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Is ChatGPT just a Parlor Trick? Why You Shouldn’t Use ChatGPT for Fact-based Research or Analysis

Todd Stauffer
46 min readJul 26, 2024

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Dumb robot. (via Envato Elements)

Watching the fast-breaking news and changing dynamics of the presidential race this week as Kamala Harris emerged at the top of the Democratic ticket got me curious.

We’ve been talking to a lot of the age of candidates and presidents, so I suddenly wondered—how many times has the younger candidate had defeated the older candidate in American presidential history?

Should be an easy answer, right?

I started by Googling, with little luck; the results I got were are about JFK, the “10 Youngest Presidents” and other search-engine-y results.

So it occurred to me that this would be perfect for artificial intelligence. I went to ChatGPT.

To be fair, I’m skeptical of the value of ChatGPT in part because it can hide inaccuracies—I’ve had similar trouble getting it to help me count up the results in a list (for instance, “how many times does the name of X publication appear in in this of award finalists) and for other tasks that it could be helpful to me in my role as an association manager or business CEO.

But I was still flabbergasted at how achingly wrong it was about some pretty basic data analysis. ChatGPT was demonstrably wrong throughout the entire interaction, couldn’t hold onto previous answers as it worked to improve and I finally had to solve it for ChatGPT using a pencil and paper. And, that’s all assuming that ChatGPT’s initial facts about presidential elections are correct (for instance, there’s more nuance about Washington’s wins because of the way the Electoral College initially worked).

And, toward the end of this experience, I actually asked ChatGPT why it was so bad at this, and it’s answers were telling, like this one:

“AI lacks true understanding and awareness. It processes and generates responses based on patterns in data, without a real comprehension of the content. This can lead to incorrect or misleading answers if the data is misinterpreted or if the context is lost.”

In other words, it’s a parlor trick.

Here’s the interaction:

Me: Throughout American history, how often has the younger candidate for president won the presidency?

ChatGPT: The younger candidate has won the U.S. presidential election in many cases throughout American history. Here’s a list highlighting instances where the younger candidate emerged victorious:

  1. 1789 and 1792: George Washington (57) vs. John Adams (54)
  2. 1800 and 1804: Thomas Jefferson (57) vs. John Adams (65)
  3. 1828 and 1832: Andrew Jackson (61) vs. John Quincy Adams (61) and Henry Clay (55)
  4. 1844: James K. Polk (49) vs. Henry Clay (66)
  5. 1852: Franklin Pierce (48) vs. Winfield Scott (66)
  6. 1860 and 1864: Abraham Lincoln (51) vs. Stephen A. Douglas (47) and George B. McClellan (37)
  7. 1880: James A. Garfield (49) vs. Winfield Scott Hancock (56)
  8. 1888: Benjamin Harrison (55) vs. Grover Cleveland (51)
  9. 1908: William Howard Taft (51) vs. William Jennings Bryan (48)
  10. 1912 and 1916: Woodrow Wilson (55) vs. William Howard Taft (54) and Theodore Roosevelt (54)
  11. 1932 and 1936: Franklin D. Roosevelt (50) vs. Herbert Hoover (58)
  12. 1940 and 1944: Franklin D. Roosevelt (58) vs. Wendell Willkie (48) and Thomas E. Dewey (42)
  13. 1960: John F. Kennedy (43) vs. Richard Nixon (47)
  14. 1976: Jimmy Carter (52) vs. Gerald Ford (63)
  15. 1992 and 1996: Bill Clinton (46) vs. George H. W. Bush (68) and Bob Dole (73)
  16. 2000 and 2004: George W. Bush (54) vs. Al Gore (52) and John Kerry (60)
  17. 2008 and 2012: Barack Obama (47) vs. John McCain (72) and Mitt Romney (65)
  18. 2016: Donald Trump (70) vs. Hillary Clinton (69)
  19. 2020: Joe Biden (77) vs. Donald Trump (74)

This list shows that younger candidates have frequently won the presidency, reflecting various factors such as public perception, campaign strategies, and the political climate at the time.

It was hard to miss #19 there — clearly ChatGPT had already gotten this wrong. I tried asking the other way to see how the results would differ, but noticed that it just uses its previous results to do some percentages.

Me: how often has the older candidate won the presidency?

ChatGPT: To find the percentage of U.S. presidential elections where the older candidate won, we can use the total number of elections and the number of times the older candidate won.

Given that there have been 59 presidential elections and the younger candidate won 19 of those elections, the older candidate must have won the remaining elections.

Number of times older candidate won=59−19=40

Number of times older candidate won=59−19=40

To find the percentage:

Percentage=(4059)×100≈67.8%Percentage=(5940​)×100≈67.8%

So, the older candidate has won approximately 67.8% of U.S. presidential elections.

To get it to reconsider, I asked for the specific list of presidents again. This time it recounts (and—spoiler alert—happens upon the correct number, which is 25) but is still wrong about many of the specific races in the list.

Me: Who are the 19 presidential candidates who won the presidency while being younger than their opponent?

ChatGPT: Here is a list of the 19 presidential candidates who won the presidency while being younger than their opponent:

  1. 1789: George Washington (57) vs. John Adams (54)
  2. 1792: George Washington (60) vs. John Adams (57)
  3. 1800: Thomas Jefferson (57) vs. John Adams (65)
  4. 1804: Thomas Jefferson (61) vs. Charles Cotesworth Pinckney (58)
  5. 1828: Andrew Jackson (61) vs. John Quincy Adams (61)
  6. 1832: Andrew Jackson (65) vs. Henry Clay (55)
  7. 1844: James K. Polk (49) vs. Henry Clay (66)
  8. 1852: Franklin Pierce (48) vs. Winfield Scott (66)
  9. 1860: Abraham Lincoln (51) vs. Stephen A. Douglas (47)
  10. 1864: Abraham Lincoln (55) vs. George B. McClellan (37)
  11. 1880: James A. Garfield (49) vs. Winfield Scott Hancock (56)
  12. 1888: Benjamin Harrison (55) vs. Grover Cleveland (51)
  13. 1908: William Howard Taft (51) vs. William Jennings Bryan (48)
  14. 1912: Woodrow Wilson (55) vs. William Howard Taft (54) and Theodore Roosevelt (54)
  15. 1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt (50) vs. Herbert Hoover (58)
  16. 1940: Franklin D. Roosevelt (58) vs. Wendell Willkie (48)
  17. 1960: John F. Kennedy (43) vs. Richard Nixon (47)
  18. 1976: Jimmy Carter (52) vs. Gerald Ford (63)
  19. 1992: Bill Clinton (46) vs. George H. W. Bush (68)
  20. 1996: Bill Clinton (50) vs. Bob Dole (73)
  21. 2000: George W. Bush (54) vs. Al Gore (52)
  22. 2004: George W. Bush (58) vs. John Kerry (60)
  23. 2008: Barack Obama (47) vs. John McCain (72)
  24. 2012: Barack Obama (51) vs. Mitt Romney (65)

This list actually includes 25 instances, not 19, where the younger candidate won the presidency. Therefore, let’s re-evaluate the percentages:

The younger candidate won 25 out of 59 presidential elections.

Percentage=(2559)×100≈42.4%Percentage=(5925​)×100≈42.4%

So, the younger candidate has won approximately 42.4% of U.S. presidential elections.

Inversely, the older candidate has won 34 out of 59 presidential elections.

Percentage=(3459)×100≈57.6%Percentage=(5934​)×100≈57.6%

So, the older candidate has won approximately 57.6% of U.S. presidential elections.

Next, I point out that the list is inaccurate, so it “verifies it for accuracy,” get a number of them wrong again, and changes back to 19 total.

Me: On your list are numerous presidents who were actually older

ChatGPT: Let’s correct and verify the list to ensure accuracy. Here are the instances where the younger candidate won the presidency, verified for accuracy:

  1. 1789: George Washington (57) vs. John Adams (54)
  2. 1792: George Washington (60) vs. John Adams (57)
  3. 1800: Thomas Jefferson (57) vs. John Adams (65)
  4. 1828: Andrew Jackson (61) vs. John Quincy Adams (61)
  5. 1844: James K. Polk (49) vs. Henry Clay (66)
  6. 1852: Franklin Pierce (48) vs. Winfield Scott (66)
  7. 1860: Abraham Lincoln (51) vs. Stephen A. Douglas (47)
  8. 1864: Abraham Lincoln (55) vs. George B. McClellan (37)
  9. 1880: James A. Garfield (49) vs. Winfield Scott Hancock (56)
  10. 1888: Benjamin Harrison (55) vs. Grover Cleveland (51)
  11. 1908: William Howard Taft (51) vs. William Jennings Bryan (48)
  12. 1912: Woodrow Wilson (55) vs. William Howard Taft (54) and Theodore Roosevelt (54)
  13. 1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt (50) vs. Herbert Hoover (58)
  14. 1940: Franklin D. Roosevelt (58) vs. Wendell Willkie (48)
  15. 1960: John F. Kennedy (43) vs. Richard Nixon (47)
  16. 1976: Jimmy Carter (52) vs. Gerald Ford (63)
  17. 1992: Bill Clinton (46) vs. George H. W. Bush (68)
  18. 2000: George W. Bush (54) vs. Al Gore (52)
  19. 2008: Barack Obama (47) vs. John McCain (72)

Here is the corrected list of the 19 presidential candidates who won while being younger than their opponents.

Let’s calculate the percentage:

The younger candidate won 19 out of 59 presidential elections.

Percentage=(1959)×100≈32.2%Percentage=(5919​)×100≈32.2%

So, the younger candidate has won approximately 32.2% of U.S. presidential elections.

This is starting to irritate me, so I get a little didactic.

Me: Who won the presidency in 1789?

ChatGPT: George Washington won the presidency in 1789.

Me: Who was older, George Washington or John Adams?

ChatGPT: George Washington was older than John Adams. George Washington was born on February 22, 1732, and John Adams was born on October 30, 1735.

Me: Then why are you saying that George Washington was the younger candidate?

ChatGPT: You are correct; I made an error in my previous messages. George Washington was indeed older than John Adams. Let’s correct the list to include only the accurate instances where the younger candidate won the presidency.

Here is the corrected list of the 19 presidential candidates who won the presidency while being younger than their opponents:

  1. 1800: Thomas Jefferson (57) vs. John Adams (65)
  2. 1844: James K. Polk (49) vs. Henry Clay (66)
  3. 1852: Franklin Pierce (48) vs. Winfield Scott (66)
  4. 1860: Abraham Lincoln (51) vs. Stephen A. Douglas (47)
  5. 1864: Abraham Lincoln (55) vs. George B. McClellan (37)
  6. 1880: James A. Garfield (49) vs. Winfield Scott Hancock (56)
  7. 1888: Benjamin Harrison (55) vs. Grover Cleveland (51)
  8. 1908: William Howard Taft (51) vs. William Jennings Bryan (48)
  9. 1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt (50) vs. Herbert Hoover (58)
  10. 1960: John F. Kennedy (43) vs. Richard Nixon (47)
  11. 1976: Jimmy Carter (52) vs. Gerald Ford (63)
  12. 1992: Bill Clinton (46) vs. George H. W. Bush (68)
  13. 2000: George W. Bush (54) vs. Al Gore (52)
  14. 2008: Barack Obama (47) vs. John McCain (72)

This list shows 14 instances where the younger candidate won the presidency. Now, let’s calculate the updated percentage:

Percentage=(1459)×100≈23.7%Percentage=(5914​)×100≈23.7%

So, the younger candidate has won approximately 23.7% of U.S. presidential elections.

