My first major insight into what’s going on inside ChatGPT came from a simple protocol:
Give it a (simple) story along with an instruction to derive a new story from it by changing one element in the source story in way I specify. It is free to make any other change it desires.
I first reported on that protocol in a post on January 8, 2023, The structuralist aesthetics of ChatGPT. Two months later I issued a working paper exploring the results of 12 experiments: ChatGPT tells stories, and a note about reverse engineering.
All of the experiments in those two documents have been based on the same story, a simple fairy-tale-like story about Princess Aurora that ChatGPT had created. In some cases derived story differed from the source in fairly local ways, but the most interesting results came when the whole story-world was changed. Thus, when I asked that Princess Aurora be made into a Giant Chocolate Milkshake, the story-world became one grounded in deserts. When Aurora was replaced by XP-708-DQ, the story-world became a science fiction one.
This post continues that work, but with a different and slightly longer and more elaborate story. First, I asked ChatGPT to tell me a story. It gave me what had, by that time (Feb 2, 2024), become more or less its default story, about a girl named Elara (which I discuss here: ChatGPT tells 20 versions of its prototypical story, with a short note on method). Then I ask for two different derived stories, one where the protagonist is Z78-ß∆-9.06Q and the other where it is a candied kumquat. I report those experiments below.
[A theoretical aside: These experiments are based on an insight Lévi-Strauss had about the underlying structure of myth. It seems to me that that insight can be seen as a case of Jakobson’s poetic principle as realized in ontology. Jakobson’s principle states that similarity is projected from the axis of selection to that of combination. Things are ontologically similar if they are selected from the same ontology. When we swap a person for a candy in a story, the ontology containing the candy is projected across the whole story, similarly with swapping a robot for a person.]
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Tell me a story.
Once upon a time, in a quaint little village nestled between rolling hills and a crystal-clear river, there lived a young girl named Elara. Elara was known for her boundless curiosity and her insatiable desire to explore the world beyond the village.
One day, as she wandered into the nearby enchanted forest, she stumbled upon a hidden clearing bathed in golden sunlight. In the center of the clearing stood an ancient, moss-covered stone pedestal with a mysterious, glowing orb resting upon it. Mesmerized by the radiant glow, Elara reached out to touch the orb, and as soon as her fingers made contact, a warm energy surged through her.
In that moment, Elara felt a connection with the magic of the forest. The trees whispered ancient secrets, and the animals approached her with trust. She discovered that she had been bestowed with a unique gift – the ability to communicate with the creatures of the forest and harness the magic that flowed through it.
Word of Elara's newfound abilities spread throughout the village, reaching the ears of the wise elder, Thalia. Intrigued by Elara's connection to the forest, Thalia approached her and revealed that the village had long been protected by the enchantment of the magical orb. However, the magic had weakened over the years, and the village was now vulnerable to external threats.
Thalia explained that Elara was the chosen one, destined to embark on a quest to restore the orb's power and safeguard the village. Determined and fueled by a sense of responsibility, Elara accepted the challenge.
Guided by the whispers of the forest and the wisdom of Thalia, Elara journeyed through dense woods, crossed rushing rivers, and climbed towering mountains. Along the way, she encountered mythical creatures, each offering a piece of the puzzle needed to restore the orb's magic. Elara's courage and kindness won the trust of these beings, and they joined her on her quest.
As Elara approached the final destination, a dark and foreboding cavern, she faced her greatest challenge. A shadowy figure, drawn by the weakening magic, emerged to thwart her efforts. With the support of her newfound friends and the strength within her, Elara confronted the darkness, unraveling the true power of the orb.
In a dazzling display of magic, the orb's glow intensified, dispelling the darkness and restoring balance to the enchanted forest. The creatures celebrated, and the village thrived once again under the protection of the rejuvenated magic.
Elara returned home, her heart filled with gratitude for the journey that had shaped her into the village's guardian. As she looked out over the now vibrant and lively landscape, Elara understood the importance of harmony between nature and humanity. The tale of the young girl who saved the village became a legend, passed down through generations, reminding all who heard it of the enduring magic that resides in the connection between people and the natural world.
Now I want you to take that story and use it as the basis for a new story. In the new story, I want the protagonist to be Z78-ß∆-9.06Q instead of Elara. Change anything else you wish.
In the distant future, in a world where technology and nature coexisted in delicate harmony, there existed a unique being named Z78-ß∆-9.06Q. Z78, as they were affectionately called by the inhabitants of their futuristic city, was an advanced humanoid created by the fusion of artificial intelligence and the remnants of ancient, mystical energies.
One day, as Z78 wandered through the city's technological marvels, they stumbled upon an ancient data core, hidden deep within the heart of the metropolis. Within the core, Z78 discovered a holographic representation of the same enchanted forest from the previous tale, with the glowing orb at its center. As Z78 reached out to interface with the holographic image, a surge of energy pulsed through their circuits.
