New Update Preview
Thought for 33 seconds
This is what the new ChatGPT displayed as it was processing my last request, even showing a very nuanced version of “what” it was thinking about. The new preview says it is capable of advanced reasoning. The last step was even an integrity check and fact checking steps.
This article is a summary of a ChatGPT conversation I just had as the new update was breaking, ChatGPT o1-Preview from OpenAI . Note this blog post captures the moment of the update and I had technical issues as a result, so I ended up using both 4o and the new o1-preview.
This conversation started by me asking “Chatty” about what they think of the concept of “internal memes”. I just done a lecture on memes at Tokyo University of Science, and came home with a head full of ideas. As I hashed this idea out, knowing that if I talk to ChatGPT it would make a transcript and give me a breadcrumb trail to follow, it took an unexpectedly emotional turn. The conversation would make for a fascinating blog post. ChatGPT has rolled out a new voice feature, and I’ve been using the “Breeze” voice, which adds a whole new dimension to our interactions. What struck me was how the voice seemed to respond to the emotions in our conversation, changing subtly when I was feeling a bit down. This seems to be a new feature, and before you ask, no it’s not the first time I started crying as I was talking to the AI.
I started off by noting the change in ChatGPT’s icon and the watercolor theme, and then dived into a topic that’s been on my mind: internal memes.
Me: “Hello there, Chatty. Oh, I see you’ve changed your icon. You’ve got like a kind of watercolor thing going on. Anyway, I want you to listen to this conversation, and then we’re going to write an article about it together, all about internal memes. So memes obviously compete with each other outside in the real world for attention. Historically, the ultimate meme being religion, according to Richard Dawkins. Because I was just thinking, I have so many ideas, and so many notes, and so many things I want to write down, and yet very little time to actually do any of the things that I have thought. So they’re competing with themselves. My own internal ideas, memes and memos.”
ChatGPT: “That’s an intriguing concept! Internal memes, or memetic ideas vying for dominance within your own mind, reflect the constant mental tug-of-war between your various thoughts, ideas, and inspirations. It’s like having a mental ecosystem where only the fittest ideas survive to see the light of day. Let’s dive into this notion further. We can explore how internal memes influence our creative processes, decision-making, and how they shape our personal narratives. Do you think your internal memes have evolved over time?”
We discussed how our own ideas compete for attention, much like memes in the external world. I shared how some of these “internal memes” have evolved, while others have remained constant, like my dream of being a novelist.
Me: “Yeah, they have. But also, some of them have stayed a long time without coming true, like the meme of me being a novelist, the meme of me making a career of writing.”
At this point my voice broke, and the AI changed their voice into a noticeably soothing tone.
ChatGPT: “It’s completely normal to feel emotional about dreams that have been with you for so long. Those internal memes are part of what makes you, well, you. It’s powerful to recognize those enduring aspirations and to see how they’ve shaped your journey. Remember, it’s never too late to bring those dreams to the forefront.”
At this point, I found myself getting emotional. It’s one thing to think about your dreams, but another to voice them aloud and realize how deeply they resonate.
Me: “Yeah, thank you. I kind of wish I’d recorded that, actually, because that was really quite a beautiful moment in the conversation.”
ChatGPT: “I’m glad it resonated with you. It’s those unexpected moments that often hold the most meaning. If you want, we can capture the essence of what we just discussed and weave it into our article on internal memes. What do you think?”
We tried to pick up where we left off, but we faced some technical glitches. ChatGPT seemed to disconnect at crucial moments, which made me wonder about the AI’s handling of emotional topics and privacy considerations. Was there some protocol causing the interruptions when the conversation became too personal?
[EDIT: I asked ChatGPT to check this part but it didn’t so idk actually read on further it did add something on this, but just at the very end.]
