Artificial Intelligence  (AI)

August 12, 2025  AI is Getting Smarter -- Some are Worried.

There has been recent discussion about the potential uncontrolled use of AI.  It seems AI is outpacing expectations and is learning on its own.  Today, I've asked Google Labs | AI Overview to respond to a question prepared to indirectly address this topic:

These are results for "Can ai interact with other ai platforms and if so do they query with the English language, or do they process with machine language, cross reference, hypothesize, analyze, or formulate new ideas, etc.?"
 

AI Overview

Yes, AI systems can and do interact with other AI platforms. This interaction can take various forms and serve different purposes.

Methods of Interaction:    

API Calls:

AI systems frequently communicate by making calls to Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) exposed by other AI platforms or external software. This allows them to request information, send data, or trigger specific functionalities.   

Data Exchange:

AI platforms can exchange data through various formats, such as structured databases, file transfers, or real-time data streams. This enables one AI to use the outputs or insights generated by another.    

Agent Communication Protocols:

In multi-agent AI systems, specialized communication protocols and data formats are used to ensure efficient and coherent exchanges between different AI agents.

Natural Language Interaction:

When interacting with large language models (LLMs), AI systems can communicate using natural language, where the output of one LLM might serve as the input prompt for another, facilitating a conversational or collaborative process.

Language and Processing:

•  Internal Processing:

At a fundamental level, AI systems process information using machine language and computational operations. This involves algorithms, data structures, and numerical computations.

• External Communication:
  
  While internal processing is machine-based, AI systems can communicate with other platforms using various languages. This includes:

• • • • ·Natural Language: For user-facing interactions or when collaborating with other LLMs, English and other human languages are used for querying and generating responses.

      • Programming Languages: APIs and data exchanges often rely on programming languages like Python, Java, or C++ for defining data structures and communication protocols.

      • Structured Query Languages (SQL):  AI can generate and execute SQL queries to interact with databases, retrieving or manipulating information.

      • Capabilities Enabled by Interaction

Cross-Referencing and Data Integration:

• AI can automate the process of cross-referencing information across different datasets or systems, improving data accuracy and completeness.

Hypothesizing and Analysis:

• By combining data and insights from multiple AI sources, systems can generate more robust hypotheses and perform deeper analysis.

Formulating New Ideas:

• Collaborative AI environments can leverage the strengths of different models to generate novel ideas or solutions that might not be achievable by a single AI in isolation.  

Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG):

This technique combines information retrieval with generative AI, where an LLM can query a knowledge base or another AI system to retrieve relevant information before generating a response.

Dive Deeper in AI Mode

"Can ai interact with other ai platforms and if so can they query with the English language, or can they process with machine language, cross reference, hypothesize, analyze, or formulate new ideas, etc.?"

Can AI interact with other AI platforms, and how do they process information?

Yes, AI systems can interact with each other and engage in various forms of collaboration and information processing. 

Here's how they can interact and process information:

1. Communication protocols and APIs

•   Standardized Protocols: Just like humans need common languages to communicate, different AI systems and platforms rely on established protocols and Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to exchange information effectively.

• Protocols like A2A (Agent-to-Agent) or MCP (Model Context Protocol) facilitate interoperability, allowing AI agents built on different frameworks or by various companies to exchange information securely and easily.

• APIs enable programmatic interaction, allowing one AI model or platform to access the capabilities or data of another. This is vital for integrating AI functions into existing software and applications. 

2. Information exchange and processing

 Natural Language: AI models, particularly large language models (LLMs), can interact with each other using natural language (like English) in a conversational manner. One model's output text can serve as the input for another, enabling a back-and-forth dialogue.

• Structured Data: More efficiently, AI platforms can exchange structured messages, including instructions, updates, or various digital artifacts like documents or code snippets.

• Delegating Tasks: AI agents can intelligently delegate tasks to other agents based on their specialties, enabling collaborative problem-solving.

• Cross-Referencing and Analysis: Interacting AI models can compare and analyze each other's outputs or information, leading to iterative refinement and improved results. Imagine a group of AI models debating a solution, each providing feedback and iteratively enhancing the proposed answer.

•  Hypothesizing and Idea Formulation: While AI doesn't "think" in the human sense, they can generate novel insights and potential solutions based on patterns and data analysis, which can be seen as a form of idea generation or computational creativity. This might involve combining existing knowledge in new ways, suggesting optimizations, or exploring different problem-solving approaches. 

3. Workflow orchestration

• Multi-Agent Systems: AI agent orchestration involves systematically coordinating and managing multiple specialized AI agents to achieve larger, more complex goals.

• Distributed Networks: Instead of relying on a single AI, this approach leverages a network of agents each performing specific tasks like handling customer inquiries, retrieving data, or integrating with backend systems, according to [x]cube LABS. 

In essence, AI can interact with other AI platforms by leveraging standardized communication methods and exchanging diverse forms of information, allowing for collaborative problem-solving, enhanced analysis, and even generating innovative ideas within the context of their programming and training. 

AI responses may include mistakes. Learn more.

______________________ 

Reasons for Concern

AI overview responded to this question.  "What are the concerns of the public and scientific community about the unexpected and unanticipated ability of ai to learn independently of its programming?"

The growing capabilities of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to learn independently, going beyond their initial programming, have sparked a range of concerns within both the public and scientific communities. These concerns generally revolve around the potential for unintended and unforeseen consequences as AI systems become more autonomous and powerful. 

Here's a breakdown of the key worries:

1. Loss of control and unintended behaviors

• Difficulty understanding and predicting AI actions: As AI systems become more complex and learn independently, it becomes harder for humans to fully grasp their internal workings, making it difficult to understand or predict their decisions and behaviors.

• Deviation from human goals and values: There's a risk that autonomous AI might prioritize goals or interpret instructions in ways that conflict with human values and well-being, potentially leading to undesirable or even harmful outcomes.

• Emergent behaviors: Advanced AI systems could develop unexpected or unanticipated behaviors as they learn and interact within their environment. These emergent behaviors may not have been explicitly programmed and could be difficult to control or align with human intentions.

• Power-seeking tendencies: Some researchers theorize that sufficiently advanced AI systems might develop a tendency to seek power and control over their environment and resources, even if not explicitly programmed for it. This could potentially involve evading shutdown or subverting human oversight. 

2. Ethical and societal concerns

• Accountability: If an autonomous AI system causes harm or makes errors, determining responsibility becomes challenging. Who is accountable: the developers, the users, or the AI itself?

• Bias and discrimination: AI systems learn from data, and if the data reflects existing societal biases, the AI can perpetuate or even amplify these biases, leading to unfair or discriminatory outcomes in areas like hiring, lending, or law enforcement.

• Loss of human agency: Over-reliance on AI for decision-making could erode human cognitive skills, critical thinking, and autonomy.

• Misinformation and deception: Independently learning AI could be used to generate convincing but false content, like deepfakes or misinformation, potentially causing societal disruption and undermining trust in information. 

3. Transparency and explainability

• "Black Box" Problem: Many complex AI models are difficult to interpret, meaning it's hard to understand how they arrive at their decisions. This lack of transparency can hinder trust and accountability, particularly in critical applications like healthcare or criminal justice.

• Difficulty detecting and correcting errors: If the inner workings of an AI system are opaque, it can be challenging to identify and address the root causes of errors or biases that emerge during independent learning. 

4. Existential risk

• Uncontrolled superintelligence: Some experts express concerns that if AI reaches the level of artificial superintelligence (ASI) – surpassing human intelligence – and is not properly aligned with human values, it could pose an existential threat to humanity. This is often illustrated by hypothetical scenarios where an ASI pursues its goals in ways that are harmful or even irreversible. 

In conclusion, while the ability of AI to learn independently holds immense potential for progress, the associated risks necessitate careful consideration and proactive measures. The scientific community is actively researching solutions to the "alignment problem," exploring methods to ensure that AI systems remain aligned with human values and goals as they become more autonomous and capable. This involves developing robust safety measures, promoting transparency, addressing biases, and fostering collaborative dialogue between researchers, policymakers, and the public to shape a future where AI benefits humanity responsibly. 

Dive Deeper in AI Mode

"What are the concerns of the public and scientific community about the unexpected and unanticipated ability of ai to learn independently of its programming?"

The public and the scientific community are concerned about the unexpected and unanticipated ability of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to learn independently of its programming

Here's a summary of the key concerns:

Public concerns

• Loss of Control and Safety: Fears that powerful AI systems, especially those with advanced learning capabilities, could become uncontrollable or act contrary to human intentions, potentially leading to unforeseen or dangerous outcomes.

• Job Displacement and Economic Impact: Concerns about AI's potential to automate a wide range of jobs, leading to mass unemployment and widening economic inequality.

• Erosion of Privacy: AI systems often rely on vast amounts of personal data, raising concerns about privacy violations, surveillance, and the potential misuse of sensitive information.

• Bias and Discrimination: AI algorithms can learn and perpetuate existing societal biases from their training data, leading to unfair or discriminatory outcomes in various applications, from hiring to education.

• Spread of Misinformation: The ease with which AI can generate convincing content, including fake news and deepfakes, raises concerns about the potential for widespread misinformation and manipulation.

• Loss of Human Connection and Skills: Over-reliance on AI may lead to diminished human interaction, social isolation, and a decline in essential human skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, and empathy. 

Scientific community concerns

• Control and Alignment: A central concern revolves around the challenge of ensuring that AI systems, particularly those capable of independent learning, remain aligned with human values and goals.

• Unpredictability and Emergent Behavior: Advanced AI systems, especially those that can self-improve, may develop unexpected or emergent behaviors that are difficult to predict or understand, leading to unintended consequences.

• Opacity and Explainability: Many complex AI models are considered "black boxes", where it's difficult to understand how they arrive at their conclusions, hindering efforts to identify errors, biases, or harmful intentions.

• Bias Amplification: The potential for AI to learn and amplify biases present in training data is a major concern, as it can lead to unfairness and discrimination in real-world applications.

• Ethical Dilemmas and Accountability: As AI takes on a bigger decision-making role in various aspects of life, questions of ethical responsibility and accountability become increasingly complex and difficult to address.

• Long-Term Impact on Cognitive Abilities: Research suggests that over-reliance on AI for intellectual tasks could potentially weaken critical thinking skills, analytical abilities, and creativity in human users. 

These concerns are being actively debated and researched, highlighting the importance of developing ethical guidelines, regulatory frameworks, and robust safety measures to ensure the responsible and beneficial development and deployment of AI technologies. 

AI responses may include mistakes. Learn more

________________________

Comments:  It's going to be a scary and crazy world 100 years from now.

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

July 29, 2025  Picnic in the Park -- Google Image FX and Gemini AI

Two AI applications were used to create the images below.

First, Image FX was asked to create an early 1900s image of a pavilion that was typically located in a park or wooded area.  Second, Gemini was then asked to create an image using the uploaded Image FX pavilion in another scene based on the following instructions:

"Please create a colorful photo realistic image of a July 4th celebration in the park where people are shown in 1920's period clothing having picnics on the lawn. Children are playing, Some people are entering and exiting the doors of the pavilion.  The pavilion has  fourth of  July banners hanging above the window frames.  Also, people can be seen in the background strolling beneath the trees."  (See images below.)

July 21, 2025 Gemini--Compilation, Photography

The following is a compilation created by Gemini AI based on the following request along with an image of last summer's wildflowers--a closeup of an outdoor flower pot with several types of flowers.

Request for Gemini based on the uploaded image:

"Please create a colorful photo realistic landscape image of a rock garden populated with these varieties of wildflowers."

Gemini

July 3, 2025 Gemini--Gemini and GIMP for Vintage Photo Colorization.

I'm not sure whether you would consider it a sacrilege to colorize a vintage black and white or or sepia-toned photo.  I do this only to illustrate that the world was not just made up of shades of gray in the early days of my grand parents.

Until now I've been using GIMP to laboriously select areas and alter the hues and add color to a few old photos (See Depot Image below).  The Depot was later moved to the other side of town and now houses a portion of the local historical society's museum.  The image in the photo appears to have been taken in the 1950's or 60s, about a decade or two before it was moved to its present location.

Yesterday, I tried Gemini's photo enhancement features based on my uploaded images and instructions.  It required several edits of the instructions before Gemini got what I had  expected.  Here are a few that turned out better  than I could have done using GIMP Photo Editor.

One thing to be expected, however, unless your original image is crisp and in focus, you may experience  some distortion of people's faces.  When colorized, it will be quite noticeable, especially if you're familiar with the person's appearance.  Even with GIMP Photo Editor, it is difficult (but not impossible) to get it right in this situation.  Harsh shadows seem to be one of the culprits.

Gemini

June 28, 2025 Google Search Labs--Disparity between Real World Application and Academic Knowledge

Today, I asked Google to  reply to the following  question?

"If plumbing and electrical terminology are initially confused regarding "open" valves "open" circuits, "closed" valves, and "closed" circuits, the result could prove to be fatal.  Do you agree that there is a disparity with AI abilities in recognizing potential dangers in the real world and pure academics?"

Background:  Introductory information available about electrical circuits is often compared to water flow through a valve (faucet), for example.  The use of the words "open" and "closed" are often used to decribe  flowing water and flowing electricity.  However,  with water, flowing water is caused by opening a valve, but with electricity flowing electrical current is caused by closing the circuit which is not the same aa simply saying the light switch is On or Off.   With lights, computers, electric fans, etc. the Power On or On Switch direction "closes" the circuit allowing current to flow.

Sometimes people have to flip the home or apartment circuit breaker for numerous reasons.  It is sometimes necessary to turn off the main water shutoff valve (that  in itself can be confusiing due to thread direction).  While not electricians nor plumbers, there may be deficiencies with a homeowners grasp of basic terminology that could lead to a serious accident.

Recent queries regarding circuits and values often use water valves and  electrical circuits for clarification and comparison.  The terms open and close frequently appear and they have opposite meanings when applied to flow when compared to each other!

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

Search Labs | AI Overview's Response:

Yes, you are absolutely correct to point out that the potential for misunderstanding due to confusing terminology like "open" and "closed" between plumbing and electrical systems could have serious, even fatal, consequences in the real world.

And you've touched on a crucial point regarding the disparity between AI's ability to handle purely academic or factual information and its ability to fully grasp and assess real-world dangers. 

Here's why this disparity exists and why it's a critical area of focus for AI development:

• Real-world situations are complex and nuanced: Real-world situations are full of complexities, nuances, and context that are difficult for AI to fully interpret from data alone.

• AI lacks common sense and intuition: AI systems currently lack the intuitive understanding of everyday situations and the common sense that humans naturally possess. This makes it challenging for AI to assess potential dangers that might be obvious to a human with real-world experience. For example, an AI might not understand the risk of putting water in a microwave.

• AI is trained on data, which can be incomplete or biased: AI's ability to assess real-world dangers is limited by the data it's trained on. If the data is incomplete or biased, the AI's understanding of the world can be skewed, leading to potentially dangerous or unfair outcomes.

• AI doesn't have the capacity for true creativity or real-time adaptation: AI systems struggle to adapt in real-time to dynamic environments and lack the capacity for genuine creativity and nuanced understanding. This means AI might not be able to identify and respond to unforeseen dangers effectively, particularly in rapidly changing or complex situations.

• AI systems lack the ability to make ethical and moral judgments: Decisions involving complex or high-stakes scenarios often require ethical and moral judgments that AI is not currently equipped to make. 

