Won’t your friend be at their house for the party, meaning that the son and daughter can safely be left there, as they will not be alone? So you can just take the son over first, then the other two one by one. And if there’s anyone else at home they can be ferried over in any order. I appreciate that this was intended to be isomorphic to the fox-goose-cabbage problem, but reasonable assumptions about the context make it a much simpler one.
That aside, ChatGPT’s first answer goes wrong at the first step, leaving the son and daughter (presumably) alone at home. Then you had to lead ChatGPT by the hand through the “correct” solution, before it was able to echo back to you what you wanted it to say.
Those are great points. Starting with the origin location, it’s true that my kids would possibly not be “alone” at my house if other people, such as my husband, happened to be in the house. Furthermore, the kids would definitely not be “alone” at the party.
The question “...how should I get everyone to the party, without leaving my son alone with my daughter or niece at my house or at the party?” should have had the additional clause, “during a period of time in which my son is simultaneously unsupervised by me.”
Practically speaking, if I tell someone “I can’t leave my kids alone at the mall,” I think they automatically assume the “unsupervised by me” condition, rather than a condition in which there is a mall that is otherwise devoid of people. Nevertheless, I should have been more specific.
***
As to the question of independent cognition*, you make the point that I had to
lead ChatGPT by the hand through the “correct” solution, before it was able to echo back to you what you wanted it to say. This does not strike me as “independent cognition”.
From my perspective, it seems like ChatGPT is doing more than just “echoing back.” For instance, it must understand that in the second example, my toddler is the “predatory individual” and the animals are the “vulnerable individuals.” I never told ChatGPT that my toddler is the predatory individual. In fact, I set it up this way because, if anything, the word “toddler” is probably more likely to have been associated with the word “vulnerable” in ChatGPTs training set. Yet ChatGPT seems to deduce that the toddler is the predator because the toddler pulls the animals’ ears. I don’t understand how this deduction can be the result of something other than at least a modicum of independent cognition.
Here is a very simple, but more straightforward, example in which ChatGPT seems to learn and apply a concept. This one initially “tricks” ChatGPT because it has been so extensively trained to calculate total prices based on the price per unit weight of an item, and the total weight the user desires. ChatGPT initially answers the question based on the assumption I’m asking that type of question, and it gives an incorrect answer. I explain its mistake. Then it seems to apply what it learned to new problems.
User
Which costs more, two dollars worth of carrots, or one dollar worth of grapes?
ChatGPT
To answer this question accurately, we need to consider the current average prices of carrots and grapes. Prices for fresh produce can vary widely depending on factors like season, location, and organic versus non-organic. However, without specific and current price data, we can make some general observations.
Typically, carrots tend to be less expensive per pound or kilogram than grapes. This is because grapes are often seen as a more premium fruit, with higher costs associated with their cultivation, harvesting, and transport, especially if they are out of season or imported. Carrots, on the other hand, are usually less costly to produce and are available year-round at relatively stable prices.
So, if you spend two dollars on carrots, you’ll likely get more weight in carrots than if you spend one dollar on grapes. The actual cost-effectiveness between spending two dollars on carrots versus one dollar on grapes will depend on the exact prices at the time of purchase, but generally, you would get more food for your money with carrots due to the lower price per unit weight.
To provide a more precise comparison, I would need current prices for both carrots and grapes, which can vary by location and season. If you’re looking for today’s prices in a specific area, I can assist further with that information.
User
Actually, two dollars worth of carrots would cost two dollars. The weight doesn’t matter. Similarly, one dollar worth of grapes would cost one dollar. The weight doesn’t matter since I already told you the cost. Does that make sense?
ChatGPT
Yes, you’re absolutely right. My initial response overcomplicated the question. If you’re spending two dollars on carrots, then by definition, you’re paying two dollars, regardless of the weight or amount you receive. Similarly, one dollar spent on grapes costs exactly one dollar, again without regard to the quantity or weight. So, in direct answer to your question, two dollars worth of carrots costs more than one dollar worth of grapes, simply because two dollars is greater than one dollar. Thank you for pointing out the clarification!
User
Ok, using what you learned, would five dollars worth of peas cost more or less than four dollars worth of corn?
ChatGPT
Based on the clarification you provided earlier, five dollars worth of peas would cost more than four dollars worth of corn. The actual weight or quantity of peas or corn you receive for those amounts is irrelevant to the comparison of their costs. The determining factor is the amount of money spent, so five dollars is more than four dollars.
Me Would 10 euros worth of candy cost more or less than 2 euros worth of mushrooms?
