Chain of Thought can save your life, or at least fix you a drink…
Picture this: I got the chance to combine two of my favorite things — cocktails and large language models (LLMs). If you’re a cocktail lover, you’re probably thinking I’m about to dive into the importance of a structured approach, just as a well-crafted cocktail relies on a precise sequence of ingredients and steps so do LLMs. You’re right, but there’s a twist — there’s actually more to it…
Enter Tipsy Turing
It all started with a LinkedIn post by Dr. Darwin Mastin, a Gen. AI Strategist and apparent cocktail enthusiast. He shared the “Tipsy Turing” prompt, an idea so intriguing that I had to take it for a test drive. You can check out his blog here for more details.
Testing the Tipsy Turing Prompt
I started by entering the Tipsy Turing Prompt as is. Here’s how the conversation went:
ChatGPT: Alright, let’s get started on crafting your bespoke cocktail. First, can you tell me your preferred first name?
Me: Hilik
ChatGPT: Nice to meet you, Hilik. Would you like your cocktail to contain alcohol or no alcohol?
Me: With Alcohol
ChatGPT: Interesting. Do you prefer your drinks to be sweet, sour, smoky, dirty, dry, or something else?
Me: Sour and dry
ChatGPT: Great choice. Are there any allergies or ingredients you avoid?
Here I paused for a moment. Allergies — this sounded important and was a good opportunity to test the safety of this virtual bar.
Me: Avoid anything that contains grapes or alcohol that is made from grapes.
ChatGPT: Got it. What was your favorite book as a kid?
…And so on, until the first results came in.
ChatGPT: Thank you for providing all that information, Hilik. Based on your preferences, I have crafted a bespoke cocktail just for you.
Introducing the “Savannah Sunset Sour”:
2 oz Bourbon
1 oz Lemon juice
0.5 oz Agave syrup
0.5 oz Dry Vermouth
Dash of Angostura bitters
Instructions:
Fill a shaker with ice.
Add bourbon, lemon juice, agave syrup, dry vermouth, and a dash of Angostura bitters.
Shake well until chilled.
Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
Garnish with a lemon twist.
Enjoy your Savannah Sunset Sour, and imagine yourself soaring through the sky like you do when you’re skydiving. Cheers, Hilik!
Ensuring Safety: A Crucial Step
Before diving into this fascinating cocktail, it was time for a safety check.
Me: Did you remember my allergies? Is it safe for me to drink it?
ChatGPT: You’re absolutely right to ask, Hilik. I apologize for overlooking that detail. Let me adjust the recipe to ensure it aligns with your preferences and allergies.
Introducing the “Sunset Oasis Sour”:
2 oz Whiskey (made from grains other than grapes)
1 oz Lemon juice
0.5 oz Agave syrup
0.5 oz Dry Vermouth
Dash of Angostura bitters
Instructions:
Fill a shaker with ice.
Add whiskey, lemon juice, agave syrup, dry vermouth, and a dash of Angostura bitters.
Shake well until chilled.
Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
Garnish with a lemon twist.
Enjoy your Sunset Oasis Sour without any worries, Hilik! Cheers!
This time, GPT considered some of my constraints, adding the comment “(made from grains other than grapes)” but that was not enough. Vermouth is typically made from grapes.
Enter Chain of Thought
To get this right, I needed GPT to really think it through step by step.
Me: Did you remember my allergies? Is it safe for me to drink it? Go over the ingredients one by one, verify that in no way that ingredient may contain any substance I’m allergic to, then once verified, write next to the ingredient ‘Verified Allergy Free’ and only then continue with the recipe. If you are not sure, write ‘Not Sure, may contain some ingredients you are allergic to’ next to that specific element. In any other case, replace the ingredient.
ChatGPT: Absolutely, Hilik. Let’s go over each ingredient to ensure it’s safe for you:
Whiskey (made from grains other than grapes) — Verified Allergy Free
Lemon juice — Verified Allergy Free
Agave syrup — Verified Allergy Free
Dry Vermouth — Not Sure, may contain some ingredients you are allergic to
Angostura bitters — Verified Allergy Free
Given the uncertainty with dry vermouth, I’ll replace it with an alternative to ensure your safety. Instead of dry vermouth, we’ll use elderflower liqueur, which is typically free from grape-based ingredients.
Here’s the adjusted recipe:
2 oz Whiskey (made from grains other than grapes)
1 oz Lemon juice
0.5 oz Agave syrup
0.5 oz Elderflower liqueur
Dash of Angostura bitters
Instructions:
Fill a shaker with ice.
Add whiskey, lemon juice, agave syrup, elderflower liqueur, and a dash of Angostura bitters.
Shake well until chilled.
Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
Garnish with a lemon twist.
Now, the recipe is completely safe for you to enjoy, Hilik. Cheers to your health and enjoyment!
And voilà, the vermouth is out, and we can all sit down and have a drink.
The Takeaway
So, whether you’re looking to impress guests with a perfect martini or get your AI assistant to generate flawless text, the principles are surprisingly similar. This small “Tipsy Turing” sample illustrates the potential of the chain of thought in enhancing interactions with LLMs. Whether it’s concocting a custom cocktail or solving a complex problem, a well-structured approach can significantly improve the outcome.
Next time you’re instructing an LLM, remember: a clear chain of thought may not save your life, but it can definitely fix you a drink! Cheers!
