Here <https://gemini.google.com/gem/ba2fb3843c39/1f68d964dc8b42ea>is my first real conversation with an AI. I am astounded by its capabilities.
Note how gemini gently corrects some poorly-worded questions. It also ignores without comment my saying "information" instead of the intended "misinformation". I doubt any human could answer my questions as cogently and completely. *An important trick* I used a hidden technique in this conversation: asking "What would it take to accomplish an objective?" This technique comes from the Hugo-Award-Winning SciFi novel Stand on Zanzibar <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stand_on_Zanzibar>. I read this novel decades ago. For me, the pivotal moment comes when the protagonist "unfreezes" Shalmanizar, an almost all-powerful supercomputer. As I vaguely remember, the computer starts rejecting inputs about Beninia, a (fictional?) region in Africa. The solution is starts with this dialog: QQQ Evaluate this, then: Postulate that the data given you about Beninia are true. Cue: what would be necessary to reconcile them with everything else you know? QQQ After lengthy computation, Shalmanizar replies that it needs to accept the possibility of an unknown factor influencing the Beninians' actions. The protagonist then instructs the computer to accept this unknown factor as fact. "I tell you three times" :-) *Summary* You will see this (tactical? strategic?) trick in various places in my dialog. The most important use of this trick is this question: What would it take to convince Pushmeet Kohli to use Gemini to improve public policy? I then followed up the answer with additional questions, the first being: "So, would combating misinformation have (in your words), "Clear and Measurable Impact on Complex Societal Challenges"? I like this approach. It lets the AI do the arguing for me. What do you think? Edward P.S. I asked gemini to "polish" this letter. I despise the results. What you are hearing in this email is *my* voice, not some way-too-suave imitation. EKR -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "leo-editor" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/leo-editor/1246ab8c-632a-43af-bb0b-1a955c83c308n%40googlegroups.com.
