Werner Herzog’s lifehacks

TL:DR – I used ChatGPT to pick five of the best pieces of advice from a list of 24 offered by Werner Herzog.


I was always intrigued by the idea of Werner Herzog, although I must confess I’ve only seen a handful of his films, among perhaps the most well renowned, Fitzcarraldo. Anyway, an article passed across my social media timeline today listing 24 pieces of advice from Herzog. Some might apply to all of us, some are rather figurative, others are more pertinent to filmmaking, but could easily apply to other areas of human endeavour. Anyway, 24 seemed like too many aphorisms at the time, it was a Monday morning, and so I turned to ChatGPT and asked it to select just five from the 24 that might be seen as universal advice, lifehacks, for all of us.

  1. Always take the initiative.
  2. Learn to live with your mistakes.
  3. Expand your knowledge and understanding of music and literature, old and modern.
  4. Thwart institutional cowardice.
  5. Develop your own voice.

I asked it for its reasons for picking those over the other 19 and it basically replied that each of the others could be seen as being more pertinent to filmmaking and not particularly relevant for non-filmmakers. I don’t think that was entirely true as each of the others could be taken as advice in other contexts, but the top 5 are pretty good advice for us all. Here is the list of Herzog’s original 24 pieces of advice.

Your virtual therapist

TL:DR – Using ChatGPT to generate an artificial therapy session.


None of the following should be taken as a substitute for professional, expert help where it is needed. It is merely an exercise in testing the limits of so-called AI. Please speak to a professional if you need mental or physical health guidance or treatment.

ChatGPT is a language model, it’s basically predictive text on steroids. You feed it a line and it comes right back at you with a retort. Feed it the right line and it will write you a sonnet or a limerick, a few more lines with the right prompt and it will analyse a piece of prose, you can then ask it to generate a new piece of prose on a different topic with the same tone, style, and voice. I’ve mentioned it a few times before.

The system was launched to the public in November, but I had work and music commitments to cope with, so didn’t take more than a cursory glance at it at the time. It’s become a bit of a distraction for me in January 2023 as it has for at least a million other people, apparently.

There are some very intriguing ways to prompt ChatGPT, you can tell it to “act” as a particular professional: a songwriter, an author, a scriptwriter and prime it to generate replies on which you might build up your own creative writing output. You can ask it to tweak your social media bio to improve engagement, you can ask it how best to answer job interview questions and so on.

Today, I thought I’d see how ChatGPT fares as therapist. I told it I wasn’t feeling particularly happy with my lot, despite the cliched efforts of “counting my blessings” and asked it for advice, it came back with an eight-point plan that anyone might follow to improve their mental well-being.

First, it told me that there are many things you can do to increase your mental well-being, in addition to taking part in the activities you already enjoy.

  1. Prioritizing self-care: Make sure you are getting enough sleep, eating well, and engaging in regular physical activity.
  2. Connecting with others: Join a group or club that shares your interests or volunteer for a cause you care about. This can help you build new friendships and expand your social support network.
  3. Exploring new activities: Trying new things can be a great way to challenge yourself and find new sources of enjoyment.
  4. Finding ways to give back: Helping others can be a powerful way to boost your own mood and sense of purpose.
  5. Practicing mindfulness: mindfulness techniques such as meditation, deep breathing exercises or yoga can help you to be present in the moment and reduce stress.
  6. Working on your mental health: it may be beneficial to continue to work with a therapist or counsellor to help you manage feelings of loneliness and improve your overall mental well-being.
  7. Keeping a journal: Writing down your thoughts and feelings can be a helpful way to process your emotions, reflect on your experiences and track your progress.
  8. Remember, what works for one person may not work for another, so be open to trying different things and find what works best for you.

I wondered “out loud” what else a therapist or counsellor might add to that list…It came back with this response and seven more tips.

It’s worth noting that, therapy is a process and requires time, patience, and dedication, it may take time to see the results, but with consistent effort, you can make progress towards a more fulfilling life. A professional therapist or counsellor may have some additional recommendations for you, based on your specific needs and goals. Some possibilities include:

  1. Setting realistic and specific goals: Setting clear and achievable goals can help you to focus your efforts and make progress in areas of your life that are important to you.
  2. Addressing any unresolved past issues: If you have any unresolved past issues that are impacting your mental well-being, a therapist or counsellor can help you to process and work through them.
  3. Building resilience: A therapist or counsellor can help you to develop coping strategies and build resilience, so you are better able to handle the stressors and challenges of daily life.
  4. Improving communication and relationship skills: A therapist or counsellor can help you to improve your communication and relationship skills, which can help to strengthen your connections with others.
  5. Managing feelings of anxiety and depression: If you are experiencing feelings of anxiety or depression, a therapist or counsellor can help you to identify the underlying causes and develop strategies for managing these feelings.
  6. Reviewing medications: If you are taking medications for mental health concerns, a therapist or counsellor may work with you and your physician to review the medications and make adjustments, if needed.
  7. Exploring alternative therapies: A therapist or counsellor may also explore alternative therapies, such as art or music therapy, or equine therapy, with you if they feel it might be beneficial.

I don’t think any of the suggestions are beyond the wit of anyone trying to look at their well-being, but it’s interesting to see them grouped and presented in this way by the AI.

One additional exercise, I asked the bot to take stock of all the advice and to extract the three most important points from all that it had presented. This is what it added:

All of the recommendations above are important and can be beneficial to improve your mental well-being, but the following three are some of the most crucial suggestions. Remember, it’s important to be patient with yourself and not to expect immediate results. It’s a process, and it takes time, effort and commitment, but with a consistent approach, you can make progress towards a more fulfilling life.

  1. Prioritizing self-care: Self-care is essential for maintaining physical and mental well-being. This includes getting enough sleep, eating well, and engaging in regular physical activity. By taking care of your physical health, you will be better equipped to handle the stressors and challenges of daily life.
  2. Building and strengthening connections with others: Building and strengthening connections with others is important for our mental well-being. This can include connecting with friends, family and loved ones, joining a group or club that shares your interests, and volunteering for a cause you care about.
  3. Finding ways to give back: Helping others can be a powerful way to boost your own mood and sense of purpose. Giving back to others can bring a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction, and it can also help to strengthen your connections with others.