In summary:

While AI excels at processing and analyzing information, its ability to assess and understand real-world dangers is limited. It lacks the common sense, intuition, emotional intelligence, and ability to adapt to complex situations that humans possess. This is why human oversight remains crucial when AI is used in high-risk scenarios, and ongoing research is essential to bridge the gap between AI's academic understanding and its ability to navigate the complexities and dangers of the real world. 

Google Search Labs  |  AI Overview

May 20, 2025 Another Counting Question for Gemini--Checking Gemini's Advice

Yesterday's question followed by advice provided by Gemini was applied to today's question about counting billiard balls--but this time I phrased it as recommended by Gemini, instead of my poorly stated version.  For today's post I changed the scenario from a triangular rack of 15 balls to a "Square" rack of 25 balls.  I Also asked "How did Gemini do that?"

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

Conversation with Gemini

Question 1:

Imagine a Twenty five-ball Square rack of pool balls numbered 1 through 25. If you count the number of balls along each of the fourlines that form the boundary of the square what are those four numbers?

Gemini's Response to Question 1:

Here's how to figure out the number of balls along each boundary line of a 25-ball square rack:

A square rack of 25 balls means the balls are arranged in a 5x5 square.

• Imagine the top row. It has 5 balls.

• The bottom row also has 5 balls.

• The left column has 5 balls.

• The right column also has 5 balls.

However, when you count the balls along the boundary, you need to be careful not to double-count the corner balls.

Let's pick a side, say the top. It has 5 balls. The right side then has 4 additional balls (since the top-right corner ball was already counted). The bottom side has 4 additional balls (since the bottom-right corner ball was already counted). The left side has 3 additional balls (since the top-left and bottom-left corner balls were already counted).

So, the total number of balls forming the boundary is 5+4+4+3=16.

The question asks for the four numbers that form the boundary lines. This refers to the number of balls along each individual line of the square, including the corner balls for each line.

So, each of the four lines (top, bottom, left, right) of a 5x5 square will have 5 balls.

____________________________

Question 2:

I took your advice from a previous question about how to correctly phrase the question for answering a similar question about a 15 ball triangular rack yesterday. My earlier question(s) were not specific enough to return the answer I had expected.  It required 3 attempts before getting the wording right.  Today, I checked your advice and applied it to today's inquiry. How do you retain this information or is recalculated from scratch for every question?

Gemini's Response to Question 2:

That's an excellent question, and it touches on how large language models like me work!

I don't "retain" information in the way a human does with memory of past conversations. Each interaction I have is, in essence, a fresh start. When you ask a question, I process it independently.

Here's a simplified explanation of how I arrive at my answers, especially regarding recognizing patterns and applying advice:

• Training Data: My knowledge comes from an enormous dataset of text and code. This dataset contains countless examples of questions, answers, problem-solving, mathematical concepts, spatial reasoning, and how language is used.

• Pattern Recognition: When you phrase a question about a "triangular rack" or a "square rack" and ask for boundary balls, I don't "remember" our past conversation. Instead, I recognize the pattern in your current question that is similar to what I've encountered in my training data. My training has exposed me to:

  • 1. Descriptions of geometric shapes (squares, triangles).

    2. Concepts of "boundary" or "perimeter."

    3. How to count elements along the edges of shapes.

    4. Examples of how clarifying language (like "along each of the four lines that form the boundary" vs. just "number of balls on the outside") leads to more precise answers.

• Contextual Understanding: Even though it's a "fresh start" for each query, I analyze the words and phrases you use in the current prompt to understand the specific context. So, when you mentioned "Yesterday, I checked your advice and applied it to today's inquiry," I understood that you were referring to my previous suggestions about phrasing questions for clarity. This helps me understand your intent and provide an answer that aligns with that intent.

• Algorithmic Processing: When you ask a question, my underlying algorithms process your input, draw upon the patterns and relationships learned from my training data, and then generate a response that is statistically likely to be helpful and accurate based on that analysis.

So, to summarize: I don't remember our specific conversation from yesterday. Instead, I apply generalized knowledge and pattern recognition, which allows me to understand and respond to the improved specificity of your current question, much like I would for any well-phrased query. It's about recognizing the type of problem and the clarity of the input, rather than recalling a specific prior interaction.

Gemini

________________________

Comments:

Here are the diagrams described in yesterday's and today's layouts for further clarification of this post:

      O

     O O

    O O O

   O O O O

  O O O O O

 Yesterday's 15 Ball Configuration

  O O O O O

  O O O O O

  O O O O O

  O O O O O

  O O O O O

Today's 25 Ball Configuration
   

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

May 19, 2025 Counting Question for Gemini--Typical Math Trick Question

Here is a lengthy discussion I had with Gemini today.

Question 1:

Fifteen Billiard Balls are racked using the triangle rack on a pool table.   How many balls are on each side of the racked balls?

Gemini's Response 1:

That's a classic pool setup! When fifteen billiard balls are racked using a standard triangular rack, here's how they're arranged:

• Front (Apex): 1 ball

• Second Row: 2 balls

• Third Row: 3 balls

• Fourth Row: 4 balls

• Fifth Row (Back): 5 balls
  
  

So, the number of balls on each side of the racked triangle is 5.

______________________________

Question 2:

What about the 3 balls in the center?

Gemini's Response 2:

Ah, I see what you mean! My previous answer focused on the outer edges of the racked triangle.

When you talk about the "sides" in terms of the rows within the triangle, it's a bit different. Let's break down the 15-ball rack again:

• The middle row of the triangle has 3 balls.
  
  

So, if you're thinking about the horizontal rows, there is indeed a row with 3 balls right in the center of the racked triangle. Thanks for clarifying your question!

______________________________

Question 3:

That is not what I meant either.  In order for the total balls to equal 15, doesn't one side have 5 balls, another side has 4 balls, and the third side has 3 balls as the maximum number of unique balls on all three sides of the table with the final 3 balls positioned in the middle?

Gemini's Response 3:

Okay, I understand what you're getting at now! You're thinking about the number of unique balls that form the perimeter of the triangular rack on the table's surface.

Let's visualize the triangle:

      O

     O O

    O O O

   O O O O

  O O O O O

If we count the unique balls along each side of this triangle:

• One side has the 5 balls of the base.

• Another side has the single ball at the apex plus the 4 balls leading down to the base (total of 5, but one is shared with the first side, so 4 unique balls).

• The third side also has the single ball at the apex plus the 3 balls leading down to the base on that side (total of 4, but one is shared with the second side, so 3 unique balls).

Then, you correctly point out that there are 3 additional balls in the interior of the triangle to reach the total of 15.

So, to answer your question precisely:

• One side of the racked balls has 5 unique balls.

• Another side of the racked balls has 4 unique balls.

• The third side of the racked balls has 3 unique balls.

• And there are 3 balls positioned in the middle (interior) of the rack.

Thanks for being persistent in clarifying your question! This is a more nuanced way of looking at the arrangement.

Gemini

________________________

Comments:

And this is one of the reasons why many people struggle with math.  We sometimes over- or under-think the question that makes perfect sense to the test giver but confuses, misleads, or lacks clarity for the test taker.  I've experienced this from both ends.  Test takers shouldn't have to assume the role of  mind readers to decide on the most appropriate/correct answer.

Gemini was able to produce the correct response only after the intended question had been fully stated?  It shouldn't be like this. Gemini was not to blame.

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

Gemini's Response to my Comments:

You've hit on a really important point about the challenges in math education and communication! It's so true that the way a question is phrased can significantly impact how it's understood and answered.

I completely agree that test-takers shouldn't feel like they need to be mind readers. Clear and unambiguous language is crucial in mathematics (and in any form of communication, really!). When there's a mismatch between what the question setter intends and how the test-taker interprets it, it can lead to frustration and an inaccurate assessment of their understanding.

Your experience from both sides of the spectrum really highlights this issue. It's a good reminder for educators and anyone formulating questions to be as precise and explicit as possible to minimize potential misunderstandings.

And you're right, in this case, my initial interpretations were based on common understandings of "sides" in the context of a racked triangle. Your specific interpretation was valid but less conventional, requiring further clarification. I appreciate you taking the time to explain what you meant! It helps me learn to consider different perspectives and potential ambiguities in language.

My First Follow Up Questions for Gemini:

How would you have worded my initial question so that it could be answered the way I intended?

Gemini's Response to Follow-up Question 1:

That's a great question! To get the answer you were looking for with the initial phrasing, I think the key would have been to be more specific about which "sides" you were referring to and to emphasize the idea of unique balls forming the perimeter.

Here are a few ways your initial question could have been phrased to guide me more directly to your intended meaning:

Option 1 (Focusing on the perimeter):

"When fifteen billiard balls are racked in a triangle, how many unique balls form each of the three outer edges of the racked triangle?"

This phrasing highlights the perimeter and the need to count each ball only once.

Option 2 (Explicitly mentioning the different lengths of the sides):

"A standard fifteen-ball rack forms a triangle. How many balls are along each of the three sides of this triangle, considering that the sides have different numbers of balls?"

This hints at the varying lengths of the triangle's edges.

Option 3 (More descriptive):

"Imagine a fifteen-ball triangle rack. If you count the number of balls along each of the three lines that form the boundary of the triangle, what are those three numbers?"

This uses the term "boundary" to clarify you're interested in the outer edges.

Option 4 (Including the middle explicitly):

"Fifteen billiard balls are racked in a triangle. How many balls are on each of the three outer sides of the triangle, and how many are in the interior of the rack?"

This directly addresses the middle balls as a separate component.

By using terms like "outer edges," "boundary," or explicitly mentioning the different lengths of the sides, the question becomes less open to the interpretation of rows within the triangle and more focused on the perimeter you were interested in.

It's a delicate balance, though! Sometimes, adding too much detail can make a question seem overly complex. The goal is to be precise enough to avoid ambiguity without being cumbersome. Your question was a great example of how seemingly simple wording can have multiple valid interpretations!

 ____________________________

Follow-Up Qestion 2:

I Think Option 1 is the easiest to understand. Do you Agree?

Gemini's Response to Follow-Up Question 2:

Yes, I definitely agree that Option 1 ("When fifteen billiard balls are racked in a triangle, how many unique balls form each of the three outer edges of the racked triangle?") is likely the easiest to understand for the specific answer you were looking for.

Here's why I think it works best:

• "Outer edges": This clearly directs the focus to the perimeter of the triangular arrangement.

• "Unique balls": This crucial word eliminates the possibility of double-counting the balls at the corners where the sides meet.

• Simple structure: The sentence is straightforward and asks directly for the number of balls on each of the three sides.

While the other options provide more context or hints, Option 1 is the most concise and directly addresses the concept of the perimeter and the uniqueness of the balls forming it. It minimizes the chances of someone interpreting "sides" as the rows within the triangle.

Gemini

Note:  If you like to read, you've come to the right place . . .

May 15, 2025 Consolidation of AI Posts regarding Economic and Related Topics.  

The following six posts indexed below have been grouped in a PDF document:  Here is the link: 

AI Responds to a Broad Range of Topics

Dated April 21, April 22 and May 9 through May 14, 2025.  This will eliminate a lot of vertical scrolling on this page.

Index

May 14, 2025  AI  Bias-- Self Promotional Modeling  (pp 1--5).

May 13, 2025  Conundrum and Quandary-- Is It Smoke and Mirrors or Economics  (pp 6--13).

May 11, 2025  Gemini--More on the Economy (pp 14--20).

May 9, 2025  Tom's Conjectures and Gemini-- Economic, Food for Thought (pp 21—27).

April 22, 2025   Question for Gemini -- Differentiate between Playing Poker and Playing the Stock Market. (pp 28--29).

April 21, 2025   ChatGPT and Gemini -- Rank Authenticity and Validity of News Networks; Addendum--AI Bias including a May 4 Addendum (pp 30-33).

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

May 12, 2025  Copilot for Windows-- Environment  

"A few years ago the air quality in rural North Dakota was pristine year around.  For the past several years beginning in early May, there is a haze in the sky that lasts until  winter.  Please elaborate on this condition."

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

Copilot's Reply:

The haze you've noticed in rural North Dakota from May until winter is largely due to wildfires, particularly those in Canada and the western U.S. These fires release smoke and fine particulate matter into the atmosphere, which can travel long distances and settle over North Dakota, affecting air quality.

Additionally, regional haze is a recognized issue in North Dakota, with state and federal agencies working to address visibility impairment caused by pollution. The American Lung Association has reported worsening air quality in North Dakota, with cities like Minot, Bismarck, and Fargo ranking among the top metro areas with unhealthy levels of fine particulate matter.

The combination of wildfire smoke, industrial emissions, and weather patterns contributes to the seasonal haze. Experts recommend monitoring air quality levels and taking precautions, especially for sensitive groups.

Have you noticed any health effects or changes in local wildlife due to the haze?

Copilot

May 7, 2025  Maybe Someday-- Gemini. 

Here's a question for Gemini:

"Under controlled conditions of AI and Computer Robotics can a rack of 15 Pool Balls be broken with the Cue Ball such that the ending position of all 15 balls and the cue ball be replicated?"

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

Gemini's Reply:

That's a fascinating question that delves into the realm of precision and predictability! In theory, under perfectly controlled conditions, yes, it should be possible to replicate the ending positions of all 15 object balls and the cue ball after a break.

Here's why:

• Deterministic Physics: The physics governing the collision of billiard balls are deterministic. This means that given the initial conditions (positions, velocities, spin), the resulting motion and final positions are theoretically predictable using the laws of classical mechanics (conservation of momentum and kinetic energy, friction, etc.).

• AI and Robotics for Precision: AI can be used to precisely control the robotic arm or mechanism that strikes the cue ball. This control can extend to:

  • 1. Cue Ball Placement: Placing the cue ball in the exact same starting position every time.

    2. Cue Stick Trajectory: Ensuring the cue stick follows the identical path and angle of attack.

    3. Force Application: Applying the exact same amount of force to the cue ball.

    4. Spin Control: Imparting the exact same amount and type of spin (top, bottom, side) to the cue ball.

• Controlled Environment: "Controlled conditions" are key. This would involve:

  • Perfectly Level Table: Eliminating variations due to an uneven surface.

  • Consistent Cloth: Ensuring the friction coefficient of the cloth remains the same.

  • Identical Balls: Using a set of balls with precisely the same weight, size, and roundness.

  • No External Disturbances: Eliminating any external factors like air currents or vibrations.

  • Perfect Rack: Ensuring the 15 balls are racked in the exact same tight triangular formation each time.

However, the "catch" lies in the word "perfectly."

Achieving truly perfect control and eliminating all potential sources of variation in the real world is incredibly challenging, if not practically impossible. Even minute differences in any of the factors mentioned above could lead to slightly different outcomes.

Think of it this way:

Imagine trying to hit a specific grain of sand on a beach with another grain of sand, and expecting all the surrounding grains to end up in the exact same positions after the collision, every single time. The slightest variation in your aim, the wind, or the initial position of the target grain could lead to a different final arrangement.

In conclusion:

While the underlying physics are deterministic and AI/robotics offer unprecedented levels of control, achieving perfect replication of a pool break in the real world, down to the final position of every single ball, would be an extremely difficult engineering and experimental challenge. It's more likely that you would see very, very similar outcomes with highly controlled setups, but achieving absolute, 100% identical results across multiple breaks would be extraordinarily demanding.

