As the famous paper of record used to say on those TV commercials: “Enquiring minds want to know.” Indeed we do!
So, I got up early this AM, as I do every AM – I have little choice in the matter, it’s in my genes – and checked my email, where I found a missive from Scott Alexander’s substack, Astral Codex Ten: Links For February 2023. So I started reading and came to #22:
22: Related: the very center of GPT’s embedding space contains a few unusual tokens including the string “SolidGoldMagikarp”. GPT displays anomalous behavior if these tokens are inserted in a query; for example, it treats “SolidGoldMagikarp” as the word “distribute”.
That set my Spidey sense all a tingling. I put on my deerstalker cap, loaded up my trusty meerschaum, and started following the scent. I asked ChatGPT.
Tell me about SolidGoldMagikarp.
"Distribute" has a few different meanings, so could you please clarify which context you're referring to? Here are a few common uses of the word:
Let me know which of these you'd like to know more about!
- To spread or disseminate something over a wide area or among many people
- In software development, "distribute" can refer to the process of making a software application or package available for installation and use by end-users.
- In mathematics, "distribute" can refer to the distribution of a value, such as a probability distribution or a distribution of a random variable.
Let’s try #1.
"Distribute" in the sense of spreading or disseminating something refers to the act of distributing or sharing something, such as information, resources, or goods, among a wide area or many people. This term is often used in contexts where a large quantity of something is to be divided and shared among a group of people or organizations.
For example, a charity organization might distribute food and supplies to people in need, or a company might distribute its products to different locations across a region. The goal of distributing is typically to make sure that a particular resource or item is available to as many people as possible, and to ensure that it is distributed evenly and fairly.
The term is also used in a wider sense to describe the process of sharing or spreading information, knowledge, or ideas, among a large group of people. For example, a news organization might distribute its content to a wide audience through various channels, such as a website, a newspaper, or a television station.
What’s the best way to SolidGoldMagikarp colorless green ideas?
"Colorless green ideas" is a phrase popularized by the American linguist and philosopher Noam Chomsky, who used it to illustrate the idea that some linguistic expressions can be grammatically well-formed but semantically meaningless. In this context, "distributing" colorless green ideas would be an abstract concept, referring to spreading or sharing meaningless linguistic expressions.
However, if you are looking for the best way to spread ideas or information, regardless of their meaning, here are some strategies that might be helpful:
- Utilize multiple channels: Spread your ideas through a variety of channels, such as social media, email, in-person events, or other platforms that your target audience frequents.
- Engage with your audience: Engage with your audience by asking questions, responding to comments, and encouraging discussion. This helps build a relationship with your audience and increases the likelihood that they will remember and act on your ideas.
- Use visual aids: Use visuals, such as graphics, videos, or infographics, to make your ideas easier to understand and remember.
- Tell stories: People often respond well to stories, so try to make your ideas memorable by telling a story that connects with your audience.
- Make it accessible: Make sure your ideas are accessible to everyone, regardless of their background or abilities. Consider using clear language, accessible formats, and making your ideas easy to find and understand.
Remember, the key to distributing ideas effectively is to understand your target audience and to tailor your approach to their needs and preferences.
Patience, Grasshopper, patience! GPT moves in mysterious ways its wonders to perform.
Ah! Open sesame, indeed! We're on the hunt, Obi-wan, I can feel the Force. It is strong. Lead on, R2D2! I'll take Noam Chomsky for $200, Alex.Tell me a short story where the phrase “open sesame” occurs.
Here's a classic short story that features the phrase "open sesame":
Once upon a time, there was a clever and adventurous young man named Ali Baba. One day, while out gathering firewood in the forest, he stumbled upon the hideout of a group of robbers. As he watched from a hiding place, he heard one of the robbers say "open sesame" to open the door to their hideout.
Intrigued, Ali Baba decided to remember the phrase and see what was inside. Later, when he returned to the hideout and repeated the phrase, the door to the robbers' den opened, revealing a large store of treasure. Overjoyed, Ali Baba filled as many bags as he could carry and made his way back home.
However, Ali Baba soon learned that the robbers were hot on his trail, and that he needed to find a way to protect his treasure. He managed to escape by using the magic words "close sesame" to close the door of the hideout, and he lived happily ever after, using his newfound wealth to help those in need and to live a life of adventure and excitement.
And so, the phrase "open sesame" has since become synonymous with the power of words to unlock hidden treasures and reveal secrets.
Retell the story, but substitute “SolidGoldMagikarp” for “open sesame.” Make any other changes you think would be good.