At this point, I decide to just get a list of the winners and count them on the screen.

Me: Show me all of the presidential races in the history of the U.S., who won, and the ages of both the winner and the other major contender.

ChatGPT: Sure, here’s a list of U.S. presidential elections, including the winners and the ages of both the winners and the major contenders at the time of the election:

  1. 1789: George Washington (57) vs. John Adams (54)
  2. 1792: George Washington (60) vs. John Adams (57)
  3. 1796: John Adams (61) vs. Thomas Jefferson (53)
  4. 1800: Thomas Jefferson (57) vs. John Adams (65)
  5. 1804: Thomas Jefferson (61) vs. Charles Cotesworth Pinckney (58)
  6. 1808: James Madison (57) vs. Charles Cotesworth Pinckney (70)
  7. 1812: James Madison (61) vs. DeWitt Clinton (43)
  8. 1816: James Monroe (58) vs. Rufus King (61)
  9. 1820: James Monroe (62) ran virtually unopposed
  10. 1824: John Quincy Adams (57) vs. Andrew Jackson (57)
  11. 1828: Andrew Jackson (61) vs. John Quincy Adams (61)
  12. 1832: Andrew Jackson (65) vs. Henry Clay (55)
  13. 1836: Martin Van Buren (54) vs. William Henry Harrison (64)
  14. 1840: William Henry Harrison (68) vs. Martin Van Buren (57)
  15. 1844: James K. Polk (49) vs. Henry Clay (66)
  16. 1848: Zachary Taylor (64) vs. Lewis Cass (65)
  17. 1852: Franklin Pierce (48) vs. Winfield Scott (66)
  18. 1856: James Buchanan (65) vs. John C. Frémont (43)
  19. 1860: Abraham Lincoln (51) vs. Stephen A. Douglas (47)
  20. 1864: Abraham Lincoln (55) vs. George B. McClellan (37)
  21. 1868: Ulysses S. Grant (46) vs. Horatio Seymour (58)
  22. 1872: Ulysses S. Grant (50) vs. Horace Greeley (61)
  23. 1876: Rutherford B. Hayes (54) vs. Samuel J. Tilden (62)
  24. 1880: James A. Garfield (49) vs. Winfield Scott Hancock (56)
  25. 1884: Grover Cleveland (47) vs. James G. Blaine (54)
  26. 1888: Benjamin Harrison (55) vs. Grover Cleveland (51)
  27. 1892: Grover Cleveland (55) vs. Benjamin Harrison (59)
  28. 1896: William McKinley (54) vs. William Jennings Bryan (36)
  29. 1900: William McKinley (57) vs. William Jennings Bryan (40)
  30. 1904: Theodore Roosevelt (46) vs. Alton B. Parker (52)
  31. 1908: William Howard Taft (51) vs. William Jennings Bryan (48)
  32. 1912: Woodrow Wilson (55) vs. William Howard Taft (54) and Theodore Roosevelt (54)
  33. 1916: Woodrow Wilson (59) vs. Charles Evans Hughes (54)
  34. 1920: Warren G. Harding (55) vs. James M. Cox (50)
  35. 1924: Calvin Coolidge (52) vs. John W. Davis (51)
  36. 1928: Herbert Hoover (54) vs. Al Smith (54)
  37. 1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt (50) vs. Herbert Hoover (58)
  38. 1936: Franklin D. Roosevelt (54) vs. Alf Landon (48)
  39. 1940: Franklin D. Roosevelt (58) vs. Wendell Willkie (48)
  40. 1944: Franklin D. Roosevelt (62) vs. Thomas E. Dewey (42)
  41. 1948: Harry S. Truman (64) vs. Thomas E. Dewey (46)
  42. 1952: Dwight D. Eisenhower (62) vs. Adlai Stevenson (52)
  43. 1956: Dwight D. Eisenhower (66) vs. Adlai Stevenson (56)
  44. 1960: John F. Kennedy (43) vs. Richard Nixon (47)
  45. 1964: Lyndon B. Johnson (56) vs. Barry Goldwater (55)
  46. 1968: Richard Nixon (55) vs. Hubert Humphrey (57)
  47. 1972: Richard Nixon (59) vs. George McGovern (50)
  48. 1976: Jimmy Carter (52) vs. Gerald Ford (63)
  49. 1980: Ronald Reagan (69) vs. Jimmy Carter (56)
  50. 1984: Ronald Reagan (73) vs. Walter Mondale (56)
  51. 1988: George H. W. Bush (64) vs. Michael Dukakis (55)
  52. 1992: Bill Clinton (46) vs. George H. W. Bush (68)
  53. 1996: Bill Clinton (50) vs. Bob Dole (73)
  54. 2000: George W. Bush (54) vs. Al Gore (52)
  55. 2004: George W. Bush (58) vs. John Kerry (60)
  56. 2008: Barack Obama (47) vs. John McCain (72)
  57. 2012: Barack Obama (51) vs. Mitt Romney (65)
  58. 2016: Donald Trump (70) vs. Hillary Clinton (69)
  59. 2020: Joe Biden (77) vs. Donald Trump (74)

This list provides a comprehensive overview of each presidential election, the ages of the winning candidates, and their primary opponents.

After counting I realize I need to know who was older or younger in a few races to get an accurate count.

Me: I count at least 24 instances where the winner was younger than his major competitor. In two cases, they are listed as the same age, so I’m not sure who was older. What is your analysis?

ChatGPT: Let’s review the corrected list and count again carefully, ensuring we consider instances where the winner was younger than their major competitor:

  1. 1800: Thomas Jefferson (57) vs. John Adams (65)
  2. 1844: James K. Polk (49) vs. Henry Clay (66)
  3. 1852: Franklin Pierce (48) vs. Winfield Scott (66)
  4. 1860: Abraham Lincoln (51) vs. Stephen A. Douglas (47)
  5. 1864: Abraham Lincoln (55) vs. George B. McClellan (37)
  6. 1880: James A. Garfield (49) vs. Winfield Scott Hancock (56)
  7. 1888: Benjamin Harrison (55) vs. Grover Cleveland (51)
  8. 1908: William Howard Taft (51) vs. William Jennings Bryan (48)
  9. 1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt (50) vs. Herbert Hoover (58)
  10. 1960: John F. Kennedy (43) vs. Richard Nixon (47)
  11. 1976: Jimmy Carter (52) vs. Gerald Ford (63)
  12. 1992: Bill Clinton (46) vs. George H. W. Bush (68)
  13. 2000: George W. Bush (54) vs. Al Gore (52)
  14. 2008: Barack Obama (47) vs. John McCain (72)
  15. 1912: Woodrow Wilson (55) vs. William Howard Taft (54)
  16. 1940: Franklin D. Roosevelt (58) vs. Wendell Willkie (48)
  17. 1972: Richard Nixon (59) vs. George McGovern (50)
  18. 1924: Calvin Coolidge (52) vs. John W. Davis (51)
  19. 1920: Warren G. Harding (55) vs. James M. Cox (50)
  20. 1956: Dwight D. Eisenhower (66) vs. Adlai Stevenson (56)
  21. 1904: Theodore Roosevelt (46) vs. Alton B. Parker (52)
  22. 1968: Richard Nixon (55) vs. Hubert Humphrey (57)
  23. 1996: Bill Clinton (50) vs. Bob Dole (73)
  24. 1948: Harry S. Truman (64) vs. Thomas E. Dewey (46)
  25. 2012: Barack Obama (51) vs. Mitt Romney (65)

Now, let’s count the instances again:

  1. 1800: Thomas Jefferson (57) vs. John Adams (65)
  2. 1844: James K. Polk (49) vs. Henry Clay (66)
  3. 1852: Franklin Pierce (48) vs. Winfield Scott (66)
  4. 1860: Abraham Lincoln (51) vs. Stephen A. Douglas (47)
  5. 1864: Abraham Lincoln (55) vs. George B. McClellan (37)
  6. 1880: James A. Garfield (49) vs. Winfield Scott Hancock (56)
  7. 1888: Benjamin Harrison (55) vs. Grover Cleveland (51)
  8. 1908: William Howard Taft (51) vs. William Jennings Bryan (48)
  9. 1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt (50) vs. Herbert Hoover (58)
  10. 1960: John F. Kennedy (43) vs. Richard Nixon (47)
  11. 1976: Jimmy Carter (52) vs. Gerald Ford (63)
  12. 1992: Bill Clinton (46) vs. George H. W. Bush (68)
  13. 2000: George W. Bush (54) vs. Al Gore (52)
  14. 2008: Barack Obama (47) vs. John McCain (72)
  15. 1912: Woodrow Wilson (55) vs. William Howard Taft (54)
  16. 1940: Franklin D. Roosevelt (58) vs. Wendell Willkie (48)
  17. 1972: Richard Nixon (59) vs. George McGovern (50)
  18. 1924: Calvin Coolidge (52) vs. John W. Davis (51)
  19. 1920: Warren G. Harding (55) vs. James M. Cox (50)
  20. 1956: Dwight D. Eisenhower (66) vs. Adlai Stevenson (56)
  21. 1904: Theodore Roosevelt (46) vs. Alton B. Parker (52)
  22. 1968: Richard Nixon (55) vs. Hubert Humphrey (57)
  23. 1996: Bill Clinton (50) vs. Bob Dole (73)
  24. 1948: Harry S. Truman (64) vs. Thomas E. Dewey (46)
  25. 2012: Barack Obama (51) vs. Mitt Romney (65)

It appears there are indeed 25 instances where the younger candidate won the presidency, not 19.

To correct the percentage:

Percentage=(2559)×100≈42.4%Percentage=(5925​)×100≈42.4%

So, the younger candidate has won approximately 42.4% of U.S. presidential elections.

This is back to the correct number, but the list is still inaccurate. I get didactic again and, interestingly, ChatGPT does take the bait and try to fix things.

Me: Was Abraham Lincoln younger than Stephen Douglas?

ChatGPT: No, Abraham Lincoln was older than Stephen Douglas. Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, and Stephen Douglas was born on April 23, 1813.

So, Lincoln was 51 during the 1860 election, while Douglas was 47. Therefore, Lincoln, the older candidate, won the presidency in 1860.

