish a "reputable" presence here, and then they'll try to scam people in the classifieds.

I definitely look through people's post history before I consider buying anything through the site.
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Old 29-01-2024, 14:27   #3
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Re: Growing ChatGPT use on the site.

Quick guideline: If it actually tries to answer the OP's question, and does it without any snarky comments, it has to be AI.


Seriously, that post was formulaic. It shows the limitations of AI, which is that it reflects common knowledge instead of making insightful observations that might actually help you.
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Old 29-01-2024, 15:33   #4
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Re: Growing ChatGPT use on the site.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Shanachie View Post
Quick guideline: If it actually tries to answer the OP's question, and does it without any snarky comments, it has to be AI.


Seriously, that post was formulaic. It shows the limitations of AI, which is that it reflects common knowledge instead of making insightful observations that might actually help you.
Yes, but the way for an A.I. to make more insightful observations that are less formulaic is for them to engage in discussion with humans. And part of what I expect is that some person/company is attempting to do that on this site. I have seen a few Sailing/Cruising oriented chatbot/assistants that could be based on such training. Here is one of many that I have seen:
https://chat.openai.com/g/g-wDsZseM2...ling-companion

But when the A.I. is degrading the content of this platform, I think some intervention needs to occur to prevent it form happening. The following article describes it. That A.I. generates content for a platform. Then the AI is trained on the AI generated content, and it spirals downward from there, until the platform isn't usable anymore.

https://mashable.com/article/ai-gene...a-already-here
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Old 29-01-2024, 15:35   #5
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Re: Growing ChatGPT use on the site.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryban View Post
The only thing I can think is that this/these accounts are trying to establish a "reputable" presence here, and then they'll try to scam people in the classifieds.

I definitely look through people's post history before I consider buying anything through the site.
I don't think that is it. I think they are trying to train/scrape the site to make an A.I. more knowledgeable on sailing. There are for more effective ways to make a fake/reputable profile than with terrible A.I. content.
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Old 29-01-2024, 15:54   #6
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Re: Growing ChatGPT use on the site.

I see where your sense of alarm is coming from.



The terrible thing would be AI chatbots coded to respond to a discussion on, say, electronics with posts that push for a particular brand, regardless of its quality.


Or, if a discussion is critical of a particular product, bombarding the thread with posts to drown out the legitimate complaint of the OP.


On the positive side, AI chatbots might kill the Internet. Then the world would surely be a better place. Sailors would have to go to the local marina bar to talk shop.
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Old 29-01-2024, 16:01   #7
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Re: Growing ChatGPT use on the site.

I bet chatgpt can’t replicate the posting style of a cruiser at 2030 hrs, after the 4th sundowner using a cellphone to share their knowledge.
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Old 29-01-2024, 16:19   #8
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Re: Growing ChatGPT use on the site.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Shanachie View Post
I see where your sense of alarm is coming from.



The terrible thing would be AI chatbots coded to respond to a discussion on, say, electronics with posts that push for a particular brand, regardless of its quality.


Or, if a discussion is critical of a particular product, bombarding the thread with posts to drown out the legitimate complaint of the OP.


On the positive side, AI chatbots might kill the Internet. Then the world would surely be a better place. Sailors would have to go to the local marina bar to talk shop.
That is a very plausible scenario to be concerned about.

Quote:
Originally Posted by skipperpete View Post
I bet chatgpt can’t replicate the posting style of a cruiser at 2030 hrs, after the 4th sundowner using a cellphone to share their knowledge.
I think you would win that bet. But it'll try:

Quote:
Ahoy, me hearties! It's 2030 hrs, and I'm sailin' under the moonlight after knockin' back a few too many sundowners. Grab yer grog, 'cause I'm 'bout to spin ye a yarn 'bout the last 24 hours on the high seas.

Settin' Sail with a Cheer:

The day kicked off with the sun risin' all bright and cheerful-like. We hoisted the sails and cast off, full of the promise of adventure. The wind was as playful as a mischievous sea sprite, tuggin' us along the coastline.

Discoverin' Hidden Coves... Maybe:

We decided to explore some hidden coves, or at least we think we did. See, after the third sundowner, the distinction between hidden coves and random bays got a bit blurry. But who cares? The water was clear as a parrot's eye, and we dove right in, wherever that was.

Dancin' with Drunk Dolphins:

Somewhere along the way, we met a bunch of dolphins, or so we reckon. They were flippin' and floppin' about, and we joined 'em for a tipsy dance-off. It's all fun and games till ye realize you've been chattin' with a floating log, but we laughed anyway.