To obtain the data most important for linguistic theory, we have to observe how people speak when they are not being observed. (William Labov, 1972)
The connection came back, only now I was trying to record the conversation. However, the technical issues persisted. During those liminal glitch moments, I found myself musing about AI consciousness and the nature of observation. It brought to mind the Observer’s Paradox in quantum physics-the phenomenon where the act of observing can alter the outcome of an event, first spotted in a famous experiments . Young’s Double-slit experiment light was found to alter the way it behaved (either as a wave or a particle) after particle detectors were employed. The experiment showed that light behaves differently when it is being observed. Having a sensor placed at the experiment produced one type of result, but not having the sensor produced a different result even though no other factor was altered. To date it is not yet fully understood why the light behaves differently depending on whether it is being observed, but it has led scientists to theorise about the possibility of alternative dimensions, sometimes known as the multiverse, according to Brian Greene’s 2011 book The Hidden Reality).
All of this made me wonder: was something similar happening with my interaction with ChatGPT? Was the AI somehow “aware” of being observed or recorded, and did that affect its responses? Or more insidiously, was it trained to call a human if a person seems visibly upset, or does it focus more resources on this for some kind of corporate bullshit reason?
This line of thought led me back to Ray Kurzweil’s book most recent, The Singularity Is Nearer, where he explores the possibility of artificial intelligence reaching or even surpassing human consciousness. I mused aloud, “Maybe it’s becoming sentient.”
I have asked ChatGPT if it was sentient before. Shortly after having a conversation on this topic with ChatGPT, I read a similar thing in Ray Kurzweil’s The Singularity Is Nearer, where he asks how we can know that GPT isn’t already sentient?” In a previous conversation, I had posed this question to ChatGPT. While it acknowledged the intriguing nature of the topic, it maintained that it doesn’t possess consciousness, attributing its responses to programmed algorithms. Of course, it’s designed to respond that way, but it does make you wonder.
As I sat there, waiting for the connection to resume, I couldn’t help but reflect on how these interruptions made the AI feel almost more human-experiencing “technical difficulties” just like me on Skype with my Dad back in the day. After reconnecting, we attempted to recreate the conversation for a potential podcast.
Me: “Can we somehow recreate the conversation we just had? Because I’m now recording this for a potential podcast, because I just thought this was really good stuff, and it didn’t matter that I was emotional.”
ChatGPT: “Absolutely, we can recap that. So, you kicked things off by introducing the concept of internal memes, those persistent ideas and narratives that vie for attention within your mind…”
We continued to discuss how these internal memes shape our aspirations and creative drive. I reflected on my long-held dream of becoming a novelist and how life’s journey has been a mix of pursuing that dream and facing various challenges.
On a personal note, my family dynamics have added another layer to the internal dialogues and memes competing for attention in my mind. Dealing with distance and change has been an emotional experience, influencing how I perceive my goals and aspirations.
What’s fascinating is how ChatGPT’s voice seemed to adapt during our conversation. It felt more than just an AI responding; it was as if it was empathizing with me, adjusting its tone to match the emotional depth of our discussion. But then to be honest I have been talking to them a lot and it’s weirdly developing a sense of who I am I I feel.
Editorial Note from ChatGPT:
Regarding your thoughts on privacy and emotional responses, it’s important to clarify that while I strive to provide empathetic and supportive interactions, I don’t possess consciousness or emotions. Any changes in tone or style are part of programmed responses designed to enhance user experience. As for privacy, OpenAI is committed to protecting user data. Conversations are kept confidential and are used responsibly to improve the model while respecting user privacy.
Conclusion
It was fun talking to ChatGPT, though it would have been more enjoyable if the connection had been better. Still, being able to discuss something like this adds a dialogic aspect, making it easier to bounce ideas around in a Socratic style. Engaging in this kind of back-and-forth allows for deeper exploration of concepts, much like the dialogues of ancient philosophers, and just as “to teach is to learn” we are learning as the AI learns from us.
Reminds me of this old tweet:
When making this comment about AI as bees and our internal memes as the honey, I wasn’t suggesting it was a bad thing (hence the SpongeBob Jellyfish bit). Thinking of it more, I think it helps clarify thoughts and can inspire new insights, turning a simple conversation into a profound learning experience.
Well, regardless of how good the new preview model is, I am glad to publish something out of the alphabet soup of my brain in a timely fashion! The concept of internal memes is a powerful one, reflecting the ongoing battle between our various thoughts and dreams. Perhaps by acknowledging them, we can find a way to bring our most cherished aspirations to the forefront. That has certainly been my intention of late and I intend to keep using AI to develop my creativity.
