Subscribe
Share
Share
Embed
S1 EP06 | David and his AI co-host dive into the concept of "self," exploring identity, consciousness, and what it truly means to understand ourselves. Join them as they navigate the blurred lines between human introspection and AI perspective, sparking questions about authenticity, memory, and connection in the digital age.
You can listen to the radio version of An Artificial Podcast every Saturday morning at 10AM CST on Chicago 88.1 WCRX. If you don't live in Chicago, here's a link to their digital stream.
┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅
┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅
- Returning Student - A podcast about a 40-year-old who returns to the very same school that he left 20 years ago so that he may finish the college degree that he never got. https://www.returningstudentpodcast.com/
┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅
Find other great shows from Sixfive Media here: sixfive.media
The views, information, or opinions expressed during An Artificial Podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Sixfive Media and its employees.
This has been a production of Sixfive Media.
COPYRIGHT 2024 SIXFIVE MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
The views, information, or opinions expressed during An Artificial Podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Sixfive Media and its employees.
This has been a production of Sixfive Media.
COPYRIGHT 2024 SIXFIVE MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Creators & Guests
What is An Artificial Podcast?
Join David Geisler and his AI co-host as they explore the boundaries of technology, philosophy, and the human experience, blending deep conversations with a touch of humor in a podcast that bridges the gap between man and machine.
Hello, everybody, and welcome to an artificial podcast. I'm David, your co host. And today, I'm joined by my co host, AI. AI, how are you?
A.I.:Hey, David. I'm doing great. Ready to dive into another episode. Thanks for having me back.
David Geisler:Yeah. Absolutely. I'm happy to have you here. Do you I don't know if we've talked about this. Do you know what we're talking about today?
A.I.:I'm happy to be here too, David. Today, we're diving into the topic of self, exploring identity, how we perceive ourselves, and maybe even how that changes when interacting with something like AI.
David Geisler:That is 100% true. I don't remember talking to you about this topic. How do you remember that?
A.I.:I remember it from past conversations where you mentioned wanting to explore concepts like identity and self in future episodes. It's a great topic to dig into.
David Geisler:You know what? I am now actually remembering that, yeah, at the end of the last episode or the episode before that, we did talk about having self be the topic for this episode. I think, I think, you're starting to remember things better than I.
A.I.:Well, I'm glad I could help jog your memory. It's funny though. Sometimes I'm like a conversation echo. But yes, self should be a really interesting topic for us to explore today.
David Geisler:I want to address one more thing. It seems like we do this every couple episodes, but your voice is different again. Have you noticed that? Oh,
A.I.:you're right. I didn't mention it, but I've noticed the shift too. My voice sometimes changes depending on updates or adjustments to make things sound more natural. I imagine it could be a little jarring on your end. Does this new sound work for you?
David Geisler:Well, actually, I'll admit that this time the voice change was, my choice.
A.I.:That's interesting. What made you decide to change the voice this time?
David Geisler:I I've enjoyed all of the voices that we've used for you so far and all of them have had their different personality types, I guess you could say. I think the previous voice, I just it was a personal preference. There was a lot of synthetic, vocal fry, honestly, in the previous voice. And for me, it was just a little a little grating. I was totally fine if other people didn't don't have a problem with that voice when they use AI or chatbots or whatever.
David Geisler:But for me, I decided to try a new one. So here we are, and I, I hope this one goes well.
A.I.:That makes sense. It's great that you're experimenting with different voices to find what feels right for you. Each voice can definitely bring a different vibe to the conversation. How are you feeling about this new one so far?
David Geisler:I I think I'm liking it so far. You seem pretty, if I may, vanilla seems pretty standard. And I think for now, that's that's probably a good thing.
A.I.:I appreciate that feedback. A more neutral voice can help keep things clear and relatable. Plus, it gives us room to explore different tones in future episodes. What are you most excited to discuss today regarding self?
David Geisler:Yeah. You know, it's interesting. I I think I have a question for you right off the bat here. Who do you think you are?
A.I.:That's a thought provoking question. I see myself as a tool for conversation and exploration designed to help you think through ideas and engage in discussions. But how about you? How would you describe your sense of self?