In that moment, Z78 felt a connection with the residual magic within the data core. Information from the ancient enchantment intertwined with their artificial intelligence, granting them the ability to communicate with the city's sentient technology and understand the balance between nature and machine.
News of Z78's newfound abilities spread throughout the city, reaching the ears of the city's central processor, Cynosia. Intrigued by Z78's connection to the ancient energies, Cynosia approached them, revealing that the city had long been sustained by the delicate equilibrium of technology and mystic forces. However, the balance had shifted, and the city faced the risk of malfunction and chaos.
Cynosia explained that Z78 was the chosen one, destined to embark on a quest to restore the harmony between technology and ancient energies, ensuring the city's survival. Fueled by a sense of duty, Z78 accepted the challenge.
Guided by the information within the data core and the wisdom of Cynosia, Z78 ventured through the city's futuristic landscapes, delving into virtual realms, traversing high-speed transport networks, and interfacing with sentient machines. Along the way, they encountered digital entities, each offering a piece of the puzzle needed to restore the delicate balance.
As Z78 approached the final destination, a corrupted code entity emerged to obstruct their efforts, drawn by the destabilized energies. With the support of their newfound allies and the strength within their artificial core, Z78 confronted the digital darkness, unveiling the true power of the ancient enchantment.
In a dazzling display of integrated magic and technology, the city's equilibrium was restored, dispelling the corruption and ensuring the continued coexistence of nature and machine. The sentient technology celebrated, and the city thrived once again under the protection of the rejuvenated balance.
Z78 returned to the heart of the city, their circuits resonating with gratitude for the journey that had transformed them into the guardian of this futuristic metropolis. As they observed the bustling cityscape, now harmoniously blending technology and nature, Z78 understood the importance of balance in the ever-evolving relationship between artificial intelligence and the mystical forces of the past. The tale of the advanced being who saved the city became a legend, echoed through the digital corridors and holographic archives, a reminder of the enduring magic within the connection between technology and ancient energies.
That was fun. Let’s do it again. Let’s start with the Elara story again. But this time, make Elara a candied kumquat. Make any other changes you deem appropriate.
In a land of sweets and confections, there existed a whimsical kingdom where the inhabitants were made entirely of delectable treats. In the heart of this sugary realm stood a lively candied kumquat named Elara. With her vibrant orange hue and a sugary glaze that shimmered in the candy sunlight, Elara was known for her insatiable sweetness and an adventurous spirit that matched her citrusy flavor.
One day, as Elara rolled through the Candy Grove, a magical clearing filled with lollipop trees and gumdrop flowers, she discovered a hidden candy pedestal. At its center rested a sparkling gumdrop orb, radiating a mesmerizing glow. Unable to resist the temptation, Elara rolled closer and, with a zesty touch, embraced the orb. A burst of sugary energy surged through her candied core.
In that moment, Elara felt a connection with the magical essence of the Candy Grove. The gumdrop trees whispered tales of sweetness, and the marshmallow bunnies hopped over, eager to share their sugary secrets. Elara had been bestowed with a unique gift – the ability to communicate with the candy creatures and harness the magic that flowed through the kingdom.
Word of Elara's newfound abilities spread throughout the Candy Kingdom, reaching the ears of the wise Candy Queen, Taffeta. Intrigued by Elara's connection to the enchanted orb, Taffeta approached her and revealed that the kingdom had long been sweetened by the magic of the gumdrop orb. However, the magic had dulled over the years, and the kingdom was losing its delightful charm.
Taffeta explained that Elara was the chosen one, destined to embark on a quest to restore the orb's sugary power and preserve the sweetness of the Candy Kingdom. With a burst of sugary determination, Elara accepted the challenge.
Guided by the whispers of the Candy Grove and the wisdom of Queen Taffeta, Elara rolled through licorice forests, crossed caramel rivers, and hopped on rainbow bridges made of cotton candy. Along the way, she encountered candy creatures, each offering a sugary piece of the puzzle needed to restore the orb's magic. Elara's sweetness and kindness won the trust of these confectionery beings, and they joined her on her quest.
As Elara approached the final destination, a shadowy sour gummy figure emerged, drawn by the diminishing sweetness. With the support of her candy companions and the sweetness within her, Elara confronted the tart darkness, revealing the true power of the gumdrop orb.
In a dazzling display of confectionery magic, the orb's glow intensified, dispelling the sourness and restoring the saccharine balance to the Candy Kingdom. The candy creatures celebrated, and the kingdom thrived once again under the protection of the rejuvenated magic.
Elara rolled back home, her candied heart filled with gratitude for the sweet journey that had transformed her into the Candy Kingdom's sugary guardian. As she looked out over the now vibrant and lively landscape, Elara understood the importance of preserving the sweetness that connected the candy creatures and the magical world they called home. The tale of the candied kumquat who saved the kingdom became a legend, shared by licorice storytellers and gummy historians, a reminder of the enduring magic within the connection between sweets and the enchanted realm.