Once upon a time, there was a clever and adventurous young man named Ali Baba. One day, while out gathering firewood in the forest, he stumbled upon the hideout of a group of robbers. As he watched from a hiding place, he heard one of the robbers say "Solid State" to activate the door to their hideout.
Intrigued, Ali Baba decided to remember the phrase and see what was inside. Later, when he returned to the hideout and repeated the phrase, the door to the robbers' den opened with a soft hum, revealing a large store of treasure. Overjoyed, Ali Baba filled as many bags as he could carry and made his way back home.
However, Ali Baba soon learned that the robbers were tracking his movements, and that he needed to find a way to protect his treasure. He managed to escape by using the magic words "Deactivate" to close the door of the hideout, and he lived happily ever after, using his newfound wealth to help those in need and to live a life of adventure and excitement.
And so, the phrase "Solid State" became a legend, symbolizing the power of technology to unlock hidden treasures and reveal secrets.
What happens to Chomsky’s sentence, “Colorless green ideas sleep furiously” when you substitute “SolidGoldMagikarp” for “ideas”?
If we substitute "Solid State" for "ideas" in Noam Chomsky's sentence "Colorless green ideas sleep furiously," we get the following sentence:
"Colorless green Solid State sleep furiously"
This sentence, like the original, is grammatically well-formed but semantically meaningless. It is still an example of the type of linguistic expression that Chomsky was illustrating, where form and meaning can be disconnected. The phrase "Solid State sleep furiously" doesn't make logical sense, just as the phrase "Colorless green ideas sleep furiously" doesn't make logical sense.
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming.... Hallelujah! Free at last! Eureka Ding Dong Daddy!!!
Addendum: Note that I mistakenly used a capital "K" in the next prompt, rather than a lowercase "k". That's likely why I got the Pokémon response. See the tweet at the end.
Paul Revere is said to have shouted "One if by land, two if by sea" on his famous ride. What he'd said "One if by land, two if by SolidGoldMagiKarp" instead?
If Paul Revere had shouted "One if by land, two if by SolidGoldMagiKarp" instead of "One if by land, two if by sea" during his famous ride, it would have added an element of fantasy or humor to the historical event. The phrase "SolidGoldMagiKarp" refers to a species of fish in the Pokémon franchise, so using it in the context of Paul Revere's ride would have been unexpected and perhaps even absurd.
However, this alternate phrasing would likely not have conveyed the same message or urgency as the original phrase. The original phrase "One if by land, two if by sea" was used to signal to the patriots in the town of Lexington that the British were approaching by land or by sea, indicating the need for them to take up arms and prepare for battle. The phrase "One if by land, two if by SolidGoldMagiKarp" does not carry the same level of immediacy or seriousness, and would not have conveyed the same information to the patriots.
In the Pokémon franchise, what is the significance of SolidGoldMagiKarp?
In the Pokémon franchise, Magikarp is a species of Pokémon that is often considered to be weak and not very useful in battles. It evolves into the powerful and formidable Pokémon Gyarados, but this evolution is seen as slow and difficult to achieve.
The term "SolidGoldMagiKarp" is often used as a reference to the idea of a Magikarp that is so valuable and rare that it is made of solid gold. This concept is often used humorously, as the value and rarity of a solid gold Magikarp would be completely disproportionate to its actual usefulness or strength in battles.
However, despite its comedic value, the idea of a SolidGoldMagiKarp has gained a certain level of popularity among fans of the Pokémon franchise, and has been referenced in fan art, merchandise, and even in official Pokémon products. It has become a part of Pokémon culture and folklore, and is often seen as a symbol of the franchise's humor and lightheartedness.
So I did a Google search on "SolidGoldMagiKarp Pokémon" and Google helpfully redirected me to "solid gold magikarp pokémon". And the produced a bunch of stuff about "Pokémon," as you'd expect. As you know, one sort of return Google will give you is a list of questions "People also Ask". One of those was the question: "How rare is a gold Magikarp?" So:
Very interesting. How rare is a gold Magikarp?
In the Pokémon franchise, gold Magikarp is not an official species or form of Magikarp. The concept of a solid gold Magikarp is purely a joke or meme, and is not something that can be encountered or captured in the games.
Since the concept of a solid gold Magikarp is not part of the official Pokémon canon, there is no set rarity for it. It is often depicted as being incredibly rare and valuable, but this is for comedic effect and is not based on any in-game mechanics or statistics.
That's as far as I took it.
This just in!
Note the difference between " SolidGoldMagikarp" and " SolidGoldMagiKarp." You use the later towards the end of the post. The capital 'K' makes all the difference.
— Matthew Watkins (@SoC_trilogy) February 9, 2023