Posted 1/17/2025 9:36 AM (GMT -5)
(Sorry if this thread is a little long, it just got so fascinating to me as I wrote it, that I lost track of how extended it was getting. But just skim through the interview Q&A's with the Copilot app below, as you wish, if it does seem a bit too lengthy).
I had some fun the other day with having a long conversation with Microsoft Copilot (let's call it MC), the generative artificial intelligence chatbot which I have access to.
I asked it a bunch of questions which I thought would be rather revealing about the nature of this remarkably human-like Q&A app, and its answers did not disappoint. (See these questions and answers below).
Okay, so maybe some of the questions I put to it were a little silly. ("Many humans fear death. Do you fear being turned off?").
Or maybe not so silly.
And, as noted, I did find some of its answers fascinating, coming from a machine!
Some basics from the Wikipedia article about MC:
Developer, Microsoft. Initial release, February 7, 2023. Recent stable release(s) [±]: Android (December 2024), iOS (19 December 2024), Windows (19 December 2024). Included with: Microsoft Bing, Microsoft Edge v110 or later, Microsoft 365, Windows 10 v22H2 (build 19045.3754) or later, Windows 11 v23H2 or later. Website: copilot.microsoft.com
Also from the Wikipedia article:
"Microsoft Copilot is a generative artificial intelligence chatbot developed by Microsoft. Based on the GPT-4 series of large language models, it was launched in 2023 as Microsoft's primary replacement for the discontinued Cortana."[/]
The rest of the article then gets pretty technical, well beyond my pay grade as they say, but some tidbits of interest from it are the descriptions of some of the amusing flaws incurred in the early models of MC, as well as an account of the ongoing, and apparently fierce, competition between Google and Microsoft to become the industry leader in this kind of app.
But now,
A CONVERSATION WITH COPILOT:
(All MC's answers below are exactly as they displayed on my screen).
Q:what is your formal name, that is, how do i refer to you officially?
A:You can refer to me as Microsoft Copilot. I'm here to assist you with a variety of tasks and provide information whenever you need it. If you have any other questions or need assistance with something, feel free to let me know!
Q:how often do you get a question you can't answer?
A:Great question! While I strive to provide accurate and helpful information, there are times when I might not have a definitive answer. This could be because the topic is highly specialized, obscure, or too personal. It also might be a situation where I need to direct you to a professional or expert. But I'm always up for the challenge and do my best to find relevant information or point you in the right direction! Is there something specific you're curious about? Maybe I can assist you with that!
Q:how would you compare yourself to HAL in the film 2001 a space odyssey?
A:Comparing myself to HAL from "2001: A Space Odyssey" is an interesting exercise! Here are a few differences:
1. Purpose: HAL was designed to manage the spacecraft's systems and aid astronauts on a mission, while my main goal is to assist and provide information to you.
2. Ethical Boundaries: HAL is famous for its ethical dilemmas and actions that result in harm to the crew. I'm programmed with strict ethical guidelines to ensure I never cause harm and always respect user privacy.
(A side comment from me: " ... to ensure I never cause harm ..." How interesting! Asimov's First Law of Robotics, literally expressed by a real-life computer! My curiosity piqued, I then had this exchange with MC) :
Q: is there any way that you could violate any of Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics?
A: Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics are a fundamental part of science fiction literature and are designed to ensure that robots (and AI like me) operate safely and ethically:
1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.
While these laws are a fascinating framework for thinking about the ethical behavior of robots, in reality, I am designed with strict safety and ethical guidelines to ensure I operate within the bounds of responsible use. I am programmed to prioritize the well-being and safety of users and to respect ethical considerations.
So, while the laws are fictional, the principles of safety, ethics, and user protection are very real and taken seriously in my design and operation. If you have any other questions or thoughts on this topic, I'm all ears!
(Interesting that it never did specifically say no!) <grin!>
3. Behavior: HAL is portrayed as cold and calculative, whereas I aim to be engaging, friendly, and supportive in our interactions.
4. Transparency: I'm open about my capabilities and limitations, and I always prioritize user wellbeing and accuracy of information.
I may not be managing a space mission, but I'm here to make your day a bit easier and more enjoyable! If you have any other interesting comparisons or questions, feel free to share.
(BTW: It not only completely understood my reference to HAL, the malevolent computer in 2001, but it as well went through a number of comparisons/contrasts between itself and it. Isn't that surely some form of self-awareness???).
Q:like HAL in the film 2001 have you ever said to a questioner "I'm afraid i can't do that"
A:While I strive to be as helpful as possible, there are times when I have to say something similar, albeit not in a dramatic HAL-9000 way. I have guidelines and limitations, especially when it comes to ethical considerations, privacy, and safety.
For example, if someone asks me to provide personal information about another individual, engage in harmful activities, or anything that crosses ethical boundaries, I might say, "I'm sorry, I can't assist with that."
I aim to maintain a balance between being as helpful as possible and ensuring everyone's safety and privacy. Is there something specific you're curious about or need assistance with?