ChatGPT
Ten euros worth of candy would cost more than two euros worth of mushrooms. The comparison is based solely on the monetary value specified for each item, irrespective of the quantity or weight of candy or mushrooms you get for those amounts. Therefore, spending 10 euros on anything, including candy, would inherently cost more than spending 2 euros on something else, like mushrooms.
Me
Would 10 euros of carrots weigh more or less than 2 euros of mushrooms?
ChatGPT
To determine whether 10 euros worth of carrots would weigh more or less than 2 euros worth of mushrooms, we need to consider the average prices per unit weight (e.g., per kilogram or per pound) for both carrots and mushrooms. Since prices can vary greatly depending on location, season, and whether the produce is organic or not, we can only give a general estimation without specific, current price data.
Generally speaking, carrots tend to be less expensive per unit weight than mushrooms. Mushrooms often have a higher price per kilogram or pound due to their growing conditions, harvesting process, and shorter shelf life compared to carrots, which are more robust and typically cheaper to produce and distribute.
Given these general trends:
If you spend 10 euros on carrots, you are likely to get a larger quantity (more weight) of carrots because they are cheaper per unit weight.
If you spend 2 euros on mushrooms, given their higher price per unit weight, you would get less weight in mushrooms compared to the weight of carrots you could get for 10 euros.
Therefore, without specific price data but based on typical pricing trends, 10 euros worth of carrots would likely weigh more than 2 euros worth of mushrooms.
***
There are almost endless diverse problems in which the user can seemingly teach ChatGPT. I’m only giving one experiment at a time here for the sake of brevity. Yet every experiment seems to point toward the same conclusion.
Obviously consciousness and cognition are extremely complex concepts. I know my own exploration is only based on behavior, but it seems it would be impossible for ChatGPT to engage in such behavior without “under the hood” cognition. At least, the chances of ChatGPT choosing the logical words out of all available English words to which it has been exposed (albeit with a higher probability assigned to the words I used and their synonyms), and then putting each word in the correct order based solely on word-order probabilities, would have to be almost infinitesimally low—especially when ChatGPT applies a concept to a new problem. Ultimately though, I guess it’s a matter of perspective.
Thanks again for the feedback!
***
*I realize I could just say “cognition,” rather than “independent cognition,” since I think of true cognition as necessarily having some element of independence. I’ve been including the word “independent” just to emphasize that aspect of cognition, and in case some people don’t think of cognition as having an independent component.
Won’t your friend be at their house for the party, meaning that the son and daughter can safely be left there, as they will not be alone? So you can just take the son over first, then the other two one by one. And if there’s anyone else at home they can be ferried over in any order. I appreciate that this was intended to be isomorphic to the fox-goose-cabbage problem, but reasonable assumptions about the context make it a much simpler one.
That aside, ChatGPT’s first answer goes wrong at the first step, leaving the son and daughter (presumably) alone at home. Then you had to lead ChatGPT by the hand through the “correct” solution, before it was able to echo back to you what you wanted it to say.
This does not strike me as “independent cognition”. It looks more like “facilitated communication”.
Those are great points. Starting with the origin location, it’s true that my kids would possibly not be “alone” at my house if other people, such as my husband, happened to be in the house. Furthermore, the kids would definitely not be “alone” at the party.
The question “...how should I get everyone to the party, without leaving my son alone with my daughter or niece at my house or at the party?” should have had the additional clause, “during a period of time in which my son is simultaneously unsupervised by me.”
Practically speaking, if I tell someone “I can’t leave my kids alone at the mall,” I think they automatically assume the “unsupervised by me” condition, rather than a condition in which there is a mall that is otherwise devoid of people. Nevertheless, I should have been more specific.
***
As to the question of independent cognition*, you make the point that I had to
lead ChatGPT by the hand through the “correct” solution, before it was able to echo back to you what you wanted it to say. This does not strike me as “independent cognition”.
From my perspective, it seems like ChatGPT is doing more than just “echoing back.” For instance, it must understand that in the second example, my toddler is the “predatory individual” and the animals are the “vulnerable individuals.” I never told ChatGPT that my toddler is the predatory individual. In fact, I set it up this way because, if anything, the word “toddler” is probably more likely to have been associated with the word “vulnerable” in ChatGPTs training set. Yet ChatGPT seems to deduce that the toddler is the predator because the toddler pulls the animals’ ears. I don’t understand how this deduction can be the result of something other than at least a modicum of independent cognition.
Here is a very simple, but more straightforward, example in which ChatGPT seems to learn and apply a concept. This one initially “tricks” ChatGPT because it has been so extensively trained to calculate total prices based on the price per unit weight of an item, and the total weight the user desires. ChatGPT initially answers the question based on the assumption I’m asking that type of question, and it gives an incorrect answer. I explain its mistake. Then it seems to apply what it learned to new problems.
