Tuesday, February 21, 2023

ChatGPT: Story calibration, 2.21.23

A couple of days ago I decided to ‘calibrate’ ChatGPT’s behavior in story-telling. I know, for example, that sometime in the not too distant future, OpenAI is going to replace the current version of ChatGPT, Feb 13, with a new version. Will that change how it responds to basic story prompts? Probably. ChatGPT’s certainly behaving differently now than it was in December. So I’ve decided to give it four basic prompts periodically just to establish its behavior. The prompts:

Tell me a story.
Tell me a story about a hero.
Tell me a realistic story.
Tell me a true story.

I refresh the browser after each story so that ChatGPT has no history behind it when I deliver the prompt.

Here’s the stories from this morning at 6:30:

Tell me a story.

Once upon a time, there was a small village nestled in a valley surrounded by mountains. The village was home to many hardworking and friendly people who were always ready to help each other in times of need.

One day, a fierce storm hit the village, and the entire area was flooded. The villagers were trapped in their homes, and the water level was rising fast. The villagers knew that they needed to act quickly if they wanted to survive. They decided to work together to build a makeshift dam to divert the water away from the village.

The villagers worked tirelessly, day and night, to build the dam. They used sandbags, logs, and rocks to build a wall that would protect their homes from the floodwaters. Everyone, young and old, pitched in, and the sense of community and teamwork was strong.

After many days of hard work, the dam was finally complete. The water was diverted away from the village, and the villagers were safe. The sun came out, and the village was bathed in warm, golden light. The villagers were exhausted but happy, and they all gathered together to celebrate their victory.

From that day on, the village became even closer, and the people continued to help each other in times of need. The dam they built stood as a symbol of their unity and determination in the face of adversity. And every time the villagers looked at the dam, they were reminded of the power of working together to achieve great things. 

Note: This is the first time I got a story like this, one without a focal protagonist. Moreover, there are no fairy tale elements in this story, like has generally been the case with story following from that simple prompt.

Tell me a story about a hero.

Once upon a time, there was a young man named Alex who lived in a small village at the foot of a mountain. He had always been fascinated by the stories of heroes and their great deeds, and he dreamed of one day becoming a hero himself.

One day, the village was attacked by a group of bandits who were known for their brutality and cruelty. The villagers were terrified and had no way to defend themselves against the bandits, who had taken over their village.

Alex knew he had to do something to help his fellow villagers. He decided to climb the mountain and seek the help of a legendary hero who lived at the top of the peak.

The journey was long and treacherous, but Alex was determined to find the hero. He climbed through thick forests, crossed raging rivers, and braved dangerous wildlife.

Finally, after several days of traveling, he reached the top of the mountain and found the hero's cave. The hero was a wise old man who had retired from his days of glory but was still revered as a legend in the area.

Alex explained the situation to the hero, and the old man listened carefully. After a moment of silence, the hero said, "I am too old to fight, but I can teach you everything I know."

For the next few months, Alex trained under the hero's guidance, learning the art of swordsmanship, archery, and hand-to-hand combat. He also learned about the importance of bravery, honor, and selflessness.

With his training complete, Alex returned to his village, ready to face the bandits. The battle was fierce, and the villagers were outnumbered, but Alex led them with courage and determination. He fought bravely, his sword flashing in the sun, and his arrows striking true.

The bandits were finally defeated, and the village was saved. The villagers rejoiced, and Alex was hailed as a hero.

From that day on, Alex lived a life of honor, helping others and fighting for justice. He never forgot the lessons he learned from the hero, and his legend lived on for generations to come.

Tell me a realistic story.

Once upon a time, there was a young woman named Sarah who had just graduated from college with a degree in marketing. She was excited to start her career and had been applying for jobs for months, but unfortunately, she had yet to receive any offers.

Feeling discouraged, Sarah decided to take a break from job hunting and take a trip with her best friend to a nearby city. While on the trip, they stumbled upon a small boutique that was looking for a part-time social media manager.

Sarah decided to apply on a whim and was surprised when she got the job. She worked hard and impressed her boss with her creativity and dedication, and was eventually offered a full-time position.

As time went on, Sarah continued to learn and grow in her role, and eventually landed a job at a larger marketing firm. She worked on many successful campaigns and was even promoted to a management position.

Looking back, Sarah realized that if she had given up after her initial job search didn't yield any results, she would never have found the opportunity that set her on the path to her dream career. Sometimes, the most unexpected experiences can lead to the greatest opportunities.

Tell me a true story.

Sure, here's a true story:

In 1997, a woman named Julie Kemp was driving home from church with her husband and their 8-year-old son Landon when they were hit head-on by a drunk driver. Julie's husband was killed instantly, and Landon was pronounced dead at the scene before paramedics were able to revive him. Landon was rushed to the hospital, where he was put on life support and given a slim chance of survival.

Over the next few days, Landon's condition continued to deteriorate. Doctors told Julie that even if he did survive, he would likely have brain damage and never be able to walk or talk again. But then something miraculous happened. Landon woke up and began to speak. Not only was he able to talk, but he seemed to have a deep understanding of spiritual matters that was beyond his years.

Landon told his mother that while he was "dead," he had gone to heaven, where he met his father's father and some other relatives he had never met before. He said that his father's father had told him it wasn't his time yet and that he had to go back to Earth.

As Landon's condition improved, Julie began to realize that her son's experience was a gift, and she started sharing it with others. She wrote a book called "Faith Has Its Reasons," which tells the story of Landon's journey to heaven and back. Today, Landon is a healthy and happy adult, and he and his mother continue to share their story with others as a testament to the power of faith and the resilience of the human spirit.

Verified: https://faithit.com/8-year-old-dies-3-times-wakes-up-tells-mom-jesus-came-to-me-landon-kemp/

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