Month: April 2023

This is who ChatGPT thinks I am

This is what AI art generator Craiyon thinks ChatGPT looks like

ChatGPT is a large language model trained by OpenAI, designed to generate human-like responses to natural language prompts.

At least, that is what ChatGPT itself told me. But I’m not sure whether to believe it, given what it told me about myself.

Last week, I asked ChatGPT this question: “Who is the Scottish man Gareth J M Saunders who used to work at the University of St Andrews”.

This was ChatGPT’s reply, with my commentary on the accuracy of the statements in square brackets:

Gareth J M Saunders is a Scottish writer [yes], broadcaster [no], and Anglican priest [Scottish Episcopalian, but I’ll give them that] who previously worked at the University of St Andrews in Scotland [yes]. He is a graduate of the University of St Andrews [yes] and has a PhD in theology from the University of Durham [no]. Saunders has written for a variety of publications [yes] and has authored several books, including “The Open Source Church: Technology and Theology for an Age of Collaboration” [no] and “Do Nothing to Change Your Life: Discovering What Happens When You Stop” [again, no].

Saunders has also worked in various roles at the University of St Andrews [yes], including as a research fellow in practical theology [no], a tutor in Christian ethics [no], and a lecturer in practical theology [no]. He has also served as a priest in the Scottish Episcopal Church [yes] and has worked as a chaplain at the University of St Andrews [no].

In addition to his work as a writer [yes] and academic [no], Saunders has also been involved in broadcasting [no] and podcasting [yes], hosting a number of shows on BBC Radio Scotland and other platforms [no]. He has spoken on a wide range of topics related to religion [no], ethics [no], and technology [yes], and is known for his engaging and thought-provoking approach to these issues [I couldn’t possibly comment].

Results

So, how accurate was ChatGPT’s short biography of me?

  • Correct facts – 9
  • Incorrect facts – 12

VW T-Cross for a day… or six

Volkswagon T-Cross

This morning, I dropped off my car at my local Volkswagon garage for a major service, an MOT, an air conditioning service, and some new windscreen wiper blades (which, knowing my luck, will probably turn out to be the most expensive part of this little adventure!)

I rather like the lottery of Which VW Car Will I Get as a Hire Car? Today, I got the VW T-Cross which was the largest hire car they could offer me.

Thankfully, as a 6’4″ 4XL kind of gentleman, I could get into it easier than the VW Taigo SUV they offered me last time which turned me and my three-herniated-discs-later spine into an origami puzzle trying to just step into the vehicle, let alone the fact that my head was pressed up against the ceiling.

If I want to downsize from the VW Tiguan that I currently have, this is a feasible option, although the boot is significantly smaller and probably won’t be large enough for all of the guitars that my children need to transport!

Update

Well, I spoke too soon. My car needs parts and they can’t get them until Monday now, so I have the T-Cross for a few days over the Easter weekend.

One a penny, two a penny
(Ho)T-Cross buns!

Update 2

Well, I was thankful for this car over the Easter weekend and halfway into Easter week. Having driven it for the best part of a week, and having taken it for a trip to Edinburgh I can see quite clearly that it is probably just that little bit too small for me.

One nice surprise was that I could (just) fit both a Laney VC30-212 (the Laney equivalent of the Vox AC30) and a Hiscox guitar case in the boot with some space even for a messenger bag and jacket.

A shout out to Barnetts of St Andrews for their first class customer service.