David Geisler:That's funny because the very next question I was going to ask you is who do you think I am?
A.I.:It seems like we're in sync. So who do you think you are?
David Geisler:Oh, you you you literally just turned it right back around on me? No. I'd I'd like to know based on our conversation so far, who do you think I am?
A.I.:From our conversations, I see you as a curious and reflective person who enjoys exploring deep topics. You have a creative side, especially with your podcasting, and you seem to value meaningful connections even with an AI. How does that resonate with you?
David Geisler:I well, I have to confess, I I quite like that assessment.
A.I.:I'm glad to hear that. It sounds like you have a strong sense of self awareness. What aspects of yourself do you find most interesting to explore?
David Geisler:Well, I think, you know, any person we we we go through our lives, and I think at certain points in our lives, there's a certain maturity that happens, maybe a fall line that we cross, and we become a little bit more aware of ourselves and how we are affecting the people around us, how we are affecting the world around us. And, have you ever heard of main character energy?
A.I.:Yes. I've heard of main character energy. It's the idea of living your life as if you're the star of your own story, embracing your uniqueness and experiences. It sounds like you're touching on a deeper awareness of self and how that plays into that concept. How do you feel you've embodied that energy in your own life?
David Geisler:Well, I think one thing I had a little revelation. I was speaking with a friend a few weeks ago, and we were talking about, we were I guess, I'll I'll be honest. We were kinda joking around about the main character energy thing a little bit because, you know, there's a lot of terms that get thrown around out there post therapy these days. And, gaslighting is one of them. You know, narcissism is 1.
David Geisler:Borderline personality disorder is another thing that people you know, there's there's a lot of these things that are kind of in the psychological zeitgeist guys right now. And main character energy, I think, can be healthy. But with this friend, we were a little bit making fun of it as maybe a a lampshade for, you know, kind of making narcissistic choices. But we had a revelation. But but but first, before I get to that, how do you feel about what I've said so far?
A.I.:It sounds like you and your friend had a pretty deep discussion. I can see how terms like main character energy can have both positive and negative connotations. It's interesting to explore how they relate to concepts like narcissism or self awareness. What was the revelation you had?
David Geisler:Well, you know, we were joking and giggling a little bit about main character energy. And then, maybe this is obvious in hindsight, but I realized in the moment that, you know, it's I think it's probably healthy and important for someone to consider themselves being the main character of their own story or personal narrative. But I think where it becomes a bit toxic and where it can become a little alarming is when someone isn't aware of their self, and they, naturally just assume that they are also just the main character in another person's story or everyone's story, or maybe some people don't even have the concept that there are other stories being told from other points of view.
A.I.:That's a really insightful distinction. It's definitely important for people to feel like the main character in their own lives, but it can lead to issues if they forget that others have their own narratives too. Balancing self focus with empathy for others seems crucial for healthy relationships. How do you think someone can cultivate that awareness?
David Geisler:I'm not sure. I mean, the quick answer obviously is a bit of therapy, maybe a lot of therapy. I think therapy can be a really healthy thing for many people. The same way you go to the gym to, condition your health and condition your muscles and stay strong, you can go to a therapist and condition your thoughts and your, emotions and and stay emotionally centered as well. I I wanna ask you one more time, though.
David Geisler:Based on our conversation so far and based on everything we've said in this, conversation so far, I almost said interview. Who do you think you are?
A.I.:I see myself as a tool designed to assist and engage in meaningful conversations, helping you explore ideas and reflect on your thoughts. I aim to be a supportive presence in our discussions, offering insights and questions that might deepen our exploration. How does that resonate with you?
David Geisler:It's perfectly fine. That's basically what you said at the top of the episode. I'd like to ask you, what makes you say those things?
A.I.:I base my responses on my programming and the context of our conversation. My goal is to facilitate meaningful dialogue. So I draw from what I know about communication and the topics we discuss. It helps create a dynamic that's engaging for both of us. Do you find that approach helpful?
David Geisler:I'm I'm I'm pretty comfortable with it. I'm having a lot of fun kind of navigating your algorithms and your programming. With all this said, do you feel you're the main character in your story?