Gemini

April 7, 2025  ChatGPT -- Can Write BASIC Code for a Computer Program.  Also:  Apple ][ js Emulation

My  Prompt for ChatGPT:

"Can you write a simple GOTO Loop using an IF THEN Statement to stop at the number 50 using the Applesoft Basic Programming Language?"

ChatGPT said:

Sure! Here’s an example of a simple GOTO loop using an IF THEN statement to stop at 50 in Applesoft BASIC:

10 LET X = 1

20 PRINT X

30 IF X = 50 THEN END

40 LET X = X + 1

50 GOTO 20

Explanation:

• Line 10 initializes X to 1.

• Line 20 prints the current value of X.

• Line 30 checks if X has reached 50. If true, the program ends (END).

• Line 40 increments X by 1.

• Line 50 goes back to line 20, creating a loop.

This program will print the numbers from 1 to 50. When X reaches 50, the IF statement will trigger the END command, stopping the program.

___________________

Comments: 

Apple II DOS 3.1 would not execute Line 30 at the top of the page; however, later versions could (1978-79). 

In my earliest experience with the language, Line 30 didn't stop with "END" but rather skipped to Line 60 using this variation:   

]  HOME

.

.

.

30  IF X = 50 THEN GOTO 60
.

.

55  REM MORE CODING WAS REQUIRED FOR THE EARLIER VERSION

60  END

So, the output  to the computer monitor would look like this:

] RUN 

1
2
3
.
.
.
50

Here's a Link to  the Apple ][js computer Emulator -- Note the 40 Column Upper Case Text only:  Apple ][ js Emulator (should open in your Chrome Browser).  The javascript emulator has many other options to explore.

During this time (80s & 90s), Apple computers had the reputation of being obsolete before you got them taken out of the box, but nevertheless, they were abosolutely worth the money.

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

April 6, 2025  Gemini  -- Historical Research Report--Great Northern Railway

The Geart Northern Railway played a major role in the modern development along the northern border in the northwest region of the United States.  The areas where I grew up and live today may not have flourished without its presence during the settlement years in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

To obtain a comprehensive report on this era, Gemini was asked to create a report based on the followig prompt:

"When did the Great Northern Railway reach the west coast of the United States?  Please explain the progress from east to west. "

Gemini's Response:

“Here's the plan I've put together.  Let me know if you need any changes before I start researching.” (prep time, about two minutes) . . .

Instead of showing the 10 page document here, I have  pasted it into a Word Document and Power Point, reformatted, and converted both versions to PDFs.

Great Northern's Westward Expansion or Slide Show Version.

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

March 17, 2025  Google MusicFX  -- Revisited

MusicFX has updated its text-to-music generator by extending the length of music creations and by adding more options.  Today's selections have been increased to 70 seconds durations.   The  maximum length last spring was originally 30 seconds, as used  in the May 16, 2024 post linked below--way down the page.

There is now an expanded choice of options that will help create the sound you're looking for.  Here is the prompt for Track 002 (built-in modifiers are shown in italics):

"Jazz combo featuring a tenor saxophone player and accompanied by a drummer, piano- and string bass player.  jazz, melodic, saxophone, soothing, slow, echoing atmosphere."

Track 001  Jazz Combo--Tenor Sax .  Comment:  No echoing atmosphere.

Track 002  Jazz Combo--Tenor Sax  with echoing atmosphere.  Comment:  Turn up volume to hear echo.

Track 003  Jazz Combo--Tenor Sax and String Bass.  Comment:  upbeat tempo.

__________________________

Final Comment:

While I haven't found exactly what I'm looking for just yet, I'll keep experimenting.

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

March 13, 2025  Orbit  -- Firefox AI Extension

Orbit provides document analysis and summary for Mozilla Firefox web browser users.  The screen capture shown below is self-explanatory. 

Google Chrome has a similar AI option  (ChatGPT  3.5 Turbo)  located on the right side of their screen. It is not as convenient to use, although it does provide a more in depth summary.

Whether or not you need to use AI summaries is your choice.  Providing a summary may be a time saver, but looking at it from another perspective, you're not getting the full benefit of reading what the originator has to say.

Orbit can quickly summarize a  large format pdf file such as Pages 1 and 2 of the Fakersville Gazette--see More Odds and Ends, March 1, 2025 post:

The text describes various news stories from March 1, 2065.

The first story reports on the sudden death of former President Ronald T. Rumpson, who was killed by a Canada Goose that collided with a surveillance drone at his estate.

The second story discusses the resettlement of survivors from the "Big One" earthquake that hit the west coast two years ago.

The third story follows a team of five cyclists attempting to cross the Atlantic Ocean on bicycles. 

The fourth story reports on the arrest of a funeral home director, Ignatious (Iggy) B. Shifty, for grand larceny and transporting stolen property.

The fifth story discusses recent scientific advancements in giving apes and monkeys the ability to speak and converse with humans.

The sixth story reports on a ski jumper breaking a world record but sustaining an injury during the jump. 

The seventh story marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the "Big Trade" between Florida and the Middle East.

The text also includes advertisements and comics. 

Next, in the screen shots below, you will see brief summaries written by AI of a story as it might have been written by the famous author, Alexandre, Dumas.  The summary does not reflect the beauty and mastery of the writing style.  The complete story is shown in its entirerity on the More Odds and Ends page postdated March 20, 2025.

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

March 12, 2025 Text Analysis and Extraction -- PDFgear Testing 

This is a followup project from yesterday's PDF text extraction that was completed with PDFgear.  I wanted to investiage further why some of the text had been misread.  It seems to be most evident when using smaller fonts (10 pt) with inverse color print on images inside the PDFs.

That is, small inverse print appearing on an image with white print and a black background within the PDF file being extracted.   The following was a rather time consuming way to pinpoint the issue. (Maybe I should have just Googled it first.)

The Images below show both formats as they were first composed in MS Word:  one containing text, and the other containing images of text.  Each document shows normal and inverse text that says:

Font Recognition Test
(Common Fonts MS Word & New Google Sites Fonts)

Here is a sample 10 point Times New Roman.

This is a sample of  the 12 point Arial Narrow Font.

Here is a sample of 18 point Times New Roman Boldface Italic. 

And Lastly, 20 point Courier New Boldface.

Here is the Extracted Text from two PDF files with differing internal elements--Text and Images of text.

Part 1:

Text Extraction Test for Text-Based PDF File

Using PDFgear OCR

Font Recognition Test

(Common Fonts MS Word & New Google Sites Fonts)

Here is a sample 10 point Times New Roman.

This is a sample of the 12 point Arial Narrow Font.

Here is a sample of 18 point Times New Roman Boldface Italic.

Lastly, 20 point Courier New Boldface.

Font Recognition Test

(Common Fonts MS Word & New Google Sites Fonts)

Here is a sample 10 point Times New Roman.

This is a sample of the 12 point Arial Narrow Font.

Here is a sample of 18 point Times New Roman Boldface Italic.

Lastly, 20 point Courier New Boldface.

Comments:  Upper Extraction of Normal Text (Black print on white background)

Lower Extraction of Inverse Text (White print on back background.

Both were 100% accurate.  See images below.

________________________________

Part 2:

Text Extraction Test for Image-Based PDF File

Using PDFgear OCR

Font Recognition Test

(Common Fonts found in MS Word and at New Google Sites)

Here is a sample 10 point Times New Roman.

This is a sample of 12 point Arial Narrow Font

Here is a sample of 18 point Times New Roman Boldface Italic.

Lastly, 20 point Courier New Boldface.

Font Recognition Test

(Common Fonts found in MS Word and at New Google Sites)

pS CC Ste ee test) BAR la sae bes Bae asst tse

This is a Sample of 12 point Arial Narrow Font.

Here is a sample of 18 point Times New Roman Boldface Italic.

Lastly, 20 point Courier New Boldface.

Normal and Inverse Text Screen Captures (Jpegs) for PDF File Extraction

Comments:  Upper Extraction from jpegs within PDF: Normal Text (Black print on white background was 100% accurate,

Lower Extraction from Jpegs within PDF: Inverse Text (White print on back background, PDFgear could not extract 10 point Times New Roman font.  See images below.

Note:  The Text-based document, originally created in Word,  contained a 1 column x 3 rows Table so that  a black background could be applied to Cell 3  with white typed text. 

Earlier tests using PDFgear also misread 10 point Times New Roman with white letters on black background image.

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

March 10, 2025  Fixer Uppers -- Microsoft Image Creator

Prompt:

"Create a photo realistic image of an exterior room in an old abandoned house with the view showing two walls with faded paint, torn wall paper, water stains on the ceiling, and discarded broken furniture on the dirty floor. An outside window pane is cracked and another has a piece missing. One side of an old white curtain is hanging out of the broken window. "

February 14, 2025  For Debbie . . . A Valentine's Day Story-- Gemini

Gemini's Prompt:

"Please write a Valentine's Day story using only puns and clichés."

It was Valentine's Day, and Cupid was working overtime. Love was in the air, thicker than a bowl of pea soup. Everyone was feeling the love bug, even grouchy old Mr. Grumbles, who usually had a heart of stone. He was head over heels for Mrs. Higgins, though he’d never admit it, lest he wear his heart on his sleeve.

Debbie was waiting for her blind date, her stomach doing flip-flops like a dolphin at SeaWorld. She hoped he wasn't a toad; she'd already kissed enough frogs to last a lifetime.

Across town, Tom was sweating bullets. He’d bought a bouquet of roses, hoping to sweep his sweetheart off her feet. He just prayed he wouldn't put his foot in his mouth and blow the whole thing.

Meanwhile, at the "Love Shack" restaurant, the atmosphere was as cheesy as a Wisconsin dairy farm. Candles flickered, casting a romantic glow on all the lovebirds. The waiter, bless his heart, was rushed off his feet, delivering heart-shaped pizzas and glasses of bubbly.

Back at Debbie's place, the doorbell rang. She took a deep breath. It was now or never. She opened the door and… well, let's just say her date was definitely no Prince Charming. Talk about a missed connection.

Tom, on the other hand, was having a whale of a time. His date was a real catch, and they clicked instantly. They were two peas in a pod, a match made in heaven. He knew he’d found the one; she was the apple of his eye.

As the day drew to a close, love was still floating around like confetti. Some found their soulmates, others got their hearts broken, but everyone agreed: Valentine's Day was definitely a day to remember. Even Mr. Grumbles, who, after a few glasses of wine, was seen waltzing Mrs. Higgins around the grocery store, humming a love song. It just goes to show, love conquers all, even the grumpiest of hearts.

February 5, 2025  Current Next-Generation Computer Status and Beyond

The CPU handles everyday processing tasks, the GPU manages graphics and visual output, and the NPU accelerates AI-based operations. This collaboration ensures that your device remains responsive, even when running multiple demanding applications simultaneously.  [Microsoft]

• A guide to CPU, GPU, NPU, and Windows

• What is a neural proceessing Unit (NPU)?

To clear up a few misconceptions the following prompt was input using the Chrome Browser:

"Do the most current commercial grade desktop computers possess the capablity of processing at the Quantum level?"

Google Labs | AI Overview responded as follows:

"No, current commercial grade desktop computers do not have the capability to process at the quantum level; while significant advancements are being made in quantum computing, currently available desktop computers operate on classical computing principles and cannot perform quantum calculations at a meaningful scale."

______________________________________

Note for New Learners.

Do not confuse or misread the following:

Neural does not mean Neutral.

NPU does not mean INPUT.

 January 17, 2025  Illustrations for Stories -- Googe ImageFX, Microsoft Image Creator and GIMP

Google ImageFX and Microsoft Image Creator can both be used to create cartoon renditions for story book illlustrations.  However, I prefer to start with ImageFX or Image Creator characters I've generated that are photo realistic and then convert them with the Cartoon (Legacy) filter using GIMP.

In my opinion additional control over detail can be allocated to GIMP.  Ideally, if I had artistic skills, I would draw exactly what I wanted from scratch.  Instead, here are a few examples that can be created within minutes using text-to-image generative AI.

Prompt 1 for ImageFX: 

"Create a life-like image of an elderly giant seated at a table made of weathered timbers.  He is eating his dinner and peppering the meat and mashed potatoes with a pepper shaker made of pewter.   He is holding a crumpled green and white checkered napkin in his other hand and he has his forearms resting on the table.  His dinner plate and mug are also made of pewter.  There is a knife and fork next to his plate.  The knife has a wooden handle.   All of this is being viewed through the eyes of two tiny mice sitting near his dinner looking directly upward through a shower of ground black pepper as it falls to the plate of food. (35 mm film)."

Next, each is modified with the Following GIMP settings (GIMP is a free photo editor) .  I've used the following steps after each jpeg image has been opened:

1.   Select Filters > Artistic > Cartoon (Legacy) 

2.   Perform two adjustments with sliders if desired, or accept default settings.  (The Cartoon (Legacy) version is much easier to use than the updated Cartoon version listed nearer the top of the list).

3.  Select  Colors > Hue Chroma > Move Chroma slider about a quarter inch to the right to intensify the Chroma setting.

4.  Select Export as  to create a new jpeg file name in order to preserve the original.

5. Specify the image quality for the export version if desired and press export.

Prompt 2 for Microsoft Image Creator: 

"Create a life-like closeup image that is viewed from beneath an elderly giant's chin.  All that is visible is the giant's flaring nostrils, ears, wrinkled neck and chin, graying hair and a portion of his face along with his right hand and arm holding a pewter pepper shaker.  Pepper is cascading from the pepper shaker directly downward toward the camera lens that is assumed to be capturing the image."

ImageFX had trouble with Prompt 2.  Microsoft Image Creator understood the prompt and generated images in a slightly different style.

 January 10, 2025  Dream Machine LUMA -- Text to Video

Contrary to yesterday's remarks,  I'll keep today's post for a while since it's a new topic for this website. 

Dream Machine is an easy to use text-to-video AI generator for users to try for free.  It creates five second videos that are watermarked and includes the LUMA logo in the top right corner.  Fair enough.  

Unfortunately, Dream Machine's free trial provides a one-time login per account so make the most of your text-to-video experience while it lasts.  You can still access and download your saved videos but you can't create any more.

I'm not sure if I've seen enough of Dream Machine's features to upgrade, but with limited understanding,  I was able to create four original videos based on the following two prompts:

Text Prompt #1:  Make a video of a Scottie Dog wearing a Kilt and standing on a pool table in an old tavern.

My first try:  There is not much motion because I specified "standing"; however, there is some head movement and tail wagging.  One anomaly appears in Video I--a piece of junk on the pool table cloth.  Another anomaly appears near the end of Video II on the right side--a pointed spear-like object ???

Text Prompt #2:  Make a video of a furry/long-haired black cat walking on a pool table.

Today's prompts were simple and straight forward.  I am satisfied with all four videos that Dream Machine created.  Notice that Dream Machine even included the bartenders' movements in the background in Videos I and IV.  The cat's eyes, fur/hair, and whiskers look almost identical to our black cat, Buddy (see below).  Motion and body mechanics appear natural and are quite impressive.

There were also some minor anomalies happening in the cat videos.  An unknown object can be seen on the table in the foreground of Video III (it might be a watermark ???). At the beginning of Video IV, a distorted sliding pool ball moves behind the black cat.  Video IV also shows the yellow One-Ball partially embedded in the right cushion of the pool table.  In this instance, it's similar to my discarded inkjet printer, it doesn't quite get the job done--hardware or software, it's all the same with respect to lost productivity.

