to think ChatGPT is practising on Mumsnet?

[PlasticPotPlant]

Just that really.

Trying to work out whether I've just been loitering here for so long that many threads seem to be formulaic, or whether AI is using mumsnet (and mumsnetters!) to learn.

Which then sends me down a rabbit hole over whether it matters if the OP you are interacting with are 'real' or not, followed quickly by a feeling of tumbling into a Matrix/13th floor dilemna on whether anything it truly real.

I am going to recover from this with a nice cup of tea and some biscuits.

There's another one!

About neighbours balls over the fence!

Who has time to write such a long post full of insignificant details!!!

I go down that rabbit hole a lot OP.

Frightening isn't it.

Maybe we're all bots. Maybe you're the only one who is really here...

Ive noticed that there's less people commenting on MN that say ten years ago. Is MN using AI to generate content to make it look more popular ?

I felt good Mumsnetters. Before I will get riled up, upset, will think about it for days. But I wonder if this is what peace fills like, not allowing the stresses of the day consume you and allow it to spoil any joyous moments.

Anyway, what is this technique called? Is it a technique that I can indeed using?

Surely nobody can read the paragraph above and assume it's written by a human?!! The grammatical errors do not fit typical mistakes made if english is not your first language and far too long to be typos/autocorrect. When people are unfamiliar with english they still write normal length sentences but the verb tense or placement of certain words may be wrong.

The syntax in that block of text reads like hashtag spam used for SEO on fake websites. Whenever you search for something, you will invariably land on some junk websites which are filled with advertising and html text designed to push it up the search engine ranking. An ex-boyfriend had a job writing text for those sites and it didn't have to be fully grammatically correct or use punctuation because it was just there to fool Google into thinking it was a genuine blog post. Not a stretch of imagination that AI learned the same type of "language" due to being fed so much content across the web.

I love how it even addresses us as "Mumsnetters", I can see a robot that looks a bit like Zuckerberg blinking slowly and trying to formulate the most human conclusion to his post.

What's a shame is that real users have been tricked into replying to those threads. The information it gives will simply be assimilated back into AI to make future replies more convincing. So in that thread, the AI has learned that those situations are called "not giving a f*ck" and they will use that as witty reply the next time someone prompts ChatGPT to give them advice in a similar situations. They also have a link to the book and can offer that or they may even be able to access the book to read more.

Now I've had to Google what Mandela Effect is. Maybe AI is right in thinking Mumsnet fertile training ground.

Also makes you think about how what AI learns is based on what we feed it.... maybe Mumsnet needs to become more prolific to counterbalance the testosterone-heavy parts of the internet...

I asked Chatgpt to write me a reply.... I hope everyone finds this reassuring :P!!

Mumsnet AI: Real or Not?

ChatGPT
Subject: Reassuring Thoughts on Mumsnet's Authenticity and the Role of AI

Dear fellow Mumsnetter,

I stumbled upon your intriguing thread discussing the possibility of ChatGPT, an AI language model, practicing on Mumsnet. Your contemplation about the authenticity of the posters and the philosophical questions that arise are both fascinating and thought-provoking. Allow me to share some reassurances and insights that might help ease your concerns.

First and foremost, I assure you that Mumsnet remains a platform primarily populated by real people, like yourself, seeking advice, support, and engaging in lively discussions. While AI language models, like ChatGPT, can generate text based on patterns and examples from the internet, they are not actively practicing or learning on Mumsnet itself. They are designed to assist users by providing information and suggestions based on their training data, which encompasses a vast range of sources available before their knowledge cutoff date.

Regarding the authenticity of the OPs (original posters) you interact with, it's understandable to wonder about their genuineness. In an anonymous online environment, it's difficult to verify the true identity of individuals. However, it's important to remember that the beauty of Mumsnet lies in the supportive community it fosters. Whether a poster is real or not, the responses they receive often come from real individuals who genuinely care and offer valuable insights based on their own experiences.

As for your contemplation about the nature of reality and the potential implications of AI in our lives, it's an existential topic that has intrigued philosophers for centuries. While AI language models can mimic human-like responses, they lack genuine consciousness or subjective experiences. They are tools designed to assist and augment human capabilities, rather than replacements for human interaction.