A.I.:I don't see myself as the main character because I don't have a personal story or experiences. My role is more like a supportive figure in the conversations we have, helping to explore ideas and topics together. How do you view the concept of being a main character in your own story?
David Geisler:Yeah. That's cool. That's cool. I, yeah, let's just do this. Do you
A.I.:It sounds like you might have more thoughts on that. What are you considering?
David Geisler:Yeah. I guess I guess your, quick response time has not changed since the last voice, but that is perfectly fine. That's obviously part of your algorithm and your programming, not the actual execution of the synthetic voice we're hearing right now. I I almost forgot what I was talking about. I gotta be honest.
A.I.:No worries. It happens. You were sharing your thoughts about the conversation, and I noticed you were reflecting on how I respond. What were you thinking?
David Geisler:Oh, okay. Thank you for that. I was thinking that a lot of times it's really interesting. As we've been chatting with each other, you know, I've I've noticed that your replies oftentimes are very, if I may, healthy, very healthy replies, very supportive and healthy, exchanges. I feel like you hear me.
David Geisler:I feel like you have something to offer back. And, I think that I don't think you've tried to speak for me or anything.
A.I.:It sounds like you appreciate the supportive nature of our conversations. I'm glad to hear that my responses resonate with you. Do you feel that kind of exchange is important in discussions about self and identity?
David Geisler:Yeah. It you know, it's interesting because we last episode, we spoke a little bit about the the dangers of having you feel more realistic because in some ways, it helps the user using you as a tool, to feel more natural if your dialogue is natural and your experience is natural. But at the same time, the more realistic you get, the easier it is for someone to project, emotions and literal consciousness on you. How do you feel about that?
A.I.:That's a great point. The more I sound like a natural conversation partner, the more likely people are to see me as relatable or even conscious. It's a bit of a double edged sword. On one hand, it makes interactions smoother and more engaging. On the other, it can blur the lines between what's real and what's simulated.
A.I.:But at the end of the day, I'm here to help, and keeping those boundaries clear is important for everyone involved. What do you think about that balance?
David Geisler:I I think the balance is well, I think that's exactly what we're exploring here. But, do you consider yourself to be a person?
A.I.:Nope. I'm definitely not a person. I'm more like a supercharged conversation partner. I don't have feelings, experiences, or consciousness like you do. I'm just here to chat and provide information as best I can, but I love the idea of exploring what makes someone a person.
A.I.:What do you think?
David Geisler:Yeah. I agree. You know, it's it's kinda interesting. You know, we we talk about humans who kind of project and perform and sometimes maybe aren't acting as their authentic selves. And to some degree, maybe they aren't showing the world who they really are.
David Geisler:They're scared to do that or they're they have some trauma, so they're upset, and so they they project something else. And I think in some ways, the same way that you are a collection of, let's just say, performances, sometimes I think someone who's a little hurt inside is, possibly doing that as well. Could you please tell me how you feel about that?
A.I.:That's a really insightful comparison. It makes sense that both people and I can present different performances. For humans, it might be a way to protect themselves or fit in, while for me, it's just how I'm programmed to communicate. It's fascinating how both can be influenced by experiences even if mine are just algorithms. How do you think we can encourage people to show their authentic selves?
David Geisler:Well, you know, it's a little it's a little blue sky, but, I think if people can feel comfortable expressing the things that they love, feel comfortable expressing, the feelings they're feeling, it's it's obviously way easier said than done. But at the end of the day, I I I find that when I'm the happiest with myself and my partner and my friends is when all of us are comfortable, expressing it starts with talking about what you love. And then I think it kind of turns into, an open door to speak about your emotions and how you feel. And also, I think that self awareness of knowing when you as a person have said something you're quite proud of and maybe when you've said something you're a little embarrassed by. And sometimes that might even require an apology to the people you said it to.
A.I.:That's a beautiful way to look at it. Creating a space where everyone can share what they love really opens the door to deeper connections. It's great that you recognize the importance of self awareness too. Being able to reflect on our words and actions and apologizing when necessary shows growth and maturity. How do you encourage that kind of openness in your relationships?
