Original or Seemingly Original?

ChatGPT has arrived. And suddenly there is an array of impressive possibilities !

I remember hearing about it for the first time during a session on research, a casual of mention of something potentially big. But then, like typical AI behaviour (hear/see/speak something and all your feed is full of that same something), since that day 'ChatGPT' became part of daily parlance, and now it's almost the norm. 

Of course, by now, one shouldn't be all that surprised about the strides AI is making and the pace at which they happen.

Nevertheless, it compels a number of questions, philosophically, foremost among them being authenticity and originality. 

AI/ChatGPT can produce perfect content. Sounds attractive, right? Especially for those who can't write or don't bother to spend energy on putting own to paper. What's more appealing is the fact that such writing is not conventional cut/copy-paste, but content of a rather better standard, and the agent behind it remains concealed and so the product generated is thereby 'original'. Wow !

But then, as this becomes normal, what about people who actually write "originally"? What would they feel if a really good piece of writing gets labelled, even jokingly, as "may be it's ChatGPT"? That's sad. 

AI can mimic sound, face and whatnot.

Instagram is now fast filling with new Bollywood songs redone in old masters' voice. So an Arijith Singh number can now be heard in Rafi Saab/Kishoreda's voice. What exactly is so great about it, I fail to understand. It feels rather odd and undeniably artificial. 

But it is harmless unlike the video call scams which are now on the rise. So, now one has to double check if it's actually the "original" person calling ! 

May be it is too cliched to lament about what the world has come to. After all, it's a post-truth world built upon narratives where virtual and factual reality are decreasingly antonymous. 

Disclaimer:

This is original, human-generated content, part of actual thought process. If any part of it resembles AI standard, it is purely coincidental. 

No technology (other than smart phone) was used in the process of making this. 

The Inevitable

One of the saddest part of growing up (in common parlance 'growing old') is the stuff one gives up, either deliberately or simply out of boredom. While 'good old days' still maintain a stranglehold in strange ways, there is occasional realisation that the list of things no longer enjoyable or exciting are growing longer. 

So, is indifference a part of the usual biological changes or even a hormonal thing? 

While giving up things out of boredom or pronounced indifference seems fine, what's rather painful is having to be vigilant about what one eats. Having to watch calories, and even checking the ingredients for potential threats to vital organs to the struggle to rein in certain stats from reaching the borderline, it's tiresome and mind-numbing. 

I mean, is there anything one can consume without having to consider if it

1) will increase blood sugar

2) contains palmoil

3) has MSG

4) trans, poly, saturated, unsaturated, whatever fats 

It is sure to put one off food for ever, and thereby give up one of the remaining sources of feel-good things. 

Thanks to the phenemenon of information and influence overload, one out five people is a health/nutrition expert who confidently and convincingly proclaim everything tasty as unhealthy. And as substitute, offer colourful looking stuff which are most often bland, and inspiring enough not to fancy food ever. 

Oh well, just another part of life.

So, as certain ads say, have some masala oats if you crave a samosa ! Oh yeah!? Whoever says that has either not had/doesn't like samosa, or is fibbing wholeheartedly. 

Well, whatever !