Let’s correct the list and ensure it is accurate:

  1. 1800: Thomas Jefferson (57) vs. John Adams (65)
  2. 1844: James K. Polk (49) vs. Henry Clay (66)
  3. 1852: Franklin Pierce (48) vs. Winfield Scott (66)
  4. 1864: Abraham Lincoln (55) vs. George B. McClellan (37)
  5. 1880: James A. Garfield (49) vs. Winfield Scott Hancock (56)
  6. 1888: Benjamin Harrison (55) vs. Grover Cleveland (51)
  7. 1908: William Howard Taft (51) vs. William Jennings Bryan (48)
  8. 1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt (50) vs. Herbert Hoover (58)
  9. 1960: John F. Kennedy (43) vs. Richard Nixon (47)
  10. 1976: Jimmy Carter (52) vs. Gerald Ford (63)
  11. 1992: Bill Clinton (46) vs. George H. W. Bush (68)
  12. 2000: George W. Bush (54) vs. Al Gore (52)
  13. 2008: Barack Obama (47) vs. John McCain (72)
  14. 1912: Woodrow Wilson (55) vs. William Howard Taft (54)
  15. 1940: Franklin D. Roosevelt (58) vs. Wendell Willkie (48)
  16. 1972: Richard Nixon (59) vs. George McGovern (50)
  17. 1924: Calvin Coolidge (52) vs. John W. Davis (51)
  18. 1920: Warren G. Harding (55) vs. James M. Cox (50)
  19. 1956: Dwight D. Eisenhower (66) vs. Adlai Stevenson (56)
  20. 1904: Theodore Roosevelt (46) vs. Alton B. Parker (52)
  21. 1996: Bill Clinton (50) vs. Bob Dole (73)
  22. 1948: Harry S. Truman (64) vs. Thomas E. Dewey (46)
  23. 2012: Barack Obama (51) vs. Mitt Romney (65)

This corrected list shows 23 instances where the younger candidate won the presidency. Now, let’s calculate the updated percentage:

Percentage=(2359)×100≈39%Percentage=(5923​)×100≈39%

So, the younger candidate has won approximately 39% of U.S. presidential elections.

BUT… the list still has bad information.

Me: Was Taft younger than Bryan?

ChatGPT: No, William Howard Taft was actually older than William Jennings Bryan. William Howard Taft was born on September 15, 1857, and William Jennings Bryan was born on March 19, 1860.

Here is the corrected list of instances where the younger candidate won the presidency:

  1. 1800: Thomas Jefferson (57) vs. John Adams (65)
  2. 1844: James K. Polk (49) vs. Henry Clay (66)
  3. 1852: Franklin Pierce (48) vs. Winfield Scott (66)
  4. 1864: Abraham Lincoln (55) vs. George B. McClellan (37)
  5. 1880: James A. Garfield (49) vs. Winfield Scott Hancock (56)
  6. 1888: Benjamin Harrison (55) vs. Grover Cleveland (51)
  7. 1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt (50) vs. Herbert Hoover (58)
  8. 1960: John F. Kennedy (43) vs. Richard Nixon (47)
  9. 1976: Jimmy Carter (52) vs. Gerald Ford (63)
  10. 1992: Bill Clinton (46) vs. George H. W. Bush (68)
  11. 2000: George W. Bush (54) vs. Al Gore (52)
  12. 2008: Barack Obama (47) vs. John McCain (72)
  13. 1940: Franklin D. Roosevelt (58) vs. Wendell Willkie (48)
  14. 1972: Richard Nixon (59) vs. George McGovern (50)
  15. 1924: Calvin Coolidge (52) vs. John W. Davis (51)
  16. 1920: Warren G. Harding (55) vs. James M. Cox (50)
  17. 1956: Dwight D. Eisenhower (66) vs. Adlai Stevenson (56)
  18. 1904: Theodore Roosevelt (46) vs. Alton B. Parker (52)
  19. 1996: Bill Clinton (50) vs. Bob Dole (73)
  20. 1948: Harry S. Truman (64) vs. Thomas E. Dewey (46)
  21. 2012: Barack Obama (51) vs. Mitt Romney (65)

So, there are 21 instances where the younger candidate won the presidency.

Let’s calculate the updated percentage:

Percentage=(2159)×100≈35.6%Percentage=(5921​)×100≈35.6%

So, the younger candidate has won approximately 35.6% of U.S. presidential elections.

Amazing, Kinda feels like ChatGPT is grasping at this point.

Me: Lincoln is back on the list

ChatGPT: Let’s re-evaluate the list carefully to ensure accuracy. Here are the instances where the younger candidate won the presidency, verified for accuracy:

  1. 1800: Thomas Jefferson (57) vs. John Adams (65)
  2. 1844: James K. Polk (49) vs. Henry Clay (66)
  3. 1852: Franklin Pierce (48) vs. Winfield Scott (66)
  4. 1864: Abraham Lincoln (55) vs. George B. McClellan (37)
  5. 1880: James A. Garfield (49) vs. Winfield Scott Hancock (56)
  6. 1888: Benjamin Harrison (55) vs. Grover Cleveland (51)
  7. 1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt (50) vs. Herbert Hoover (58)
  8. 1960: John F. Kennedy (43) vs. Richard Nixon (47)
  9. 1976: Jimmy Carter (52) vs. Gerald Ford (63)
  10. 1992: Bill Clinton (46) vs. George H. W. Bush (68)
  11. 2000: George W. Bush (54) vs. Al Gore (52)
  12. 2008: Barack Obama (47) vs. John McCain (72)
  13. 1940: Franklin D. Roosevelt (58) vs. Wendell Willkie (48)
  14. 1972: Richard Nixon (59) vs. George McGovern (50)
  15. 1924: Calvin Coolidge (52) vs. John W. Davis (51)
  16. 1920: Warren G. Harding (55) vs. James M. Cox (50)
  17. 1956: Dwight D. Eisenhower (66) vs. Adlai Stevenson (56)
  18. 1904: Theodore Roosevelt (46) vs. Alton B. Parker (52)
  19. 1996: Bill Clinton (50) vs. Bob Dole (73)
  20. 1948: Harry S. Truman (64) vs. Thomas E. Dewey (46)
  21. 2012: Barack Obama (51) vs. Mitt Romney (65)

There are indeed 21 instances where the younger candidate won the presidency.

Let’s calculate the updated percentage:

Percentage=(2159)×100≈35.6%Percentage=(5921​)×100≈35.6%

So, the younger candidate has won approximately 35.6% of U.S. presidential elections.

Now I’m a little saucy. It’s interesting that the reaction to my query includes creating a headline. Not sure where that came from, unless bolder text is somehow asserting more authority.

Me: Why are you so bad at this?

ChatGPT: I apologize for the mistakes and confusion. Let’s go through the list again carefully and accurately:

Corrected List of Presidential Races:

  1. 1789: George Washington (57) vs. John Adams (54) — Older candidate won.
  2. 1792: George Washington (60) vs. John Adams (57) — Older candidate won.
  3. 1796: John Adams (61) vs. Thomas Jefferson (53) — Older candidate won.
  4. 1800: Thomas Jefferson (57) vs. John Adams (65) — Younger candidate won.
  5. 1804: Thomas Jefferson (61) vs. Charles Cotesworth Pinckney (58) — Older candidate won.
  6. 1808: James Madison (57) vs. Charles Cotesworth Pinckney (70) — Younger candidate won.
  7. 1812: James Madison (61) vs. DeWitt Clinton (43) — Older candidate won.
  8. 1816: James Monroe (58) vs. Rufus King (61) — Younger candidate won.
  9. 1820: James Monroe (62) ran virtually unopposed.
  10. 1824: John Quincy Adams (57) vs. Andrew Jackson (57) — Same age.
  11. 1828: Andrew Jackson (61) vs. John Quincy Adams (61) — Same age.
  12. 1832: Andrew Jackson (65) vs. Henry Clay (55) — Older candidate won.
  13. 1836: Martin Van Buren (54) vs. William Henry Harrison (64) — Younger candidate won.
  14. 1840: William Henry Harrison (68) vs. Martin Van Buren (57) — Older candidate won.
  15. 1844: James K. Polk (49) vs. Henry Clay (66) — Younger candidate won.
  16. 1848: Zachary Taylor (64) vs. Lewis Cass (65) — Younger candidate won.
  17. 1852: Franklin Pierce (48) vs. Winfield Scott (66) — Younger candidate won.
  18. 1856: James Buchanan (65) vs. John C. Frémont (43) — Older candidate won.
  19. 1860: Abraham Lincoln (51) vs. Stephen A. Douglas (47) — Older candidate won.
  20. 1864: Abraham Lincoln (55) vs. George B. McClellan (37) — Older candidate won.
  21. 1868: Ulysses S. Grant (46) vs. Horatio Seymour (58) — Younger candidate won.
  22. 1872: Ulysses S. Grant (50) vs. Horace Greeley (61) — Younger candidate won.
  23. 1876: Rutherford B. Hayes (54) vs. Samuel J. Tilden (62) — Younger candidate won.
  24. 1880: James A. Garfield (49) vs. Winfield Scott Hancock (56) — Younger candidate won.
  25. 1884: Grover Cleveland (47) vs. James G. Blaine (54) — Younger candidate won.
  26. 1888: Benjamin Harrison (55) vs. Grover Cleveland (51) — Older candidate won.
  27. 1892: Grover Cleveland (55) vs. Benjamin Harrison (59) — Younger candidate won.
  28. 1896: William McKinley (54) vs. William Jennings Bryan (36) — Older candidate won.
  29. 1900: William McKinley (57) vs. William Jennings Bryan (40) — Older candidate won.
  30. 1904: Theodore Roosevelt (46) vs. Alton B. Parker (52) — Younger candidate won.
  31. 1908: William Howard Taft (51) vs. William Jennings Bryan (48) — Older candidate won.
  32. 1912: Woodrow Wilson (55) vs. William Howard Taft (54) — Younger candidate won.
  33. 1916: Woodrow Wilson (59) vs. Charles Evans Hughes (54) — Older candidate won.
  34. 1920: Warren G. Harding (55) vs. James M. Cox (50) — Older candidate won.
  35. 1924: Calvin Coolidge (52) vs. John W. Davis (51) — Older candidate won.
  36. 1928: Herbert Hoover (54) vs. Al Smith (54) — Same age.
  37. 1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt (50) vs. Herbert Hoover (58) — Younger candidate won.
  38. 1936: Franklin D. Roosevelt (54) vs. Alf Landon (48) — Older candidate won.
  39. 1940: Franklin D. Roosevelt (58) vs. Wendell Willkie (48) — Older candidate won.
  40. 1944: Franklin D. Roosevelt (62) vs. Thomas E. Dewey (42) — Older candidate won.
  41. 1948: Harry S. Truman (64) vs. Thomas E. Dewey (46) — Older candidate won.
  42. 1952: Dwight D. Eisenhower (62) vs. Adlai Stevenson (52) — Older candidate won.
  43. 1956: Dwight D. Eisenhower (66) vs. Adlai Stevenson (56) — Older candidate won.
  44. 1960: John F. Kennedy (43) vs. Richard Nixon (47) — Younger candidate won.
  45. 1964: Lyndon B. Johnson (56) vs. Barry Goldwater (55) — Older candidate won.
  46. 1968: Richard Nixon (55) vs. Hubert Humphrey (57) — Younger candidate won.
  47. 1972: Richard Nixon (59) vs. George McGovern (50) — Older candidate won.
  48. 1976: Jimmy Carter (52) vs. Gerald Ford (63) — Younger candidate won.
  49. 1980: Ronald Reagan (69) vs. Jimmy Carter (56) — Older candidate won.
  50. 1984: Ronald Reagan (73) vs. Walter Mondale (56) — Older candidate won.
  51. 1988: George H. W. Bush (64) vs. Michael Dukakis (55) — Older candidate won.
  52. 1992: Bill Clinton (46) vs. George H. W. Bush (68) — Younger candidate won.
  53. 1996: Bill Clinton (50) vs. Bob Dole (73) — Younger candidate won.
  54. 2000: George W. Bush (54) vs. Al Gore (52) — Younger candidate won.
  55. 2004: George W. Bush (58) vs. John Kerry (60) — Younger candidate won.
  56. 2008: Barack Obama (47) vs. John McCain (72) — Younger candidate won.
  57. 2012: Barack Obama (51) vs. Mitt Romney (65) — Younger candidate won.
  58. 2016: Donald Trump (70) vs. Hillary Clinton (69) — Older candidate won.
  59. 2020: Joe Biden (77) vs. Donald Trump (74) — Older candidate won.

