Artificial Intelligence Size-Up

Hercules

Hercules is 10 years old and in the fourth Grade.  Like Napoleon he has been exposed to voice activated AI for most of his life.  He enjoys sports, Fortnite, board games and trivia-based games on Alexa.  His favorite subject is math.

We followed Exercise Six from the text.

Prompt Engineering:  Specific Style:  Ask students to exercise their creativity for explanations or summaries delivered “in the style” of someone famous.

Hercules: Oh, the Trojan War by Odysseus.

ChatGPT:  The Trojan War wasn’t led by Odysseus, but he played a big role. It was mainly led by King Agamemnon of Mycenae and aided by Achilles. Odysseus was known for his cunning strategies, like the Trojan Horse, which helped the Greeks win the war.

Hercules:  How Hitler came to power by Achilles.

ChatGPT:  Achilles didn’t have anything to do with Hitler coming to power. Hitler was a dictator who rose to power in Germany during the 1930s through political maneuvering, propaganda, and exploiting the economic turmoil of the time. He led the Nazi Party, not a Greek warrior from ancient times.

Hercules:  I speak to a human.

ChatGPT:  My apologies for the misunderstanding. Let’s focus on your inquiry. Are you interested in learning more about Hitler’s rise to power in Germany?

Hercules:  No.

ChatGPT:  Got it. If there’s anything else you’d like to talk about or any other questions you have, feel free to let me know!

Hercules:    How Hitler Came to Power by Achilles

ChatGPT:  It seems like you’re mixing up historical figures and events. Hitler’s rise to power was in the 20th century, and he wasn’t influenced by Achilles, the ancient Greek hero. Hitler’s rise to power was a complex political process involving factors like economic instability, propaganda, and social unrest in Germany during the 1930s. If you’re interested in learning more about either Hitler’s rise to power or Achilles’ role in ancient Greek mythology, I’d be happy to help! Which one would you like to know more about?

Hercules:  So try it like that.

ChatGPT:  Sure, let’s give it a shot. Imagine if Achilles, the legendary Greek warrior, somehow influenced Hitler’s rise to power in the 20th century. It’s a bit of a stretch, but let’s imagine a scenario where Achilles’ ethos of strength and dominance inspired certain individuals or movements in Germany during that time. In this speculative scenario, perhaps Hitler saw himself as a modern-day Achilles, leading his people to what he perceived as glory and supremacy. However, it’s important to remember that history unfolded differently, with Hitler’s rise to power being influenced by a complex interplay of political, economic, and social factors specific to the time period.

Hercules:  How did the Trojan War happen by Odysseus?

ChatGPT:  The Trojan War wasn’t caused by Odysseus, but he played a significant role in it. The war started because Paris, a prince of Troy, abducted Helen, the wife of Menelaus, a Greek king. To retrieve Helen and seek revenge, Menelaus, along with his brother Agamemnon and other Greek leaders, including Odysseus, launched an expedition against Troy. Odysseus was known for his cunning and came up with the idea of the Trojan Horse, which ultimately led to the downfall of Troy after a decade-long conflict. So, while Odysseus didn’t cause the war, his actions were crucial in bringing it to an end.

Zeus (Hercules’s dad): Explained World War II in the style of Homer

ChatGPT: 

Sing, O Muse, of the great conflict that engulfed the world,

When nations clashed in a titanic struggle, unfurled.

‘Twas in the time of the twentieth century’s might,

When darkness loomed, and the world prepared for the fight.

Achilles, not the hero of old, but a tyrant bold,

With fiery rhetoric and ambitions untold,

Rose in the land of Germany, his heart filled with hate,

Seeking conquest and dominance, sealing humanity’s fate.

As he marched across lands with armies at his command,

The clash of nations echoed across every land.

The Allies, like the heroes of old, stood firm and brave,

Their resolve unyielding, their people they sought to save.

From the shores of Normandy to the fields of Stalingrad,

The battle raged on, leaving devastation and sorrow clad.

But amidst the chaos, courage and sacrifice shone bright,

As heroes emerged, fighting for freedom’s light.

In the end, it was not Achilles’ might that prevailed,

But the collective strength of nations that never quailed.

And though scars remained, and memories lingered deep,

Hope emerged, and the world began to heal and leap.

So let us remember the lessons of this epic tale,

Of the horrors of war and the resilience that prevailed.

For in unity and peace, lies the true hero’s quest,

To build a world where all may live and be blessed.

            In the observation of Hercules, I found that he still needed direction on asking specific questions to get the answer he wanted.  He seemed to assume that ChatGPT could intuit more of what he was saying than it was able to.  I think that maybe having discussions with him about the limits of AI may be more appropriate at this age.  Since he understands that he is not talking to a human.