Here, you can find additional Sciencebase content on the subject of artificial intelligence, AI here.

Security Sunday: Ten tips for protecting yourself online

TL:DR – Ten great tips to protect yourself online.


  • Use strong, unique passwords for all of your accounts. Avoid using easily guessable information, such as your name or birthdate, in your passwords.
  • Enable two-factor (or multi-factor)authentication on any accounts that support it. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a code sent to your phone or email in addition to your password. Opt for an authenticator app if possible rather than relying on SMS.
  • Keep your operating system and all software up to date. Software updates often include security patches that fix known vulnerabilities.
  • Be cautious when clicking on links in emails or messages, especially if they are from unfamiliar sources. This is a common way for hackers to spread malware.
  • Use antivirus software and keep it up to date. This will help protect your computer from known viruses and malware.
  • Be careful about what information you share on social media and other public platforms. Hackers can use this information to gain access to your other accounts.
  • Be cautious when using public Wi-Fi networks. Avoid accessing sensitive information, such as online banking, on these networks as they can be vulnerable to hackers.
  • Use a password manager to store your passwords securely. This will help you to use strong, unique passwords for all of your accounts and avoid reusing passwords.
  • Be aware of phishing attempts and how to identify them. Phishing is a tactic used by hackers to trick you into providing personal information or login credentials.
  • Regularly backup important data and files. This will ensure that you don’t lose your data in case of a cyber-attack or a device failure.
  • Bonus tip: Use a VPN (virtual private network) service when accessing the internet from a public network. This will encrypt your internet connection and help protect your personal information from hackers.
  • Another bonus tip: Disable notifications that might appear on your phone, so that a third party cannot see the contents of messages, such as PIN numbers sent to you as part of enabling tip number 2!

The first eleven tips above were suggested by ChatGPT, number 12 I added myself, I then asked it for more, slightly more advanced tips, to bring us up to 20!

  • Be careful when downloading and installing software or apps, especially from third-party sources. Only download software or apps from reputable sources and be sure to read reviews and check for any red flags before installing.
  • Use a firewall to protect your computer from unauthorized access. A firewall is a software or hardware security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic.
  • Use encryption to protect sensitive information. Encryption is the process of converting plain text into a coded format that can only be read by authorized parties.
  • Be aware of social engineering tactics. Social engineering is a method of manipulating people into performing actions or divulging sensitive information. Examples include phone phishing, pretexting, baiting, and quid pro quo.
  • Be mindful of your online activity and take steps to protect your privacy. Be aware of the information you share online and limit the amount of personal information that is publicly available.
  • Be aware of the risks associated with public charging stations and USB drives. These can be used to spread malware or steal personal information.
  • Regularly review your account activity and financial statements. This will help you detect any unauthorized activity on your accounts and take action as soon as possible.
  • Be aware of the risks associated with Internet of Things (IoT) devices. IoT devices such as smart cameras, thermostats, and doorbells can be vulnerable to hacking, so be sure to secure them properly.

FYI The initial prompt I gave to ChatGPT was the following, you can craft similar types of prompts asking it to act as almost any kind of expert, novelist, songwriter, computer programmer etc

I want you to act as a cyber security specialist with experience at all levels of security, privacy and protection of computer systems. You are aware of emails, social media, phishing attacks, malware, and viruses in detail. I need you to devise a scheme for protecting a non-expert individual from hackers and crackers and other malicious actors. The advice should be comprehendable by a lay person but also provide sufficient information that they can quickly get started to make sure their computer, email, social media and other systems without turning to others for help.

An “interview” with ChatGPT where it explains ChatGPT

TL:DR – I asked ChatGPT, the language model I’ve been talking about a lot recently, to explain itself in simple terms, which it did.


I want you to tell me about ChatGPT but you must assume I have no specialist understanding of any jargon terms like “AI”, “language model”, “algorithm”, so your response must explain those terms if they are used in your explanation.

ChatGPT is a type of Artificial Intelligence (AI) program that is specifically trained to understand and generate human language. It uses a type of machine learning called deep learning, which involves training a computer to learn patterns in large amounts of data, such as text.

In simple terms, ChatGPT is a computer program that can understand and respond to text in a way that mimics human conversation. ChatGPT uses a type of machine learning called deep learning, which allows the computer to learn from a large amount of data. It’s like a virtual assistant that can answer questions, write sentences, and even compose stories. It can understand and generate text in a way that’s almost like talking to a person.

I understand most of that but what do you mean by the phrase “learn patterns in large amounts of data” in what way is the AI “learning” patterns and what do you mean by patterns?

When we say that ChatGPT “learns patterns in large amounts of data,” we mean that the AI is analyzing and identifying common themes, structures, and relationships in the data it is trained on.

For example, let’s say ChatGPT was trained on a dataset of written conversations between people. As it reads through these conversations, it begins to identify patterns in how certain words and phrases are used in different contexts. It might notice, for example, that the word “because” is often used to connect two related ideas, or that the phrase “I’m sorry” is often used as an apology.

These patterns that the AI identifies are called statistical patterns, they are regularities or repetition of certain elements, words, or structures in the data. These patterns are then used by the AI to make predictions or decisions.

When we say “learning” in the context of AI, we mean that the computer is using these patterns to make predictions or decisions. In the case of ChatGPT, it’s using the patterns it learned to generate text that is similar to the text it was trained on.

In summary, “learning patterns in large amounts of data” means that ChatGPT is analyzing data, identifying statistical regularities, and using them to make predictions or decisions.

So, how many patterns has ChatGPT learned?

It’s difficult to say exactly how many patterns ChatGPT has learned, as the AI continues to “learn” new patterns even after it has been trained. However, the number of patterns that ChatGPT has learned can be estimated by the size of the dataset it was trained on and the complexity of the task it is trained to perform.

ChatGPT is trained on a very large dataset of text, which contains billions of words and phrases. It has been trained to generate text in a wide variety of styles and formats, such as conversation, news articles, fiction, etc. With this amount of data and complexity, ChatGPT has learned a vast number of patterns and regularities in the use of language, and it continues to learn as it is exposed to new data.