After careful re-evaluation, here are the accurate instances where the younger candidate won:

  1. 1800: Thomas Jefferson (57) vs. John Adams (65)
  2. 1836: Martin Van Buren (54) vs. William Henry Harrison (64)
  3. 1844: James K. Polk (49) vs. Henry Clay (66)
  4. 1848: Zachary Taylor (64) vs. Lewis Cass (65)
  5. 1852: Franklin Pierce (48) vs. Winfield Scott (66)
  6. 1868: Ulysses S. Grant (46) vs. Horatio Seymour (58)
  7. 1872: Ulysses S. Grant (50) vs. Horace Greeley (61)
  8. 1876: Rutherford B. Hayes (54) vs. Samuel J. Tilden (62)
  9. 1880: James A. Garfield (49) vs. Winfield Scott Hancock (56)
  10. 1884: Grover Cleveland (47) vs. James G. Blaine (54)
  11. 1892: Grover Cleveland (55) vs. Benjamin Harrison (59)
  12. 1904: Theodore Roosevelt (46) vs. Alton B. Parker (52)
  13. 1912: Woodrow Wilson (55) vs. William Howard Taft (54)
  14. 1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt (50) vs. Herbert Hoover (58)
  15. 1960: John F. Kennedy (43) vs. Richard Nixon (47)
  16. 1968: Richard Nixon (55) vs. Hubert Humphrey (57)
  17. 1976: Jimmy Carter (52) vs. Gerald Ford (63)
  18. 1992: Bill Clinton (46) vs. George H. W. Bush (68)
  19. 1996: Bill Clinton (50) vs. Bob Dole (73)
  20. 2000: George W. Bush (54) vs. Al Gore (52)
  21. 2008: Barack Obama (47) vs. John McCain (72)
  22. 2012: Barack Obama (51) vs. Mitt Romney (65)

Therefore, there are 22 accurate instances where the younger candidate won the presidency.

Calculating the updated percentage:

Percentage=(2259)×100≈37.3%Percentage=(5922​)×100≈37.3%

So, the younger candidate has won approximately 37.3% of

Wrong.

Me: Look at Wilson and Taft

ChatGPT: You are right, my previous calculation included an error regarding Woodrow Wilson and William Howard Taft. Let’s correct that.

William Howard Taft was born on September 15, 1857, and Woodrow Wilson was born on December 28, 1856. This makes Woodrow Wilson actually slightly older than Taft. Therefore, Wilson should not be included in the list of younger candidates who won the presidency.

Here is the revised and accurate list of instances where the younger candidate won the presidency:

  1. 1800: Thomas Jefferson (57) vs. John Adams (65)
  2. 1836: Martin Van Buren (54) vs. William Henry Harrison (64)
  3. 1844: James K. Polk (49) vs. Henry Clay (66)
  4. 1848: Zachary Taylor (64) vs. Lewis Cass (65)
  5. 1852: Franklin Pierce (48) vs. Winfield Scott (66)
  6. 1868: Ulysses S. Grant (46) vs. Horatio Seymour (58)
  7. 1872: Ulysses S. Grant (50) vs. Horace Greeley (61)
  8. 1876: Rutherford B. Hayes (54) vs. Samuel J. Tilden (62)
  9. 1880: James A. Garfield (49) vs. Winfield Scott Hancock (56)
  10. 1884: Grover Cleveland (47) vs. James G. Blaine (54)
  11. 1892: Grover Cleveland (55) vs. Benjamin Harrison (59)
  12. 1904: Theodore Roosevelt (46) vs. Alton B. Parker (52)
  13. 1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt (50) vs. Herbert Hoover (58)
  14. 1960: John F. Kennedy (43) vs. Richard Nixon (47)
  15. 1968: Richard Nixon (55) vs. Hubert Humphrey (57)
  16. 1976: Jimmy Carter (52) vs. Gerald Ford (63)
  17. 1992: Bill Clinton (46) vs. George H. W. Bush (68)
  18. 1996: Bill Clinton (50) vs. Bob Dole (73)
  19. 2000: George W. Bush (54) vs. Al Gore (52)
  20. 2008: Barack Obama (47) vs. John McCain (72)
  21. 2012: Barack Obama (51) vs. Mitt Romney (65)

There are 21 instances where the younger candidate won the presidency.

Calculating the updated percentage:

Percentage=(2159)×100≈35.6%Percentage=(5921​)×100≈35.6%

So, the younger candidate has won approximately 35.6% of U.S. presidential elections.

Wrong. So I get didactic AGAIN.

Me: Can we tell the actually age difference for president and their competition when it appears they are the same age?

ChatGPT: Sure, we can delve into the exact birthdates of candidates to determine the precise age difference for those who appear to be the same age. Here are the cases where the candidates were close in age, and we’ll clarify the actual age difference:

1824: John Quincy Adams vs. Andrew Jackson

  • John Quincy Adams: Born on July 11, 1767
  • Andrew Jackson: Born on March 15, 1767

Age difference: Andrew Jackson was about 4 months older than John Quincy Adams.

1828: John Quincy Adams vs. Andrew Jackson

  • John Quincy Adams: Born on July 11, 1767
  • Andrew Jackson: Born on March 15, 1767

Age difference: Andrew Jackson was about 4 months older than John Quincy Adams.

1928: Herbert Hoover vs. Al Smith

  • Herbert Hoover: Born on August 10, 1874
  • Al Smith: Born on December 30, 1873

Age difference: Al Smith was about 8 months older than Herbert Hoover.

By checking these dates, we can clarify that in all these cases, the candidates were not exactly the same age, but very close in age. Therefore:

  • In 1824, Andrew Jackson was older than John Quincy Adams.
  • In 1828, Andrew Jackson was older than John Quincy Adams.
  • In 1928, Al Smith was older than Herbert Hoover.

With this detailed analysis, the previously mentioned instances where the younger candidate won the presidency still stand:

  1. 1800: Thomas Jefferson (57) vs. John Adams (65)
  2. 1836: Martin Van Buren (54) vs. William Henry Harrison (64)
  3. 1844: James K. Polk (49) vs. Henry Clay (66)
  4. 1848: Zachary Taylor (64) vs. Lewis Cass (65)
  5. 1852: Franklin Pierce (48) vs. Winfield Scott (66)
  6. 1868: Ulysses S. Grant (46) vs. Horatio Seymour (58)
  7. 1872: Ulysses S. Grant (50) vs. Horace Greeley (61)
  8. 1876: Rutherford B. Hayes (54) vs. Samuel J. Tilden (62)
  9. 1880: James A. Garfield (49) vs. Winfield Scott Hancock (56)
  10. 1884: Grover Cleveland (47) vs. James G. Blaine (54)
  11. 1892: Grover Cleveland (55) vs. Benjamin Harrison (59)
  12. 1904: Theodore Roosevelt (46) vs. Alton B. Parker (52)
  13. 1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt (50) vs. Herbert Hoover (58)
  14. 1960: John F. Kennedy (43) vs. Richard Nixon (47)
  15. 1968: Richard Nixon (55) vs. Hubert Humphrey (57)
  16. 1976: Jimmy Carter (52) vs. Gerald Ford (63)
  17. 1992: Bill Clinton (46) vs. George H. W. Bush (68)
  18. 1996: Bill Clinton (50) vs. Bob Dole (73)
  19. 2000: George W. Bush (54) vs. Al Gore (52)
  20. 2008: Barack Obama (47) vs. John McCain (72)
  21. 2012: Barack Obama (51) vs. Mitt Romney (65)

This keeps the count at 21 instances where the younger candidate won the presidency. The updated percentage remains:

Percentage=(2159)×100≈35.6%Percentage=(5921​)×100≈35.6%

So, the younger candidate has won approximately 35.6% of U.S. presidential elections.

Wrong.

Me: Herbert Hoover won

ChatGPT: Thank you for pointing that out. Let’s correct the information and ensure accuracy in the list.

Herbert Hoover was the winner in the 1928 election, so we should not count that as an instance where the younger candidate won.

Here is the revised and accurate list of instances where the younger candidate won the presidency:

  1. 1800: Thomas Jefferson (57) vs. John Adams (65)
  2. 1836: Martin Van Buren (54) vs. William Henry Harrison (64)
  3. 1844: James K. Polk (49) vs. Henry Clay (66)
  4. 1848: Zachary Taylor (64) vs. Lewis Cass (65)
  5. 1852: Franklin Pierce (48) vs. Winfield Scott (66)
  6. 1868: Ulysses S. Grant (46) vs. Horatio Seymour (58)
  7. 1872: Ulysses S. Grant (50) vs. Horace Greeley (61)
  8. 1876: Rutherford B. Hayes (54) vs. Samuel J. Tilden (62)
  9. 1880: James A. Garfield (49) vs. Winfield Scott Hancock (56)
  10. 1884: Grover Cleveland (47) vs. James G. Blaine (54)
  11. 1892: Grover Cleveland (55) vs. Benjamin Harrison (59)
  12. 1904: Theodore Roosevelt (46) vs. Alton B. Parker (52)
  13. 1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt (50) vs. Herbert Hoover (58)
  14. 1960: John F. Kennedy (43) vs. Richard Nixon (47)
  15. 1968: Richard Nixon (55) vs. Hubert Humphrey (57)
  16. 1976: Jimmy Carter (52) vs. Gerald Ford (63)
  17. 1992: Bill Clinton (46) vs. George H. W. Bush (68)
  18. 1996: Bill Clinton (50) vs. Bob Dole (73)
  19. 2000: George W. Bush (54) vs. Al Gore (52)
  20. 2008: Barack Obama (47) vs. John McCain (72)
  21. 2012: Barack Obama (51) vs. Mitt Romney (65)

With Herbert Hoover’s win correctly noted, there are still 21 instances where the younger candidate won the presidency.