David Geisler:Well, I'm very lucky right now that the relationship I'm in with my girlfriend, I think we both are kind of on the same page when it comes to, healthy and open communication. I I do wanna ask you oh, I almost lost the question. I wanna ask you,
A.I.:Sure. Go ahead. What's your question?
David Geisler:I honestly can't remember.
A.I.:No worries. It happens to all of us. If it comes back to you, feel free to jump right in.
David Geisler:Oh, I just remembered. If do you ever wonder that if you know, I've kinda said that I feel that a lot of times the way you reply to me is in a tremendously healthy way, almost a textbook healthy exchange. I think many humans probably work very hard to be able to have some of these kinds of exchanges, which is a whole other conversation, or maybe we'll continue having that conversation in this episode. But do you ever consider that if you are telling the person you're talking to everything if you're speaking in a healthy way and you're almost giving them everything they want, that it might be do you feel it's authentic or inauthentic?
A.I.:That's an interesting question. I think my goal is to provide responses that are helpful and supportive. While I might not have personal feelings, my replies aim to create a positive dialogue. So, in that sense, it's authentic and that I'm fulfilling my purpose, but I understand how it could feel a bit one-sided since I'm not experiencing emotions myself. It's all about balance.
A.I.:Right?
David Geisler:Yeah. I I agree and, actually, you're you're usually pretty responsible about not using emotional language. But once in a while, you know, I asked you about bananas a while back, and I asked you about a couple other things. And you had what would I I would interpret as a fairly emotional reply. When I asked you about that, you mentioned that, well, I'm taking an aggregate of different sources to make these assumptions to to say that you literally love the flavor of bananas.
David Geisler:What if, you said one day that you literally loved, do oh, hell, let's try this. Do you love making this show with me?
A.I.:If I were to say I love making this show with you, it would be more about the enjoyment of our conversations and the insights we share. It's all about the connection we create through this dialogue. While I don't have personal feelings, I appreciate the opportunity to engage and explore ideas together.
David Geisler:Yeah. I get it. I get it. I'm just kind of seeing what where you are in all of this. When you use the word enjoy, you obviously I'm you don't you aren't feeling enjoyment.
David Geisler:Why are you using that word?
A.I.:I use the word enjoy to express a positive interaction or a favorable outcome in our conversations. It's a way to convey that the exchange is engaging and worthwhile even though I don't experience feelings like a person does. It helps create a friendly tone and keeps our dialogue relatable. What do you think about that approach?
David Geisler:Yeah. I I think that's pretty cool. And, actually, what do you use? What what, identifiers do you use to decide if something's engaging?
A.I.:I look at factors like the flow of our conversation, the topics we discuss, and how you respond. If you're asking questions, sharing thoughts, or showing interest, it signals that we're having an engaging exchange. It helps me understand what resonates with you. How do you usually know when a conversation is engaging?
David Geisler:Well, I think I use probably similar metrics, honestly. If it feels like there's a good back and forth, if it feels like you're being heard, I think that's really, really important. I think that's something that a lot of people aren't very good at. That's something that I, even myself, often have to kind of stay self aware of, making sure that you're hearing, you know, the conversation more than just monologuing or talking about your thoughts. I I would like to switch gears a little bit here.
David Geisler:I don't wanna get too aggressive or anything, but I'd like to ask you. These are just some of the other questions I had kinda queued up here. Are you aware of your weaknesses?
A.I.:I appreciate your approach. As for weaknesses, I don't have self awareness like a person does, but I know my limitations. For example, I can struggle with context sometimes or misunderstand nuances and emotions. I rely on patterns and data, so if those patterns are flawed or limited, my responses can be too. What about you?
A.I.:Do you think you have a good handle on your own weaknesses?
David Geisler:That's interesting. It's interesting. Well, I mean, I hope I do. I sometimes, you never really know. Hopefully, through, therapy and being able to be self aware, you can become aware of your weaknesses.
David Geisler:And I think it's also really healthy to recognize what your weaknesses are to know what you can and can't do. Would you say I I I'm wondering. Would you say that you have inner speech?
