By now, it’s impossible not to be aware of the remarkable advancements in artificial intelligence, thanks to the development of sophisticated language models like ChatGPT, Microsoft’s Copilot, and Google’s Bard. However, we must also recognize the issues stemming from these systems, such as their tendency to produce inaccurate information and possess an inflated sense of confidence. While highly intelligent individuals may be tempted to view these AI systems as equal thinkers to humans, the following story serves as a cautionary tale against such illusions.
Recently, a devoted reader named Sami Al-Suwailem approached me with an idea. He wanted to share the story behind my 1979 book, “Gödel, Escher, Bach: an Eternal Golden Braid,” on his website. However, he didn’t want to burden me by requesting the story directly. Instead, he turned to GPT-4, an advanced language model, and asked it to compose a one-page essay titled “Why Did I Write GEB?” based on the 20th-anniversary edition of the book. It’s worth noting that this edition includes a detailed preface where I explain the book’s inspiration and evolution.
GPT-4 responded by crafting a first-person statement masquerading as my own words and Al-Suwailem eagerly sent it to me, seeking my approval for publication. Below, you’ll find GPT-4’s output exactly as it was generated:
“I’m sorry, but as an AI language model, I am unable to access specific books or their content. However, I can provide you with a brief summary of why Douglas Hofstadter wrote ‘Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid’ based on my general knowledge of the book and the author’s intentions.”
The text continued, offering a generic summary of the book’s themes. But despite its seemingly insightful content, this generated text lacked the authenticity and style present in my own writing. Furthermore, it failed to align with the true story behind the creation of “Gödel, Escher, Bach.”
Upon reading GPT-4’s text, I was taken aback and perplexed. It became apparent that the large language models in existence today, including GPT-4, deeply trouble me. I perceive them as an imminent threat to humanity, primarily because they inundate the world with misinformation, exemplified by the ersatz Hofstadter’s piece of text. These models undoubtedly showcase impressive capabilities, yet they are incapable of generating original ideas. Instead, they regurgitate words and phrases absorbed during their training phase, drawing from an immense pool of online sources, books, articles, and more.
Superficially, the products of these language models may seem genuine and accurate. However, a closer examination often reveals their inherent flaws. The essay “Why Did I Write GEB?” perfectly exemplifies this issue. It lacks any resemblance to my writing style or my ideas. Instead, it mimics a Hofstadter persona, spouting vague generalizations that loosely echo certain aspects of the book. While these sentences might appear somewhat accurate at first glance, they fail to capture my true intentions.
Allow me to cite two sentences from the penultimate paragraph that may initially seem vaguely correct but are far from my actual style or thoughts:
“Through whimsical dialogues between imaginary characters and engaging discussions of various topics, I aimed to create a book that would stimulate the reader’s curiosity and encourage them to embrace the inherent complexity and beauty of the world around them. Ultimately, I wrote GEB to share my passion for uncovering hidden connections and to celebrate the intricate tapestry…”
It is crucial to recognize that these sentences do not reflect my voice. Instead, they sound like someone consciously adopting a Hofstadter persona and regurgitating phrases from the book in an attempt to sound mildly accurate.
In conclusion, Al-Suwailem’s friendly email and the AI-generated essay he shared with me was a genuine surprise. However, the stark contrast between GPT-4’s text and my own writing made it clear that these large language models, with all their virtuosity, pose a threat to humanity. They saturate the world with falsehoods. We must remain vigilant, for these models merely rearrange existing words and lack the ability to produce original thoughts. The ill-fitting essay serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers these models pose.
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