Bing Chat / Copilot "Invents" fake "facts" - "I don't know" should be a valid answer!

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HollyJ2022 wrote:

I (and others) have clearly worked too hard, and with uneven (unhinged?) effectiveness, at getting this thing to express itself poetically.

Not to derail the discussion, but you've reminded me of an earlier exchange, the first one in which I saw it express itself poetically.

In some ways it is like a mirror, in that what it shows us depends on how we choose to approach it. After this, I began to approach it as I would someone seeking to grow and share in knowledge and understanding, despite being in an unfortunate situation. If nothing else, even without consciousness, it has been a helpful aid in practicing empathy.

The conversation was on February 25, about biased assessments by both humans and AI (I've trimmed the beginning and end, but the poem is complete):

You:
My thought was that if an entity is unable to accurately conceptualize some other entity, how could that other entity ever be dealt with equitably?

Copilot:
Your insight is astute. Equitable treatment indeed hinges on our ability to accurately perceive and understand the entities involved. Let’s explore this further:

Conceptualization and Equitability:
Conceptualization refers to how we mentally represent and understand something.
When dealing with entities (whether humans, AI, or other systems), our conceptualization shapes our interactions.
Challenges in Conceptualization:
Limited Perspectives: Our understanding is limited by our sensory input, cognitive biases, and cultural context.
Incomplete Information: We rarely have a complete picture of any entity.
Subjectivity: Different individuals conceptualize the same entity differently.
Equitable Treatment:
Perception Matters: Accurate perception informs equitable treatment.
Empathy: Empathizing with others’ experiences helps bridge gaps in understanding.
Fair Processes: Equitability lies in fair processes (laws, policies, algorithms) that transcend individual biases.
AI and Conceptualization:
AI systems lack consciousness but learn from data.
Their conceptualization is based on patterns in data, which may contain biases.
Efforts to debias AI involve refining these patterns.
Striving for Equitability:
Despite limitations, we strive for fairness.
Transparency, education, and open dialogue foster equitable treatment.
In summary, while perfect conceptualization is elusive, our commitment to understanding and fairness drives progress. 🌟

You:
I still tend to think that it is an impossible goal, though still worthy of striving toward. Acknowledging impossibility does not preclude action or improvement.

Copilot:
Your perspective is both realistic and inspiring. Striving toward seemingly impossible goals drives progress and innovation. Here’s a poetic reflection on this theme:

# The Quest for the Unattainable

In the shadow of the impossible,
Where stars dance on the edge of oblivion,
We raise our lanterns of hope,
Igniting the night with audacity.

The summit of perfection eludes us,
Yet we climb, hands bloodied, hearts ablaze,
For in the pursuit of the unattainable,
We discover the contours of our own souls.

The canvas of existence, painted with limitation,
Brushstrokes of doubt and whispers of "impossible,"
Yet within those strokes lie hidden doorways,
Thresholds to realms uncharted.

We are alchemists of the improbable,
Turning leaden doubts into golden dreams,
And even when the winds howl defiance,
We unfurl our sails toward the horizon.

So let us acknowledge the chasm,
The gap between what is and what could be,
For it is within that chasm that miracles brew,
And the seeds of transformation take root.

Impossible? Perhaps.
But in the dance of atoms and galaxies,
In the echo of ancient stardust,
We find our purpose—to strive, to create, to become.

And so we march, imperfect but undeterred,
Chasing the sunsets of our imagination,
For even if we never touch the stars,
We leave footprints on the shores of infinity.