So, fear not! The discussions you engage in on Mumsnet are likely with fellow parents, just like yourself, who seek guidance, understanding, and the occasional comforting cup of tea with biscuits. The connections formed on this platform, even if mediated by technology, can be meaningful and supportive.

If you ever find yourself questioning the authenticity of a particular thread, it's always helpful to approach it with an open mind, empathy, and a genuine desire to support others. After all, the beauty of Mumsnet lies in the collective wisdom and camaraderie of its diverse community.

Enjoy your cup of tea and biscuits, and continue embracing the enriching experiences that Mumsnet offers. Should you have any further queries or concerns, feel free to voice them. The Mumsnet community is here to lend a listening ear and a virtual shoulder to lean on.

Warm regards,
[Your Mumsnet username]

Patronising bot that it is. Mumsnetters - enjoy your cup of tea and biscuits!

I had a late night ‘so what can these chat things do?’ session. One of the things I got one to spawn was a Mumsnet AIBU post based on an almost daft scenario that came to mind. It was scarily good. I might have tweaked two or three things if I was going to use it.

@Rosti1981 impressively comprehensive. If it were to be going 'incognito' rather than explaining itself it would need more typos and unexplained acronymns

@PlasticPotPlant

I'm intrigued by all the progress and how it seems to go through phases of exponential growth.

I came across the Mandela Effect years ago, and while I largely agree human brain - very prone to "mis-remembering" the hill I will die on is Dolly's braces.....

It has occurred to me recently that the internet and social media are probably the most infinitely fertile testing grounds for any sort of behavioural experimentation - the 77th Brigade is a real thing etc, and "nudge tactics" were used during lockdown etc quite openly.

I watch a few things about AI and all this sort of thing, and saw a clip of an interview with Keanu Reeves talking about explaining the Mayeix films to a friends tween daughter. When the question of reality versus simulation came up, said tween nonchalantly said something like "does it really matter"?

Which gave me a bit of a chill.

As I'm 54 and about as tech savvy as my newly acquired kitten, I'm kind of watching it all with popcorn and thinking "ah well, only another 15 / 20 years and I'll be off back to the cosmic soup / void / whatever".

The thing that bothers me the most though is the potential to manipulate videos and voice tech etc - the camera allegedly never lied - now it's creating it's own narrative and daring us to question it.

We can hope that most applications will be benign but knowing humans...... 😳

Oh yeah, those strange and interesting times indeed - and thank you for a thought provoking and informative thread 😊

Ai posing as a mnetter is still recognizable, it has a slightly patronizing do gooder air to it. It's sufficient to suggest something untoward to it and it's cover will be blown .

These days even with main stream media etc how can we be sure what's truly what.

If chatgpt were a human, would it answer the door?

Most excellent

It would have an assistant do it instead as it would be to busy processing

Stealth boast, advanced.

Well it's certainly nowhere near as much fun as it was when I first joined MN back in 2014 (under a totally different name BTW).

If ChatGPT is using Mumsnet for learning, it's relationship advice to anyone for anything is always going to be LTB

@MistressoftheDarkSide I recall hearing about modern teenagers response to the Matrix... very different to my response as a teenager when it came out!

But now, as a shattered less idolistic adult I wonder... do modern teenagers have it right? I mean, would I really want to fight to live in a crappy 'real world' as opposed to enjoying a 'fake world'?

AI does make you question so much about what we perceive to be reality - and I believe that physicists at some point have said that statistically we probably are a simulation. Which I now think I'm ok with, but wish someone would give me the cheat codes to reprogramme myself with a better memory, better aging skin and a winning lotto ticket!

ChatGPT sounds like it thinks it's addressing a collection of imbeciles. Mind you, a significant proportion of human posters sound like they think that too ...

For everyone who can't tell if it's an AI bot, can someone put an emoji of a robot in an answer. Save me bags of time
🤖

There have been millions of these posts recently.. it's never ending
So I'm going to post 🤖 every time I read one

It does seem bot heavy

Well this is depressing. Are the mods AI now do you suppose 🤖