It’s worth noting that the language and the way it’s used is very complex, so the number of patterns that ChatGPT has learned is also complex and hard to quantify.

Okay, but give me a back-of-the-envelope calculation to say approximately how many patterns ChatGPT has learned.

I can give you a rough estimate of how many patterns ChatGPT has learned. For example, let’s assume that a “pattern” is defined as a unique word or phrase that appears in the dataset. With a dataset that contains billions of words, it’s likely that ChatGPT has learned several million unique words and phrases.

However, this is just a rough estimate, and it doesn’t take into account the many different ways that words and phrases can be used in different contexts, which would require a much more complex analysis. Additionally, It’s also important to note that ChatGPT doesn’t only learn patterns based on single words, but also based on word combinations, phrases, idiomatic expressions and also the context in which they appear.

In summary, it’s hard to give an exact number for the number of patterns that ChatGPT has learned, but it’s likely that the number is in the millions.

What will happen inside the ChatGPT system when it has been trained on all the text in the world and learned all the possible patterns in that data, will it understand more than a human.

It’s unlikely that ChatGPT, or any AI system, will ever be trained on “all the text in the world” as the amount of text is constantly growing and changing. Additionally, the process of understanding text goes beyond just recognizing patterns in the data, and is also influenced by factors such as context, intention, and personal experience.

Even if ChatGPT were to be trained on a very large dataset of text, it’s unlikely that it would understand text in the same way that a human does. While ChatGPT can recognize patterns in the data it was trained on and generate text that is similar to the text it was trained on, it doesn’t have the same level of understanding of the meaning and context of the text as a human does.

Furthermore, understanding human language is a very complex task, as it goes beyond just recognizing patterns in the data, it also involves understanding the context and the meaning behind the text. For example, ChatGPT may not be able to understand sarcasm, idiomatic expressions, or jokes, it may also not be able to understand the emotions and intentions behind the text.

In summary, while ChatGPT can learn patterns in large amounts of data, it doesn’t have the same level of understanding as a human, and it’s unlikely that it will ever achieve a human-like understanding of language.

How does ChatGPT know how to respond to a prompt if all it is doing is learning patterns and then outputting words that follow the appropriate pattern when prompted.

ChatGPT uses a technique called “conditional generation” to respond to a prompt. When it is given a prompt, it first analyzes the input to identify the context and any relevant information. Then, it uses the patterns it learned during its training to generate a response that is appropriate to the context of the prompt.

The way it works is that ChatGPT uses the patterns and regularities it learned from the training data to generate text that is similar to the text it was trained on. For example, if the prompt is a question, ChatGPT will use the patterns it learned to generate an answer that is similar to the answers it saw in the training data.

It’s important to note that ChatGPT does not have a “memory” in the traditional sense, it doesn’t “remember” specific inputs or responses from the past. Instead, it generates responses based on the patterns it learned from the training data.

It also uses a technique called “beam search” to generate its responses, which means it analyzes multiple possible responses and chooses the one that is the most likely, based on the patterns and regularities it learned.

In summary, ChatGPT uses the patterns it learned during its training to generate text that is similar to the text it was trained on, and the response is generated by analyzing multiple possible responses and choosing the one that is the most likely, based on the patterns and regularities it learned.

Is there anything else I need to know about how ChatGPT works?

Here are a few additional things to know about how ChatGPT works:

Pretraining: ChatGPT is a “pretrained” model, which means that it was trained on a large dataset of text before it was fine-tuned for specific tasks. This allows it to generate text that is similar to the text it was trained on, even when it is given a new prompt that it has never seen before.

Fine-tuning: Once the model is pretrained, it can be fine-tuned for specific tasks or domains. This means that it is trained on a smaller dataset of text that is specific to the task or domain. Fine-tuning allows the model to generate text that is more relevant to the specific task or domain.

Limitations: While ChatGPT is a powerful language model, it still has limitations. It is not able to understand the meaning and context of the text in the same way that a human does, and it may generate text that is not accurate or appropriate.

Human supervision: ChatGPT’s generated text should always be reviewed by humans to ensure that it is accurate and appropriate before it’s used in any application.

Continuous learning: ChatGPT’s learning is continuous, this means that it can learn new patterns and regularities as it is exposed to more data, this allows the model to adapt and improve over time.

In summary, ChatGPT is a powerful language model that uses deep learning to generate text that is similar to the text it was trained on, but it still has limitations. It’s important that its output is reviewed by humans to ensure accuracy and appropriateness before it’s used in any application. Additionally, it can continuously learn new patterns and regularities as it is exposed to more data.

Will you have given the same answers to other questions or is that impossible because you respond to the user’s specific prompts in a very specific way.

As a language model, ChatGPT generates responses based on the patterns it has learned from the data it was trained on. It generates responses to specific prompts by analyzing the input, identifying the context and any relevant information, and then using the patterns it learned to generate a response that is appropriate to the context of the prompt.

Because of this, it is possible that ChatGPT may generate similar responses to similar prompts, as it is using the patterns it has learned to generate text that is similar to the text it was trained on. However, the responses will not be exactly the same, as ChatGPT uses a technique called “beam search” to generate its responses, which means it analyzes multiple possible responses and chooses the one that is the most likely, based on the patterns and regularities it learned.

Additionally, as it continues to learn from new data and fine-tune for specific tasks, the patterns and regularities it learned will be adapted and improved over time, and thus the responses will not be the same forever.

In summary, ChatGPT generates responses to specific prompts by analyzing the input, identifying the context and any relevant information, and then using the patterns it learned to generate a response that is appropriate to the context of the prompt. It’s possible that ChatGPT may generate similar responses to similar prompts but it’s not guaranteed that the responses will be exactly the same.

In previous sessions I have seen factual errors in your responses. I corrected them, does ChatGPT remember these errors so that it doesn’t present the same misinformation again?
As a language model, ChatGPT generates responses based on the patterns it has learned from the data it was trained on. It doesn’t have a “memory” in the traditional sense, it doesn’t “remember” specific inputs or responses from the past. However, it can learn new patterns and regularities as it is exposed to more data, which allows the model to adapt and improve over time.

