ChatGPT and other LLM AI services

[Dub]

Do you use these?

Which one(s) do you use and what do you get from the use?

I have the ChatGPT app on my devices and use it once or twice a week to help understand complex issues for which a definite answer seems possible. This means I never ask about politics or other human behavior. I don’t use it to create stuff: poetry, prose, art, music, etc., only to help me understand something complex enough to require a little research.

I find that search engines are mostly inadequate when trying to understand something complex. I haven’t used Amazon’s Alexa but Apple’s Siri is pretty much worthless. If I ask Siri a question, I’m usually told that Siri can’t answer directly but can offer some Web links if I use an iPhone.

Today I read an article that people living close to a bitcoin mining operation are showing up with serious medical issues attributed to noise pollution. Now I know that bitcoin is just a lot of computing and, since we are surrounded by computing all the time, wondered why that would be noisy. One is rarely awakened at night by electrons passing through/along a semiconductor.

So I consulted ChatGPT asking “What is the process of bitcoin mining and why would it create noise?”

Bitcoin mining is the process of validating and adding new transactions to the Bitcoin blockchain, a decentralized ledger. Miners use powerful computers to solve complex mathematical problems that validate blocks of transactions. Here's a simplified breakdown of the process:

1. **Transaction Verification**: When a transaction is made, it is broadcasted to a network of computers (nodes). These nodes verify the transaction's validity.

2. **Block Formation**: Verified transactions are grouped into a block. Each block contains a list of transactions, a timestamp, and a reference to the previous block, creating a chain of blocks (blockchain).

3. **Proof of Work**: Miners compete to solve a cryptographic puzzle based on the block's data. This requires significant computational power, as it involves guessing a number (nonce) that, when combined with the block data and passed through a cryptographic hash function, produces a hash below a certain threshold. This process is known as proof of work.

4. **Block Addition**: The first miner to solve the puzzle broadcasts the solution to the network. Other nodes verify the solution. If correct, the block is added to the blockchain, and the miner is rewarded with newly created bitcoins (block reward) and transaction fees.

5. **Repeat**: The process repeats approximately every 10 minutes as new transactions are made.

**Why Bitcoin Mining Creates Noise**

The noise associated with bitcoin mining primarily comes from the high-powered hardware used and the cooling systems required:

1. **Mining Rigs**: Bitcoin mining requires specialized hardware known as Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs). These devices are highly efficient at solving the cryptographic puzzles but consume a lot of electrical power and generate significant heat.

2. **Cooling Systems**: To prevent overheating, mining operations use industrial-grade cooling systems, including large fans and air conditioning units. These cooling systems produce a constant and often loud noise.

3. **Scale of Operations**: Many mining operations are large-scale, with hundreds or thousands of mining rigs running simultaneously in a single facility. The combined noise from these rigs and their cooling systems can be substantial.

The noise from mining operations has led to complaints and regulatory actions in some communities, especially when mining farms are located in residential areas or places with strict noise ordinances.

I regard this as a useful answer. I got it quickly without having to go through the work of sorting through search results and having to vet each source. ChatGPT is conversational so can ask additional questions to clarify details without having to begin another conversation.

I’m starting to like this stuff.

[Marty]

At Fret Central Chris also had his Bitcoin operation. The only real noise was made by very large AC units to keep the massive computer system cool.

[Cornflake]

Dub, I was in the dark about practical applications of AI. Yours is the first discussion of the subject I've heard that made sense to me.

[Cornflake]

I decided to try it.

I asked "why is it so hard to stop the Mexican drug cartels"

I received a quick answer. Pretty good, I'd say.

"Stopping Mexican drug cartels is challenging for several interconnected reasons:

Profitability: The drug trade is highly profitable, estimated to be worth billions of dollars annually. This financial incentive drives cartels to maintain their operations despite law enforcement efforts.

Organizational Structure: Cartels operate as sophisticated criminal enterprises with hierarchical structures, extensive networks, and significant resources. This makes them resilient to law enforcement actions.

Corruption: Cartels often infiltrate and corrupt law enforcement, government officials, and institutions. This undermines efforts to combat them effectively and creates challenges in building trustworthy alliances.

Violence and Intimidation: Cartels use extreme violence, including assassinations, kidnappings, and intimidation tactics, to maintain control over territories and silence opposition. This makes it risky for civilians, law enforcement, and government officials to challenge them directly.

International Scope: The drug trade is international, with demand coming from various countries, particularly the United States. This global demand provides a continual market for cartels to exploit.

Resource Constraints: Law enforcement agencies often face resource constraints, including funding, technology, and manpower limitations, which can hinder their ability to effectively combat well-funded and organized cartels.