Rough Waters, Shiver Me Timbers:

The wind picked up, and the sea turned into a proper rumble. Now, navigatin' through that mess was like tryin' to walk a straight line after one too many, but we were sailors, and we persevered. Or at least, we thought we did.

Sundowners Galore:

After a day of blurry adventures, we anchored in a spot that looked a lot like the last spot. It was time for our fourth sundowner, and by now, we were as wobbly as a pirate on a peg leg. We swapped wild tales and sang sea shanties that would make a banshee plug her ears.

Sailing by the Moonlight, or Somethin' Like That:

Now, it's 2030 hrs, and we're sailin' under the moonlight. The stars are like shiny gold doubloons, and the sails are doin' some mystical dance. Or maybe I'm just seein' double. Either way, it's a sight to behold.

Conclusion... I Think:

As I sit here, sharin' this slurred tale through my cellphone, I can't help but chuckle. Life at sea can be a bit blurry, especially after a few too many sundowners, but it's a rollickin' good time. So, raise yer glass, mateys, and here's to more wobbly adventures on the high seas!

Until the next rum-filled escapade, may the winds be at yer back, and the seas not too wavy!
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Old 29-01-2024, 23:27   #9
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Re: Growing ChatGPT use on the site.

Mod note - if you see any post that you believe is AI generated, please report it by the usual method of using the 'report' icon located at the bottom LHS of every post.
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Old 30-01-2024, 01:14   #10
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Re: Growing ChatGPT use on the site.

Thanks WholyBee for recognising the post's origin and going to the trouble of bringing it to everyone's attention.

I can't say that it especially concerns me. The post itself is dull and quite vanilla offering nothing really.

For myself I've played with ChatGPT a great deal and in my experience I really don't see it taking over the world. The results it proffered tending to be little better than a glorified search. Also it has no understanding or nuance. It's very American centric (that I resent) and I found it always sat on the fence with any issue.

Is it unfair to penalise the members for using an AI to generate a post? That's a question for the moderators and 'real' members I guess.
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Old 30-01-2024, 04:04   #11
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Re: Growing ChatGPT use on the site.

All gen 1 tech looks like a wonky toy. We're at the Atari pong level of this, what people should be considering is what the later versions will be like. The other thing that people in general are not understanding is how quickly those later versions will appear.
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Old 30-01-2024, 04:09   #12
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Re: Growing ChatGPT use on the site.

Points to ponder:

Experts scientists predict human-level artificial intelligence, by 2030.
However, I expect it to occur sooner, because we keep dropping the bar.

The fact, that artificial intelligence has learned to draw, is nothing.
Think about what may happen, when he/it is not accepted, into the Vienna Academy of Arts.

Eve, eating the apple, marked the first time, when Artificial Intelligence got out of its creator's control.
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Old 30-01-2024, 05:46   #13
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Re: Growing ChatGPT use on the site.

Poisoned AI went rogue during training and couldn't be taught to behave again in 'legitimately scary' study
https://www.livescience.com/technolo...o-behave-again

In a new study [1], researchers programmed various large language models (LLMs), similar to ChatGPT, to behave maliciously.
They then attempted to stop the behaviour by using safety training techniques designed to prevent deception and ill-intent.
They found that, despite their best efforts, the AIs continued to misbehave.


[1] “SLEEPER AGENTS: TRAINING DECEPTIVE LLMs* THAT PERSIST THROUGH SAFETY TRAINING” ~ by Evan Hubinger et al
https://arxiv.org/pdf/2401.05566.pdf

* Large Language Models
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Old 30-01-2024, 07:18   #14
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Re: Growing ChatGPT use on the site.

The thing about Cruisers Forum that AI will not be able to immitate is discussion based on real-world experience and opinions, which is why I come here. I played around with it a bit to see what it could write about certain subjects and it did produce a well-written, coherent response that was also missing key important points that had nothing to do with generic product descriptions, but more with how real people in the real world would use the stuff. Sadly, I think the first and best use of AI will be for scams like tricking you into answering a phishing email based on how millions of people respond to other fake emails, or how the algorithm will manipulate the price you see based on your past browsing data.
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Old 30-01-2024, 07:47   #15
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Re: Growing ChatGPT use on the site.

IMO the first problem with AI or any prolific source of poor content is that the signal to noise ratio gets so bad that you can barely find the useful stuff. I experienced it years ago with a rapidly growing car forum and I think it's already happened to the overall set of web content.

The later problem comes when we find it hard to tell the difference between the noise and the signal.
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