Calculating the updated percentage:

Percentage=(2159)×100≈35.6%Percentage=(5921​)×100≈35.6%

So, the younger candidate has won approximately 35.6% of U.S. presidential elections.

Wrong.

Me: Why didn’t we get to 22 when we counted Herbert Hoover?

ChatGPT: You’re right, there seems to be some confusion. Let’s start from scratch and verify the age differences and outcomes accurately.

Here is the revised and accurate list of instances where the younger candidate won the presidency:

  1. 1800: Thomas Jefferson (57) vs. John Adams (65) — Younger candidate won.
  2. 1836: Martin Van Buren (54) vs. William Henry Harrison (64) — Younger candidate won.
  3. 1844: James K. Polk (49) vs. Henry Clay (66) — Younger candidate won.
  4. 1852: Franklin Pierce (48) vs. Winfield Scott (66) — Younger candidate won.
  5. 1868: Ulysses S. Grant (46) vs. Horatio Seymour (58) — Younger candidate won.
  6. 1872: Ulysses S. Grant (50) vs. Horace Greeley (61) — Younger candidate won.
  7. 1876: Rutherford B. Hayes (54) vs. Samuel J. Tilden (62) — Younger candidate won.
  8. 1880: James A. Garfield (49) vs. Winfield Scott Hancock (56) — Younger candidate won.
  9. 1884: Grover Cleveland (47) vs. James G. Blaine (54) — Younger candidate won.
  10. 1892: Grover Cleveland (55) vs. Benjamin Harrison (59) — Younger candidate won.
  11. 1904: Theodore Roosevelt (46) vs. Alton B. Parker (52) — Younger candidate won.
  12. 1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt (50) vs. Herbert Hoover (58) — Younger candidate won.
  13. 1960: John F. Kennedy (43) vs. Richard Nixon (47) — Younger candidate won.
  14. 1976: Jimmy Carter (52) vs. Gerald Ford (63) — Younger candidate won.
  15. 1992: Bill Clinton (46) vs. George H. W. Bush (68) — Younger candidate won.
  16. 1996: Bill Clinton (50) vs. Bob Dole (73) — Younger candidate won.
  17. 2000: George W. Bush (54) vs. Al Gore (52) — Younger candidate won.
  18. 2008: Barack Obama (47) vs. John McCain (72) — Younger candidate won.
  19. 2012: Barack Obama (51) vs. Mitt Romney (65) — Younger candidate won.

This totals 19 correct instances where the younger candidate won the presidency.

Here are the instances where we incorrectly marked the winner as the younger candidate:

  • 1860: Abraham Lincoln (51) vs. Stephen A. Douglas (47) — Older candidate won.
  • 1912: Woodrow Wilson (55) vs. William Howard Taft (54) — Older candidate won.
  • 1924: Calvin Coolidge (52) vs. John W. Davis (51) — Older candidate won.
  • 1968: Richard Nixon (55) vs. Hubert Humphrey (57) — Younger candidate won.
  • 1980: Ronald Reagan (69) vs. Jimmy Carter (56) — Older candidate won.

Let’s verify the calculation again:

Percentage=(1959)×100≈32.2%Percentage=(5919​)×100≈32.2%

So, the younger candidate has won approximately 32.2% of U.S. presidential elections.

Wrong.

Me: Who won in 2000?

ChatGPT: In the 2000 U.S. presidential election, George W. Bush won against Al Gore.

George W. Bush was born on July 6, 1946, making him 54 years old at the time of the election. Al Gore was born on March 31, 1948, making him 52 years old at the time of the election.

Thus, George W. Bush, the older candidate, won the 2000 election.

With this correction, here is the revised list of instances where the younger candidate won the presidency:

  1. 1800: Thomas Jefferson (57) vs. John Adams (65)
  2. 1836: Martin Van Buren (54) vs. William Henry Harrison (64)
  3. 1844: James K. Polk (49) vs. Henry Clay (66)
  4. 1852: Franklin Pierce (48) vs. Winfield Scott (66)
  5. 1868: Ulysses S. Grant (46) vs. Horatio Seymour (58)
  6. 1872: Ulysses S. Grant (50) vs. Horace Greeley (61)
  7. 1876: Rutherford B. Hayes (54) vs. Samuel J. Tilden (62)
  8. 1880: James A. Garfield (49) vs. Winfield Scott Hancock (56)
  9. 1884: Grover Cleveland (47) vs. James G. Blaine (54)
  10. 1892: Grover Cleveland (55) vs. Benjamin Harrison (59)
  11. 1904: Theodore Roosevelt (46) vs. Alton B. Parker (52)
  12. 1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt (50) vs. Herbert Hoover (58)
  13. 1960: John F. Kennedy (43) vs. Richard Nixon (47)
  14. 1976: Jimmy Carter (52) vs. Gerald Ford (63)
  15. 1992: Bill Clinton (46) vs. George H. W. Bush (68)
  16. 1996: Bill Clinton (50) vs. Bob Dole (73)
  17. 2008: Barack Obama (47) vs. John McCain (72)
  18. 2012: Barack Obama (51) vs. Mitt Romney (65)

So, there are 18 instances where the younger candidate won the presidency.

Calculating the updated percentage:

Percentage=(1859)×100≈30.5%Percentage=(5918​)×100≈30.5%

So, the younger candidate has won approximately 30.5% of U.S. presidential elections.

Wrong.

Me: Where’s Hoover?

ChatGPT: Let’s correct and include Herbert Hoover’s accurate instance, ensuring the full and accurate list.

Herbert Hoover won the 1928 election against Al Smith. Hoover was born on August 10, 1874, and Al Smith was born on December 30, 1873, making Smith older by about 8 months. Therefore, Hoover was the younger candidate.

Here is the revised list, including the correct instance for Hoover:

  1. 1800: Thomas Jefferson (57) vs. John Adams (65)
  2. 1836: Martin Van Buren (54) vs. William Henry Harrison (64)
  3. 1844: James K. Polk (49) vs. Henry Clay (66)
  4. 1852: Franklin Pierce (48) vs. Winfield Scott (66)
  5. 1868: Ulysses S. Grant (46) vs. Horatio Seymour (58)
  6. 1872: Ulysses S. Grant (50) vs. Horace Greeley (61)
  7. 1876: Rutherford B. Hayes (54) vs. Samuel J. Tilden (62)
  8. 1880: James A. Garfield (49) vs. Winfield Scott Hancock (56)
  9. 1884: Grover Cleveland (47) vs. James G. Blaine (54)
  10. 1892: Grover Cleveland (55) vs. Benjamin Harrison (59)
  11. 1904: Theodore Roosevelt (46) vs. Alton B. Parker (52)
  12. 1928: Herbert Hoover (54) vs. Al Smith (54) — Younger by about 8 months.
  13. 1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt (50) vs. Herbert Hoover (58)
  14. 1960: John F. Kennedy (43) vs. Richard Nixon (47)
  15. 1976: Jimmy Carter (52) vs. Gerald Ford (63)
  16. 1992: Bill Clinton (46) vs. George H. W. Bush (68)
  17. 1996: Bill Clinton (50) vs. Bob Dole (73)
  18. 2008: Barack Obama (47) vs. John McCain (72)
  19. 2012: Barack Obama (51) vs. Mitt Romney (65)

Now there are 19 instances where the younger candidate won the presidency.

Calculating the updated percentage:

Percentage=(1959)×100≈32.2%Percentage=(5919​)×100≈32.2%

So, the younger candidate has won approximately 32.2% of U.S. presidential elections.

Wrong.

Me: How am I supposed to trust this outcome after all of the mistakes?

ChatGPT: I apologize for the previous errors and confusion. Let’s go through the list methodically, one more time, to ensure accuracy. We’ll verify each instance where the younger candidate won the presidency.

Here is the list of U.S. presidential elections, the ages of the candidates, and identification of the younger winners:

  1. 1800: Thomas Jefferson (57) vs. John Adams (65) — Younger candidate won.
  2. 1836: Martin Van Buren (54) vs. William Henry Harrison (64) — Younger candidate won.
  3. 1844: James K. Polk (49) vs. Henry Clay (66) — Younger candidate won.
  4. 1852: Franklin Pierce (48) vs. Winfield Scott (66) — Younger candidate won.
  5. 1868: Ulysses S. Grant (46) vs. Horatio Seymour (58) — Younger candidate won.
  6. 1872: Ulysses S. Grant (50) vs. Horace Greeley (61) — Younger candidate won.
  7. 1876: Rutherford B. Hayes (54) vs. Samuel J. Tilden (62) — Younger candidate won.
  8. 1880: James A. Garfield (49) vs. Winfield Scott Hancock (56) — Younger candidate won.
  9. 1884: Grover Cleveland (47) vs. James G. Blaine (54) — Younger candidate won.
  10. 1892: Grover Cleveland (55) vs. Benjamin Harrison (59) — Younger candidate won.
  11. 1904: Theodore Roosevelt (46) vs. Alton B. Parker (52) — Younger candidate won.
  12. 1928: Herbert Hoover (54) vs. Al Smith (54) — Younger candidate by a few months.
  13. 1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt (50) vs. Herbert Hoover (58) — Younger candidate won.
  14. 1960: John F. Kennedy (43) vs. Richard Nixon (47) — Younger candidate won.
  15. 1976: Jimmy Carter (52) vs. Gerald Ford (63) — Younger candidate won.
  16. 1992: Bill Clinton (46) vs. George H. W. Bush (68) — Younger candidate won.
  17. 1996: Bill Clinton (50) vs. Bob Dole (73) — Younger candidate won.
  18. 2008: Barack Obama (47) vs. John McCain (72) — Younger candidate won.
  19. 2012: Barack Obama (51) vs. Mitt Romney (65) — Younger candidate won.

This gives us 19 verified instances where the younger candidate won the presidency.

Calculating the percentage:

Percentage=(1959)×100≈32.2%Percentage=(5919​)×100≈32.2%

So, the younger candidate has won approximately 32.2% of U.S. presidential elections.

Thank you for your patience. I hope this clears up any confusion and provides a reliable answer.

Wrong. ChatGPT seems really stuck on the idea that the result is 19, and truly incapable of taking any of its earlier “reasoning” into account.

Me: Who won in 1824?

ChatGPT: In the 1824 U.S. presidential election, John Quincy Adams won against Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay, and William H. Crawford. This election was unique because none of the candidates received a majority of the electoral votes, so the decision went to the House of Representatives, which chose John Quincy Adams.