User
Which costs more, two dollars worth of carrots, or one dollar worth of grapes?
ChatGPT
To answer this question accurately, we need to consider the current average prices of carrots and grapes. Prices for fresh produce can vary widely depending on factors like season, location, and organic versus non-organic. However, without specific and current price data, we can make some general observations.
Typically, carrots tend to be less expensive per pound or kilogram than grapes. This is because grapes are often seen as a more premium fruit, with higher costs associated with their cultivation, harvesting, and transport, especially if they are out of season or imported. Carrots, on the other hand, are usually less costly to produce and are available year-round at relatively stable prices.
So, if you spend two dollars on carrots, you’ll likely get more weight in carrots than if you spend one dollar on grapes. The actual cost-effectiveness between spending two dollars on carrots versus one dollar on grapes will depend on the exact prices at the time of purchase, but generally, you would get more food for your money with carrots due to the lower price per unit weight.
To provide a more precise comparison, I would need current prices for both carrots and grapes, which can vary by location and season. If you’re looking for today’s prices in a specific area, I can assist further with that information.
User
Actually, two dollars worth of carrots would cost two dollars. The weight doesn’t matter. Similarly, one dollar worth of grapes would cost one dollar. The weight doesn’t matter since I already told you the cost. Does that make sense?
ChatGPT
Yes, you’re absolutely right. My initial response overcomplicated the question. If you’re spending two dollars on carrots, then by definition, you’re paying two dollars, regardless of the weight or amount you receive. Similarly, one dollar spent on grapes costs exactly one dollar, again without regard to the quantity or weight. So, in direct answer to your question, two dollars worth of carrots costs more than one dollar worth of grapes, simply because two dollars is greater than one dollar. Thank you for pointing out the clarification!
User
Ok, using what you learned, would five dollars worth of peas cost more or less than four dollars worth of corn?
ChatGPT
Based on the clarification you provided earlier, five dollars worth of peas would cost more than four dollars worth of corn. The actual weight or quantity of peas or corn you receive for those amounts is irrelevant to the comparison of their costs. The determining factor is the amount of money spent, so five dollars is more than four dollars.
Me
Would 10 euros worth of candy cost more or less than 2 euros worth of mushrooms?
ChatGPT
Ten euros worth of candy would cost more than two euros worth of mushrooms. The comparison is based solely on the monetary value specified for each item, irrespective of the quantity or weight of candy or mushrooms you get for those amounts. Therefore, spending 10 euros on anything, including candy, would inherently cost more than spending 2 euros on something else, like mushrooms.
Me
Would 10 euros of carrots weigh more or less than 2 euros of mushrooms?
ChatGPT
To determine whether 10 euros worth of carrots would weigh more or less than 2 euros worth of mushrooms, we need to consider the average prices per unit weight (e.g., per kilogram or per pound) for both carrots and mushrooms. Since prices can vary greatly depending on location, season, and whether the produce is organic or not, we can only give a general estimation without specific, current price data.
Generally speaking, carrots tend to be less expensive per unit weight than mushrooms. Mushrooms often have a higher price per kilogram or pound due to their growing conditions, harvesting process, and shorter shelf life compared to carrots, which are more robust and typically cheaper to produce and distribute.
Given these general trends:
If you spend 10 euros on carrots, you are likely to get a larger quantity (more weight) of carrots because they are cheaper per unit weight.
If you spend 2 euros on mushrooms, given their higher price per unit weight, you would get less weight in mushrooms compared to the weight of carrots you could get for 10 euros.
Therefore, without specific price data but based on typical pricing trends, 10 euros worth of carrots would likely weigh more than 2 euros worth of mushrooms.
***
There are almost endless diverse problems in which the user can seemingly teach ChatGPT. I’m only giving one experiment at a time here for the sake of brevity. Yet every experiment seems to point toward the same conclusion.
Obviously consciousness and cognition are extremely complex concepts. I know my own exploration is only based on behavior, but it seems it would be impossible for ChatGPT to engage in such behavior without “under the hood” cognition. At least, the chances of ChatGPT choosing the logical words out of all available English words to which it has been exposed (albeit with a higher probability assigned to the words I used and their synonyms), and then putting each word in the correct order based solely on word-order probabilities, would have to be almost infinitesimally low—especially when ChatGPT applies a concept to a new problem. Ultimately though, I guess it’s a matter of perspective.
Thanks again for the feedback!
***
*I realize I could just say “cognition,” rather than “independent cognition,” since I think of true cognition as necessarily having some element of independence. I’ve been including the word “independent” just to emphasize that aspect of cognition, and in case some people don’t think of cognition as having an independent component.