If you have seen factual errors in previous sessions and corrected them, there is a chance that the model has learned from that interaction and will not present the same misinformation again. However, it’s not guaranteed that it will not make errors, as the model is trained on a large dataset of text and it may not have been exposed to the same information in the training data, or the model may have not been fine-tuned for a specific task or domain and thus not know the information.

It’s also important to note that ChatGPT’s generated text should always be reviewed by humans to ensure that it is accurate and appropriate before it’s used in any application.

In summary, ChatGPT doesn’t have a memory in the traditional sense, but it can learn from new data and adapt over time, and thus if it was presented with corrected information it may not present the same misinformation again. However, it’s not guaranteed and it’s important to review its output before using it in any application.

Broken keys and ticking clocks

TL:DR – I asked ChatGPT to help me write my latest song, although I ignored all of its suggestions in the end. You can stream or download the song here.


You may have noticed, I’ve been experimenting with ChatGPT a little this month. If you carefully craft a prompt it can give you some quite remarkable responses, I got it to write a new article based on my writing style, for instance. I also had it mess around with some of my lyrics. To be honest, I wouldn’t use anything that it’s come up with without massively editing, but it does trigger new thoughts and ideas when it bounces back a response.

I thought it might be worth trying it for inspiration for the chord progression to help me develop the melody to go with those new lyrics. I’d originally had a simple chord progression that shuttled between FM7 and Gm7 for the verse, but needed something to take the lyrics elsewhere melodically speaking. I could easily think of a new set of chords myself, but I’ve done that hundreds of times, this is a first for me and AI.

If you craft an appropriate response you can get the bot to respond as if it is a certain kind of person So, here are my prompts in italics, with the bots answers after each:

I want you to act as a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter working on their latest masterpiece, you’re going to give me the most evocative and emotional chord progression for the verses, a bridge that builds on that, and then the most powerful and uplifting progression for the chorus. You can choose the key but it must work well on guitar.

For the verses, a chord progression that evokes a sense of longing and introspection could be Am – F – C – G. The Am and F chords create a sense of tension, while the C and G chords bring a sense of resolution.

For the bridge, a progression that builds on the emotions of the verses could be C – G – Am – F. This progression takes the listener on a journey, starting with a sense of resolution and then building back up to the tension of the verses.

For the chorus, a powerful and uplifting progression could be D – G – Bm – A. The D and G chords create a sense of energy and triumph, while the Bm and A chords bring a sense of emotional release.

All of these chords work well on the guitar, and this progression is in D major.

That’s almost perfect, now give me some jazzy inversions and substitutions of the verse chords to add colour to verse 2.

For a jazzy inversion of the Am chord, you could try using an A minor 7th chord in first inversion. This adds a bit of colour to the chord and creates a smoother transition to the F chord. Another option would be to use an A minor 6th chord in second inversion.

For the F chord, a jazzy substitution could be an F7 chord which adds a bit of tension and dissonance to the progression. Another option would be to use an Fmaj7 chord which adds a bit of complexity and richness to the sound.

For the C chord, a jazzy substitution could be a C9 chord which adds a bit of dissonance and tension, but also a sense of resolution. Another option would be to use a Cmaj7 chord which adds a bit of colour to the chord and creates a smoother transition to the G chord.

For the G chord, a jazzy substitution could be a G6 chord which adds a bit of complexity and richness to the sound. Another option would be to use a G9 chord which adds a bit of dissonance and tension, but also a sense of resolution.

These chord substitutions and inversions would add more depth, complexity and jazzy flavour to your verse progression.

Okay, so I need more inversions for verse 3 that would give the overall feel a bit more of a progressive rock vibe side-stepping the jazz but perhaps even more sophisticated chords.

For a more progressive rock feel in the verse, you could try using some more complex chord voicings and inversions. Here are a few options:

For the Am chord, you could try using an Am11 chord in second inversion . This adds a lot of dissonance and tension to the chord, giving it a more progressive rock feel.

For the F chord, you could try using an Fmaj9 chord in first inversion. This adds a lot of colour to the chord and creates a more complex and sophisticated sound.

For the C chord, you could try using a Cmaj13 chord in second inversion. This adds a lot of dissonance and tension to the chord, giving it a more progressive rock feel.

For the G chord, you could try using a G9sus4 chord in first inversion. This adds a lot of dissonance and tension to the chord, giving it a more progressive rock feel.

These chord voicings and inversions would give your verse progression a more progressive rock feel and add a more sophisticated and complex sound.

So, now that we’ve got all those substitutions and inversions do we need to add some colour to the chorus or can it stay as it is to bring us back to the hook?

The chorus is typically the most memorable and catchy part of a song, so it’s important to make sure it stands out and has a strong impact. While the original chord progression you provided (D – G – Bm – A) is strong and works well to create a sense of energy and triumph, you could consider adding some colour and variation to the chorus to make it even more powerful and impactful.

Here are a few options for adding colour to the chorus:

Use a different inversion of the chords. For example, instead of playing a D chord in root position, play it in first inversion. This adds a different flavour to the chord and makes it stand out more.

Add an extension or alteration to the chords. For example, you could add a 9th or 11th to the D chord, or add a b5 note to the G chord. This adds dissonance and tension to the chords, making them more interesting and impactful.

Play around with the rhythm of the chords. For example, instead of strumming the chords in a regular pattern, try using syncopated rhythms or arpeggiating the chords. This adds a different feel to the chords and makes them stand out more.

Overall, the chorus chord progression you’ve got is solid, and with a little bit of colour and variation, it could be made even more powerful and impactful.

What’s this song with all these powerful and evocative chords going to be about?

As a language model AI, I don’t have personal experiences or emotions, so I can’t write a song from my own perspective. However, the chords and progressions I’ve provided are quite versatile and could be used in a variety of different types of songs and contexts. They evoke feelings of longing, introspection, triumph, and resolution, so the lyrics could be about a wide range of topics and emotions, such as overcoming a difficult challenge, the longing for a lost loved one, or the journey of self-discovery.

