Gearing up for Spring, Summer and the Single Life

Time has flown by, and Daniel’s trip to Portugal is rapidly approaching. As we did last time, we will drive to Seattle the night before his flight for a nice dinner and an easy trip to the airport. About two days after he leaves, I have a friend visiting, so the first week of my single life will be hectic.

This time he will stop in Dublin, Ireland, and stay for two days to enjoy some food and music before heading to work in Portugal. I, instead, will be driving home, cleaning the house, and getting ready for company. Food and music in Dublin beat my first few days.

Before his trip, Daniel diligently worked in the garden, made home repairs, and completed paperwork. He was so anxious to get started with the garden he planted all his cucumber seedlings; it snowed the next night. He staked out his garden territory by planting some peas and the failed cucumbers. The peas seem to have survived the snow, hail, and cold temperatures. He planted some dill and cilantro that I started on the windowsill. My guess is they will join the cucumbers as do-overs–they’re not looking great. I planted carrots, lettuce, cabbage, and radishes; all are surviving (so far).

Meanwhile, while waiting for the right time to plant, Daniel and I played around with ChatGpt, an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot. Designed to answer questions, it is also used to create written content.

Experimenting, we decided to ask it to write an article for the Waitsburg Times, as Vicki Sternfeld-Rossi. The bot’s response was, “She is an influential activist, and we do not provide content for that.” I.e., no propaganda. I was surprised and impressed to learn that I’m an influencer. I feel like Kim Kardashian but without her bank account.

On our second try, we asked ChatGpt to write an article using the name I use in my insurance career. It found me, the firm I work for, and proceeded to write an excellent article on cyber security and business insurance; amazing.

We learned that, like many things, it’s all in how you ask the question. Eventually, it found me and the Waitsburg Times connection. Although we didn’t specify the subject matter or length needed, it wrote an article. Here’s where it got interesting: The article started with the exact three sentences I wrote in a column last year, and then the program went in a totally different direction.

Is the fact that it started with my opening two sentences verbatim, plagiarism? Then I started to analyze the article, and my insecurities kicked in. Was it a better writer than me? Writing (other than work related) was never on my radar as something I could do.

Of course, the article went on to say that while Daniel was gone (referring to his last trip), I would have to adjust to cooking for one, and I’d consider writing a cookbook with recipes for single people. Hah! That’s when I knew ChatGpt was way off track. First, Daniel does the cooking, not me. Second, while he’s gone, I don’t cook for myself. It’s either, soup (from a box), sandwich, salad (if the garden produces lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers), or grab a pizza. Considering my “cooking for one” regime, a cookbook is not in my future. Bottom line, Artificial Intelligence, (AI/ChatGpt), may not be so intelligent.

Realistically, I know that AI/ChatGpt and other similar programs are evolving with lightening speed. Meanwhile, my brain power will remain focused on work, gardening, tennis and Sudoku. I can’t compete with software.