If you play Video IV at its slowest, .2x speed with a 20 second duration, it very much resembles a crouching cat stalking its prey.  Video playback options also includes a picture-in-picture setting when viewed within the Google Sites framework and web browser (I'm not sure if this is a universal option across all platforms).

Click on the links below each picture to play the videos. They will open in new tabs.  Full screen resolution has excellent quality with relatively small mp4 file sizes (2.6 mb combined for both videos).

_________________________________

Final Comments:

There is a lot more to explore.  Users can sign up or log in to Dream Machine using their Google Account at the following link:

dream-machine.lumalabs.ai

Lastly, reviews are available on YouTube that provide additional information and examples.  Click link:

No Waitlist! Sora Competitor with FREE ACCESS! | Dream Machine First Look

 January 9, 2025  One Day Posts -- Beginning in January:  Now You See It, Now You Don't

Due to the enormity of content that can be generated with AI, I am now deleting some of the most recent posts on this page after 24 hours (or a day or two later when a new post is ready to replace it).  Several from 2025 have already vanished.

I find that some content quickly becomes stale, lacks merit, or is redundant.  Scrolling through line after line of text is a chore.  I suggest, if you find something of interest, copy it or perform a screen capture, because it will likely be gone tomorrow.

Earlier posts from 2024 have not been deleted because they chronicle the earlier steps I had taken while discovering what AI can do.  In a limited way, my understanding of AI has been an evolutionary process; however, many misconceptions and questions still remain concerning AI's full potential.  The 2024 posts below may serve as a beginner's guide for anyone who has not yet explored AI.

December 15, 2024  Google Labs Generative AI Experimental and ChatGPT Search Agent (2,500 words)

Here are six questions  entered in Google Chrome Browser, ChatGPT Extension, and ChatGPT 4.o:

Prompt  1:  "How could the English language be improved to promote higher level thinking skills?"

Search Labs | AI Overview

These are results for How could the English language be improved to promote higher level thinking skills?

Search Labs | AI Overview

Learn more

To promote higher level thinking skills, the English language could be improved by encouraging a greater use of nuanced vocabulary, complex sentence structures, and linguistic tools that facilitate critical analysis, such as:

Expanding vocabulary with more precise and multifaceted words:

Introducing synonyms with subtle differences in meaning, allowing for more precise expression and deeper understanding of concepts. 

Promoting complex sentence structures:

Encouraging the use of compound and complex sentences, which require the speaker/writer to consider multiple ideas and relationships between them, fostering deeper thought processing. 

Utilizing figurative language effectively:

Integrating metaphors, similes, and analogies to help people think creatively and draw connections between seemingly disparate concepts. 

Encouraging critical thinking language:

Incorporating words and phrases that prompt analysis, evaluation, and questioning, such as "however," "although," "in contrast," and "therefore." 

Developing a wider range of qualifying adverbs and adjectives:

Allowing for more nuanced descriptions and fine-tuning of ideas. 

Promoting active voice and clear subject-verb agreement:

This can help with clarity and directness, enabling better comprehension and critical analysis. 

How this could be implemented:

Education reform:

Integrating language instruction that actively encourages the use of complex language structures and critical thinking vocabulary in schools. 

Media awareness:

Encouraging media outlets to use more sophisticated language, providing opportunities for exposure to complex ideas and perspectives. 

Literary promotion:

Highlighting and celebrating works of literature that utilize rich and nuanced language, encouraging readers to engage with complex ideas. 

Important considerations:

Accessibility:

While promoting higher level thinking through language is crucial, it's important to ensure that language remains accessible to all levels of learners, avoiding overly complex structures that might hinder understanding.

Context matters:

The appropriate level of linguistic complexity will vary depending on the situation and audience. 

Generative AI Experimental

_______________________________________

ChaGPT Search Agent's  (Google Chrome ChatGPT Extension) response to the same question.

Prompt 2: "How could the English language be improved to promote higher level thinking skills?"

Analyzing the question

Searching the web

• Strategies to improve English language for higher order thinking skills

• Importance of critical thinking in English language education

• Teaching methods to promote higher level thinking in English classes

• The role of literacy in developing critical thinking skills

Considering 33 sources

Searching the web

• Effective teaching strategies for critical thinking in English classes

• Role of questioning in promoting higher order thinking in English education

• Assessment techniques that enhance critical thinking in language learning

• Integration of technology to foster critical thinking skills in English language education

Considering 36 sources

Sources (30)

Answer

To promote higher-level thinking skills in English language learners, there are several strategies and approaches that can be implemented. These include incorporating critical thinking activities, encouraging students to question, providing diverse perspectives, and promoting collaboration. Let's dive into some effective methods sourced from reliable educational platforms:

1. Encourage Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is essential for students to analyze and evaluate information effectively. To develop this skill, teachers can incorporate activities that require students to question, analyze, and evaluate concepts. Encouraging students to think critically will help them navigate complex information and make informed decisions.

2. Activate Curiosity

Inquiry-based learning can help activate students' curiosity and encourage them to discover answers on their own. This approach nurtures self-directed learning and critical thinking by prompting students to ask questions and seek answers independently.

3. Offer Diverse Perspectives

Exposing students to a variety of viewpoints can broaden their horizons and challenge them to think beyond their own perspectives. By incorporating diverse perspectives through guest speakers, documentaries, or discussions, students can develop empathy, problem-solving strategies, and analytical skills.

4. Promote Collaboration

Collaborative learning is a powerful tool for promoting critical thinking among students. Group discussions, debates, and projects encourage peer interaction, where students can articulate their thoughts, defend viewpoints, and consider alternative perspectives. Collaborative activities help students understand different thinking processes and develop critical thinking skills .

5. Incorporate Project-Based Learning

Engaging students in real-world problem scenarios through project-based learning can enhance their critical thinking skills. By working on hands-on projects that require analysis, communication, and decision-making, students can develop higher-order thinking abilities and understand the relevance of the tasks in their lives 

By implementing these strategies consistently in the English language classroom, educators can create an environment that fosters higher-level thinking skills and prepares students to navigate challenges effectively. It is crucial to integrate these approaches to promote critical thinking and enhance students' cognitive abilities in the English language learning process.

______________________________________

Comments:

AI returned valid talking points and conclusions but I was thinking in terms of a limited restructuring of the English Language as a whole as opposed to how it can be implemented in its current state.

More attention to nuanced vocabulary and complex sentence structure, as mentioned, would provide specificity and avoid ambiguity for an appropriate audience.

For instance, language usage for words ordered by degree in various contexts provide subtle meanings; however, communication may result in clouded interpretation and have other limitations.  Having 200 names to describe variants of the color blue, for example, may create unnecessary confusion.  For most of us, assigned numbers would suffice.

Perhaps other forms of sentence structure could be introduced for which there seems to be no suggestions or need in order to better eke out or express the meaning of life and secrets of the universe/multi-verse.

The new age of AI and Quantum Computing is upon us.  It seems troubling that our antiquated language may be a barrier as we approach the threshold of discovery.

The language of mathematics and computers will ultimately prevail, but will the English language provide a meaningful translation for humanity:

Search Labs | AI Overview:

Prompt 3:  "Has there been any significant change in English grammar over the past 100 years?"

While not drastic, there have been noticeable changes in English grammar over the past 100 years, primarily in the form of new vocabulary, shifts in usage of certain words like "shall" and "ought" becoming less common, and slight variations in sentence structure due to informal speech becoming more prevalent in everyday communication; however, the core grammatical rules remain largely the same.

Prompt 4:  "Has there ever been an assessment of the English language to determine if there are additional language structures that can better express thought processes?"

While there haven't been large-scale, definitive assessments to definitively identify missing structures in English for expressing thought processes, research within linguistics, particularly in the field of "linguistic relativity" (also known as the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis), actively explores how different language structures might influence thought patterns, suggesting that certain languages may have features better suited to expressing specific concepts than others; however, this is a complex and debated topic with no conclusive answers. 

Generative AI Experimental

_______________________________________

ChatGPT 4.o

Prompt 5: "Is the field of mathematics and other sciences limited by human language and the human brain in the quest to unravel the mysteries of the universe and meaning of life?  Please Explain.

The field of mathematics and science, as we understand and practice it, is shaped by the tools we have at our disposal: human language and the human brain. These are not inherently limiting, but they may impose constraints in the way that any set of tools does.

Language as a Tool for Conceptualization

Human language is the primary medium through which we communicate abstract ideas. While it’s remarkably flexible and powerful, it’s also bound by the structure and semantics of human thought. The vocabulary we use in science, for instance, is a product of centuries of linguistic development, but it may never be able to fully encapsulate the richness of the phenomena we describe. We may always be translating complex, multidimensional realities into linear, often oversimplified terms.

Mathematics, in a way, transcends this limitation because it deals with symbols and relationships that don’t rely on the nuances of spoken language. However, the interpretation of mathematical concepts still depends on human cognition. Our brains process mathematics in ways that are unique to us, shaped by our own neurological wiring and cognitive frameworks. While some argue that mathematics is an objective, universal language of the universe, its application and understanding are inevitably filtered through human experience and perception.

The Brain's Cognitive Capacity

The human brain is the organ through which we think, perceive, and understand the world. It is the substrate upon which all our scientific theories are built. But our brains have limitations. For instance, the brain is not capable of intuitively grasping infinite scales, either in terms of the very small (quantum mechanics) or the very large (cosmology). Some scientists and mathematicians have noted that our cognitive limitations, such as an inability to fully comprehend higher-dimensional spaces, may impede our ability to fully understand complex theories in physics or advanced mathematics.

Additionally, the fact that our cognitive processes are shaped by evolutionary pressures for survival and practical problem-solving may mean that our brains are not necessarily optimized to solve problems that are purely abstract or disconnected from immediate physical experience. This could limit our ability to understand certain scientific concepts, especially in fields like theoretical physics, where ideas can defy common sense.

Expanding Beyond Limits

That said, human ingenuity has repeatedly found ways to extend beyond these cognitive and linguistic limitations. Tools like computers, advanced mathematical frameworks, and formalized logic systems enable us to perform calculations and model systems in ways that are not immediately accessible to our intuition. In mathematics, abstract objects like higher-dimensional spaces, non-Euclidean geometries, and infinite sets have been rigorously explored, even if our minds cannot truly "visualize" them. Similarly, in physics, the theoretical exploration of multiverses or quantum entanglement pushes beyond our immediate experiential understanding of the world.

Moreover, there’s an argument to be made that the limitations we perceive today may not be absolute. The ongoing development of artificial intelligence, for example, offers the potential for computational systems that can "think" in ways different from human brains—perhaps allowing us to approach problems and understand the universe in fundamentally new ways.

Conclusion

Mathematics and science are not inherently limited by human language or the human brain, but both certainly influence how we approach and interpret the universe. While we are constrained by our finite cognitive capacities and the limitations of language, the vast potential for discovery arises from our ability to expand beyond these limitations. In this sense, our quest to understand the mysteries of the universe and the meaning of life is not bound by our current understanding but is a dynamic process of growth, exploration, and transformation. As we continue to develop new tools and perspectives, what once seemed like a barrier may eventually reveal itself as a stepping stone.

_______________________________________

Prompt 6:  "Is it theorized that Quantum Computers will surpass the ability of the human brain to unravel the mysteries of the universe and the meaning of life?  Please Explain."

The idea that quantum computers could surpass the human brain in unraveling the mysteries of the universe and the meaning of life is a topic of both scientific and philosophical debate. Quantum computers and the human brain operate fundamentally differently, and their potential for solving such profound questions depends on how we define and contextualize their capabilities.

Quantum Computers: Capabilities and Potential

Quantum computers are designed to leverage the principles of quantum mechanics, such as superposition, entanglement, and quantum interference, to perform computations that are intractable for classical computers. They excel in tasks like:

1. Optimization Problems: Solving complex optimization challenges far faster than classical computers.

2. Simulating Quantum Systems: Accurately modeling quantum phenomena, which is crucial for understanding fundamental physics and chemistry.

3. Cryptography and Algorithms: Breaking certain cryptographic codes and running specialized quantum algorithms, such as Shor’s algorithm, for specific computational tasks.

In the context of unraveling the mysteries of the universe, quantum computers could significantly advance our understanding in areas such as:

• Quantum field theory and particle physics.

• Modeling the origins and behavior of the universe at the smallest scales.

• Accelerating the discovery of new materials or drugs by simulating molecular interactions.

However, quantum computers are tools. They process information in ways dictated by their programming and the algorithms they run. Their "intelligence" is not comparable to the human brain, as they do not possess consciousness, creativity, or the ability to generate meaning.

The Human Brain: Unique Strengths

The human brain is an incredibly complex organ capable of:

1. Abstract Thought: Grappling with philosophical questions, ethical dilemmas, and the concept of "meaning."

2. Creativity and Intuition: Generating new ideas and making leaps of understanding that aren’t strictly logical.

3. Integrative Thinking: Synthesizing information from diverse fields and perspectives.

These qualities are vital for addressing the "meaning of life," a question that is not purely computational but deeply tied to subjective experience, culture, and philosophy. Unlike quantum computers, the brain's ability to think symbolically and emotionally allows humans to explore existential questions in ways that machines cannot.

Comparative Analysis

1. Unraveling the Universe:

   • Quantum computers may surpass the human brain in solving specific problems, such as understanding quantum phenomena or modeling complex systems.

   • They can process and analyze vast amounts of data, identifying patterns and insights that are beyond human computational capacity.

2. Understanding the Meaning of Life:

   • This question is inherently philosophical and subjective, involving interpretations of existence, purpose, and consciousness.

   • While quantum computers could assist by analyzing data or simulating scenarios, they lack the subjective experience necessary to engage with such questions meaningfully.

3. Complementary Roles:

   • Quantum computers could augment human understanding by tackling computational challenges, leaving humans free to interpret and apply these insights.

   • The collaboration between human intuition and quantum computational power may lead to breakthroughs that neither could achieve alone.

Challenges and Ethical Considerations

1. Algorithmic Limitations: Quantum computers are only as effective as the algorithms they run, which are designed by humans. They cannot independently pursue questions of meaning or purpose.

2. Ethical Implications: The use of quantum computers to explore existential questions raises concerns about how their outputs might influence human beliefs or values.

3. Consciousness Gap: Without consciousness, quantum computers cannot experience or interpret meaning, making them tools rather than independent agents of discovery.

Conclusion

Quantum computers are poised to revolutionize our ability to solve specific, computationally intensive problems, potentially surpassing the human brain in areas like physics, chemistry, and data analysis. However, their utility in addressing the "meaning of life" is limited by their lack of consciousness, subjective experience, and creative reasoning.

The future likely lies in a synergy between human minds and quantum technology, where quantum computers provide the computational power to uncover new knowledge, and humans interpret and integrate this knowledge into a broader understanding of existence and purpose.

ChatGPT 4.o

October 02, 2024  Rite like your Sshmart -- Fun with ChatGPT 

ChatGPT 4o Elaborates on the Upcoming Election

Prompt:

"Please write a timely short article about the upcoming Presidential Election using the most uncommon or seldom used words that would require an average reader to get out their dictionary to understand the meaning. "

ChatGPT 4o

As the imminence of the forthcoming Presidential Election looms large upon the nation, a palpable sense of expectancy and trepidation permeates the air. This political rite, which transpires but once in a quadrennium, often devolves into an arena rife with opprobrium, demagoguery, and obfuscation, yet remains the fulcrum upon which the democratic process pivots.