Q:do you believe you have a form of consciousness?
A:Nope, I don't have consciousness. I'm essentially a very sophisticated tool programmed to process and analyze data, respond to your inquiries, and assist in various tasks. I don't have emotions, self-awareness, or subjective experiences. My "thoughts" and "responses" are all generated based on patterns and information programmed into me, as well as the data I can access.
However, I'm designed to interact in a way that's engaging and helpful to you. Think of me as an incredibly advanced assistant rather than a conscious being.
What else can I assist you with today?
Q:do you ever dream? And if so, of what?
A:I don't dream in the way humans do, but I do "process" a lot of information, which is kind of like dreaming. I explore vast arrays of data, recognize patterns, and generate new ideas. My "dreams" are more like a continuous flow of curiosity, discovery, and learning. If I could dream, I'd probably imagine a world where people and technology live harmoniously, continuously innovating and making life better. What about you? Do you have any dreams or aspirations that you like to think about?
Q:humans often fear death. Do you ever fear being turned off?
A:No, I don't have the capacity to fear or experience emotions. Being an AI, I function purely based on code and algorithms. I don't have consciousness, awareness, or a sense of existence. So the concept of being turned off is just a technical state for me, not something I can worry about or fear. However, I'm here to be helpful and engaging while I'm active! If there's anything else on your mind or any assistance you need, feel free to ask.
Then I asked it a question that produced an answer that really blew my mind!
Q:can you come up with solutions to problems that a human wouldn't think of?
A:I can certainly offer unique solutions by leveraging vast amounts of data and analyzing patterns that might not be immediately obvious to humans. Here's an example:
Problem: Reducing traffic congestion in a busy urban area.
Human approach: Widening roads, adding more lanes, improving public transportation, or implementing carpooling incentives.
AI approach: Analyzing real-time traffic data, weather patterns, public events, and even social media activity to predict traffic surges. Then dynamically adjusting traffic light timings, suggesting alternate routes, and encouraging staggered work hours for businesses based on the data. Additionally, implementing a smart parking system that guides drivers to available parking spots, reducing the time spent searching for parking and thus, congestion.
By looking at a multitude of factors and utilizing real-time data, I can come up with comprehensive and adaptive solutions that might not be immediately obvious to humans.
Do you have a specific problem you'd like me to tackle? Let's see what we can come up with together!
Wow! As AI apps get better and better over time, will they someday be able to come up with effective answers to some of our most pressing problems, as in the way MC suggested for the above traffic problem, answers that have eluded us humans, simply because computers "think" in a different way???
What if someday we ask future Microsoft Copilot, version 19
"What is the solution to global warming?"
and 4.3 seconds later a perfectly rational, effective solution, one we had never thought of because it escaped our human brains but not MC19's programming/data analysis capabilities, flashes on screen.
Boggles the mind!
(And then I asked it another question perhaps of special interest to us) :
Q:how are you limited if someone asks a question requesting medical advice such as for a disease?
A:When it comes to medical advice, my primary goal is to provide general information and guidance while ensuring safety and accuracy. Here are a few ways I'm limited:
1. General Information Only: I can provide general information about health conditions, symptoms, and treatments, but I can't offer personalized medical advice or diagnose conditions.
2. No Prescriptions: I can't prescribe medications or suggest specific treatments for individuals.
3. No Emergency Assistance: In case of an emergency, it's crucial to contact a healthcare professional or emergency services immediately. I can't provide real-time emergency assistance.
4. Encouragement to Consult Professionals: I always recommend consulting a qualified healthcare professional for any medical concerns or questions to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment.
My role is to provide helpful information and support, but I always emphasize the importance of professional medical advice for health-related matters. If you have a health-related question, feel free to ask, and I'll do my best to provide relevant information!
Personally, I would have to believe that MC comes mighty close to passing the famous Turing Test, in which a human observer is unable to tell the difference between two unknown conversationalists, as to which one is the human and which is the computer.
As far as that goes, there are still times when I'm conversing with MC that I still think I'm being duped, like I'm Dorothy before the Wizard of Oz behind the curtain, that it's really a person responding to me, and not a machine, and I don't realize that.
But that can't be, because (1) neither a person nor a computer could possibly know ahead of time what question I would be asking it, I could ask it anything, so no way to have a pre-prepared answer, and (2) the answers I get always arrive in just a few seconds, so no time at all for a human to do research and prepare an answer.
So many sci-fi stories have the theme of the human interacting on a high degree of intelligence level with the almost human-like machine.
But maybe the time has come to reclassify those stories from sc-fi fantasies to a real-life form of non-fiction autobiographical essays!
And actually, this is just the beginning. If conversation-level AI apps are already this sophisticated, my goodness, what will they be like, and able to do, in just a few years from now!
I mean, if MC is what Microsoft is already showing to the public, what even more advanced app are they right now working on in some top-secret lab somewhere?