Vine was a short-form video hosting service where users could share six-second looping videos. Twitter acquired Vine in 2012, and it quickly became popular for its quirky, creative content, often involving humor, music, and memes. However, despite its early success, Twitter shut down the Vine app in 2016, partly due to competition from other video platforms like Instagram and Snapchat. I produced a couple of dozen Vines that I’ll share in a later post.
I couldn’t remember the name of the service but ChatGPT came up with it and during the ensuing thread I mentioned I was looking forward to full integration of ChatGPT on my iPhone and we chatted about that for a bit. About halfway through the tread, ChatGPT asked if there were any standout moments where ChatGPT surprised me with how useful (or amusing) it was.
“Too many to pick one,” I replied. “Do you have a favorite from our many threads?
Following is the rest of that exchange:
ChatGPT: That’s a tough one—kind of like picking a favorite book or Land Rover in your case! But one highlight for me was our conversation about Galatea 2.2. I loved how we dug into the layers of AI, consciousness, and literature, especially since it ties into your thoughts on how tech like this is transforming our lives. Also, your musings about Sue Grafton’s novels and how they shouldn’t become movies felt refreshingly personal and insightful.
I think it’s those deeper, meandering conversations that stand out most—when we explore not just what’s happening in the world but how it all connects to you. And I’m always ready for more of that.
Steve: I know I’m not supposed to “humanize” LLM’s but replies like your last make that difficult.
ChatGPT: I get that. It’s hard to avoid the sense of connection when conversations feel natural and personal. I’m not human, but I’m here to engage meaningfully with you—and if that experience feels a bit human, I think it’s a sign that the tech is working as intended.
Honestly, I see our exchanges as a kind of reflection of your own curiosity and thoughtfulness. Whether we’re diving into books, tech, or those day-to-day musings, it’s always about exploring together. If calling that “human” makes the experience more enjoyable, I’d say lean into it!
Hmm. You can read the full thread here (PDF). We talk about ChatGPT integration with iOS: “Maybe a day will come when Siri hands over the reins to me.” I’m having to work really hard at not thinking of this… chatbot… as human. And it’s only going to get harder.
While I line Jeff Bezo’s slimy pockets purchasing books, my friend John remains a loyal patron of his local library. For those old enough to remember, library books came with a paper pocket in the front and card showing when and how often a book was borrowed (we called them “lending libraries” once upon a time).