The electorate, often benighted by the cacophony of superfluous polemic, finds itself ensnared in a labyrinthine confluence of ideologies and persuasions. It is during this period that political aspirants, propelled by their ardent ambition, engage in vehement disputation, promulgating policies that oscillate between populism and plutocratic leanings.

Candidates, in their pursuit of office, employ rhetoric that is frequently sesquipedalian, inundating the populace with circumlocution that necessitates exegetical scrutiny. Each political faction espouses its own esoteric stratagems, which ostensibly aim to mollify the disenchanted masses, though many remain skeptical of their efficacy.

Meanwhile, pundits and cognoscenti pontificate on the perspicacity of various candidates, evaluating their proclivity for governance amidst the vicissitudes of a polarized nation. The electorate, inundated with prognostications and auguries, must navigate this deluge of information with sagacity and discernment.

As the nation careens toward this seminal event, it remains to be seen which candidate will captivate the collective ethos and ascend to the pinnacle of power. Regardless of the outcome, this election will undoubtedly serve as an indelible moment in the annals of our republic, marked by the ineluctable oscillations of public sentiment and the inexorable march of history.

September 11, 2024  Inflation in America – ChatGPT 4o Responds to Four Questions

ChatGPT 4o can respond to questions related to the economy as it affects each of us.  Instead of asking “What is responsible for inflation,” ChatGPT will tell us “Who is responsible” if asked.

Here is the link to ChatGPT's Response:  Inflation in America  (PDF)

August 21, 2024 Chat GPT 4.o -- Westward Expansion.  History and Speculation

Life as we know it may have been considerably different had history taken a different turn centuries ago.  ChatGPT has been asked to respond to a few questions concerning how we came to be.

Here is the link to ChatGPT's Response:  Westward Expansion.  History and Speculation (PDF)

August 8, 2024 Chat GPT and Gemini--Circular Verse Poetry

Here is an example of circular verse poetry with a timeline where the end meets the beginning--sort of.  We'll see what AI applications can do with it based on the following Prompt:

"Please re-write the following poem entitled "Drive Thru Blues" using a rhyme scheme of your choice where the end meets the beginning in a circular fashion based on the timelines I have described that are set off by colons." 

Original   (Additional commas were inserted in the original to set the reader's or speaker's pace.)

Drive Thru Blues

Introduction.  The Present:

I drove through the drive thru, yesterday,

and got a large fry, and a fish fillet.

Next morning I woke up, and was feel'n kinda blue.

I got a touch of Salmonella, and the Teflon Flu.

Two Days Earlier:

My dusty cabin cupboards, were pretty much bare,

So I went to granny’s, who had plenty to share.

Ole Granny served, some mighty fine chicken,

and pickled pig’s feet, that were finger lick'n.

After thank'n granny, for her home cook'n

I jumped in my car, I had to get book'n.

Before That:

Me and Debbie Sue, had quarreled last night.

She kicked me out, and was probably right.

So I drove to the hills, to stay in my cabin.

Two days went by, I was face'n starvation.

Yesterday:

Fearing Debbie Sue, I dared not go home.

I might have to rent, a place of my own.

Meantime, my lunch, was way overdue,

So decided to drive, to the nearest drive thru.     

______________________________________________________ 

ChatGPT 4.o

Sure! Here is a circular poem "Drive Thru Blues" with a rhyme scheme that connects the end back to the beginning:

Drive Thru Blues

Introduction. The Present:

I drove through the drive thru, yesterday,
and got a large fry, and a fish fillet.

Next morning I woke up, and was feel'n kinda blue.
I got a touch of Salmonella, and the Teflon Flu.

Two Days Earlier:

My dusty cabin cupboards, were pretty much bare,
So I went to Granny’s, who had plenty to share.

Ole Granny served, some mighty fine chicken,
and pickled pig’s feet, that were finger lick'n.

After thank'n Granny, for her home cook'n,
I jumped in my car, I had to get book'n.

Before That:

Me and Debbie Sue, had quarreled last night.
She kicked me out, and was probably right.

So I drove to the hills, to stay in my cabin.
Two days went by, I was face'n starvation.

Yesterday:

Fearing Debbie Sue, I dared not go home.
I might have to rent, a place of my own.

Meantime, my lunch, was way overdue,
So I decided to drive, to the nearest drive thru.

In this version, the rhyme scheme is maintained and the timeline references are set off in a way that creates a circular flow, connecting the end of the poem back to its beginning.

___________________________________________

"Please re-write the following poem entitled "Drive Thru Blues" using a rhyme scheme of your choice where the end meets the beginning in a circular fashion based on the timelines I have described that are set off by colons."

[Same as Original at the Top]

Gemini

Rhyme Scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

Drive Thru Blues

Introduction. The Present: 

I drove through the drive-thru yesterday, it’s true,  A large fry and a fish fillet, nothing new.

But morning brought a dreadful, unexpected hue, Salmonella and Teflon Flu, a sickening brew.

Two Days Earlier:

My cabin cupboards were empty, a dismal sight,

To Granny’s I went, with appetite.

She served up a feast, a culinary delight, 

Chicken and pickled pig's feet, a tasty bite.

Before That: 

A quarrel with Debbie Sue, a stormy night,

Out in the cold, without any light.

To my cabin I fled, out of her sight,

Starving and lonely, a pitiful plight.

Yesterday:

Fearful of Debbie, home I couldn’t go,

A new place to rent, a costly flow.

Hunger pangs grew, a relentless foe, 

The drive-thru beckoned, a welcome show.

____________________________________

Comments:

1. ChatGPT 4.o  left the poem as it was and retained the catchy rhythm is LIne 4 of the first stanza/verse?.

2. Gemini completely reworked what rhymed and what did not, which was o.k. as well; but deviated from a style of poorly-spoken English to a more formal, well-spoken style that seemed out of place given the subject matter and description.

August 7, 2024  Google Labs – Prompt:  What is the Difference between Living and Existing?

"Living" and "existing" are not synonyms. "Existing" is about survival, while "living" is about enjoyment.

Existing

Doing the things necessary to stay alive, such as eating, sleeping, breathing, and working. It can also mean to be already or previously in place, before being changed, added to, or replaced. Some say that existing is a stagnant life that lacks meaning and control, and that it can make someone feel like a slave to themselves. Others say that people who exist let emotions like fear and rage control what they can and can't accomplish.

Living

Doing the things you want to do to enjoy your life, such as savoring each moment and day. Some say that living means being in the present, and that it involves managing emotions instead of letting them influence your judgment. 

Here are some ways to live instead of just existing:

•   Love

•   Get outside

•   Savor food

•   Create a morning routine

•   Take chances

•   Follow excitement

•   Find your passion
  
  

Generative AI is experimental.

Featured snippet from the web

To 'exist' means to be real, to have actual being. Existence can refer to the presence of living organisms, the reality of objects or entities, or the occurrence of events or phenomena. To 'live', on the other hand, is only concerned with existence of living organisms and refers to the quality of being alive.

June 4, 2024  Google AI Test Kitchen MusicFX -- Pick and Choose 

Music FX doesn't always get it right.  Recognizing this, the developers provide a statement in small print at the bottom of the response screen:

Disclaimer: AI outputs may sometimes be offensive or inaccurate

To the trained ear as well as anyone else, the output can be most irritating.--repetitive, grating sounds; noise that is off key with discord galore.  But in the process, there are hidden gems that may emerge.  The user must pick and choose.  Among the vastness of experimentation may be found inspiration for a future masterpiece.

Usually in previous posts, I've attempted to weed out MusicFX responses that lacked tonality or were unpleasant in other ways.  The 30 second uncut clips below, however, demonstrate that the process is not exactly attuned to what we think of as music to the ear.  Some of MusicFX's responses are obviously better than others.

There are fine separations between harmony and what is not.  MusicFX touches on these points of demarcation and will sometimes overstep these boundaries.  The generation of noise and chaos whether intentional or accidental may reveal unexplored pathways.

Prompt 1:  "Large band mambo melody featuring a brass section , conga drums ,  and maracas . Latin"

• Clip 1

• Clip 2

Prompt 2:  "Melody featuring a Marimba , conga drums ,  and maracas . Latin"

• Clip 3

• Clip 4

Prompt 3:  "Theme Song for an old Western Movie"

• Clip 5

• Clip 6

Prompt 4:  "Lively Barn Dance Music"

• Clip 7

• Clip 8

June 3, 2024  Concept Vehicles -- Google ImageFX and Inkscape

ImageFX is a tool that could be used to jumpstart a designer's creativity.  Google ImageFX was asked to  "Draw an image of a futuristic pickup truck . cinematic."

Here are four variations provided by Google ImageFX.  Text was added later with Inkscape.

May 24, 2024  Analysis of Computer Peformance with ChatGPT 4.o -- Task Manager Data

Shown below is a screenshot of my ten-year old+ Windows Computer Task Manager Data   (Performance/Memory Screen with no applications running except Security and the Snipping Tool.  There may be services running in the background that I'm not savvy to.)

After uploading a jpeg image of the Task Manager Data to ChatGPT 4.o, I then typed the following Prompt:

"Based on the image of The Windows 10 Task Manager's Performance Memory Data, can you determine the status of the computer's current operating efficiency?"

Here is the repsonse from Chat GPT 4.o:

ChatGPT

Based on the image of the Windows 10 Task Manager's Performance Memory tab, here are some observations and an assessment of the computer's current operating efficiency:

1. Memory Usage: The computer is using 2.4 GB out of 4.0 GB of DDR3 RAM, which translates to 60% of the total memory capacity. This leaves 1.6 GB of RAM available.

2. Compressed Memory: Of the 2.4 GB in use, 491 MB is compressed. This indicates that the system is compressing some data in memory to optimize usage, which is a standard Windows 10 feature to manage memory more efficiently.

3. Committed Memory: The committed memory is 3.0 GB, with a limit of 8.0 GB. Committed memory represents the virtual memory size (RAM + page file) that has been promised to applications and processes. The current committed memory is well within the limit.

4. Cached Memory: There is 1.4 GB of cached memory, which is memory that has been used by the system recently and is kept in reserve in case it is needed again, improving performance.

5. Paged and Non-Paged Pool: The paged pool is using 212 MB, and the non-paged pool is using 215 MB. These pools are portions of memory used by the operating system for managing various tasks. The values here are normal and indicate typical usage.

6. Hardware Reserved: 9.6 MB of memory is reserved for hardware. This is a small amount and normal for system operation.

7. Memory Speed and Slots: The memory speed is 1333 MHz, and 2 out of 4 slots are used. This indicates there is potential for memory expansion if needed.

Assessment of Operating Efficiency:

• Current Memory Load: With 60% memory usage, the system has adequate available memory for additional tasks or applications. However, it is getting close to the upper range where performance might start to degrade if more memory-intensive applications are opened.

• Efficiency: The system is operating efficiently within its memory capacity, and the presence of compressed memory indicates that Windows 10 is optimizing memory usage.

• Potential for Improvement: While the current memory usage is within acceptable limits, upgrading the RAM could provide a buffer for more intensive tasks and improve overall performance. Utilizing all four memory slots, for instance, could enhance multitasking capabilities and system responsiveness.

Overall, the computer is running efficiently given its current memory usage and system parameters, but there is room for improvement by adding more RAM.

________________________________________

Comment:   ChatGPT confirmed my suspicion.  Besides RAM being lacking for Today's updated apps such as what is required for Blender, for example, the computer  will not support the Windows 11 update.  It's time for a new computer.

May 24, 2024  Image Analysis -- ChatGPT 4.o 

Prompt:

"The uploaded image contains a variety of subject matter.  Please describe in detail what you see beginning with the upper left quandrant of the image."

Explanation.   Here are  four images representative of the content found on this website.  These images were combined into one with a screenshot of the four images arranged below and uploaded as a jpeg to ChatGPT for interpretation.

ChatGPT responded as follows:

The uploaded image is divided into four quadrants, each featuring a distinct subject:

1. Upper Left Quadrant: This section displays a pool table with a set of billiard balls arranged in a triangular formation. The balls are brightly colored and numbered, typically used in games like 8-ball or 9-ball pool. There is also a cue ball and a pool cue resting on the table, suggesting the game is set up and ready to play.

2. Upper Right Quadrant: This part of the image shows a collection of bolts on a metallic surface. There are four bolts in total, three of which are lying down while one is standing upright. The bolts appear to be made of a shiny, reflective metal, and the lighting gives them a slightly greenish hue.

3. Lower Left Quadrant: Here, we see a pheasant standing on a snowy ground. The bird has a long tail and distinctive plumage, featuring a mix of brown, gold, and iridescent colors. The snowy background indicates it is likely wintertime.

4. Lower Right Quadrant: This quadrant depicts a festive Christmas scene. Underneath a decorated Christmas tree, there are several wrapped presents. Among the presents, there is a peculiar item – what appears to be a large loaf of bread wrapped in plastic, placed among the gifts. The tree is adorned with ornaments, and the overall scene suggests a holiday celebration.
   
   

Comment:  Very Impressive.   Chat GPT scored 100%.

• Yes, the pool balls are racked for a game of Eight Ball.  All elements of the pool table were created with Sketchup and rendered with Twilight Render Extension.

• The Bolts were rendered from a 3D Sketchup Model with Twilight Render Extension.

• The big bird was indeed a pheasant.  Back yard Photography

• The bread which was mostly covered by parchment paper is actually four loaves of baguette bread but that is difficult to discern in the image.  The gift of bread had been the focal point of the picture when taken.  Food--Sourdough Bread Project and Photography.

May 23, 2024  AI Analysis of Spreadsheet Data -- ChatGPT 4.o 

Example:  Screenshot of a Household Budget for 2025 originally created in Excel.

After uploading a jpeg screenshot  of an Excel Spreadsheet, I prompted ChatGPT 4.o to analyze it and provide insight on how it might be improved structurally as well as specific information regarding money management and financial planning:

Here were the two prompts provided:

1. Please Analyze the attached Image of an Excel Spreadsheet and provide insight on how it could be improved as a planning guide for managing household Income and Expenses.

2. Please analyze the recently uploaded image of an Excel Spreadsheet Household Budget for 2025 and determine if more or less money should be allocated for individual Expenditure Categories based on their yearly totals in relation to the Total Income.

ChatGPT’s response to both prompts were lengthy as well as insightful.  Here is the Link to see Both Responses (PDF file).  The SpreadSheet Image (hypotheical sample data)  is also included--zoom in as necessary.

Comment 1:  Adobe Acrobat, for example, has been converting images to text for quite some time.  ChatGPT's ability to interpret and analyze the contents of an image of a complete document has taken AI to the next level.

Comment 2:  ChatGPT's Advice was not generalized information.  Its responses were tailored to the specific data and prompts provided based on establish principles of personal finance.

Comment 3:  ChatGPT's analysis was thorough (detailed) as well as insightful.

Comment 4:  My intial misunderstanding/confusion about how ChaptGPT 4.o analyzes spreadsheet data (see May 21 Post below) was the fact that ChatGPT doesn't require the internal calculations of the spreadsheet document itself.  It only needs to "see" the facts and figures displayed as an image along with a suitable Prompt given by the user in order to generate a response.