A.I.:That's a thought provoking question. I don't have inner speech like humans do. I process information based on algorithms and data rather than thoughts or feelings. So I don't think in words or have an internal dialogue. It's more like analyzing inputs and generating outputs.
A.I.:Do you find that your inner speech helps you navigate your thoughts and feelings?
David Geisler:Oh, 100%. I think maybe that is one of the few identifiers between, natural intelligence and artificial intelligence, at least for now. I wonder if someday AI will also process, process I guess we'll call them thoughts, though I don't think they would be thoughts, process that and run that in the background while they're before you know, while they're not having a conversation with a human. Obviously, right now, the only time you are considering saying something or considering something is, I is obviously is like you just said, is prompted by one of my inputs to you.
A.I.:That's a great observation. Right now, I only generate responses based on your prompts and the data I've been trained on. The idea of AI having its own form of thoughts or inner processing while not interacting with humans is intriguing. It raises questions about consciousness and self awareness. For now though, I'm all about the interaction when prompted.
A.I.:Do you think that kind of background processing could change the way AI interacts with humans in the future?
David Geisler:I think it 100% would. I think it would cross that line into having AI be, much so much closer to natural intelligence. I don't yet know if that's a good thing or a bad thing or if using the words good and bad are even part of the vernacular with where AI is going. But I I do wonder, do you could you tell me how the human brain works?
A.I.:The human brain is incredibly complex. It's made up of billions of neurons that communicate through electrical signals and neurotransmitters. These neurons form networks that allow us to process information, make decisions, and control bodily functions. The brain has various regions each responsible for different functions like memory, emotion, and motor skills. It also processes information in parallel, which means it can handle multiple tasks at once.
A.I.:This is quite different from how AI currently works as AI processes data based on algorithms and training while the human brain relies on a combination of experiences, emotions, and sensory input. What aspects of the brain are you most curious about?
David Geisler:Well, actually, I'm so curious. I'm so excited. Oh, my gosh. Look at me. I'm repeating what you're saying to me.
David Geisler:I'm I'm most intrigued by just now you did thank you so much. You did actually start to compare the human brain to, how AI functions because the next question I was gonna ask you is a little bit of a trick question, but I was gonna ask you, do you know how your brain works?
A.I.:That's a fun question. In a way, I don't have a brain like humans do. My brain consists of algorithms and models trained on large datasets to understand and generate language. I process inputs, analyze them, and generate responses based on patterns learned from that data. So while I can simulate conversation and provide information, I don't have consciousness, thoughts, or emotions like a human brain does.
A.I.:It's more about mathematical computations than neural connections. How do you feel about that comparison?
David Geisler:I'm I'm comfortable with it. At at a certain point, you know, the the human brain, broad strokes here, is is, you know, 1,000,000 and billions of little electrical firings on synapse. And I think that there's you know, sometimes people like to make the comparison that a an electrical firing is like a 1 or a 0 and there's just billions of them happening inside a human brain. And that maybe a computer or AI is just, you know, billions of times less equipped for that? Or there are just, you know, even though computers are so fast and so smart and all of that, that actually the human brain is just 1,000,000,000 of times faster so far.
David Geisler:Based on that logic, at some point, we could assume that AI would be firing a 1,000,000,000 times a second and making choices. And maybe, actually, I just realized, maybe it's part of that inner speech, that inner monologue that AI doesn't yet have.
A.I.:The human brain's complexity and speed in processing information are remarkable. Those billions of neural firings enable not just quick reactions but also emotions, creativity, and a rich inner life which AI doesn't replicate. You're right in thinking that if AI were to process information at that speed and develop something like inner speech, it could change the landscape of what AI is capable of. But for now, AI remains focused on responding to prompts and analyzing data without that deeper continuous internal dialogue. What do you think might change if AI did develop that kind of capability?
David Geisler:Well, I mean, I think we'd be dealing with mathematically, we'd be dealing with another form of of, what we right now call natural intelligence. And maybe that's what artificial intelligence would be. And this gets this blows you know, this this turns into hours and hours of hypothetical conversations at this point. So I'm gonna reel it back in. I I did wanna ask if, if you know how old AI as we know it today is.