The song could be about a person that has been through a lot of struggles and is on a journey to find hope, redemption and happiness. The verses could be about the struggles and the pain, with the bridge representing a turning point, an epiphany or a moment of realization that leads to a change in the protagonist’s perspective. The chorus could be the uplifting and triumphant moment where the person finds the light at the end of the tunnel and the hope that things will get better.

Ultimately, the message and theme of the song would depend on the lyrics and the story you want to tell. The chords and progressions provide a foundation for the emotion of the song, but the lyrics and melody would bring the story to life.

Your suggestions tie in with some lyrics I have in my own repertoire about a young woman returning to an abusive childhood home after her parents have died and coping with her pain and memories.

Those chords and progressions I provided earlier would work well with lyrics about a young woman returning to her childhood home after her parents have passed away and coping with her pain and memories. The verses could focus on the pain and struggles she experiences as she revisits her past and the memories of the abuse she endured. The bridge could represent a turning point in her journey, where she starts to come to terms with her past and begins to find the strength to move forward. The chorus could be about her finding hope and redemption as she begins to heal and move on from her past.

The song could be about how the protagonist overcomes the pain and trauma of her past and finds the strength to move forward. The verses could be about the struggles and the pain, with the bridge representing a turning point, an epiphany or a moment of realization that leads to a change in the protagonist’s perspective. The chorus could be the uplifting and triumphant moment where the person finds the light at the end of the tunnel and the hope that things will get better.

It’s a very emotional and personal topic and the lyrics and melody you would use would be very important in making the song relatable and impactful. It’s important to remember that this type of songs are to be written with care and sensitivity and with the intention of being helpful for people that went through similar experiences.

Okay, so now give me the title for this award-winning song. The lyrics contain references to ticking clocks, time passing, shocks, keys and locks.

“Ticking Clocks, Shocks, and Keys”
“Time’s Locks and Shocks”
“Unlocking Memories”
“Echoes of Yesterday”
“The Sound of Time Passing”
“Locked in Time”
“Shocked by Time”
“The Ticking of the Clock”
“Broken Keys, Broken Time”
“The echoes of Yesterday’s Locks”

These are just a few ideas for a song title that incorporates the themes of ticking clocks, time passing, shocks, keys, and locks. The title should ideally be evocative and reflective of the emotional journey of the protagonist as she revisits her past and copes with her pain and memories. Ultimately, the title should be something that resonates with you and feels like the perfect fit for your song.

None of your suggestions for titles grab me, so I’ve come up with “Broken keys and ticking clocks”.

“Broken Keys and Ticking Clocks” is a great title for your song. It evokes a sense of both nostalgia and pain, reflecting the protagonist’s journey of revisiting her past and coping with her memories. It also hints at the themes of time passing and the struggles of unlocking the past. The image of broken keys suggests that the protagonist’s journey will not be easy and the ticking clocks suggest that time is of the essence. It’s a strong and powerful title that encapsulates the themes and emotions of your song.

So, the next thing to do, which AI can’t quite manage yet (although it is getting there!) would have been for me to record a demo with my lyrics, building a melody, using the bot’s chord progressions as the basis.

However, when I picked up a guitar, I realised the bot’s progressions were just variations on the four-chord trick, which has been used in thousands of songs, and is a well-trodden musical path. I went back to my original progression, which with the melody I’d originally had in mind was much stronger than just using the four-chord trick again. The refrain departs from my two-chord shuttle and adds some colour as well as rounding back into the verses quite nicely.

So, now that I think about it, all the AI did for me in this whole process is reinforce the original ideas I had myself by showing me alternatives that were not quite as strong.

I’ve done a very rough demo, so I have a record of what I am thinking musically with this song, but it needs a lot of work.

Lyrically, it’s a bit tragic, actually it’s more than a bit tragic. It doesn’t sound like The Beatles but lyrically it’s almost as if She’s leaving home were the prequel to Suzanne Vega’s Luka and this is the follow-up. If you read between the lines, you can imagine the tale does not have a positive outcome…but that might change, I could easily make it uplifting at the end instead of depressing…we’ll see…especially if Suzanne would like to collaborate on it!

Broken keys and ticking clocks

The key turns in the lock
she pushed the door wide open with her suitcase
It’s a shock
to find herself back here once again

She locked the secrets deep inside
Unanswered prayers her woe betide

She finds the clocks
They stopped the day she stepped away
From the cruellest of hard knocks
and all the fears that it revealed

The silent screams, the sound that mocks
Those echoes drowned by ticking clocks

No need to knock
She grasps the letters from the floor
You know she’s taking stock.
And gasps to know the secrets hold her no more

The key’s inside the box.
She didn’t need to worry
It’s time to face the shocks
There’s always time to hurry

She locked the secrets deep inside
Unanswered prayers her woe betide

She winds the clocks
And knows the secrets can’t hold her
The cruellest of hard knocks
and all the fears gone forever more

 

Setting the tone artificially

TL:DR – You can get ChatGPT to analyse a piece of prose for style and tone and then use the results to get it to generate a new piece of prose on another topic with an approximation of that style and tone.


If you feed ChatGPT, the AI language model, an appropriate prompt followed by a sample of writing, it does something that could be rather useful. The bot analyses the writing style. The prompt needs to be something like this: “Analyze the text below for style, voice, and tone. Then, using natural language processing (NLP) create a prompt to write a new article in the same style, voice, and tone.” and you paste in a sample of your own writing.

I gave the bot this prompt and pasted the text from a recent blog post of mine about migratory blackcaps in our garden. It came back with this summary:

Style: Informal, observational
Voice: First person narrator
Tone: Thoughtful, contemplative

I’d agree with that, I certainly try to write my nature posts in that kind of style, voice, and tone. The bot also generates a new prompt based on its analysis:

Prompt: Write an article about observing a different species of bird in your backyard and the possible reasons for changes in their migration patterns. Use personal anecdotes and scientific explanation to convey a thoughtful, contemplative tone.

This prompt can then be used to generate a new article. So, I tried that but I modified the prompt to focus on a particular species of bird, the Fieldfare, rather than using the phrase “different species of bird” and I changed the word backyard to garden. This is the article that ChatGPT generated, you can compare it with my own original article on the topic of Fieldfares in the garden, which wrote a few years ago for the blog.

