What does the new oracle say about the Old Oracle ? (and vice vesa)

[d_squared]

~ @ ~

I put a question to ChatGPT today,

What to think about the I Ching, the Chinese Book of Change ?

and here is the ChatGPT's response:

The I Ching, also known as the Book of Changes, is an ancient Chinese divination text that has been used for thousands of years to gain insight into the future, as well as guidance for making important decisions in life. The book is based on the principle of the interplay of yin and yang, and is comprised of a set of hexagrams, each of which is made up of six lines that represent different aspects of human experience.

As an AI language model, I do not have personal beliefs, but I can provide some information about the I Ching and how it is perceived by some people. Some people view the I Ching as a powerful tool for personal transformation and spiritual growth, while others view it as a mere superstition or form of divination with no real value. Some people also criticize the I Ching for its lack of empirical evidence or scientific basis.

Regardless of one's personal beliefs, the I Ching remains a fascinating and enduring work of Chinese literature, philosophy, and culture, and has been studied and revered by scholars and practitioners around the world for centuries. Its enduring appeal lies in its ability to provide deep insights into the human experience and to offer guidance and wisdom for navigating life's many challenges and uncertainties.

And in order to maintain a level playing field, I submit a similar request to the Yi:

" (Please help me explore) what to think about ChatGPT ? "

Below are the resulting hexagrams obtained by using the E-KING software (running on an Mac-OSX machine)

Reading the Yi's responses, the following thoughts have crossed my mind:

Heaxagram 30:- The Radiant Fire.
By all account, ChatGPT is indeed the hotest and brightest spark in the world of AI today. However it's not a fire that can really burn by itself, but rely heavily on the storehouse of human knowledge set up by its trainers.

Heaxagram 56:- On a Journey
ChatGPT is travelling fast and well at present, may be on a roll for some time to come. There will be many who can get exciting and profitable rides with it, but perhaps what really matters is the journey that is made by the soul throughout the whole process.

Heaxagram 33:- To Retreat
There could well be many pitfalls and unexpected setbacks along the way, and when disasters strike be sure to know how to turn back.

Heaxagram 28:- Excess of the Great
Too much of a good thing can lead to no good. A chatbot that gets out of control can run amok and unceremoniously bring down the whole AI house-of-card.

!!

​

 

[Liselle]

As an AI language model, I do not have personal beliefs

The thing is self-aware?? (Or has been programmed to recognize "What do you think about...?" and its cousins and respond appropriately.) It gave a really good answer.


30.1.5 to 33...first impression is Yi's addressing our worries about it. We're trying to understand (30) whether and how much AI will catch and eat. (33 has a theme of a piglet trying not to be eaten and getting far enough away so it won't be.)

30.1 seems to say it's okay to be confused. Honor the confusion, give it pride of place. I had it once about which highway to take when there were two perfectly viable options. Keeping my confusion in mind helped me make the decision pretty much on the spot based on what I saw, instead of trying to figure it out beforehand in theory.

I know almost nothing about AI and haven't even tried ChatGPT, but this one strikes me as maybe really don't forget we feel confused. Things like this sometimes become like the wallpaper after a while, we just accept them. Sort of like we have to remember that just because it's in the newspaper or Google or Facebook doesn't mean it's true or the whole truth.

Line 5 seems similar - somehow tears/ weeping/ mourning/ lamenting are good fortune. Maybe because we ought to really internalize that there are downsides.

All of this is to help keep ourselves safe and out of trouble and hopefully move away from bad uses and towards good ones. We need to fit this properly into our lives, not the other way around. Or something like that. Am guessing.

 

[Liselle]

May I move this to Shared Readings? It does include a reading

 

[d_squared]

Hi Liselle,
By all means move this if you think Shared Readings is a more appropriate place . Thanks .