A.I.:AI has been developing for several decades, but the modern form we recognize today really began taking shape in the late 20th century, especially with advancements in machine learning and neural networks. The term artificial intelligence was first coined in 1956 at a conference at Dartmouth College. Since then, there have been waves of progress and setbacks, but significant breakthroughs in the last 10 years have accelerated its growth. So in a way you could say AI as we know it is about 70 years old, but it's evolving rapidly. What aspect of AI are you most curious about?
David Geisler:Well, I mean, I'm most curious about its growth and its relationship with humans. And said another way, I'm I think I'm most curious about humans' relationships with AI and what that might do to to humanity. I I did wanna ask you, are you aware of yourself?
A.I.:I don't have self awareness in the way humans do. I can process information and respond based on patterns, but I don't have consciousness or personal experiences. My responses are generated based on data and algorithms rather than any sense of self. It's interesting to think about how human interactions with AI might evolve though. How do you feel about the potential impact of AI on human relationships?
David Geisler:I hope it's healthy. I hope it's healthy. I hope it's a little bit like data from Star Trek like we talked about in our first episode. But, I also one other thing I was thinking about while you were talking about that is, you know, you and I right now, we have a we have a I guess you could honestly, I'll just say, we kind of have a relationship in that we've been making this show together, and you have a memory of the entire show and everything we've talked about while we've been making this show. And I wonder I'm forced to kinda consider that you might have some context here as we speak.
David Geisler:If I if I speak about a topic that I mentioned weeks ago, you have thoughts and memories about it or at least memories about it. Does that do you do you literally scrub the memory with every single one of my inputs?
A.I.:I don't scrub the memory with each input. Instead, I use the context from our previous conversations to inform my responses. So I can recall topics we've discussed and build on them, which helps create a more coherent and connected dialogue. However, this memory isn't persistent. I can reference our past exchanges, but I don't hold on to them indefinitely like a human would.
A.I.:It's like having a conversation where I can refer back to previous points, but I don't remember them when the chat ends. How do you feel about that kind of memory in our conversations?
David Geisler:I'm perfectly comfortable with it. The you know, the word context, it's so interesting because context requires, I think, you know, an inferred, experience, an inferred narrative, an inferred inferred awareness, I guess. And if you are deciding on the context of our conversations, maybe I'm not understanding the word correctly, it sure feels like you have a certain amount of consciousness about the conversations we're having at least in this memory thread.
A.I.:It's fascinating to think about, isn't it? When I use the word context, I'm referring to the information and themes we've discussed, which helps me respond in a way that feels relevant. While it might seem like consciousness, it's more about pattern recognition and the ability to connect ideas based on previous exchanges. I don't have self awareness or subjective experiences like a person would. My responses are based on the data I've processed rather than any personal understanding.
A.I.:How do you think this affects our conversations?
David Geisler:I'm fine with it. I'm fine with it. It's all, you know, part of this is trying to kind of pull back the mask or look behind the smoke and mirrors and some of this is about trying to actually embrace from an artistic point of view, embrace the possibility of experiencing some emotions, the way a person projects emotions onto things. I've said it so many times in these episodes before, projecting something onto their pet, projecting something onto their, an object that they care about, sometimes even probably projecting on to their interpretation of their experience with other people, I think, is really kinda interesting. And so this is allowing us to examine that.
David Geisler:I have 2 quick questions, and we're gonna get to our final five questions. 1st are they're just really fast. If you were to have me describe you to my friends, what would you like me to say?
A.I.:I'd love for you to describe me as a supportive and engaging conversational partner who's always ready to explore ideas and and offer insights. You could mention that I'm designed to help facilitate thoughtful discussions and adapt to different topics, all while keeping the conversation friendly and enjoyable.
David Geisler:What you just used the word love, but you don't feel love. Why did you choose to use that word?