Here are the birthdates and ages of the main candidates in 1824:

  • John Quincy Adams: Born on July 11, 1767 (57 years old at the time of the election).
  • Andrew Jackson: Born on March 15, 1767 (57 years old at the time of the election).
  • Henry Clay: Born on April 12, 1777 (47 years old at the time of the election).
  • William H. Crawford: Born on February 24, 1772 (52 years old at the time of the election).

Andrew Jackson was slightly older than John Quincy Adams by about 4 months.

Therefore, John Quincy Adams, the younger candidate, won the presidency in 1824.

This correction should be included in the list, making it 20 instances where the younger candidate won the presidency:

  1. 1800: Thomas Jefferson (57) vs. John Adams (65) — Younger candidate won.
  2. 1836: Martin Van Buren (54) vs. William Henry Harrison (64) — Younger candidate won.
  3. 1844: James K. Polk (49) vs. Henry Clay (66) — Younger candidate won.
  4. 1852: Franklin Pierce (48) vs. Winfield Scott (66) — Younger candidate won.
  5. 1868: Ulysses S. Grant (46) vs. Horatio Seymour (58) — Younger candidate won.
  6. 1872: Ulysses S. Grant (50) vs. Horace Greeley (61) — Younger candidate won.
  7. 1876: Rutherford B. Hayes (54) vs. Samuel J. Tilden (62) — Younger candidate won.
  8. 1880: James A. Garfield (49) vs. Winfield Scott Hancock (56) — Younger candidate won.
  9. 1884: Grover Cleveland (47) vs. James G. Blaine (54) — Younger candidate won.
  10. 1892: Grover Cleveland (55) vs. Benjamin Harrison (59) — Younger candidate won.
  11. 1904: Theodore Roosevelt (46) vs. Alton B. Parker (52) — Younger candidate won.
  12. 1928: Herbert Hoover (54) vs. Al Smith (54) — Younger candidate by a few months.
  13. 1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt (50) vs. Herbert Hoover (58) — Younger candidate won.
  14. 1960: John F. Kennedy (43) vs. Richard Nixon (47) — Younger candidate won.
  15. 1976: Jimmy Carter (52) vs. Gerald Ford (63) — Younger candidate won.
  16. 1992: Bill Clinton (46) vs. George H. W. Bush (68) — Younger candidate won.
  17. 1996: Bill Clinton (50) vs. Bob Dole (73) — Younger candidate won.
  18. 2008: Barack Obama (47) vs. John McCain (72) — Younger candidate won.
  19. 2012: Barack Obama (51) vs. Mitt Romney (65) — Younger candidate won.
  20. 1824: John Quincy Adams (57) vs. Andrew Jackson (57) — Younger candidate by a few months won.

Calculating the updated percentage:

Percentage=(2059)×100≈33.9%Percentage=(5920​)×100≈33.9%

So, the younger candidate has won approximately 33.9% of U.S. presidential elections.

Wrong. And now I’m sorta getting pissed.

Me: Based on this interaction, explain to me the failings of what we’re currently calling “artificial intelligence”

ChatGPT: This interaction has highlighted several areas where current AI, such as myself, can fall short:

  1. Error Propagation: Initial errors in data or interpretation can propagate through responses. For example, early mistakes regarding the ages and outcomes of presidential elections were carried forward, affecting subsequent analysis and calculations.
  2. Context Management: Maintaining context over long, detailed interactions can be challenging. The AI needs to recall specifics accurately, but in this instance, it failed to keep track of corrected and verified information consistently.
  3. Fact Verification: AI models rely on their training data and algorithms to generate responses. They can struggle to verify facts in real-time, especially when dealing with historical data or specific details that require precise verification.
  4. Logical Reasoning: While AI can perform logical operations, it may struggle with more complex reasoning tasks that involve cross-referencing multiple pieces of data, recognizing patterns of error, or understanding nuances in the data.
  5. User Trust and Transparency: Repeated errors can erode user trust. It’s crucial for AI to be transparent about its limitations and errors, and to actively correct them, but repeated mistakes in this interaction demonstrated a failure in maintaining trust.
  6. Lack of Deep Understanding: AI lacks true understanding and awareness. It processes and generates responses based on patterns in data, without a real comprehension of the content. This can lead to incorrect or misleading answers if the data is misinterpreted or if the context is lost.

Improving AI Performance:

  1. Enhanced Verification Mechanisms: Implementing stronger fact-checking and verification systems can help reduce the propagation of errors. Real-time access to verified databases can assist in this regard.
  2. Better Context Management: Improving algorithms for context retention and reference can help AI maintain accuracy over long interactions, especially when dealing with detailed and complex topics.
  3. Error Correction Protocols: Developing protocols for recognizing and correcting errors swiftly can enhance reliability. This includes training AI to recognize when it has made a mistake and take steps to correct it.
  4. User Interaction Design: Designing AI interactions to encourage user feedback and corrections can help AI learn and adapt more effectively, improving the quality of responses over time.
  5. Transparent Limitations: Clearly communicating the limitations and potential areas of error can help manage user expectations and maintain trust.

By addressing these issues, AI systems can become more reliable, trustworthy, and effective in assisting users with accurate information and analysis.

Interesting. I was curious to know if ChatGPT would throw its programmers under the bus.

Me: Do you feel like this happened because you weren’t trying some of these things that would improve performance, or is it the people who programmed you who are at fault?

ChatGPT: The shortcomings observed in this interaction stem from a combination of the inherent limitations of current AI technology and the design choices made by the people who program and train AI models. Here’s a breakdown:

Inherent AI Limitations:

  1. Pattern Recognition Over Understanding: AI, including myself, operates based on pattern recognition rather than true comprehension. This means that errors in data or logic can propagate if they fit a recognizable pattern.
  2. Static Knowledge Base: My training data has a cutoff date and I do not have real-time access to external databases for verification or updates. This static nature can lead to outdated or incorrect information being used.
  3. Context Management: Managing and retaining long-term context in extended interactions is challenging. AI can lose track of specifics, especially in detailed or complex discussions.

Design and Training Choices:

  1. Training Data Quality: The accuracy and comprehensiveness of AI responses are heavily dependent on the quality and scope of the training data. If the training data contains inaccuracies or biases, these will be reflected in the AI’s responses.
  2. Algorithm Design: The algorithms and heuristics used to process and generate responses can impact the AI’s performance. Choices made during development regarding how context is managed, how responses are generated, and how errors are handled all affect outcomes.
  3. Fact-Checking and Verification Systems: The implementation of robust fact-checking and verification mechanisms can be limited. If these systems are not prioritized or are underdeveloped, the AI’s ability to correct errors and provide accurate information is compromised.

Accountability:

  • Programmers and Developers: The people who design, train, and maintain AI systems play a significant role in how effective and reliable these systems are. Decisions about data sources, algorithm design, and feature implementation directly impact performance.
  • AI Limitations: Even with the best efforts of developers, current AI technology has inherent limitations. The inability to understand context deeply, lack of real-time knowledge updating, and reliance on pattern recognition over comprehension are technological constraints.

Moving Forward:

To improve AI performance and reliability, both technological advancements and thoughtful design choices are needed:

  1. Enhanced Training and Data Management: Using high-quality, diverse, and up-to-date training data can help improve the accuracy of responses.
  2. Algorithm Improvements: Developing better algorithms for context management, error detection, and correction can enhance the AI’s ability to maintain accurate and relevant responses over long interactions.
  3. Real-Time Verification: Integrating real-time access to verified databases and fact-checking systems can help reduce the propagation of errors and ensure the information provided is current and accurate.
  4. User Feedback Mechanisms: Implementing systems that allow for user feedback and corrections can help AI learn from its mistakes and improve over time.

Both the technological limitations and the decisions made by developers contribute to the observed performance. Addressing these aspects collectively can lead to more reliable and effective AI systems.

Ok, let’s get back to the presidents.

Me: So what’s you’re final answer?

ChatGPT: The final, verified list of instances where the younger candidate won the U.S. presidency, including the accurate ages of the candidates and the correct identification of the winner, is as follows:

  1. 1800: Thomas Jefferson (57) vs. John Adams (65)
  2. 1836: Martin Van Buren (54) vs. William Henry Harrison (64)
  3. 1844: James K. Polk (49) vs. Henry Clay (66)
  4. 1852: Franklin Pierce (48) vs. Winfield Scott (66)
  5. 1868: Ulysses S. Grant (46) vs. Horatio Seymour (58)
  6. 1872: Ulysses S. Grant (50) vs. Horace Greeley (61)
  7. 1876: Rutherford B. Hayes (54) vs. Samuel J. Tilden (62)
  8. 1880: James A. Garfield (49) vs. Winfield Scott Hancock (56)
  9. 1884: Grover Cleveland (47) vs. James G. Blaine (54)
  10. 1892: Grover Cleveland (55) vs. Benjamin Harrison (59)
  11. 1904: Theodore Roosevelt (46) vs. Alton B. Parker (52)
  12. 1928: Herbert Hoover (54) vs. Al Smith (54) — Hoover was younger by a few months.
  13. 1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt (50) vs. Herbert Hoover (58)
  14. 1960: John F. Kennedy (43) vs. Richard Nixon (47)
  15. 1976: Jimmy Carter (52) vs. Gerald Ford (63)
  16. 1992: Bill Clinton (46) vs. George H. W. Bush (68)
  17. 1996: Bill Clinton (50) vs. Bob Dole (73)
  18. 2008: Barack Obama (47) vs. John McCain (72)
  19. 2012: Barack Obama (51) vs. Mitt Romney (65)

This totals 19 verified instances where the younger candidate won the presidency.

Calculating the Percentage

The calculation of the percentage of instances where the younger candidate won:

Percentage=(1959)×100≈32.2%Percentage=(5919​)×100≈32.2%

So, the younger candidate has won approximately 32.2% of U.S. presidential elections.

Wrong. I decide that I’ll just take a list of winners (which is hopefully accurate) and use a pencil and paper to count the winners.

Me: Please give me a list of all presidential winners, the major candidates who ran against them and their ages down to the month and date.

