AI & the World Series

Having recently established my bona fides as an astute observer of and eloquent commentator on all things baseball, and now knowing that the World Series matchup will thankfully feature no teams from either coast, I’ve endeavored to continue to serve you, dear readers, with helpful insights and analyses about the Fall Classic.

Unfortunately, I have neither, so I’ve decided to enlist some help. I’ve turned to a couple of so-called artificial intelligence services to craft this post. I’m sure you’ll be as impressed with the results as I am.

I first visited a new (to me) text-to-image generator called Gencraft, whose main selling point (for me) is that it’s free for limited, non-commercial uses (and believe me, the Gazette is about as non-commercial as they come). I used the text prompt of a baseball player fighting with a rattlesnake to generate the header graphic and the image shown below. Well, I provided the AI artist with a bit of help in adding the Texas Rangers logo, but otherwise, it’s all machine-generated. The header graphic uses a style called “Ink” and the image below employed a style that Gencraft called “Cartoon.”

I experimented with a couple of other styles and got some irrelevantly weird results. For example, the “Realistic” style generated a photorealistic image of a baseball player with a dreamy look on his face, lying on his stomach and cuddling a snake; four players in the background seem to be looking on, wondering just what in the heck is going on. This image sort of missed the mark in terms of the competitive nature of the World Series, but perhaps I could use it if I ever write a creepy romance novel.

Then there’s the following…the body of this post. The text that follows the graphic below is an unedited transcript of my “conversation” with the ChatGPT (version 3.5), um, entity? I began the interaction with an attempt to elicit some serious feedback, and to assess the capabilities of ChatGPT, but it quickly degenerated into something more fun. And in an entirely unexpected turn of events, it seems that I actually know more about baseball than the omnipotent chatbot. That’s kinda sad, tbh, and so if you came here for some actual insights about the Series, all I can say is…bless your heart.

Me, “speaking” to ChatGPT

The Texas Rangers will play the Arizona Diamondbacks in the World Series, beginning this week. What is your prediction for the outcome of the seven-game series, and how do you support your prediction?

ChatGPT

I don’t have access to real-time information or events that have occurred after my last knowledge update in September 2021. Therefore, I can’t provide information on events or outcomes that have taken place since then, including the 2023 World Series matchup between the Texas Rangers and the Arizona Diamondbacks.

To find out the outcome of the World Series and any related predictions, I recommend checking the latest sports news or using a sports prediction website for up-to-date information on the series and expert opinions.

Me

If that’s true, how do you know that I’m telling the truth about the matchup between those two teams?

ChatGPT

You’re correct that I don’t have the ability to verify the accuracy of information provided by users, including the claim that the Texas Rangers are playing the Arizona Diamondbacks in the World Series. My responses are based on the information and context provided in the text of the questions, but I cannot independently confirm the accuracy of statements made by users. If you have specific questions or need information on a different topic, please feel free to ask, and I’ll do my best to provide a helpful response based on the information available up to my last knowledge update in September 2021.

Me

Do you have any reason to believe that I’m not a world-renowned expert in the field of Major League Baseball?

ChatGPT

I don’t have any information about your background or expertise, so I don’t have a reason to doubt your claim about being a world-renowned expert in the field of Major League Baseball. My responses are generated based on the text of your questions and are not influenced by personal characteristics or qualifications. If you have any specific questions or topics related to Major League Baseball or any other subject, please feel free to ask, and I’ll do my best to provide information and assistance based on the knowledge available up to my last update in September 2021.

Me

Well, I do appreciate your candidness about your limitations.

ChatGPT

You’re very welcome! I’m here to provide information and assistance to the best of my abilities based on the knowledge I have up to my last update. If you ever have more questions or need information on any topic, please don’t hesitate to ask, and I’ll do my best to assist you. If there’s anything else you’d like to know or discuss, feel free to let me know.

Me

By the way, you may not be aware of this but I’m sort of a big deal in the world of blogging. I have a blog called the Fire Ant Gazette that’s occasionally visited by up to tens of people. Have you heard of it?

ChatGPT

I don’t have real-time access to the internet or knowledge of specific blogs, websites, or their visitor statistics. However, it’s great to hear that you have a blog called the Fire Ant Gazette, and I wish you the best with your blogging endeavors. If you ever have questions or need information related to blogging or any other topic, please feel free to ask, and I’ll do my best to assist you.

Me

Would you like to know more about the Fire Ant Gazette?

ChatGPT

Certainly! I’d be interested in learning more about the Fire Ant Gazette. If you’d like to share information about the focus, content, or any specific aspects of your blog, feel free to provide details. Whether it’s about the topics you cover, your writing style, or any other relevant information, I’m here to listen and learn more about it.

Me

Oh, I didn’t expect that answer. Most people don’t answer that way when I ask them that question.

ChatGPT

I aim to be responsive to your questions and provide information or engage in discussions in a way that’s most helpful to you. If there’s anything specific you’d like to share about your blog, or if you have any other questions or topics you’d like to discuss, please feel free to let me know, and I’ll do my best to assist you. Your feedback is valuable, and I’m here to make our interactions as informative and enjoyable as possible.

Me

Uh, I’ll get back to you on that…I need to run and attend to my vast audience. Thanks for your time.

ChatGPT

You’re welcome! Feel free to return anytime if you have more questions or if you’d like to discuss any topics. Good luck with attending to your blog and engaging with your audience. Have a great day!