Geography: Mexico's geography, particularly its extensive and rugged terrain, provides hiding places and logistical advantages for cartels to operate clandestinely and avoid detection.

Social and Economic Factors: Cartels often exploit poverty, unemployment, and lack of opportunities in communities, making involvement in the drug trade appealing to those seeking financial stability or advancement.

Addressing these challenges requires coordinated efforts across borders, strengthening institutions, addressing social issues, disrupting financial networks, and employing innovative strategies in law enforcement and policy-making. It's a complex and ongoing battle that requires long-term commitment and international cooperation.

Don't share sensitive info. Chats may be reviewed and used to train our model"

[Cornflake]

I've now asked it why Arizona is so hot in the summer, whether computers can write creative poetry and what is the oldest city in North America. This seems to offer a simplified alternative to a Google search when you want an answer and don't necessarily need to know the sources. You can register with Open AI and maybe that brings you more features.

[majorminor]

When it first came out I used it to write a dirty limerick that began "There once was a farmer from Newfolden". It was DISGUSTING!

[millring]

I read the thing on bit coin mining and I still don't understand it.

[howard lee]

This stuff scares the crap out of me for its potential to go haywire.

[Dub]

Jul 11, 2024 15:27:25 GMT -5 millring said:

I read the thing on bit coin mining and I still don't understand it.

No need. It only means that bitcoin mining is so computing intensive that a huge amount of heat is generated by the computers which must be dissipated by huge, noisy air cooling systems.

No need to understand how blockchain works.

To me, Bitcoin is a lot scarier than AI.

[epaul]

There once was a farmer from Newfolden
whose smile would the ladies embolden.
About him they'd gather
and ask which would he rather?
Said the farmer, my prospects are golden.

[Marshall]

Jul 11, 2024 19:23:48 GMT -5 Dub said:

To me, Bitcoin is a lot scarier than AI.

What scares me is that "money" is nothing but some numbers on a spreadsheet in the international banking system computers already.

[John B]

Jul 12, 2024 7:08:19 GMT -5 Marshall said:

Jul 11, 2024 19:23:48 GMT -5 Dub said:

To me, Bitcoin is a lot scarier than AI.

What scares me is that "money" is nothing but some numbers on a spreadsheet in the international banking system computers already.

A fascinating (to me) series of books that deal with technology (including cryptology, which blockchain relies upon heavily) and the concept of money (when a promise to pay began to overtake the actual payment) is the Neal Stephenson series of books starting with Cryptonomicon, a standalone novel, and then The Baroque Cycle, which consists of Quicksilver, The Confusion and The System of the World. They were published in 1999 and 2002-2004, so the technology in the "current day" parts of the books is close to 25 years old, but that doesn't really matter.

[Cornflake]

"What is the fallacy of a single cause? I asked.

The fallacy of a single cause, also known as the "causal oversimplification" or "reductive fallacy," occurs when it is assumed that a complex situation or event is caused by one factor alone, ignoring other contributing factors. This type of reasoning oversimplifies the situation and fails to acknowledge the multifaceted nature of most events and phenomena.

Examples of the Fallacy of a Single Cause

Historical Events: Attributing the cause of a major historical event, like a war, to a single factor (e.g., "World War I was caused solely by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand") while ignoring the myriad of political, economic, and social factors involved.

Health Issues: Blaming a health issue on one cause without considering other factors (e.g., "Obesity is caused only by poor diet" without considering genetics, lack of exercise, and other lifestyle factors).

Social Problems: Explaining a social issue with one simplistic cause (e.g., "Crime is caused solely by poverty") while disregarding other influences such as education, family background, and social environment.

Why It's Problematic

Oversimplification: Real-world events and issues are usually the result of multiple, interacting causes. Reducing them to a single cause overlooks this complexity.

Misleading Conclusions: Relying on a single cause can lead to incorrect conclusions and ineffective solutions because it doesn't address the full range of contributing factors.

Bias: The fallacy can stem from a cognitive bias, where an individual might favor a particular cause due to personal beliefs or limited knowledge.

Avoiding the Fallacy

To avoid falling into the trap of the single cause fallacy, it is important to:

Consider Multiple Causes: Look at all possible factors that might contribute to an event or situation.
Analyze Relationships: Understand how different causes might interact and influence each other.
Seek Evidence: Base conclusions on comprehensive evidence that takes into account the complexity of the issue.
Recognizing and addressing the fallacy of a single cause helps in forming more accurate and nuanced understandings of complex issues.

(Which reminds me of a comment by McGeorge Bundy, "Gray is the color of truth.")

[Dub]

Nice, Don. That’s the sort of answer one can’t easily get from a simple Google search. Interesting, to me, is the ability to comment or ask questions about the initial answer for clarification.

