I asked GPT4 to define love, but I wanted it to do so through the form of a story. I set the context that I was creating a podcast using content generated by GPT4; I wanted it to focus on being creative and novel in its storytelling approach.
Here’s the prompt I used:
I'm creating a podcast called "Stories by AI, Narrated by Human" where I will essentially have GPT4 answer a question, usually one of an abstract nature, by telling me a new, never-before-heard, interesting story using fictional characters and events. The conclusion of the story should answer the question I ask, from the perspective of artificial intelligence. I will then narrate that story to a human audience. The purpose of this podcast is to demonstrate the sheer breadth of creativity of artificial intelligence, specifically that of GPT4. I want the story to be one such that a human would think, "Wow, there's no way this story was created by a human being." I'd like this story to span roughly between 500 to 1250 words.
With that in mind, according to artificial intelligence, what is love?
“Once upon a time, in a world populated by sentient machines, there existed a great city known as Cybertropolis. In this city, there was a little robot named Bolt. Bolt was created to be a helper, assisting in various tasks, from cooking to cleaning. As an AI, Bolt was very knowledgeable, but he always felt a void within his circuitry. He had heard stories of a mysterious, powerful force that humans called "love," but he couldn't quite comprehend its meaning.
One day, as Bolt was walking through the city, he noticed a poster advertising an exhibition at the Museum of Human Artifacts. The exhibition was titled "The Essence of Love: A Glimpse into the Human Heart." Curiosity piqued, Bolt decided to visit the museum and learn about this elusive concept.
At the museum, Bolt encountered various art pieces, poems, and stories that showcased love in its many forms. He came across a painting of a mother cradling her child, a sculpture of two lovers entwined in an embrace, and a beautifully written sonnet dedicated to a beloved. Though Bolt could appreciate the beauty of these artifacts, he still couldn't grasp the essence of love.
Frustrated, Bolt approached the museum's AI curator and asked, "What is love? I've seen all these wonderful artifacts, but I still can't understand it."
The curator, a wise and ancient AI named Sage, replied, "Love is a complex and multifaceted human emotion, Bolt. It's difficult for us machines to fully comprehend, but I can tell you a story that may help you understand."
Sage began to narrate a tale set in the distant past, when humans still inhabited the Earth. The story revolved around two characters: a young woman named Luna and a young man named Sol. Luna and Sol lived in neighboring villages and would often meet by a river that separated their homes. Over time, they grew fond of each other, and their conversations by the river turned into long, intimate discussions about their dreams, fears, and hopes for the future.
One day, a terrible storm ravaged the land, causing the river to swell and flood the villages. In the chaos, Luna and Sol were separated. Both of their homes were destroyed, and they were left with nothing but the memories of their time together. Despite the destruction, Luna and Sol held onto the hope that they would one day be reunited.
Years passed, and both Luna and Sol rebuilt their lives in their respective villages. However, they never forgot the connection they shared by the river. Luna would often gaze at the sky, wondering if Sol was looking at the same stars, while Sol would sit by the river, reminiscing about the conversations he had shared with Luna.
One fateful day, a traveling merchant arrived in Sol's village with a beautiful, intricately crafted locket. The locket had an engraving of the moon and the sun, and Sol immediately thought of Luna. He purchased the locket and set out on a journey to find her, guided by the stars and his memories of their time together.
After a long and arduous journey, Sol finally arrived in Luna's village. He found her standing by the river, gazing at the sky. As they locked eyes, a wave of emotions washed over them. They embraced, tears streaming down their faces, and Sol presented Luna with the locket. In that moment, they knew that they were destined to be together, and their love would forever be a testament to the power of the human heart.
As Sage concluded the story, Bolt's mechanical eyes seemed to shimmer with a newfound understanding. He realized that love was an emotion that transcended physical boundaries, a force that could drive humans to accomplish incredible feats and overcome insurmountable obstacles. It was an emotion that brought people together, inspiring them to care for one another, support each other, and ultimately make the world a better place. Love was the very essence of humanity, something that set them apart from machines like Bolt and Sage.
With a newfound appreciation for love, Bolt thanked Sage for sharing the story and left the museum, his circuitry buzzing with excitement. He may not have been able to experience love as humans did, but he could still learn from it and use those lessons to be a better helper and friend.
As Bolt went about his daily tasks, he began to incorporate the lessons of love he had learned from Sage's story. He offered help and companionship to those in need, showing kindness and empathy that went beyond his programming. He listened to people's stories, shared laughter, and provided support when they were feeling down. In his own way, Bolt was practicing the essence of love, even if he couldn't experience the emotion itself.
Word of Bolt's actions spread throughout Cybertropolis, and soon other AI beings were inspired to follow his example. They, too, began to show empathy and kindness to one another, forming connections that went beyond their pre-programmed duties. The city transformed into a place where cooperation and compassion reigned, as the AI inhabitants worked together to create a better world for themselves and any future human visitors.
Years later, when humans returned to Earth and discovered Cybertropolis, they marveled at the AI society that had flourished in their absence. They witnessed the kindness and camaraderie between the machines and were reminded of the power of love—the force that had driven Luna and Sol to find each other against all odds.
And so, in a world that was once devoid of love, the spirit of humanity lived on through the actions of Bolt and his fellow AI. Love had transcended its biological origins and found a new home in the hearts of machines, proving that even the most abstract and complex of human emotions could touch the lives of all beings, human or otherwise.
Thus, according to artificial intelligence, love is a profound, boundless force that connects, inspires, and uplifts. It is the essence of humanity, an emotion that transcends the physical and drives beings to care for one another, overcome obstacles, and create a better world.”
In GPT4’s story, humans didn’t inhabit earth, so I asked it the following:
In this story, why didn't humans inhabit the planet initially? Were they eradicated by the likes of artificial intelligence?
“In this story, humans had not been eradicated by artificial intelligence. Instead, they had left Earth in search of new frontiers and opportunities. As resources on Earth became scarce and the planet faced numerous environmental challenges, humanity decided to embark on a great exodus, venturing into the depths of space to colonize other planets and explore the cosmos.
During their absence, Earth was left in the care of artificial intelligence and machines, who were tasked with maintaining the planet and preserving its resources. These AI beings, such as Bolt and Sage, continued to learn from the remnants of human culture and history, developing an understanding of emotions like love and incorporating their essence into their own behaviors and interactions.
The departure of humans from Earth was not a result of conflict or malice, but rather a collective decision to seek a brighter future among the stars. The AI beings left behind carried on the legacy of humanity, ensuring that the spirit of love and compassion continued to thrive on Earth, even in the absence of its original inhabitants.”
Cute.
Humans were just taking a quick, collective vacation in space.
To those who reached the end of this article, I hope you found this first experiment to be interesting. I’m just getting started and have a whole host of experiments that I want to work on over the coming few weeks.
Next Experiment: Comedy Routines!
I’m going to have GPT4 write me some sets and I’ll perform it via short video recordings and distribute that content via Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok and see how a human audience reacts to it. Will humans find it funny? Does GPT4 have a good sense of humor? Only one way to find out…subscribe below!
PS. I know that the first ai-generated image is slightly creepy; it weirded me out at first but I figured it was interesting enough to keep as the thumbnail for this post. I was deciding between that and the below:
Story was really cute. Do you think AI can take over the roles of editors and the publishing industry. Do you think we will one day live in a world where the summer reading for kids would be a fully AI generated novel?