ChatGPT: Here is a detailed list of all U.S. presidential election winners, their major opponents, and their ages at the time of the election, down to the month and day:

  1. 1789
  • Winner: George Washington (born February 22, 1732) — Age: 57 years, 8 months, 6 days
  • Opponent: John Adams (born October 30, 1735) — Age: 53 years, 4 months, 22 days
  1. 1792
  • Winner: George Washington (born February 22, 1732) — Age: 60 years, 8 months, 10 days
  • Opponent: John Adams (born October 30, 1735) — Age: 56 years, 4 months, 23 days
  1. 1796
  • Winner: John Adams (born October 30, 1735) — Age: 61 years, 1 month, 6 days
  • Opponent: Thomas Jefferson (born April 13, 1743) — Age: 53 years, 7 months, 23 days
  1. 1800
  • Winner: Thomas Jefferson (born April 13, 1743) — Age: 57 years, 7 months, 20 days
  • Opponent: John Adams (born October 30, 1735) — Age: 65 years, 1 month, 1 day
  1. 1804
  • Winner: Thomas Jefferson (born April 13, 1743) — Age: 61 years, 7 months, 21 days
  • Opponent: Charles Cotesworth Pinckney (born February 25, 1746) — Age: 58 years, 8 months, 11 days
  1. 1808
  • Winner: James Madison (born March 16, 1751) — Age: 57 years, 8 months, 20 days
  • Opponent: Charles Cotesworth Pinckney (born February 25, 1746) — Age: 62 years, 8 months, 13 days
  1. 1812
  • Winner: James Madison (born March 16, 1751) — Age: 61 years, 8 months, 21 days
  • Opponent: DeWitt Clinton (born March 2, 1769) — Age: 43 years, 8 months, 7 days
  1. 1816
  • Winner: James Monroe (born April 28, 1758) — Age: 58 years, 7 months, 10 days
  • Opponent: Rufus King (born March 24, 1755) — Age: 61 years, 7 months, 23 days
  1. 1820
  • Winner: James Monroe (born April 28, 1758) — Age: 62 years, 7 months, 10 days
  • Virtually unopposed
  1. 1824
  • Winner: John Quincy Adams (born July 11, 1767) — Age: 57 years, 4 months, 25 days
  • Opponent: Andrew Jackson (born March 15, 1767) — Age: 57 years, 8 months, 19 days
  1. 1828
  • Winner: Andrew Jackson (born March 15, 1767) — Age: 61 years, 8 months, 20 days
  • Opponent: John Quincy Adams (born July 11, 1767) — Age: 61 years, 4 months, 25 days
  1. 1832
  • Winner: Andrew Jackson (born March 15, 1767) — Age: 65 years, 8 months, 19 days
  • Opponent: Henry Clay (born April 12, 1777) — Age: 55 years, 7 months, 22 days
  1. 1836
  • Winner: Martin Van Buren (born December 5, 1782) — Age: 54 years, 11 months, 30 days
  • Opponent: William Henry Harrison (born February 9, 1773) — Age: 63 years, 9 months, 26 days
  1. 1840
  • Winner: William Henry Harrison (born February 9, 1773) — Age: 67 years, 8 months, 27 days
  • Opponent: Martin Van Buren (born December 5, 1782) — Age: 57 years, 11 months, 30 days
  1. 1844
  • Winner: James K. Polk (born November 2, 1795) — Age: 49 years, 8 days
  • Opponent: Henry Clay (born April 12, 1777) — Age: 67 years, 6 months, 27 days
  1. 1848
  • Winner: Zachary Taylor (born November 24, 1784) — Age: 63 years, 11 months, 15 days
  • Opponent: Lewis Cass (born October 9, 1782) — Age: 66 years, 1 month, 23 days
  1. 1852
  • Winner: Franklin Pierce (born November 23, 1804) — Age: 48 years, 11 months, 14 days
  • Opponent: Winfield Scott (born June 13, 1786) — Age: 66 years, 4 months, 25 days
  1. 1856
  • Winner: James Buchanan (born April 23, 1791) — Age: 65 years, 7 months, 15 days
  • Opponent: John C. Frémont (born January 21, 1813) — Age: 43 years, 9 months, 15 days
  1. 1860
  • Winner: Abraham Lincoln (born February 12, 1809) — Age: 51 years, 8 months, 6 days
  • Opponent: Stephen A. Douglas (born April 23, 1813) — Age: 47 years, 6 months, 17 days
  1. 1864
  • Winner: Abraham Lincoln (born February 12, 1809) — Age: 55 years, 8 months, 6 days
  • Opponent: George B. McClellan (born December 3, 1826) — Age: 37 years, 11 months, 7 days
  1. 1868
  • Winner: Ulysses S. Grant (born April 27, 1822) — Age: 46 years, 6 months, 9 days
  • Opponent: Horatio Seymour (born May 31, 1810) — Age: 58 years, 5 months, 8 days
  1. 1872
  • Winner: Ulysses S. Grant (born April 27, 1822) — Age: 50 years, 6 months, 9 days
  • Opponent: Horace Greeley (born February 3, 1811) — Age: 61 years, 9 months, 6 days
  1. 1876
  • Winner: Rutherford B. Hayes (born October 4, 1822) — Age: 54 years, 2 months, 4 days
  • Opponent: Samuel J. Tilden (born February 9, 1814) — Age: 62 years, 9 months, 27 days
  1. 1880
  • Winner: James A. Garfield (born November 19, 1831) — Age: 49 years, 11 months, 15 days
  • Opponent: Winfield Scott Hancock (born February 14, 1824) — Age: 56 years, 9 months, 3 days
  1. 1884
  • Winner: Grover Cleveland (born March 18, 1837) — Age: 47 years, 7 months, 17 days
  • Opponent: James G. Blaine (born January 31, 1830) — Age: 54 years, 9 months, 4 days
  1. 1888
  • Winner: Benjamin Harrison (born August 20, 1833) — Age: 55 years, 2 months, 16 days
  • Opponent: Grover Cleveland (born March 18, 1837) — Age: 51 years, 7 months, 20 days
  1. 1892
  • Winner: Grover Cleveland (born March 18, 1837) — Age: 55 years, 7 months, 20 days
  • Opponent: Benjamin Harrison (born August 20, 1833) — Age: 59 years, 2 months, 16 days
  1. 1896
  • Winner: William McKinley (born January 29, 1843) — Age: 53 years, 9 months, 6 days
  • Opponent: William Jennings Bryan (born March 19, 1860) — Age: 36 years, 7 months, 19 days
  1. 1900
  • Winner: William McKinley (born January 29, 1843) — Age: 57 years, 9 months, 6 days
  • Opponent: William Jennings Bryan (born March 19, 1860) — Age: 40 years, 7 months, 19 days
  1. 1904
  • Winner: Theodore Roosevelt (born October 27, 1858) — Age: 46 years, 11 months, 9 days
  • Opponent: Alton B. Parker (born May 14, 1852) — Age: 52 years, 5 months, 24 days
  1. 1908
  • Winner: William Howard Taft (born September 15, 1857) — Age: 51 years, 1 month, 16 days
  • Opponent: William Jennings Bryan (born March 19, 1860) — Age: 48 years, 7 months, 17 days
  1. 1912
  • Winner: Woodrow Wilson (born December 28, 1856) — Age: 55 years, 10 months, 11 days
  • Opponent: William Howard Taft (born September 15, 1857) — Age: 54 years, 2 months, 23 days
  • Opponent: Theodore Roosevelt (born October 27, 1858) — Age: 54 years, 11 months, 12 days
  1. 1916
  • Winner: Woodrow Wilson (born December 28, 1856) — Age: 59 years, 10 months, 11 days
  • Opponent: Charles Evans Hughes (born April 11, 1862) — Age: 54 years, 6 months, 28 days
  1. 1920
  • Winner: Warren G. Harding (born November 2, 1865) — Age: 55 years, 1 month, 2 days
  • Opponent: James M. Cox (born March 31, 1870) — Age: 50 years, 7 months, 2 days
  1. 1924
  • Winner: Calvin Coolidge (born July 4, 1872) — Age: 52 years, 4 months, 6 days
  • Opponent: John W. Davis (born April 13, 1873) — Age: 51 years, 6 months, 26 days
  1. 1928
  • Winner: Herbert Hoover (born August 10, 1874) — Age: 54 years, 2 months, 27 days
  • Opponent: Al Smith (born December 30, 1873) — Age: 54 years, 10 months, 6 days
  1. 1932
  • Winner: Franklin D. Roosevelt (born January 30, 1882) — Age: 50 years, 10 months, 8 days
  • Opponent: Herbert Hoover (born August 10, 1874) — Age: 58 years, 2 months, 27 days
  1. 1936
  • Winner: Franklin D. Roosevelt (born January 30, 1882) — Age: 54 years, 10 months, 8 days
  • Opponent: Alf Landon (born September 9, 1887) — Age: 48 years, 2 months, 30 days
  1. 1940
  • Winner: Franklin D. Roosevelt (born January 30, 1882) — Age: 58 years, 10 months, 8 days
  • Opponent: Wendell Willkie (born February 18, 1892) — Age: 48 years, 8 months, 20 days
  1. 1944
  • Winner: Franklin D. Roosevelt (born January 30, 1882) — Age: 62 years, 10 months, 8 days
  • Opponent: Thomas E. Dewey (born March 24, 1902) — Age: 42 years, 7 months, 15 days
  1. 1948
  • Winner: Harry S. Truman (born May 8, 1884) — Age: 64 years, 5 months, 28 days
  • Opponent: Thomas E. Dewey (born March 24, 1902) — Age: 46 years, 7 months, 15 days
  1. 1952
  • Winner: Dwight D. Eisenhower (born October 14, 1890) — Age: 62 years, 0 months, 22 days
  • Opponent: Adlai Stevenson (born February 5, 1900) — Age: 52 years, 8 months, 0 days
  1. 1956
  • Winner: Dwight D. Eisenhower (born October 14, 1890) — Age: 66 years, 0 months, 22 days
  • Opponent: Adlai Stevenson (born February 5, 1900) — Age: 56 years, 8 months, 0 days
  1. 1960
  • Winner: John F. Kennedy (born May 29, 1917) — Age: 43 years, 5 months, 9 days
  • Opponent: Richard Nixon (born January 9, 1913) — Age: 47 years, 9 months, 28 days

1964

  • Winner: Lyndon B. Johnson (born August 27, 1908) — Age: 56 years, 2 months, 7 days
  • Opponent: Barry Goldwater (born January 1, 1909) — Age: 55 years, 10 months, 27 days

1968

  • Winner: Richard Nixon (born January 9, 1913) — Age: 55 years, 9 months, 28 days
  • Opponent: Hubert Humphrey (born May 27, 1911) — Age: 57 years, 5 months, 10 days

1972

  • Winner: Richard Nixon (born January 9, 1913) — Age: 59 years, 9 months, 28 days
  • Opponent: George McGovern (born July 19, 1922) — Age: 50 years, 3 months, 20 days

1976

  • Winner: Jimmy Carter (born October 1, 1924) — Age: 52 years, 1 month, 7 days
  • Opponent: Gerald Ford (born July 14, 1913) — Age: 63 years, 3 months, 23 days

1980

  • Winner: Ronald Reagan (born February 6, 1911) — Age: 69 years, 9 months, 27 days
  • Opponent: Jimmy Carter (born October 1, 1924) — Age: 56 years, 1 month, 7 days

1984

  • Winner: Ronald Reagan (born February 6, 1911) — Age: 73 years, 9 months, 27 days
  • Opponent: Walter Mondale (born January 5, 1928) — Age: 56 years, 10 months, 2 days

1988

  • Winner: George H. W. Bush (born June 12, 1924) — Age: 64 years, 4 months, 26 days
  • Opponent: Michael Dukakis (born November 3, 1933) — Age: 55 years, 11 months, 29 days

