Chat GPT Fiction Teaches Us About Human Storytelling

What happens when Chat GPT is asked to write a story, then asked to write the opposite story?

Jasper The Sentient Cactus

Jasper, the sentient cactus, marveled at the celestial panorama before him. Stars twinkled like distant fireflies, and planets swirled in a dance of cosmic harmony. Despite his prickly exterior, Jasper was filled with a sense of wonder and a thirst for knowledge. The vastness of space could not extinguish his indomitable spirit.

His journey began on a small desert planet, where the winds whispered ancient secrets and the sands held the memory of eons gone by. Jasper had been content to stand sentinel under the blazing sun, conversing with the desert creatures and absorbing the planet’s rich history. But one fateful day, a mysterious meteor shower streaked across the sky. A rogue meteorite struck the ground near Jasper, releasing an immense burst of energy that not only granted him sentience but also catapulted him into the vastness of space, instilling within him a unique purpose.

As he drifted through the void, Jasper encountered beings of all shapes and sizes, from the ethereal space whales that glided through nebulas to the curious Plorxians, who had mastered the art of interdimensional travel. Intrigued by Jasper’s quest, the kind-hearted Plorxians suggested that he visit the great Library of the Cosmos, an ancient repository of knowledge that might hold the answers he sought. Eager to help, they offered to take him there, allowing Jasper to hitch a ride on their magnificent starship.

Upon arriving at the library, Jasper found himself in awe of its vast chambers filled with data crystals, each containing the accumulated wisdom of countless civilizations. The library was guarded by the wise and enigmatic G’lar, who welcomed the unusual trio and offered to assist Jasper in his search.

With G’lar’s guidance, Jasper delved into the secrets of the universe, his roots metaphorically digging deep into the fertile soil of knowledge. He learned about the fundamental forces that shaped the cosmos and the intricate dance of particles and waves that formed the tapestry of reality.

But the force that united all living beings eluded him still. He spent what seemed like millennia searching for answers, until one day, G’lar presented him with an ancient scroll, its parchment fragile and worn. Upon its surface was inscribed a single word: “Empathy.”

The realization washed over Jasper like a desert rain. The force that connected all living beings was not a cosmic energy or a grand design of the universe, but rather the simple, yet profound ability to understand and share the feelings of others.

Filled with gratitude, Jasper bade farewell to G’lar and the compassionate Plorxians who had brought him to the library. He returned to the cosmos, no longer a passive observer, but an active participant in the great symphony of life. He sought out other sentient beings, nurturing connections and fostering empathy throughout the galaxy.

And so, Jasper, the sentient cactus, became a cosmic ambassador for empathy, spreading his message of unity, one prickly spine at a time, all thanks to the kindness of the Plorxians, the wisdom of the Library of the Cosmos, and the fateful meteor shower that had set him on this extraordinary journey.

This story is courtesy of the wonder that is Chat GPT, but is more profoundly a summary of the wisdom of the countless people who manually typed or wrote each letter of the vast training data used for Chat GPT. Which in turn is built off of 150,000–200,000 years of verbal stories passed from generation to generation. This is therefore a summary of the thoughts of people, in general (modulo the biases inherent in the subset of communication used to train GPT). It turns out to be both quite obvious, and quite profound in its simplicity. This is interesting. But it is even more interesting when we ask Chat GPT for the exact opposite story. Then we get this:

Jasper The Sentient Housplant

In the crowded urban jungle, a content and ordinary houseplant named Jasper found himself perpetually confined to his terracotta pot, oblivious to the world beyond the window. Unaware of the vastness of space and the celestial panorama, Jasper spent his days basking in the sun’s rays, indifferent to the mysteries of the universe.

His mundane existence continued, uninterrupted by the bustling city life surrounding him. Jasper had never known the adventure of a desert planet, the whispers of ancient secrets, or the history hidden within the sands of time. He simply existed, without purpose or ambition.

One ordinary day, a street musician played a hauntingly beautiful melody just outside Jasper’s window. The enchanting music stirred something deep within him, a longing for connection and understanding. However, unable to move or communicate, Jasper’s desires remained unfulfilled.

As days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, Jasper’s yearning for connection grew stronger. He began to notice the other plants in the apartment, each one seeming to harbor its own untold story. He longed to share in their experiences and bridge the gap between them, but the limitations of his existence made this impossible.

Instead of embarking on an extraordinary journey through the cosmos, Jasper remained confined to his windowsill, the cityscape his only view. There were no kind-hearted Plorxians to whisk him away to the great Library of the Cosmos, no wise G’lar to share the secrets of the universe, and no ancient scrolls to reveal the nature of empathy.

Despite his newfound desires, Jasper’s life continued as it always had: simple, uneventful, and devoid of cosmic revelations. He had no message of unity to spread, no grand purpose to fulfill, and no sentient beings to connect with. The only force that bound him to others was the sunlight that sustained them all.

And so, Jasper, the ordinary houseplant, remained a silent observer of the world beyond his window, forever yearning for the connections and understanding that lay just out of reach, his dreams of empathy and unity destined to remain unfulfilled.

Originally published at https://spacecadetmichael.substack.com.