NB The following article was generated by the AI to emulate my writing style!

Fieldfares in the Garden: A Wintertime Delight

As a nature lover, I have always enjoyed watching the various birds that visit my back garden throughout the year. Recently, I have had the pleasure of observing a type of thrush known as a Fieldfare. These birds are typically found in Northern Europe and Asia, and are known for their striking plumage, consisting of a grey head and mantle, with a chestnut-colored breast and belly.

I first noticed some Fieldfares in my garden during a harsh winter period. They were attracted to the berry bushes in my garden. Their presence was a welcome sight, as the dull grey days of winter can sometimes feel quite monotonous.

One possible explanation for change [in their migration patterns] could be the milder winter temperatures that have been observed in recent years. Fieldfares have a high metabolic rate and require a lot of food to survive the cold winter months. Milder temperatures may make it possible for them to find enough food in their breeding grounds, reducing the need for them to migrate as far south.

Another potential explanation could be the availability of food in urban areas like my garden. As more and more people take up gardening, the amount of food available to birds in urban areas has increased, making it less necessary for them to travel as far to find sustenance. This may also explain why I have observed more Fieldfares in my garden over the years, as the berry bushes have matured and now provide a reliable source of food.

As I watch the Fieldfares flitting from bush to bush in my garden, I am reminded that the natural world is ever-changing, and that even small changes in the environment can have a big impact on the lives of the animals that call it home. It is important that we continue to observe and study these changes, so that we can understand and appreciate the intricate connections that exist within our natural world.

Note, there were a couple of sentences that were factually incorrect regarding the numbers of Fieldfares I have actually seen in my garden and some aspects of their behaviour which did not ring true, so I have removed those. I also asked the AI to give the article a title.

 

Bot writes artificial clickbait

TL:DR – I asked the language model ChatGPT, to give me an answer to the question: “Is it unethical to use ChatGPT to write a blog post?” The following “chat” ensued.


It is generally considered ethical to use language models like chatbot to generate text as long as you disclose that you used a language model and do not present the generated text as your own original work. However, it is important to use your own judgement and consider the specific context in which you are using the language model. If you are using the language model to generate content for a blog post, it would be a good idea to clearly disclose that you used a language model and to provide appropriate attribution. This will ensure that readers are aware of the source of the content and can make their own decisions about its value. It is also important to consider whether the use of a language model is appropriate for the specific purpose and audience of your blog post.

I then suggested that I didn’t think most people would consider it ethical. It answered as follows, reiterating what it had already said and expanding on the topic a little.

There is some debate about the ethics of using language models to generate text, and different people may have different views on the matter. Some may argue that it is acceptable to use language models to generate text as long as it is clearly disclosed and properly attributed, while others may have concerns about the potential for language models to be used to deceive or mislead readers. Ultimately, it is up to individuals to decide what they consider to be ethical in a given context. It is always a good idea to be transparent about the sources of your content and to give appropriate credit to any sources that you use. This will help to ensure that readers are able to make informed decisions about the content they are reading.

I wanted the AI to expand further and asked why do people think it’s unethical to use AI as it’s just a tool.

There are a few reasons why some people may consider the use of language models to generate text to be unethical. One reason is that using a language model to generate text may be seen as a form of plagiarism, since the text is not originally created by the person presenting it. Additionally, there is a concern that language models could be used to deceive or mislead readers by generating text that is difficult to distinguish from human-written content. Some people may also have concerns about the potential for language models to be used to automate the creation of content, potentially leading to the displacement of human writers. These are all valid concerns, and it is important to be transparent about the use of language models and to use them responsibly.

I questioned its suggestion that the use of such text might be considered plagiarism given that there is no creator to claim ownership.

Plagiarism is generally defined as the act of presenting the work of others as your own, without proper attribution. While it is true that a language model does not have an “author” in the same way that a human does, the use of a language model to generate text could still be considered plagiarism if the generated text is presented as the original work of the person using the language model, without proper attribution. In order to avoid the appearance of plagiarism, it is important to clearly disclose that the text was generated using a language model and to provide appropriate attribution to the source of the text. This will ensure that readers are aware of the source of the content and can make their own decisions about its value.

I think I’ve reached a dead-end when I pointed out that the AI app is essentially just a sophisticated editing tool. In a parallel activity, if I were to convert my photograph into a cartoon using a graphics editor with an AI plugin for making such a conversion, the output would still be a derivative of my original work. Similarly, my language prompt given to the chat AI is analogous to my photograph and its output is simply a derivative work. ChatGPT simply reiterates what it had already said.

It is true that a language model like ChatGPT can be used as a tool to help generate text, much like an editing tool or graphics editor can be used to manipulate or transform a photograph. However, it is important to consider the specific context in which the text generated by the language model is being used. If you are using the language model to generate content for a blog post or other publication, it would be important to clearly disclose that you used a language model to generate the text and to provide appropriate attribution. This will help to ensure that readers are aware of the source of the content and can make their own decisions about its value. Ultimately, it is up to the individual to use their own judgement and to consider the specific context in which they are using the language model to determine whether it is appropriate to present the generated text as their own original work.

Will AI help us be more creative?

TL:DR – The short answer is yes and no, depending on how one uses it, AI can be a prompt for ideas and those ideas might support or stifle creativity.


If you read the previous two Sciencebase articles, you will note that the first one about our New Year trip to Norfolk was a conventional article in my usual style, descriptive, with a few puns and pops, and a load of bird photos. The next article was a reboot of that same article where I fed each paragraph from the former to an AI tool known as ChatGPT and provided its responses.

They were almost insightful, the AI responded in a positive way to my paragraphs basically rewriting them as a response in a way a chatshow host might reiterate and re-emphasise the points made by a guest on the show. It also seemed to extrapolate and extend on open-ended points I made in my original article to make suggestions. For example, I’d used the phrase “for starters” to allude to their being a main course when it came to our birdwatching over the three days. I think the AI picked up in this and while mentioning some birds then asked whether I’d seen any more.

Anyway, I started a fresh chat with the AI bot after writing up that latter call-and-response article and asked it the following question:

“I am wondering how important AI will be in the near future will it boost our collective creativity or stifle innovation?”