 

[Trojina]

I put a question to ChatGPT today,

What to think about the I Ching, the Chinese Book of Change ?

and here is the ChatGPT's response:

Had no idea what this 'chatgpt' is. Googled it, seems it's a 'chatbot'. Still don't understand this thread at all. I wonder if this is something most people know about ? If not maybe some explanation is needed, unless it's just me in the dark ?

It's not an oracle is it, I guess you wrote that tongue in cheek?

 

[d_squared]

Had no idea what this 'chatgpt' is. Googled it, seems it's a 'chatbot'. Still don't understand this thread at all. I wonder if this is something most people know about ? If not maybe some explanation is needed, unless it's just me in the dark ?

It's not an oracle is it, I guess you wrote that tongue in cheek?

No, I wrote it while biting my tongue.
Apparently ChatGPT is shaping up to be a literal oracle to be used worldwide. One can ask it just about anything, for example, about itself:

Dear ChatGPT. tell us about yourself. What can you do? and who owns you ?​

Hello! I am ChatGPT, a large language model developed by OpenAI. I am designed to respond to human-generated text input and provide relevant and informative answers based on my vast knowledge base.

As an AI language model, I can do a variety of things, such as answering questions, generating text, translating languages, summarizing long documents, and even writing stories or articles. My abilities are powered by the sophisticated machine learning algorithms and natural language processing (NLP) techniques used in my creation.

However, it's important to note that I am an artificial intelligence program and not a sentient being. I don't have emotions, desires, or intentions like humans do. I am simply a tool created to assist humans in various tasks that involve language processing.

I am owned by OpenAI, a research organization that focuses on advancing artificial intelligence in a responsible and beneficial manner. However, my usage is not limited to OpenAI, as I am available to developers and researchers through various API programs.

and some more questions to ChatGPT, (with tongue in cheek):

Can you write jokes, or funny stories ?​

Yes, I can certainly generate jokes and funny stories! Here are a couple of examples:

Joke: Why don't scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything!

Funny story: One day, a man walked into a bar with a parrot on his shoulder. He ordered a drink and the parrot said, "Can I have one too?" The bartender was surprised and said, "Wow, your parrot can talk!" The man replied, "Yes, he's a smart bird. In fact, he's so smart that he can even answer trivia questions." The bartender was skeptical but decided to give it a try. He asked the parrot, "Who was the first president of the United States?" The parrot quickly responded, "George Washington!" The bartender was amazed and asked another question. "Who discovered electricity?" The parrot replied, "Benjamin Franklin!" The bartender was impressed and asked one more question. "Who was the greatest baseball player of all time?" The parrot thought for a moment and said, "Hmm, I'm not sure. Let me get back to you on that one."

OK. Now tell me a joke about gender difference. It must be politically correct !​

Certainly, here's a gender difference joke that is politically correct:

Why did the non-binary person bring a ladder to the party? Because they wanted to make sure everyone felt on the same level!

On a more serious note, I asked it about Brexit because that is something personally I never really understood:

What is the real story behind Brexit in England ?​

Brexit refers to the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union (EU) following a referendum held in June 2016. The decision was the result of a combination of factors, including concerns over immigration, sovereignty, and economic stability.
There were a number of factors that contributed to the Brexit vote. One of the main concerns for many Leave supporters was immigration. The free movement of people within the EU had led to a significant increase in immigration to the UK, and some people felt that this was putting a strain on public services and driving down wages.
Another factor was the issue of sovereignty. Many Leave supporters believed that the UK should have complete control over its laws and regulations, and that membership in the EU limited this control.
The economic impact of Brexit was also a key issue. Some people believed that leaving the EU would allow the UK to negotiate better trade deals with other countries, while others were concerned about the potential impact on the UK economy if the country were to leave the single market.
Despite the concerns of many Remain supporters, the Brexit vote was held on June 23, 2016, and the Leave campaign won by a margin of 52% to 48%. Since then, there has been ongoing debate about the terms of the UK's departure from the EU, including negotiations over trade and immigration policy.