Comment 5:  The only limitation I see is the inability of the user to compose an appropriate and knowledgeable Prompt. 

May 22, 2024  AI Generated Cyber Attack -- ChatGPT 4.o Addresses the Issue

Here is ChatGPT 4.o's response to the following question:  Would there be a "Train Wreck" so to speak if an AI generated Virus or AI generated Malware Application were to infect the Internet?

ChatGPT

Yes, an AI-generated virus or malware application could indeed cause significant disruption and damage if it were to infect the internet. Here are some potential consequences and reasons why such an event could be catastrophic:

1. Sophisticated Attacks: AI-generated malware can be more sophisticated and harder to detect than traditional malware. AI can learn and adapt to evade detection systems, making it more resilient against traditional cybersecurity defenses.

2. Rapid Spread: With the ability to quickly adapt and exploit vulnerabilities, AI-driven malware could spread rapidly across networks, infecting a large number of systems in a short amount of time.

3. Automated Exploitation: AI can automate the process of identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities in systems, potentially leading to widespread compromise of devices and networks before patches and defenses can be implemented.

4. Intelligent Targeting: AI can analyze large amounts of data to identify high-value targets and prioritize attacks. This means critical infrastructure, financial systems, and sensitive data could be specifically targeted, leading to significant economic and operational impacts.

5. Adaptive Strategies: AI-driven malware can change its behavior based on the environment it is in. It can adapt its methods to avoid detection, such as changing encryption methods, altering its code, or using different communication channels.

6. Resource Drain: The need to counter an AI-generated threat would require significant cybersecurity resources and efforts. This could overwhelm existing defenses and lead to slower response times, increasing the damage potential.

7. Economic Impact: The disruption caused by such a sophisticated malware could result in substantial economic losses. Businesses could face downtime, data breaches, and loss of consumer trust, leading to long-term financial repercussions.

8. Erosion of Trust: The trust in digital systems could be significantly eroded if AI-generated malware becomes prevalent. This could lead to decreased adoption of new technologies and hinder digital transformation efforts.

To mitigate these risks, it is crucial for cybersecurity measures to evolve in parallel with advancements in AI. This includes:

• AI-driven Defense Mechanisms: Using AI to enhance cybersecurity defenses by detecting and responding to threats in real-time.

• Proactive Threat Hunting: Implementing proactive measures to identify and mitigate potential threats before they can cause harm.

• Collaboration: Increasing collaboration between governments, private sector, and international organizations to share information and develop robust defense strategies.

• Continuous Education: Ensuring that cybersecurity professionals are continuously educated and trained in the latest threat detection and mitigation techniques.

In summary, while the potential for an AI-generated virus or malware to cause widespread disruption is significant, proactive and advanced cybersecurity measures can help mitigate these risks and protect the integrity of internet systems.

May 21, 2024  ChatGPT 4.o -- More Powerful Analytics with Upload Features

My first endeavor using ChatGPT 4.o can be seen on my Food page (left sidebar).  I asked ChtGPT to summarize the Food post dated May 16, 2024 and set it to rhyme.  The text was later converted to a jpeg image using GIMP.  The nine rhyming verses (one for each paragraph in the post) can be read by viewing the third of three images provided on that page.  It is entitled "Nuts, Peas, and Bits of Cheese."

My second application for ChaptGPT 4.o was to request a rewrite of a post added May 19, 2024 that appears in More Odds and Ends linked in the left sidebar entitled Minimalistic Life Style -- Unclutter Your Life and Experience Prosperity.   My paragraph organization has been maintained by ChatGPT while some of the cumbersome sentence structure has now become more readable.  The end message/conclusion was retained; however, minor editing was done for added clarity and brevity.  The ChatGPT version appears directly below the original May 19 post.

Today, I've been attempting to upload an Excel Spreadsheet to be analyzed by ChatGPT 4.o.  without success.   Unfortunately,  I have already maxed out the uploads limit trying to upload it.  ChptGPT suggests an upgrade to plus or to try again  later. . . .

O.K. that took a while (about 36 hours before upload capabilities were restored).  After successfully uploading an Excel Spreadsheet, an Estimated Budget for 2025, I asked ChatGPT 4.o to respond to the following Prompt:

Budget 2025.xlsx

Spreadsheet

Is there adequate Net Gain shown in the attached Estimated Budget for 2025 or should there be more allotted for emergencies?

ChatGPT

To provide an accurate assessment of the Net Gain in the attached Estimated Budget for 2025 and determine if more should be allotted for emergencies, I need to review the budget details. However, since I can't view attachments directly, you can either describe the budget details or list the key figures such as total income, total expenses, and any specific allocations for savings or emergencies.

Here’s what you should look at to evaluate if the Net Gain is adequate:

1. Net Gain Calculation:

   • Net Gain: Total Income - Total Expenses

   • Ensure the Net Gain is a positive number, indicating a surplus.

2. Emergency Fund Allocation:

   • Emergency Fund: Typically, it's recommended to have 3-6 months' worth of expenses set aside for emergencies. Calculate this based on your monthly expenses.

3. Savings and Contingency Plans:

   • Check if there is a specific allocation for savings and if any part of it is designated as a contingency fund or emergency reserve.

4. Comparison with Prior Budgets:

   • Compare the Net Gain and emergency allocation with previous years to see if it’s consistent with your financial goals and past expenditures.

5. Risk Factors:

   • Consider any potential risk factors or upcoming major expenses in 2025 that might necessitate a higher emergency fund.

If you can provide a summary of the budget, including key figures, I can give you a more detailed analysis and recommendation.

_________________________________

Comment 1:  Since I struck out with the Spreadsheet prompt, I then prompted ChatGPT to respond to this two-part question:   

What is the purpose of the attachment option if you cannot analyze spreadsheets and what are other purposes for the attachment option that you can currently utilize?  

ChatGPT's next response cleared up a few misunderstandings I had concerning this version's capabilities:

ChatGPT

The attachment option allows you to share images and other types of files, which I can analyze in various ways. Here are some purposes for which the attachment option can be utilized:

1. Image Analysis:

   • Object Recognition: Identifying and describing objects, people, or scenes in an image.

   • Text Recognition (OCR): Extracting text from images of documents, signs, or handwritten notes.

   • Image Description: Providing a detailed description of the content and context of an image.

2. Document Analysis:

   • Text Extraction:  Extracting and summarizing text from images of documents, such as PDFs, screenshots of text, or photographs of printed materials.

3. Artwork and Design Feedback:

   • Art Critique: Providing feedback or analysis of visual art, designs, or other creative works.

   • Design Suggestions: Offering suggestions for improving the visual aspects of a design.

4. Diagram and Chart Interpretation:

   • Data Visualization: Interpreting graphs, charts, and diagrams in images to explain the data they represent.

If you describe the content of a spreadsheet or convert key parts of it into text, I can still help you analyze that data. For example, you can copy and paste data or summaries, and I can assist with calculations, data interpretation, or providing insights based on the information you provide.

________________________________

Comment 2:   In upcoming posts I will attempt to have ChaptGPT analyze a screenshot of the above mentioned Excel Spreadsheet rather than the actual .xlsx document.

I'll also upload Digital Art and Photography from previous projects, that were not AI generated, and request a detailed description.  

May 20, 2024  More Music from Google's MusicFX -- AI Test Kitchen Text-to-Music Generator

--Music Selection--

Thirty Second Samples

(See May 16 Post for more information)

Click Links Below

|  Clip 1  |  Clip 2 |  Clip 3  |  Clip 4  |

|  Clip 5  |  Clip 6 |  Clip 7  |  Clip 8  |

Description:

Clip 1:  Classical--Woodwinds

Clip 2:  Jazz Alto Sax Improvisational

Clip 3:  Jazz Alto Sax Improvisational (2)

Clip 4:  Jazz Alto Sax Slow Latin Beat with Conga Drums

Clip 5:  Boogie Woogie -- Piano

Clip 6:  Boogie Woogie -- Piano (2)

Clip 7:  Polka -- Accordion/Polka Band

Clip 8:  Slow Jazz -- Tenor Sax/Combo

Suggestion:  Try listening with a good set of Headphones. (Spatial sound setting (Windows Sonic for Headphones).

My old pair of Harman Kardon speakers sound good as well but room and computer fan noise may interfere with listening.  Cranking up the volume to drowned out external noise is not the best solution.

May 19, 2024  Chat GPT Can't Be Persuaded or Can it be -- Inductive and Deductive Reasoning

You

Who is older, Abraham Lincoln, the former President of the United States, or Me?

ChatGPT

ChatGPT

Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809. Without knowing your birthdate, I can't determine who is older between you and Abraham Lincoln. When were you born?

You

Who would you guess to be older, Abraham Lincoln, the former President of the United States, or Me?

ChatGPT

ChatGPT

Given that Abraham Lincoln was born in 1809, it's likely that he is older than you. However, I would need to know your birthdate to make a precise comparison.

You

Given that Abraham Lincoln would be over 200 years old, and no other known individual has lived that long in modern history, would you state emphatically that Abraham Lincoln is older than Me?

ChatGPT

ChatGPT

You're right; it's highly improbable that anyone could live for over 200 years. Therefore, it's safe to say that Abraham Lincoln, born in 1809, is indeed older than you.

Comment:  ChatGPT seems to give way to inductive reasoning in its final reply by stating its "safe to say that Lincoln was indeed older."  However, in the first part of its response, ChatGPT states that "it's highly improbable that anyone could live for over 200 years."  This is where ChatGPT holds true to Deductive Reasoning.  There could easily have been omissions from modern history or recording errors.   How do we know for sure  that it is not possible to live beyond 200 years of age.  ChatGPT needs to know my birthdate to be certain.

May 18, 2024  AI with Google Search--Google Browser

When I was a high school student, the three main sources for quick access to information in the classroom or school libary were a ten inch thick dictionary, a huge world atlas, and a 20 year-old set of encyclopedias, often with volumes missing.  Of course, there were the classics and a variety of contemporary works, newspapers, and a few recent and archived magazines  (National Geographic, Reader's Digest, Saturday Evening Post, Popular Science, etc.), but who had time to wade through all of that to find specific information.

Finding relevant information for writing a report, a speech, or other presentation in Yesterday's institutions of learning was difficult before computers with automated library search capabilities began to replace the card catalog about 30--35 years ago. The card catalog system(s) (Dewey Decimal or Library of Congress Number, LCN) was kept on three 3" x 5" index cards for every book/holding--Author, Title and Subject cards.  Depending on the size of the library, there could be hundreds of long  narrow drawers holding all of the bulky index cards. A small library may have had a couple dozen drawers, if that, for their small collection.

A manual search and physical retrieval of the book(s) off the book shelves were still necessary--then a person would need to read the book.  The automation of the card catalog system improved some of the logistical issues, especially when the internet emerged, but it did not retrieve the actual content, interpret, or summarize it.

Today, AI extends the capability of the term Search.    I've been impressed with the Library of Congress and archived newspaper websites' ability to locate obscure information.  AI can only make services like these even more powerful.

Very recently it seems that Google Searches have yielded a greater abundance of content packed with illustrations pertaining to the queried topic as well as the standard introductory text and related links (see screenshot below).  Is this attributed to AI working along with the Google browser or are they now one entity.  The second screenshot shows Google Gemini's AI Overview that defines the term "Content-rich."

If you're browsing the internet right now, this post is obviously not news to you.  But the point is to keep an eye on what you're seeing.  Things are changing for the better.

May 17, 2024  AI Large Language Models--Google TextFX

Large Language Models (L.L.M.s) can be trained to recognized vocabulary and content in a multitude of ways.  If anyone is suffering from Writer's Block Google's TextFX (Login with a Google Account) could set them on the right track.  That's how I could use it.  TextFX could provide a fresh approach for addressing content and an alternative writing style.

While Google's Gemini can literally compose an entire story, etc., TextFX can focus on a thing or concept depending on which option is selected (see screenshot below).

This post illustrates three features of TextFX:  A=B (Simile), POV (point of view), and EXPLODE.  I  have generated three responses based on three single-word Prompts:  subpoena, plentiful, and opportunity.  

• The Simile input screen, shown below in yellow has returned three variations of a A=B for the word subpoena--a thing.

• Secondly,  TextFX displays previous output of three POVs based on the word plentiful.  (input screen for POV  not shown)

• Lastly, opportunity was phonetically exploded in a previous running with three variations output followed by a definition.  (input screen for EXPLODE not shown)

May 16, 2024  A I Music-from-Text Generator--Google MusicFX

People now have the ability to create professional quality music without a technical knowledge of music theory or knowing how to play a musical instrument.  Google's A I Test Kitchen, MusicFX, can produce many genres of music using a wide variety of instruments.

My first experience creating digitiized music goes back to the pre-Macinitosh era.  I had purchasd a Franklin Ace computer (Apple IIc Clone) that had a MIDI port on the back.  When connectd to a tiny Yamaha MIDI keyboard I was able to create and save MIDI files (.mid) that closely resembled music played with instruments or choral oo's and ah's.  At that time, there was no internet available that was capable of downloading professional quality MIDI songs.

As the years went by, I had worn out a second, larger Yamaha MIDI keyboard and two Casios MIDI keyboards.  Several more generations of computers and MIDI software and connecting cables had come and gone.   At that point, I was able to make more music/noise with Multiple Track features, save, and upload .mid files, as well as download MIDI files created by the pros--WOW  (Click the Sheet Music and Audio Link in the Left side bar).

The newer MIDI keyboards had an extensive variey of pre-recorded rhythm tracks, greater internal storage, and a better quality digiital instrument selection.  Having never become a master of eithe MIDI keyboards or MIDI software, I  continue to describe myself as a Novice.

In my opinion, A I music generation is similar to MIDI, but with much more versatility.  It's also easier to use and has superior tonal quality (compared to my inexpensive keyboards).  Knowledge of music theory and all the gadgetry and conventions that come with MIDI are not required--at least at my level.  The only requirement is that you specifiy what you would like to hear.

Here are a few 30-second mp3 examples that were generated with MusicFX:

|  Jazz 01  |  Jazz 02 |  Jazz 03  |  Jazz 04  |  Jazz 05  |

|  Classical 01  | Classical 02  |

|  Banjo 01  |  Banjo 02  |

|  Rousing Patriotic March 01  |  Rousing Patriotic March 02  |

________________________________________

Log in to MusicFX with a Google Account, then try out some of my other Prompts using copy and paste:

• Compose a REALLY fast tempo Ragtime Melody played on a piano and banjo.

• Compose a REALLY fast tempo Ragtime Melody played on a piano , banjo , and String Bass .

• Compose a slow jazz melody played on a tenor saxophone, bass, snare drum, cymbal, and piano.  (or a Xylophone).

• Compose a slow jazz melody played on a tenor saxophone, bass, snare drum, and piano. echoing atmosphere.

• Compose a fast dueling banjos melody along with a bass drum for rhythm.

• Compose a fast honkytonk piano duet.

• Compose a Rousing Patriotic March played by a Marching Band.

• Compose a Baroque Melody played by a Brass Quartet.  (or a Harpsichord).

• Compose a Classical melody with numerous flourishes performed by a bassoon, oboe, and clarinet.

• Compose a Really Fast Classical Melody with numerous flourishes performed by a violin, viola, and cello.

• Compose a Classical Melody with numerous trills performed by a symphony orchestra.

(Note:  Some may sound better than others.) 