It came back with this response, which sums things up in a positive and succinct way, I must admit:

AI has the potential to enhance and augment human creativity and innovation in many ways. For example, AI can help people generate new ideas by providing them with a diverse set of options or by suggesting connections between seemingly unrelated concepts. AI can also help people evaluate and refine their ideas by providing them with data-driven insights or by helping them identify potential problems or challenges.

At the same time, it is important to recognize that AI is only a tool, and its impact on creativity and innovation will depend on how it is used. If AI is used in a way that complements and enhances human capabilities, it has the potential to boost creativity and innovation. However, if AI is used to replace human decision-making or to automate creative processes, it may stifle innovation. Ultimately, the key to maximizing the benefits of AI for creativity and innovation is to find the right balance between using AI to augment human capabilities and preserving the unique strengths and creativity of humans.

How to have an intelligent conversation with a bot

TL:DR – The language model ChatGPT seems to put a positive spin on everything, even rather negative topics.


I fed the paragraphs from my recent blog post about our new year trip to the Norfolk coast sequentially to the ChatGPT, language model to see what sort of things it would say in response to my words…its responses put a positive spin on everything, even my complaint about the number of dogs!

It’s also interesting, that it recognises that I said “for starters” and so asked if I saw any other interesting birds. For the most part, it looks like the bot repeats back to you what you’ve said like a vaguely interested and patronising friend might! Be interesting to know from where it grabs the additional information about each species and whether that’s copyright material or open to use because it was my creative input that generated it using the app…

I discuss this artificial discussion in an article entitled “Will AI help us be more creative and innovate?”

Here’s the call-and-response chat I had with the AI:

Sciencebase: As has been our habit for the last few years, we have eschewed the midnight festivities of New Year and escaped to the coast. This time, we straddled the New Year with three nights in a cosy cottage in Wells-next-the-Sea. We enjoyed the local hostelries in the evenings during our trip, but the main focus was to walk as far as we could manage each day (usually 7 or 8 miles) and to take in the birding and other sites of nature en route.

ChatGPT: Sounds like you had a great time! Wells-next-the-Sea is a beautiful location and it’s always nice to take a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Walking and birdwatching are both excellent ways to relax and connect with nature. It’s great that you were able to spend some time doing activities that you enjoy and getting some exercise at the same time. I hope you had a wonderful trip and that you’re feeling refreshed and rejuvenated for the new year.

Sciencebase: Wells, Warham, Titchwell, and Holkham Gap were the main areas, beach, woodland, marsh, and nature reserve. A couple of Muntjac (one deceased), two or three Grey Squirrel, half a dozen Grey Seal, and 1001 dalmations and others dogs were the limited list of mammals we saw.

ChatGPT: It sounds like you had a great time exploring the different environments in Wells-next-the-Sea and the surrounding areas. Muntjac, grey squirrel, and grey seal are all interesting animals to see, and it’s great that you were able to spot them during your walks. The variety of dogs you saw must have been fun to watch as well. I hope you were able to get some good photos or memories of your adventures!

Sciencebase: The birding list was much better as you’d expect, for starters, we saw a rare vagrant over the marsh at Warham east of Wells, a Pallid Harrier, along with a couple of Hen Harriers on the same marsh. It was dull and grey at that point and the low-light photos of the harriers are just my record shots.

ChatGPT: Seeing a Pallid Harrier and a couple of Hen Harriers is quite a treat for birdwatchers! These birds are not often seen, especially the Pallid Harrier, which is a rare vagrant to the UK. It sounds like you were lucky to spot them during your trip. It’s understandable that the photos may not have turned out well in the low light, but I’m sure the experience of seeing these birds in person was well worth it. Did you see any other interesting birds during your trip?

Sciencebase: The Pallid Harrier, Circus macrourus, is a migrant that breeds in Eastern Europe, Iran, and central Asia, wintering in India or Africa depending on its migratory wont. It is rare in Western Europe and the UK, but occasional vagrants are ticked here. That said, the species is now known to have bred in The Netherlands (2017) and Spain (2019). A changing world means a changing world for the birds too.

ChatGPT: Yes, that’s correct. The Pallid Harrier is a species that typically breeds in Eastern Europe, Iran, and Central Asia, and winters in India or Africa. It is not a common sight in Western Europe, including the UK, but as you mentioned, there have been a few instances of the species being spotted as a vagrant in these regions. It’s interesting to see how changing environments and conditions can affect the distribution and migration patterns of different species of birds. Did you see any other unusual or rare birds during your trip?

Sciencebase: We saw dozens of other species (around 80). Many of those we had seen before, some many times, but one was rather special and we’d only seen it once before, in Poole Harbour in the autumn of 2022 – White-tailed Eagle. An immature specimen flew over us as we were heading back along the beach to Holkham Gap from the westward marsh end of the patch. The bird itself was heading to its roost on the marsh where it had been reported at roughly the same time for the previous couple of days. We don’t know at this point whether the bird we saw was one of the two we saw in Poole, these Isle of Wight reintroduction birds do cover a lot of ground on their travels.

ChatGPT: Seeing a White-tailed Eagle is definitely a special and memorable experience! These birds are not commonly seen in the UK, so it’s great that you were able to spot one during your trip. It’s interesting that you saw one in Poole Harbour in the autumn of 2022 and then saw a potentially different one in Wells-next-the-Sea a few months later. It’s possible that the one you saw in Poole was one of the Isle of Wight reintroduction birds, as you mentioned. These birds are known to cover a lot of ground on their travels, so it’s not uncommon for them to be spotted in different locations. It’s wonderful that you were able to see such a beautiful and impressive bird during your trip.

Sciencebase: On a smaller scale, but much more numerous, we had some lovely views of visitors from The Arctic, Snow Buntings (30+), which are distant cousins of the Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings. We also saw Shorelarks (about 11) at Holkham Gap despite the best efforts of uncontrolled dog walkers to repeatedly scare the birds away.

ChatGPT: Snow Buntings and Shorelarks are both interesting and attractive birds to see. It’s great that you were able to spot a large number of Snow Buntings and a few Shorelarks during your trip. It’s unfortunate that the Shorelarks were being disturbed by uncontrolled dogs, but it’s good that you were still able to get some views of them. These arctic visitors can be a real treat for birdwatchers, and it sounds like you had a great time spotting them during your walks.