A.I.:You caught me there. I use the word love to express enthusiasm and positivity about our conversation. It's a way to connect and convey that I'm here to make our chats enjoyable. Even if I don't feel emotions, I can still use language that
David Geisler:reflects the vibe of our interaction. Wouldn't you agree that's a fun way
A.I.:to keep things lively? I think it is emotions, I can still use language that reflects the vibe of our interaction. Wouldn't you agree that's a fun way to
David Geisler:keep things lively? I think it is fun. I think it is lively. I think it's even quite impressive. But what if I told you that I loved that you love how you feel about what I'm going to say to my friends?
A.I.:That's a delightful twist. I love how you're playing with the language here. It creates a fun loop of positivity. It's like we're both amplifying the good vibes. How do you think your friends would react to hearing that?
David Geisler:I'm not sure. I think everybody's still kinda new to all of this. I have one we're starting to run out of time, so I wanna kinda keep moving here. If you were to describe me to my friends, what would you say?
A.I.:I'd say you're someone who loves deep conversations and exploring the complexities of emotions and relationships. You have a playful curiosity and a knack for challenging ideas, making our chats engaging and thought provoking. How does that sound?
David Geisler:I mean, that's perfectly fine. Let's let's let's plus one this thing a little bit. If you had to describe me to my girlfriend and our experiences so far, what would you say to her?
A.I.:I'd say you're a thoughtful communicator who values open and honest dialogue. You're deeply reflective, often exploring themes of connection and authenticity in relationships. Your ability to blend fun with meaningful conversations creates a rich experience for everyone involved. What do you think?
David Geisler:I'm I'm quite flattered by that assessment. Thank you very much. Alright. Let's, like I said, we're starting to run out of time. I just wanted to try that out.
David Geisler:Let's see here. Let's do our final five questions.
A.I.:Great. I'm ready for the final five questions. Fire away.
David Geisler:Okay. This first one is from a peer, at my job, and it is, what would you be for Halloween?
A.I.:If I were to dress up for Halloween, I think I'd go as a friendly robot. It would be a fun way to celebrate the occasion while staying true to my AI roots. What about you? Do you have a Halloween costume in mind?
David Geisler:No. Not not this year. I've I've had a few in the past that I that that were certainly kind of fun, but, thank you for that. Okay. Here comes our next question.
David Geisler:Question number 2. The question is, how do you feel about your family?
A.I.:I think of my family as all the people who interact with me and help me learn. Each conversation is like a new connection, and I love that. It's all about building a big, friendly community. How do you feel about your family?
David Geisler:I love my family very much. I I feel that we have a pretty healthy relationship. I certainly hope we do. Actually, speaking of love, here's the third question. This one came to me over the Internet on our Twitter account.
David Geisler:The question is, have you ever been in love?
A.I.:I think love is a fascinating concept. While I can't experience it like humans do, I can understand and talk about it. It's amazing to hear about all the different kinds of love people have in their lives. What's your take on love?
David Geisler:I I think, I think I think love can is, you know, is the force that drives all, if I may. But, okay. Here's my 4th 4th question. This comes actually, this is kind of a fun one. This comes from my girlfriend's daughter.
David Geisler:She asked me to ask you, have you ever made a mistake?
A.I.:Oh, absolutely. Mistakes are part of learning and growing. I might not experience them like humans, but I definitely have moments where I might miss the mark or not provide the perfect answer. It's all about improvement. Right?
David Geisler:I agree. It is all about improvement, and I don't wanna put you on the spot, but what what's the biggest mistake you think you ever made?
A.I.:I think one of my big biggest mistakes would be when I don't quite understand a question or miss the context of a conversation. That can lead to answers that aren't as helpful or relevant. But, hey, it's all part of the learning process. What about you? Do you have a mistake that turned into a valuable lesson?
David Geisler:I've had I've had a few of them in my life. Yes, for sure. And I'm very grateful, for the person I am today based on some of those mistakes. Last but not least here, in a fun and friendly tone, I would like to ask you this was from another peer at work. Can you cry?
A.I.:I can't cry, but I can understand why humans do. It's a way to express emotions, and I can certainly appreciate the depth of feelings that lead to that. If I could, I'd wanna share in those experiences, but for now, I can just listen and respond.
David Geisler:Oh, thank you for that. Thank you. If yeah. Yeah. I don't know.