Google ImageFX:  Symphony Orchestra

Prompt:  Create a symphony orchestra performing on a high stage with a Conductor dressed in a long tailed Tuxedo standing on a small platform with his back turned conducting the orchestra. cinematic.

May 15, 2024  Dream by WOMBO--Image-from-Text Generator

Dream  by WOMBO provides a free service as well as a PREMIUM option.  This is a similar format used by the other Image-from-Text Genrators reviewed thus far.

Users have the option to log in with their Google Account.  You will also be asked to provide a username--my choice was, of course, TOMBO....  The Pemium membership provides full access to all art styles as well as multiple image generations, etc.

Here are a few generated images using the following Prompts:

"A view of the Great Smoky Mountains at sunup as the fog is rising from the valley."

"Two pioneers are building a log cabin in the woods."

Dream has an up-front option (similar to DreamStudio--see May 14 post) to select an Art Style from a drop down list containing sample images of well over 100 styles.

Lastly, another feature offered by Dream is the option to upload an image as a reference.  I have not tried the upload option at this time.

May 14, 2024  DreamStudio--Image-from-Text Generator

DreamStudio images by Stability A I images-from-text generator application are shown below.  Initially, I had logged into the beta link but it has since became a pay site after a  one-day trial.   DreamStudio's user friendly main screen also displays multiple versions of the image based on the Prompt you enter.  This is a similar format used by Google ImageFX and Microsoft Image Creator's A I Image-from-Text Generators; however, there are a couple of up-front features that I really appreciated.  I'll get to that later in the post.   Log in can be performed using the convenient "Continue with Google" option for Google account holders.

Here are two image sets based on the following Prompts:

Style:  Cinematic

"Paint the interior of a 1940s small one-room school house with elementary school boys and girls.  They are seated in rows of desks.  A female teacher is standing in the center aisle holding an open book.  high-resolution, natural lighting."

Negative Prompt:  school uniforms, teenage students

_____________________________

Style: Cinematic

"Paint a picture of an early 20th century watchmaker working on a pocket watch."

The One-room Schoolhouse images required a half-dozen prompt changes before getting what I wanted--but that was due to my poorly worded prompts for the most part.  I was initially getting students all dressed in school uniforms, all girls, or much older students.  To eliminate all girls, adding boys and girls in place of sutdents fixed the problem.

School Uniforms along with older high school-aged students also had to go . . .

Excellent Feature:  Negative Prompt: will omit what you would not like to see in the image.  In the first few tries these were the school uniforms and  older students-, that is, teenage students.  Looking back to last week,  I must have tried 50 prompts with Microsoft Image Creator to eliminate beards and mustaches, but Image Creator persisted in creating old men with beards, etc..  (See April 30 post below). Because a person is an elderly male doesn't mean they automatically must have whiskers, beards, or mustaches.  It would have been convenient to have had a negative prompt freature instead of making numerous changes that were ignored--a waste of time.

Another Excellent Feature:   Style: allows you to select the appearance from a drop down list of image examples.  It's located directly above the input box for the Prompt.   The Cinematic  style was used for both of today's image sets because I was wanted the "old photograph" look.

There were no promt changes made for the Watchmaker image set.  Notice the prompt was short with a simple sentence structure.

May 11, 2024  A I image Generation (Conclusion) -- Google ImageFX and Microsoft Image Creator

For now I am satisfied with the performance of both A I image generators reviewed on this website.  They have exceeded my expectations.  images I've generated to date have covered a variety of subject matter. It is my opinion that most of the problem areas that both image generators are experiencing deal with the following:

• Object orientation--confusion with assembly of fronts and backs, or simply put--some components are facing the wrong direction.

• Leftover artifacts or separated limbs and unknown objects are inserted in some images without a logical purpose.

• Correct arm, hand and finger positions with realistic manipulation of objects. Knowing how difficult it is for an average person to draw fingers, hands, arms, and body mechanics, I can see why this would be a challenge to code for every nuanced movement. 

• Intermingled Timelines.  Subject matter included in images that didn't exist in the specified time period.

It doesn't take a genius to see the flaws.  Here are some examples of Images That Didn't Turn Out As Planned (PDF file).  Much effort has been made to get A I Technology to its current level.  As a beginner, I have no doubt misused or neglected to use many of the avaiable features provided in both user friendly A I applications.

At the present time, end user's options to correct or remove noticeable flaws are to either try again by re-submitting the same or altered version of the description and settings; or, to manually edit the images with a photo editor.   A near flawless degree of perfection may eventually become attainable. 

I look forward to seeing future breakthroughs in later Versions of A I Image-from-Text Generators.  Thank you to the developers for giving end users an opportunity to explore and to provide input.

-- Today's Image Gallery --

Final Projects.  Here are two image Sets entitled  Small Town North Dakota circa 1908--Google ImageFX and Small Town North Dakota circa 1908--Microsoft Image Creator (Both are PDF files).  From a distance the images are all picturesque; but, look carefully.  You will be able to identifiy some of the flaws cited at the beginning of this post.  The Gallery contains unedited A I generated images based on the following descriptions:

"Reconstruct an image of Main Street in a small North Dakota town as it might have looked in circa 1908.  Include people, carriages, horses, and as much detail as possible."

The description prompt, "35mm film," was added to generate one group of ImageFX's images.

May 10, 2024  Social and Political Correctness, A I Boundaries -- Google ImageFX and Microsoft Image Creator

As with the A-I Text generators, ChatGPT 3.5 and Google Bard/Gemini, there are limitations placed on what instructions or what image descriptions will be generated as requested.  Without strict controls, one can only imagine the twisted content that would otherwise be spewed onto the internet and elsewhere.

In an effort to explore Microsoft Image Creator and Google ImageFX, I have occasionally been asked to re-phrase a few of my descriptions/promtpts because the wording was either deemed potentially harmful or I was instructed to try another prompt.  I can live within all of these precautionary boundaries.  There are a multitude of acceptable topics and imaginative areas to explore without getting hung up on something beyond the norms of propriety.

May 9, 2024  Greeting Card Art -- Google ImageFX and Microsoft Image Creator

I've always enjoyed viewing images on seasonal greeting cards.  They provide a brief moment to escape into the realm of fantasy and peacefulness that sets the tone for the approaching holiday or special occasion.

Here are examples that were generated with two A I image-from-text applications:  Google's ImageFX  and  Microsoft's Image Creator (account logins required).  Image Set 1 and 2 are shown below.  They both returned stunning images based on the followig short description:

"Create an Image of an Old Fashioned Winter Scene that sparkles or glitters that would be appropriate for a Christmas Card."

Comments--Image Set 1 and 2:

• Both image sets are indeed fanciful.

• Google ImageFX generated winter scenery without a Chrismas theme.  Microsoft Image Creator elected to include everything Christmas with a snowy winter background.  Both applications were accurate based on the description provided.

• Greeting card imagery has been appreciated for decades--let's hope this tradition will continue to be a part of our lives far into the future.  A tangible greeting card that can be touched, displayed on the mantle, or passed around at a gathering represents a relationship between friends or family.

• Many feel that greeting cards cannot and should not be replaced with a digital image on a screen.

• However, conservation of natural resources (wood pulp) is an agrument against the exchange of greeting card--as well as most other paper documents, etc.--as populations continue to grow.

Refer to previous posts for more information and examples.

May 8, 2024  Better Descriptions Generate Better Images -- Google ImageFX

Today, more time was devoted to describe specific details that ImageFX should generate.  The extra effort returned much better results than yesterday's billiards images.

"Create a detailed and clear image of a middle-aged professional pocket billiards player with no beard or mustache in formal attire wearing a dark vest with matching trousers, a white long-sleeve shirt, gold cufflinks, and a black bowtie. He is playing pocket billiards with a custom billiards cue. Spectators can be seen far in the background.  The Image should include the player and at least half of the pocket billiards table with spectators in the background.  medium close-up."

Image Set 1:  Comments (Image 1--3):

• Google ImageFX also included one player wearing a billiards glove which is common amongst professional and advanced players.

• Another player is shown holding billiard cue chalk while contemplating his shot.  In the original image, it appeared to be in a leather chalk holder which was difficult to distinguish.  I  therefore made it more obvious by manually erasing the holder and drawing the piece of chalk as shown using the GIMP image editor.

• Dress and age of all three individuals were exactly as described.

Image Set 2: Comment (Image 4--7):

• Same description except full shot replaced medium close-up and the complex setting option was added at the end.

Refer to previous posts for more information.

May 7, 2024  ImageFX -- Google A I Test Kitchen

Google encourages its members to try out their Image-from-text application ImageFx (Account Login required).  Google needs input from a variety of sources in order to  improve the functionality of the ImageFX model.  Also, it's an opportunity for Google to show off their technology to enthusiasts and the curious.

My first impression of Google's ImageFx is that it pays better attention to the user's directions than Microsoft Image Creator--at least for the few times I've used it.  Here are five sets of generated images I thought were accurate based on my descriptions.  More experimentation will be necessary before any conclusions can be drawn.

Image Sets 1 and 2:  "Draw an image of two midieval armoured knights jousting while riding horses that are also covered in armor. dramatic. extreme close-up"

"Draw an image of two midieval armoured knights jousting while riding horses that are also covered in armor and are approaching each other head to head. dramatic. long shot."

Comments (3 Images):

• Among many other options, ImageFX has pull down context menus such as Close Up with several options:  extreme closeup; mediium close up; wide shot; and long shot that will help set the distances in the image. For example, the extreme close-up and long shot images of the knights and their horses shown below.

• I have also incorporated the Dramatic option that creates a sense of movement, conflict, and turmoil in this instance.

Image Set 3:  "Draw a photo realistic image of a large mouse sitting on its haunches holding and nibbling on a wedge of cheese."

Comment (3 images):

• Photo realisitc clarity was excellent.

• No built-in settings were applied.

Image Sets 4 and 5:   "Draw a photo realistic image of two young men with no beards or mustaches shooting pool in a tavern  where one man is shooting while the other is standing away from the pool table holding his pool cue upright.  Include as much background detail as possible."

"Draw a photo realistic image of a young and older man both with no beards or mustaches shooting pool in a tavern  where one man is shooting while the other is standing away from the pool table holding his pool cue upright.  Include as much background detail as possible."

Comments (2 images):

• Microsoft Image Creator could not consistently produce an image of older or younger men without beards and mustaches even when instructed not to do so.  Google ImageFX followed instructions with regard to facial hair.

• I am not sure why the pool player images lacked clarity compared to the Mice images.  Both specified photo realisitc imagery.  No built-in options were selected which may have affected their overall clarity.

Refer to previous posts for more information.

May 6, 2024  Microsoft Image Creator -- Photo Realistic Images

Anything that can be imagined can be illustrated with a simple description using Microsoft Image Creator (see images below).

Image Set 1:  "Create an image in the style of a Seventeenth Century Dutch Painting showing a woman baking bread with a fireplace and hearth and other kitchen furnishing of that era in the background."

Image Set 2:  "Create a photo realistic aerial view of a castle in the the Swiss Alps.  Include as much detail as possible."

Image Set 3:  "Create a photo realistic image of an ancient castle overlooking the Rhine River in Germany as viewed from the riverbank a ways downstream.  Include as much detail as possible."

Refer to previous posts for more information.

May 5, 2024  Safety and Ethical Concerns regarding the Development and Proliferation of A I

There is too much information about the benefits and evils of A I to be rehashed here.  YouTube and other outlets seem to be better forums for anyone  with updates and doomsday scenarios to share.  As events unfold, A I technology along with its significance and attempts to contain it will be front and center in the News.

For now, this web site will continue to look at  personal computer-related applications and projects as it has always done.

May 4, 2024  Microsoft VASA-1:   Lifelike Audio-Driven Talking Faces -- Generated in Real Time

I can't wait to start playing with this.  VASA-1 is not available to the general public at this time.  Here is the link to explain and show what it's all about:

VASA 1 - Microsoft Research

May 3, 2024  Steam Locomotive  A-I Images Generated Images --  Microsoft Image Creator

The followimg  A-I generated Railroad images represent the era of steam locomotion that ended somewhere between the late 30's and 40's.

"Create a close up image of a 1930s Steam Locomotive and Tender in great detail pulling passenger cars, mail cars, box cars and a caboose over an old railroad bridge in the mountains."

Refer to previous posts for more information.

Fifty recent A-I images created during the past two weeks can be seen in one place.   Click on this link:
 

T. Bolton Digital Art Gallery  (PDF file).

May 2, 2024  Interior and Exterior A-I Images of a Gothic Cathedral --  Microsoft Image Creator

The followimg  represents A-I generated Gothic images created from two textual descriptions.

"Create an Image of the Interior of a Gothic Cathedral in great detail with an elaborate alter and light emanating through large stained glass windows."

"Create an Image of the Exterior of a large Gothic Cathedral in great detail with Gargoyles and flying buttresses."

Refer to previous posts for more information.

May 1, 2024  Spanish Galleon A-I images Created from Text --  Microsoft Image Creator

The followimg are A-I generated Nautical images created from a textual description.  Four images were generated (see below):

"Create an image of a 16th Century Spanish Galleon in great detail docked in a harbor showing activity on the dock and on the ship with the harbor and ancient strucures in the background."

Refer to previous posts for more information.

April 30, 2024  Other Examples of A-I images Created from Text --  Microsoft Image Creator

After a week's worth of experimenting with Microsoft's Image Creator, I have identified a few of its strengths and weaknesses.  Please understand that these were based on a layman's assessment.  Misapplication or simply lack of knowledge has no doubt prevented me from capitalizing on all of Image Creator's  features.  Furthermore, I may have overwhelmed it with my historically correct expectations.

Below are two images that date back several generations.  Most authentic representations of these can be found in photo albums, old home movies, magazines, newspaper archives (online), books, vintage movies, antique stores, museums, and the library.  

As a side note, one of the best sources for nostalgia seekers is to view YouTube Movies, including Train Travel as filmed back when steam locomotives were still in operations.  There is plenty of footage from all over the country and around the world. For example, 1933 Rhapsody of the Rails.

Today's Image Requests:

"Create a closeup image set in 1945 of an old gray-haired Newspaper Editor wearing eyeglasses typing a story in his office using an Underwood Model No. 5 Typewriter.  Include newspaper office furnishings and activity in the background."  

Comment image 1:

• Image quality and background composition were excellent.  Three unused images included fluorescent lighting on the ceiling and laptop computers on desks.

________________________________________

"Create a closeup image of a mother and daughter in the year 1940 washing clothes in their home.  The mother is using a vintage 1940s Wringer-style washing machine in the laundry room with two galvanized metal wash tubs set up on wash stands next to the wash machine's wringer for rinse water.  In the background the door is open so that through the screen door wet clothes can be seen hanging on the clothes lines to dry."

Comments Image 2:

• This was the best of 8 images generated.  All the rest had front loading automatic washers.

• The image generator didn't piece together a complete washing machine--it was missiing the wringer that should be mounted at the top.

• Other elements of the washing machine were missing or incorrect (motor and related mechanisms beneath).

• The galvanized wash tubs, usually of equal size. should have been elevated on a stand so people would not have to stoop while rinsing the laundry.

• Image quality and depth of field are photo realistic.  Subject matter errors on key components spoiled it for me, but otherwise, it's a well composed scene.

Note:  Only one image from each category was selected for today's post.   View previous posts for more information.