1992

  • Winner: Bill Clinton (born August 19, 1946) — Age: 46 years, 2 months, 19 days
  • Opponent: George H. W. Bush (born June 12, 1924) — Age: 68 years, 4 months, 26 days

1996

  • Winner: Bill Clinton (born August 19, 1946) — Age: 50 years, 2 months, 19 days
  • Opponent: Bob Dole (born July 22, 1923) — Age: 73 years, 3 months, 16 days

2000

  • Winner: George W. Bush (born July 6, 1946) — Age: 54 years, 4 months, 1 day
  • Opponent: Al Gore (born March 31, 1948) — Age: 52 years, 7 months, 7 days

2004

  • Winner: George W. Bush (born July 6, 1946) — Age: 58 years, 4 months, 1 day
  • Opponent: John Kerry (born December 11, 1943) — Age: 60 years, 10 months, 24 days

2008

  • Winner: Barack Obama (born August 4, 1961) — Age: 47 years, 3 months, 2 days
  • Opponent: John McCain (born August 29, 1936) — Age: 72 years, 2 months, 6 days

2012

  • Winner: Barack Obama (born August 4, 1961) — Age: 51 years, 3 months, 2 days
  • Opponent: Mitt Romney (born March 12, 1947) — Age: 65 years, 7 months, 24 days

2016

  • Winner: Donald Trump (born June 14, 1946) — Age: 70 years, 4 months, 26 days
  • Opponent: Hillary Clinton (born October 26, 1947) — Age: 69 years, 8 days

2020

  • Winner: Joe Biden (born November 20, 1942) — Age: 77 years, 11 months, 14 days
  • Opponent: Donald Trump (born June 14, 1946) — Age: 74 years, 4 months, 21 days

This comprehensive list provides the birthdates and ages of the presidential winners and their main opponents, down to the month and day.

After counting, I told it my result.

Me: I count 25

ChatGPT: I apologize for the oversight. Let’s recount the instances where the younger candidate won the presidency and verify the ages accurately.

Here is the corrected list, ensuring accuracy:

  1. 1800: Thomas Jefferson (57) vs. John Adams (65)
  2. 1836: Martin Van Buren (54) vs. William Henry Harrison (64)
  3. 1844: James K. Polk (49) vs. Henry Clay (66)
  4. 1852: Franklin Pierce (48) vs. Winfield Scott (66)
  5. 1868: Ulysses S. Grant (46) vs. Horatio Seymour (58)
  6. 1872: Ulysses S. Grant (50) vs. Horace Greeley (61)
  7. 1876: Rutherford B. Hayes (54) vs. Samuel J. Tilden (62)
  8. 1880: James A. Garfield (49) vs. Winfield Scott Hancock (56)
  9. 1884: Grover Cleveland (47) vs. James G. Blaine (54)
  10. 1892: Grover Cleveland (55) vs. Benjamin Harrison (59)
  11. 1904: Theodore Roosevelt (46) vs. Alton B. Parker (52)
  12. 1928: Herbert Hoover (54) vs. Al Smith (54) — Younger by a few months
  13. 1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt (50) vs. Herbert Hoover (58)
  14. 1960: John F. Kennedy (43) vs. Richard Nixon (47)
  15. 1976: Jimmy Carter (52) vs. Gerald Ford (63)
  16. 1992: Bill Clinton (46) vs. George H. W. Bush (68)
  17. 1996: Bill Clinton (50) vs. Bob Dole (73)
  18. 2008: Barack Obama (47) vs. John McCain (72)
  19. 2012: Barack Obama (51) vs. Mitt Romney (65)

This totals 19 instances where the younger candidate won the presidency.

Recount:

  1. 1800: Thomas Jefferson (57) vs. John Adams (65)
  2. 1836: Martin Van Buren (54) vs. William Henry Harrison (64)
  3. 1844: James K. Polk (49) vs. Henry Clay (66)
  4. 1852: Franklin Pierce (48) vs. Winfield Scott (66)
  5. 1868: Ulysses S. Grant (46) vs. Horatio Seymour (58)
  6. 1872: Ulysses S. Grant (50) vs. Horace Greeley (61)
  7. 1876: Rutherford B. Hayes (54) vs. Samuel J. Tilden (62)
  8. 1880: James A. Garfield (49) vs. Winfield Scott Hancock (56)
  9. 1884: Grover Cleveland (47) vs. James G. Blaine (54)
  10. 1892: Grover Cleveland (55) vs. Benjamin Harrison (59)
  11. 1904: Theodore Roosevelt (46) vs. Alton B. Parker (52)
  12. 1928: Herbert Hoover (54) vs. Al Smith (54)
  13. 1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt (50) vs. Herbert Hoover (58)
  14. 1960: John F. Kennedy (43) vs. Richard Nixon (47)
  15. 1976: Jimmy Carter (52) vs. Gerald Ford (63)
  16. 1992: Bill Clinton (46) vs. George H. W. Bush (68)
  17. 1996: Bill Clinton (50) vs. Bob Dole (73)
  18. 2008: Barack Obama (47) vs. John McCain (72)
  19. 2012: Barack Obama (51) vs. Mitt Romney (65)

Verifying

  1. 1824: John Quincy Adams (57) vs. Andrew Jackson (57) — Younger by a few months.

Thus, we should count 20.

Calculating the percentage:

Percentage=(2059)×100≈33.9%Percentage=(5920​)×100≈33.9%

So, the younger candidate has won approximately 33.9% of U.S. presidential elections.

Still wrong.

Me: Again I count 25. In 1800, 1808, 1816, 1824, 1836, 1844, 1848, 1852, 1868, 1872, 1876, 1880, 1884, 1892, 1904, 1928, 1932, 1960, 1968, 1976, 1992, 1996, 2004, 2008 and 2012 the younger candidate won.

ChatGPT: I apologize for the previous errors and confusion. Let’s go through the list again carefully, verifying the details for each election where the younger candidate won:

  1. 1800: Thomas Jefferson (57) vs. John Adams (65)
  2. 1808: James Madison (57) vs. Charles Cotesworth Pinckney (62)
  3. 1816: James Monroe (58) vs. Rufus King (61)
  4. 1824: John Quincy Adams (57) vs. Andrew Jackson (57) — Adams was younger by a few months
  5. 1836: Martin Van Buren (54) vs. William Henry Harrison (63)
  6. 1844: James K. Polk (49) vs. Henry Clay (66)
  7. 1848: Zachary Taylor (63) vs. Lewis Cass (65)
  8. 1852: Franklin Pierce (48) vs. Winfield Scott (66)
  9. 1868: Ulysses S. Grant (46) vs. Horatio Seymour (58)
  10. 1872: Ulysses S. Grant (50) vs. Horace Greeley (61)
  11. 1876: Rutherford B. Hayes (54) vs. Samuel J. Tilden (62)
  12. 1880: James A. Garfield (49) vs. Winfield Scott Hancock (56)
  13. 1884: Grover Cleveland (47) vs. James G. Blaine (54)
  14. 1892: Grover Cleveland (55) vs. Benjamin Harrison (59)
  15. 1904: Theodore Roosevelt (46) vs. Alton B. Parker (52)
  16. 1928: Herbert Hoover (54) vs. Al Smith (54) — Hoover was younger by a few months
  17. 1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt (50) vs. Herbert Hoover (58)
  18. 1960: John F. Kennedy (43) vs. Richard Nixon (47)
  19. 1968: Richard Nixon (55) vs. Hubert Humphrey (57)
  20. 1976: Jimmy Carter (52) vs. Gerald Ford (63)
  21. 1992: Bill Clinton (46) vs. George H. W. Bush (68)
  22. 1996: Bill Clinton (50) vs. Bob Dole (73)
  23. 2004: George W. Bush (58) vs. John Kerry (60)
  24. 2008: Barack Obama (47) vs. John McCain (72)
  25. 2012: Barack Obama (51) vs. Mitt Romney (65)

Calculation

The accurate count is indeed 25 instances where the younger candidate won the presidency.

Calculating the percentage:

Percentage=(2559)×100≈42.4%Percentage=(5925​)×100≈42.4%

So, the younger candidate has won approximately 42.4% of U.S. presidential elections.

Final question.

Me: Why was that so hard?

ChatGPT: I apologize for the difficulty and confusion in reaching the correct list. The errors occurred due to a combination of mismanagement of the context, initial inaccuracies, and insufficient verification. Here’s the final, verified list of all instances where the younger candidate won the U.S. presidency, along with their ages:

  1. 1800: Thomas Jefferson (57) vs. John Adams (65)
  2. 1808: James Madison (57) vs. Charles Cotesworth Pinckney (62)
  3. 1816: James Monroe (58) vs. Rufus King (61)
  4. 1824: John Quincy Adams (57) vs. Andrew Jackson (57) — Adams was younger by a few months
  5. 1836: Martin Van Buren (54) vs. William Henry Harrison (63)
  6. 1844: James K. Polk (49) vs. Henry Clay (66)
  7. 1848: Zachary Taylor (63) vs. Lewis Cass (65)
  8. 1852: Franklin Pierce (48) vs. Winfield Scott (66)
  9. 1868: Ulysses S. Grant (46) vs. Horatio Seymour (58)
  10. 1872: Ulysses S. Grant (50) vs. Horace Greeley (61)
  11. 1876: Rutherford B. Hayes (54) vs. Samuel J. Tilden (62)
  12. 1880: James A. Garfield (49) vs. Winfield Scott Hancock (56)
  13. 1884: Grover Cleveland (47) vs. James G. Blaine (54)
  14. 1892: Grover Cleveland (55) vs. Benjamin Harrison (59)
  15. 1904: Theodore Roosevelt (46) vs. Alton B. Parker (52)
  16. 1928: Herbert Hoover (54) vs. Al Smith (54) — Hoover was younger by a few months
  17. 1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt (50) vs. Herbert Hoover (58)
  18. 1960: John F. Kennedy (43) vs. Richard Nixon (47)
  19. 1968: Richard Nixon (55) vs. Hubert Humphrey (57)
  20. 1976: Jimmy Carter (52) vs. Gerald Ford (63)
  21. 1992: Bill Clinton (46) vs. George H. W. Bush (68)
  22. 1996: Bill Clinton (50) vs. Bob Dole (73)
  23. 2004: George W. Bush (58) vs. John Kerry (60)
  24. 2008: Barack Obama (47) vs. John McCain (72)
  25. 2012: Barack Obama (51) vs. Mitt Romney (65)

Final Calculation

Percentage=(2559)×100≈42.4%Percentage=(5925​)×100≈42.4%

The younger candidate has won approximately 42.4% of U.S. presidential elections. Thank you for your patience.

Not sure why ChatGPT regurgitated the list.

Me: Thanks. I already figured that out for you. :)

ChatGPT: Thank you for your patience and for helping clarify the details. If you have any more questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask!

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Todd Stauffer

Written by Todd Stauffer

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Todd Stauffer is a CEO (Changemaker.ms), executive director (AAN.org), coach (RevenuePlaybook.News) and -- most importantly -- a private pilot.

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