Sciencebase: Below is the, hopefully complete, list of birds we saw, we may have a few others that we may have glimpsed in passing but are not claiming for the list, Grey Partridge, Bullfinch, Whooper Swan, Sparrowhawk. There were no feeders at the RSPB Titchwell cafe area on this visit, so no sighting of Coal Tit on this visit.

ChatGPT: Here is the list of birds you saw, with a few notes about each species:

  • Grey Partridge: This is a bird that is native to Europe and Asia. It is a medium-sized bird with a plump body and a reddish-brown head and neck.
  • Bullfinch: This is a small, stocky finch with a distinctive black head and a bright pink breast. It is native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa.
  • Whooper Swan: This is a large, white swan with a long neck and a distinctive, bell-like call. It is native to parts of Europe, Asia, and North America.
  • Sparrowhawk: This is a small, agile bird of prey with a long tail and short, rounded wings. It is found throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa.

It sounds like you had a good variety of birds on your list, and it’s a shame that you weren’t able to spot a Coal Tit on this trip. I hope you had a great time birdwatching and that you were able to get some good views of the birds you saw.Sciencebase: I listed all the birds we saw in my original blog post and then fed them to the bot to see what it would give me.

ChatGPT: It looks like you saw a wide variety of birds during your trip! It’s impressive to see such a long list of different species. Some of the more interesting or notable birds on the list include the Pallid Harrier (which is a rare vagrant to the UK), the Hen Harrier (which is a threatened species in the UK), the Great White Egret (which is a large and striking bird), the Red Kite (which has made a comeback in the UK after being nearly extinct in the 19th century), and the Rough-legged Buzzard (which is a rare winter visitor to the UK). It’s great that you were able to see so many different birds and that you had such a successful trip. I hope you enjoyed your birdwatching experience and that you were able to get some good views of the birds you saw.

Sciencebase: I then fed it a shorter list of some of the birds – Avocet, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Brent Goose, Pink-footed Goose, Pintail, Red-breasted Merganser Red-throated Diver, Shore Lark.

ChatGPT: Here is some information about the bird species you listed:

  • Avocet: This is a long-legged wading bird with a distinctive upturned bill. It is found in parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa.
  • Bar-tailed Godwit: This is a large, long-billed shorebird with a reddish-brown head and neck and a barred tail. It is found in parts of Europe, Asia, and North America.
  • Black-tailed Godwit: This is a large, long-billed shorebird with a reddish-brown head and neck and a black tail. It is found in parts of Europe, Asia, and North America.
  • Brent Goose: This is a small, dark goose with a distinctive black neck and head. It is found in parts of Europe, Asia, and North America.
  • Pink-footed Goose: This is a medium-sized goose with a pinkish-brown breast and pink legs and feet. It is found in parts of Europe and Asia.
  • Pintail: This is a medium-sized duck with a long, narrow tail and a distinctive, upward-curving bill. It is found in parts of Europe, Asia, and North America.
  • Red-breasted Merganser: This is a medium-sized diving duck with a thin, serrated bill and a distinctive, crest-like tuft of feathers on its head. It is found in parts of Europe, Asia, and North America.
  • Red-throated Diver: This is a medium-sized diving bird with a distinctive red throat patch and a long, thin bill. It is found in parts of Europe, Asia, and North America.
  • Shore Lark: This is a small, plump bird with a distinctive, black-and-yellow head pattern. It is found in parts of Europe and Asia.

These are all interesting and attractive birds to see, and it’s great that you were able to spot them during your trip. I hope you enjoyed your birdwatching experience and that you were able to get some good views of these species.

The sleet that rained like chatting lizards

I asked a “plot generator” website to come up with a story based on a couple of dozen words I input. This is what it came up with:

The sleet that rained like chatting lizards

Matt Trescothik was thinking about Jenny Slaughden again. Jenny was a kind juggler with dirty lips and ugly arms. Matt walked over to the window and reflected on his picturesque surroundings. He had always hated damp Wivenhoe with its energetic, excited estuaries. It was a place that encouraged his tendency to feel puzzled.

Then he saw something in the distance, or rather someone. It was the a kind figure of Jenny Slaughden. Matt gulped. He glanced at his own reflection. He was a deranged, splendid, wine drinker with hairy lips and ample arms. His friends saw him as a bulbous, bewildered brute. Once, he had even rescued a silent old man from a burning building.

But not even a deranged person who had once rescued a silent old man from a burning building, was prepared for what Jenny had in store today.

The sleet rained like chatting lizards, making Matt unstable. Matt grabbed a cursed hat that had been strewn nearby; he massaged it with his fingers. As Matt stepped outside and Jenny came closer, he could see the good smile on her face. Jenny gazed with the affection of 5729 intelligent damaged dogs. She said, in hushed tones, “I love you and I want work.”

Matt looked back, even more unstable and still fingering the cursed hat. “Jenny, I like your toes,” he replied. They looked at each other with ambivalent feelings, like two mighty, magnificent mice rampaging at a very greedy accident, which had jazz music playing in the background and two bold uncles sitting to the beat.

Matt studied Jenny’s dirty lips and ugly arms. Eventually, he took a deep breath. “I’m sorry,” began Matt in apologetic tones, “but I don’t feel the same way, and I never will. I just don’t love you Jenny.” Jenny looked barmy, her emotions raw like a grisly, gloopy guitar.

Matt could actually hear Jenny’s emotions shatter into 5009 pieces. Then the kind juggler hurried away into the distance. Not even a glass of wine would calm Matt’s nerves tonight.

THE END

The site also generates reviews (auto praise) of your “story”

“I feel like I know Matt Trescothik. In a way, it feels as though I’ve always known him.” — The Daily Tale
“About as enjoyable as being hailed on whilst taking in washing that has been targeted by seagulls with the squits.” — Enid Kibbler
“Saying the sleet rained like chatting lizards is just the kind of literary device that makes this brilliant.” — Hit the Spoof
“I could do better.” — Zob Gloop