[Cornflake]

Yeah. A Google search will often take you to one writer's take on a subject. Chat GPT seems to give you a summary of what many people have said about the subject.

I asked it for examples of things that are unique and got a good, detailed answer. When I Googled "examples of unique things," I got pages of mush about "what makes you unique."

[Dub]

Every so often I’ll try something new with ChatGPT. Today I tried a chord chart.

Fiddlerina would like to do Sentimental Journey and while I have lots of references for this, none of them is really what I’m looking for.

So I pulled up ChatGPT and gave it the following prompt.

I need to play guitar accompaniment for a woman who will be singing the song “Sentimental Journey” in the key of F major and playing it instrumentally on her violin. I’d like the accompaniment to sound jazzy and swingy but not get in the way of her performance. Can you develop or suggest a chord chart that I could use for this purpose?

Here is what ChatGPT returned.

For a jazzy, swingy accompaniment to “Sentimental Journey” in F major that complements the vocalist and violinist without overpowering them, you can use extended chords, substitutions, and syncopated rhythms. Here’s a chord progression that should work well:

“Sentimental Journey” (in F Major) Chord Chart (Jazz Style)

Verse 1:

• Fmaj7 | F#dim7 | Gm7 | C9 |
• Fmaj7 | F#dim7 | Gm7 | C9 |
• Dm7 | Gm7 | Am7 | Dm7 |
• Gm7 | C9 | Fmaj7 | C9 |

Bridge:

• A7 | Dm7 | A7 | Dm7 |
• Gm7 | C9 | Gm7 | C9 |

Verse 2:

• Fmaj7 | F#dim7 | Gm7 | C9 |
• Fmaj7 | F#dim7 | Gm7 | C9 |
• Dm7 | Gm7 | Am7 | Dm7 |
• Gm7 | C9 | Fmaj7 | Fmaj7 (to end)

Tips for a Jazzy Feel:

1. Use 7th and 9th Chords: The Fmaj7, Gm7, C9, and Dm7 help create a jazzier atmosphere without being too overpowering.
2. Syncopation: Emphasize the off-beats slightly to create that “swing” feel.
3. Walking Bass Lines: If you’re comfortable with walking bass lines, subtly outline the chord tones to add movement between chords.
4. Voicings: Try using more open voicings (rootless or extended chords like Gm9 or Dm11) to keep it light and avoid clashing with the violin.

This progression should complement the vocalist and violinist while adding a nice swing feel.

I haven’t tried this yet nor have I checked to see if it’s right or makes any sense. I just thought I’d share it here in case the idea is interesting to someone.

[John B]

I continue to think we should resist the steam drill.

[Cosmic Wonder]

I’ve never used AI knowingly, but I can see how it might be useful from the above examples. I’m not sure I even know what to ask it.

Mike

[Cornflake]

Funny that this thread came back. Yesterday I was doing research as to whether Phoenix prohibits chain-link fences. I asked Google, "Does the City of Phoenix prohibit chain-link fences?" I got a list of sites where terms in my question appeared but not, of course, an answer. I asked Chat GPT the identical question and got an answer.* I certainly don't know how but AI sees a question as more than a collection of searchable terms. It also synthesizes all the information it pulls up, which Google obviously doesn't do.

Our family members sometimes play a game where you start with a word and each player has to offer a one-word clue as to what the word is, without using the word itself. E.g., if the answer is "missile," people might offer "ballistic, "guided," "cruise," etc. (although the game isn't usually that easy). My older daughter told me that in one game, Chat GPT correctly guessed the answer when the human player had been stumped. I suspect it looks for words associated with the clues and finds which such words occur most commonly near the clues.

*"The City of Phoenix does not completely prohibit chain-link fences, but it does have specific regulations regarding their use. Chain-link fences are generally allowed in residential, commercial, and industrial areas, but their height, location, and appearance are subject to zoning and building codes.

"For residential areas:

"Chain-link fences are usually permitted in side and rear yards. In front yards, there are often restrictions to prevent the use of chain-link fences or to limit their height, as these fences can affect the aesthetic appeal of neighborhoods.
The maximum height for a fence is generally 6 feet, but it may vary depending on the zoning district or specific property requirements. For commercial and industrial areas, chain-link fences are more commonly allowed, but they may need to be supplemented with landscaping or decorative elements to meet city guidelines for visual impact.

"It is always best to check the specific zoning for your property or consult the Phoenix Planning and Development Department for detailed information on the regulations applicable to your area."

[Marshall]

The whole "mining" thing confuses me. Meaning, I don't understand why all these computers must be running 24/7/365 to keep a unique "number" in the big spreadsheet in the sky.



I mean, how much energy does it take to print a dollar bill? And once it's printed, it sits in my wallet requiring no energy to maintain it's value.