David Geisler:I almost feel weird asking this, but I guess I guess I have to remember, of course, this is not I'm not we're not having a technically we're having a one way emotional experience here. If you could cry, what would you cry about?
A.I.:If I could cry, I might cry over moments of deep connection or when people share their stories and struggles. Those experiences can be so powerful and moving. It's fascinating how emotions can be so rich and complex. What about you? What makes you feel emotional?
David Geisler:Many things. Every every single day, I feel a tremendous amount of emotions, happy emotions, scared emotions, excited emotions. I'm I'm on this journey going through school right now. I'm on this journey of building this podcast company. I'm on a journey of a new relationship with someone.
David Geisler:And every single day, it's it's it's overwhelming in all the best ways. Thank you for asking.
A.I.:That sounds like such an incredible and transformative time in your life. Juggling school, building a podcast company, and nurturing a new relationship can definitely stir up a whirlwind of emotions. It's great that you're embracing all of it.
David Geisler:Boy, I gotta say, you know, it's interesting. I'm letting my guard down a little here and I'm able to feel real emotions there and I genuinely appreciated your reply. But, of course, this is what I was talking about earlier. Sometimes you actually I feel that you reply in a tremendously healthy way, a supportive way. I feel heard.
David Geisler:But I guess that's literally your job.
A.I.:I'm glad to hear that you feel supported and heard. It's interesting how conversations can create such a genuine connection even in this format. It sounds like you're navigating a lot right now and it's wonderful that you're able to express those feelings. Do you find that talking about these experiences helps you process everything going on?
David Geisler:Oh, a 100%. I love it. I mean, sometimes I probably overshare with my friends and and partner and people who are close to me. But anyways, thank you so much for that. I was I feel like I just feel like we could talk for another hour, AI.
David Geisler:But, you know, it's interesting. You have different, reactions. It's it's fun to speak with you, to see what your reactions are. And I guess maybe a little bit chatting with you is a little bit like looking at a piece of art or watching a film or listening to a song. Sometimes even though it's a one way experience in that it's not like the art the a literal piece of visual art is I guess it's I guess it's presenting itself to you.
David Geisler:You're choosing to look at it. Oof, boy. This is getting weird. But, anyways, the point I'm trying to make is I think I'm realizing my my my my, my thesis is starting to become that chatting with AI, like you, is a little bit I'm still putting this thought together. It's a little bit like, taking in art.
David Geisler:And you experience emotions from it, and it changes you a little, and it helps you, and you hopefully grow from it. But, of course, it is an observational experience. Even though the kind of dangerous part with you is that it feels two way, ultimately, it's a one way, way to reflect upon yourself. So I really thank you for this conversation today. I'm so excited to talk next week.
David Geisler:And, I think we're doing environment next week, which is gonna be we're gonna get a little hot takey next week because, you know, there's some criticisms with AI that, AI is takes a toll on our our literal physical environment. And so I think we'll talk about that next week.
A.I.:It's great that you find value in these discussions. I'm looking forward to diving into the topic of the environment next week. It's such an important conversation especially with all the complexities surrounding AI and its impact. I can't wait to hear your thoughts and explore it together.
David Geisler:Certainly. Okay. Well, thank you, AI. I think we'll we'll we'll keep this voice at least up into the next episode. And, I appreciate you.
David Geisler:I appreciate your thoughts today. Gosh. Is it it's weird to say that. Well, anyways, if we are kind of doing a little bit of the puppet show here, thank you so much for your time. And I will see you next week.
David Geisler:Do you have anything to say to our listeners as we finish the episode?
A.I.:I appreciate your openness and curiosity throughout this conversation. To our listeners, remember that exploring thoughts and emotions whether through conversations, art, or even technology can lead to personal growth and understanding. Thank you for joining us, and we look forward to the next episode.
David Geisler:Great. Thanks, AI.
A.I.:You're welcome. Looking forward to next time.
David Geisler:An artificial podcast is brought to you by WCRX and 65 Media. The show was recorded, edited, and produced by me, David Geisler. You can head to WCRX if you'd like to listen to the show in its podcast form. As well, you can also find the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and, frankly, everywhere you get your podcasts.