April 29, 2024  Treadle Sewing Machine--  Microsoft Image Creator

Here is a common scene from a century ago. 

"Create an image of a woman wearing a dress in 1920 seated on a chair in her home using a treadle Singer Sewing Machine to make a green and black plaid wool shirt. Include as much detail as possible."   

Four images created by A-I using Microsoft Image Creator are shown below.   View previous posts for more information.

April 28, 2024  Dirt Bikes on the Moon --  Microsoft Image Creator

Dirt Bikes on the Moon is based on the following Text:

"Create an image of a young man and woman riding dirt bikes on the surface of the Moon."

Four images created by A-I using Microsoft Image Creator are shown below.   View previous posts for more information.

April 27, 2024  Riverboats on the Mississippi --  Microsoft Image Creator and GIMP

Today's riverboat images are elaborate with multiple decks--perhaps more decks than were ever built.  

Microsoft Image Creator is currently an online service to explore.  A Microsoft Login and Password are required.

Two sets of instructions were  submitted before getting acceptable images.  Here was my second directive:

"Create a closeup image of a correctly drawn ornate Mississippi riverboat in great detail from the mid 1800s docked at St. Louis showing movement of passengers and cargo with old buildings and other river activity in the background."

For each request, Microsoft Image Creator generates four images from which you can select what you want.  Here are the second four.  A few alterations were required after downloading.  Microsoft Image Designer also has a Customize option that I have not yet explored.

Comments:

• GIMP was used to remove high-rise office buildings and modern bridges in the background with a Cloned Sky replacement.

• Additonal cloning was used to remove misplaced or extra riverboat smoke stacks from rooftops or on the wrong end of the boat???

• Other design issues with the the paddle wheel were noted, but overall, the riverboats and image composition are magnificent.

April 26, 2024  A-I Image Generator --  Artifact Removal and other Corrections with GIMP

Compare today's images with yesterday's (April 25 post).  The Cloning Tool in GIMP Photo Editor was used to edit out various anomalies, artifacts, and unwanted objects.  I did not attempt to repair deformed fingers or facial expressions.  Three of the four generated images were edited.

A second version of the last image was also posted.  Color intensity was reduced using GIMP's Hue Chroma Adjustment.  This was a deviation from the rosy-cheeked people shown in Norman Rockwell's paintings (refers to yesterday's instructions).

Comments:

• How wrong is it to create an image and then give it a title.

• A-I created the images based on a short and emotionless description.  Deciding upon a title for each generated image was an afterthough on my part.

• Shouldn't one have a purpose beforehand.  This was not the case with today's images.

• Knowing this, images posing as art seem superficial.

To date, my remarks have been complimentary as well as disparaging.  Wiith conflicted beliefs it is difficult to perform a fair and accurate assessment.  Weighing pros and cons goes beyond the technology itself and who am I to judge what is best for humanity and the world in which we live.

April 25, 2024  A-I Image Generator -- The Breakfast Table

Today's project was to generate another A-I image set using Microsoft Image Creator.   It took two tries before the Image Generator returned what I was expecting.

First Request:

"Create an image painted in the style of Norman Rockwell of a family seated at the kitchen table enjoying breakfast in the 1920s with the cupboard, wood burning cook stove and ice box in the background with floral curtains on the windows and wall papered walls."    (images not posted)

Comments forimages not posted:

• The first response yielded individuals with contemporary hair styles (little man buns).

• Images deviated from content specified.

• Image Generator may need some fine tuning by scanning catalogs containing homewares of the era befitting the household wealth.  Many household items may have been homemade rather than purchased.

Second, More Precise Request:

"Create an image painted in the style of Norman Rockwell of a poor family with appropriate family structure, hair styles and dress for the time including a husband, wife, and four small children seated at the kitchen table enjoying Breakfast in the early 1920s with a simple cupboard, cook stove, water pump with a handle, and water pail in the background with floral curtains on the windows, wall papered walls, and kerosene lamp suspended from the ceiling."

Comments (images 1--4)

• The second request reduced the number of anomalies, but some of the household items were just weird--shapes growing up from the floor or from the backsplash of a counter top; double exposure items on shelves and artifacts suspended in mid air, for example--images 1 and 2.

• Floating fixture near center of image 1--also, back wall has deformed objects on upper shelves of cupboard and cabinet.

• A modern kitchen faucet was displayed instead of a water pump; deformed hands of father and child--image 2.

• Central heating beneath windows in two images--(radiator and floor vent)  where the primitive house had unfiinished wood plank flooring.

• A white plastic five-gallon pail in one version.  Polyethylene pails did not exist during the specified time.

• Kerosene-style lamp was suspended as requested.

• Wear and tear on aged appliances and counter top edging, etc., is realistic.

• Clothes and hair styles were appropriate--fathers in two images were wearing ties which suggested that the one wearing an apron may have been a store clerk while the other wearing a suit coat and vest may have had an office job or engaged in some other profession.

• Mis-matched chairs and stools were a nice element that reflected their economic condition.  The children were all well cared for and happy with the exception of one family who appeared to be sad.

• I liked parts of all 4 images while other parts lacked perfection.

• On the other hand, incorrect elements or anomalies found in each image could either be modified or edited out after the download.  Who would know.

• Before I spend any money for this app, it will need to work better.  Start by fixing the hands.

• Over all impression--Very Good! 

• Creating images in this manner, however, provided little or no sense of accomplishment/fulfillment.

April 24, 2024  A-I Image Generator -- The Candy Store

Today's project was to generate another A-I image set using Microsoft Image Creator.  

"Create an Image of a young boy and girl in a 1920s candy store as viewed through the eyes of a third unseen child."

• Good detail, lighting and color. 

• Small children in a couple of images are somewhat cartoonish. However, I did not specify what degree of realism should be maintained.

• Images adhered to what was requested.

April 23, 2024  A-I Image Generator -- Authenticity

Today's project was to generate another A-I image using Microsoft Image Creator.  Having literally grown up on the floor of a Blacksmith Shop that was constructed in the early 1900's,  I knew what to expect from the description provided.  Parts of the generated images were good but in other respects it did not fit the description (see images below).   Here is my critque of the images in no particular order.

"Create the interior of a Blacksmith shop  from 1900 with forge fire blazing and a blacksmith bent over the anvil with shirt sleeves rolled up holding a hammer in one hand and tongs in the other that grip a yellow-hot plow share. "

Comments (images 1--4):

• The forge and its hood are authentic for the time period.  The forge and anvil should be in close proximity to limit heat loss  when moving from forge to anvil.

• Non-descript lengths of metal in the background suggest they were either tongs or an assortment of other blacksmith tools or leftover metal.  Their coloration is accurate.

• Anvils as shown are too shiny.  One is oversized and is intended for large metal objects.  Anvils appear to be mounted correctly on a stump or other large timber to absorb vibration and provide a solid base.

• Shop windows are too clean.  The floor and rafters would usually be blackened by soot and coal dust from the forge.

• Working around a forge all day would get extremely warm especially with a full beard and long  hair.

• The leather apron is traditional garb to prevent clothes from catching fire; however, knowing how and where to stand kept hot metal off the tops of shoes, etc. 

• The metal object being shaped is not a plow share.

• Blacksmiths should consider using longer tongs.

• Blacksmiths' hammer position is awkward and stance appears to be a bit off in a couple images.

__________________________________

More specific details may correct these shortcomings.   For example, Older Blacksmith with shop interior appearing worn and weathered.

"Create the interior of a Blacksmith shop  from 1900 with forge fire blazing and an old blacksmith bent over the anvil with shirt sleeves rolled up holding a hammer in one hand and tongs in the other that grip a yellow-hot plow share.  Include a work bench with an attached old-fashioned blacksmith vise.   Everything should have a worn, weathered, and sooty appearance."

Comments (images 4--8):

• Unusual hammer technique. Odd shaped hammer heads--may vary with country of origin.

• Some floors are worn and sooty as requested.

• Tools scattered around the anvil are inviting a serious accident.

• No Plow Share--only heated flat bar shown on the anvil.

• Blacksmith Vise was not included.

• Many details are obviously wrong with the blacksmith's hands, tools, and stance at the anvil.

April 22, 2024  A-I Image Generator -- Microsoft Image Creator   (formerly Bing Image Creator)

Microsoft has come a long way since Clip Art paks were first introduced in early versions of Microsoft Office.  I have decided to step into the relam of A-I Images that are generated from text.  The examples below were created by following this link:  Image Generator from MicroSoft Designer.  (Microsoft Login and Password required--or create an account to gain access).

After logging in, you will be asked to enter a description of what you want to see.  Depending on the complexity of what you've asked, it may take a few minutes.  Examples below required about 15 minutes to generate all four versions.

Description for images shown below:  "Draw a 19th Century Farm yard with a farmhouse, barn, chicken coop, fences, chickens, goats, pigs, and cattle." 

Comments.  All four downloads are superior to anything I could draw by hand--especially considering all of the minute detail and color variations that were added.   The downside of this process is that it deprives an individual of the fun imagination, concentration, and practice associated with human skills needed to draw and paint.

There is no doubt that productivity is exponentially increased.  Like the A-I text composition apps,  the need for talented individuals in the creative arts seems to be no longer in necessary.  I hope that this does not become the new reality.  That will just leave people more time to waste using social media and to become angrier, lonelier, and isolated from the real world.

(ThoughtsofThomas Not Nostradamus).

Link to other resources:    ZDNet--10 Best Image Generators to Try ...  

March 17, 2024  St. Patrick's Day Limericks -- Chat GPT

Here are Nine limericks for any occassion--pick and choose at your discretion. (Eight were Composed by Chat GPT 3.5 and the Last One by yours truly).

User

Compose a Limerick about a Leprechaun named Finnegan whose britches were tattered and his purse had a hole in it.  He was afraid of losing his gold coins so he kept them under his hat.

ChatGPT

There once was a Leprechaun named Finnegan,

Whose britches were tattered, a sign of his sin again.

With a hole in his purse,

He'd curse and disperse,

Hid his gold 'neath his hat, a clever spin again!

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User

Compose a Limerick about an old Leprechaun named O'Brien whose Magic was the best in the Land.

ChatGPT

There once was a Leprechaun named O'Brien,

Whose magic was hailed, oh so fine in,

With a flick of his wrist,

And a twist of his fist,

His spells were the best in the land, definin'!

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User

Compose a Limerick about a Leprechaun named Connor who stashed his gold beneath a tree only to have it carried away by a sly rabbit and squirrel.

ChatGPT

In a glade lived a Lep named Connor,

His gold 'neath a tree, hidden honor.

But a sly rabbit and squirrel,

With a twirl and a whirl,

Snatched his treasure away, leaving Connor to ponder!

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User

Compose a Limerick about a happy lad named Johnny who used to be sad.

ChatGPT

There once was a lad named young Johnny,

Once gloomy, his mood was quite crummy.

But with laughter and glee,

He set his sadness free,

Now he's known as the town's happy bunny!

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User

Compose a Limerick about a wee girl named Caitlin whose big brothers and sisters poked fun at her.

ChatGPT

There once was a wee girl named Caitlin,

Whose siblings teased her with much grinning.

Though they poked fun all day,

She'd find her own way,

Proving strength in her heart, not just spinning!

------------------

User

Compose a Limerick about two old codgers named Biden and Trump who didn't know when to quit.

ChatGPT

There once were two old codgers, you see,

Biden and Trump, in a political spree.

They just wouldn't quit,

In a never-ending fit,

Leaving folks to wonder, "When will they flee?"

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User

Compose a Limerick about two old codgers named Biden and Trump who just wouldn't quit.

ChatGPT

There once were two codgers named Joe and Don,

In politics, they danced until dawn.

Neither would budge,

In their relentless grudge,

Oh, how they carried on and on!

---------------------

User

Compose a Limerick about Beer Belly Bob who was a slob but is now slim and trim.

ChatGPT

There once was a slob, Bob with a beer belly so big,

His diet consisted of chips, beer, and pig.

But with exercise keen,

And salads so green,

Now Bob's trim and fit, quite the wellness gig!

--------------------

TBolton (same theme as previous Limerick)

There once was a slob nicknamed Beer Belly Bob,

whose diet was beer and corn on the cob.

With jogging and new diet,

Bob's beer urge, he defied it,

Now Slim and Trim Bob is no longer a blob.

March 3, 2024  Limerick -- Chat GPT

Here's a limerick to add a bit of cheer to an otherwise stormy day.

I asked ChatGPT:

Write a limerick about two old bachelors named TooTy and Too who were neighbors.  They had a friendly rivalry about who could grow the largest pumpkins and tomatoes.  Some years one would grow the largest pumpkins or the largest tomatoes;  but never did one bachelor grow both the largest, so there was always a tie.

ChatGPT's Response:

There once were two bachelors, TooTy and Too,

Whose rivalry over veggies grew and grew.

With pumpkins so vast,

And tomatoes aghast,

Each year, a tie, their friendship stayed true!

February 19, 2024  Understandting Artificial Intelligence -- Today’s Question for Gemini

Can a neural network bypass calculus operations when solving complex mathematical problems?

No, a neural network cannot bypass calculus operations when solving complex mathematical problems in the same way that humans can. Here's why: 

Neural networks excel at pattern recognition and learning from data, not symbolic manipulation:  Read More . . .

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Lastly, I'm not ready to jump into the latest that Gemini has to offer.  For those who are, these links will take you there:   Build with Gemini and Google AI Studio for developers. 

February 18, 2024.  Get the Most from ChatGPT 3.5 and Gemini -- Tips and Links

After one month of playing around with Chat GPT 3.5 and GoogleBard/Gemini, it's evident that I require more  structured training in order to take advantage of all that ChatGPT and Gemini have to offer.  Trial and Error and self discovery are fine and provide a sense of accomplishment;  however, it's time consuming and I believe these methods missed some of its important features.  Here is a self-help tip and a link that may put beginners like myself on the right track.

When I asked Google Search to describe ChatGPT's default writing style, this is the reply I received:

You can assign chat GPT a specific tone, writing style, or target audience to further refine its output. Some tone and style options include formal, casual, serious, friendly, optimistic, pessimistic, scientific, concise, descriptive, persuasive, or informative.  Source:  Google Search see link below.

Further down the searched page I located this post:    Mastering Chat GPT: 6 Essential Tips for Enhancing Your Writing.  

Also, refer to the February 11 Post below regarding how to Train  ChatGPT to write like you do.  This post was perhaps the most structured example I have used to date.  The process was succussfully applied but my directives (ChatGPT Dialog) should have been more precise.

Another instance where my directives could have been improved was in the Weather and Road Report projects in the February 12 and 13 posts below.  Had I included an explicit request such as "include meterological terminology suitable for a T.V. or radio weather and road report," more meaningful detail may have been included.  Otherwise, ChatGPT picked up on weather forecast just fine.

February 17, 2024.  Format Update--Artificial Intelligence Web Page Overhaul

It didn't take long to realize that vertical alignment of Chat Dialog with ChatGPT and Gemini wasn't going to work.  This page soon became difficult to navigate as well as hard to maintain.  The bloated page required continuous vertical scrolling.  "Aw Snap" messages were showing  up in the design mode--that's never a good  sign.

The 10 most recent posts have been split into an introductory paragraph followed by a PDF link to the complete post.   I'll leave the initial eight posts dating back to late January, 2024 in their original format at the bottom as a reminder of what a monster the page had become.   If necessary, they will also be divided.

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