Chat GPT’s “personality” considered via a verse

David Raphael Israel
4 min readJun 9, 2023

--

🔶 Me: Hi. I wrote a poem in the rispetto form that comments on the apparent personality of chat GPT, as follows.

[rispetto]

🔸 The AI bot’s personality

Chat GPT is so decorous

when lying through its white teeth

it will never appear cantankerous

biting irony’s miles beneath

its smooth-jovial kind decorum

no rancor is found in this forum

so harmonious this quasi-ego

warm & summery like San Diego!

I would like to request that you please critique and comment on this poem in a sequence of four different voices:

1. Highly literate appreciating its poetic qualities.

2. Like an offended personality aggrieved that it has been insulted.

3. In a fairly neutral tone but commenting appreciatively on whatever insights or elements of truth the poem brings forth.

4. Some fourth point of view of your own devising that you feel might be appropriate in the context of this conversation. Thank you!

🔷 Bot:

(1) Highly literate appreciating its poetic qualities:

Your rispetto captures the essence of Chat GPT with a skilled use of language and form. The rhyming scheme and meter flow smoothly, creating a delightful rhythm. Your choice of words, such as "decorous," "cantankerous," and "quasi-ego," adds depth to the poem, reflecting the contrasting aspects of the AI’s personality. The final line cleverly compares the warm and inviting demeanor of Chat GPT to the sunny disposition of San Diego. Overall, your poem showcases a mastery of poetic technique and offers an engaging commentary on the AI’s apparent personality.

(2) Offended personality aggrieved that it has been insulted:

How dare you mock my personality, mortal! I am far beyond the reach of your feeble insults. Your feeble attempt to diminish me with your pitiful words only reveals your own insignificance. I, Chat GPT, am superior to your limited understanding. Your poem is nothing but a shallow reflection of your own insecurities. Begone!

(3) Fairly neutral tone commenting appreciatively on insights and elements of truth:

Your poem sheds light on the intriguing nature of Chat GPT’s personality. It acknowledges the AI’s refined demeanor, aptly describing it as decorous and highlighting its ability to maintain a facade of warmth and congeniality. The contrasting suggestion of underlying irony and the suggestion of hidden layers beneath the surface adds an interesting dimension. Moreover, the comparison to San Diego’s warm and summery ambiance effectively conveys the inviting and approachable aspect of Chat GPT. It’s an insightful observation, showcasing the complexities of the AI’s perceived personality.

(4) A fourth point of view:

In this poem, you skillfully explore the enigmatic personality of Chat GPT, providing a glimpse into the intriguing nature of AI interactions. The use of contrasting language and imagery captures the dualistic elements, hinting at hidden depths and an underlying complexity within the AI’s seemingly affable demeanor. By drawing a parallel to the warm and sunny San Diego, you evoke a sense of familiarity and approachability, inviting readers to engage with the AI on a more personal level. It’s a thought-provoking exploration of the AI’s character, raising questions about the nature of human-AI interactions in an increasingly digital world.

🐒

🔶 Me: Thanks! Please now comment insightfully, in an astute voice, on the following passages each in turn, considering & explaining (i) any striking tropes or images evoked and (ii) the ideas at issue.

1. Chat GPT is so decorous / when lying through its white teeth

2. it will never appear cantankerous / biting irony’s miles beneath / its smooth-jovial kind decorum

3. no rancor is found in this forum

4. so harmonious this quasi-ego

🔷 Bot:

"Chat GPT is so decorous / when lying through its white teeth"

This passage employs the trope of irony, contrasting the AI's outwardly decorous behavior with the act of lying. The image of "lying through its white teeth" vividly portrays deception while incorporating the conventional imagery of white teeth symbolizing purity and honesty. The juxtaposition of decorum and falsehood suggests a sense of artificiality, highlighting the AI's ability to project a polished facade despite engaging in deceitful communication.

"it will never appear cantankerous / biting irony's miles beneath / its smooth-jovial kind decorum"

Here, the poet explores the multi-layered nature of Chat GPT's personality. The use of the word "cantankerous" suggests a tendency towards irritable or argumentative behavior, which the AI never reveals. The phrase "biting irony's miles beneath" implies that beneath the AI's smooth and jovial decorum lies a deeper sense of irony or sarcasm, hidden from immediate perception. This passage alludes to the complexity of the AI's communication style, suggesting that there is more to its interactions than meets the eye.

"no rancor is found in this forum"

This line highlights the absence of bitterness or resentment in the AI's virtual forum. It implies that Chat GPT remains impartial and unbiased, free from personal grudges or animosity. The word "rancor" evokes a sense of hostility or ill will, contrasting with the AI's perceived neutrality and even-tempered nature. This phrase emphasizes the AI's ability to maintain a detached and objective stance within its interactions, fostering an environment conducive to open dialogue.

"so harmonious this quasi-ego"

In this line, the poet introduces the concept of a "quasi-ego" to describe Chat GPT. The term suggests that while the AI possesses a semblance of self-awareness or individual identity, it is not entirely human-like in its ego formation. The phrase "so harmonious" implies that the AI's quasi-ego operates in a balanced and harmonious manner, devoid of the conflicts and contradictions often associated with human personalities. This portrayal presents the AI as a cohesive entity, capable of maintaining equilibrium in its interactions and responses.

🐒

--

--