 

[d_squared]

By the way, there was a sequel to the conversation with ChatGPT about gender-difference jokes:

ChatGPT: " Certainly, here's a gender difference joke that is politically correct:
Why did the non-binary person bring a ladder to the party? Because they wanted to make sure everyone felt on the same level! "


Me: Well that's not very funny. Here is a better version: Why did the non-binary person bring a ladder to the party? Because they wanted to make sure everyone could climb onto the same "gender band-wagon".

ChatGPT:

Thank you for your feedback! I apologize if my previous attempt at humor didn't quite hit the mark. I appreciate your revised joke, and I'm glad to see that you were able to come up with something that is both politically correct and humorous

 

[Liselle]

It's not an oracle. I think I might describe it as sort of like Google only instead of search results you get written-out answers.

It can do things Google can't, though. I watched a video once where someone got it to write computer code from scratch. There had to be a few rounds of corrections but the person said the final version worked. Google can't do that.

 

[d_squared]

@

Today I tried to push the envelope some more with ChatGPT, and asked the following:

I put this question to the I Ching: What to think about ChatGPT. The response from I Ching was hexagram number 30 with moving line 1 and moving line 5 which leaded to an evolved hexagram number 33. What is a possible interpretation of these hexagrams ?​

ChatGPT answered:

The hexagram number 30 is "Li" which represents the quality of radiance, brightness, and clarity. This hexagram suggests that there is a need for clarity and a focus on the light in one's life, rather than being consumed by the darkness or negativity. It can also suggest a time of great activity and energy, but this energy needs to be balanced with a sense of moderation and caution.

The moving line 1 suggests a need to be careful and cautious in taking action, and to seek guidance from others before moving forward. This can indicate a need for more information or a second opinion before making a decision.

The moving line 5 suggests that there may be obstacles or challenges ahead, but with the right attitude and approach, these obstacles can be overcome. This line suggests that there is a need to stay focused and determined in order to achieve success.

The evolved hexagram, number 33, is "Tun" which represents retreat, withdrawal, and rest. This suggests that after facing challenges and obstacles, it may be necessary to step back, take a break, and reassess the situation before moving forward again. This hexagram emphasizes the importance of finding balance and restoring one's energy and focus before continuing on one's path.

Overall, the I Ching's response may suggest that ChatGPT is a bright and energetic presence, but may need to exercise caution and seek guidance before taking action. It may also indicate that there are challenges ahead, but with determination and perseverance, these challenges can be overcome. Finally, the response suggests the importance of finding balance and taking time to rest and reflect before continuing on one's journey.

I was quite surprised by the result, which appeared within seconds. It would take someone a lot of effort to best this reply from ChatGPT.

 

[hilary]

Nice thread! I think I'll keep my day job for now, though.

Here's another comparison:

OPINIONISTA: Oracles, ancient and modern — the startling consequences of pitting ChatGPT against the I Ching

It occurred to me that ChatGPT was really just an oracle, like the I Ching. So I thought: why don’t I ask ChatGPT and the I Ching the same questions? Why don’t I ask ChatGPT what it thought of the I Ching? And vice versa? Why not engage them in a three-way conversation? Myself, AI, and the I...

www.dailymaverick.co.za

 

[d_squared]

~ @ ~

It's pretty well an indisputable fact that the I Ching is a curious mystery, so difficult to fathom. Having often failed to make much progress in my study of this ancient subject, out of frustration and discouragement I've once asked the Yi itself: "How to understand the Book of Changes ?".

The response I received was hexagram 25 (Wu Wang - Without preconception), which was actually quite edifying. It makes sense that in order to really understand the Yi, or to have true comprehension of anything at all, one has to somehow set aside all biases, all pre-conceived notions.

+++++++++++++++++++

Today, armed with a new tool called ChatGPT (which in theory should be relatively free of personal prejudices), I decided to seek more clarification on this matter:

Dear ChatGPT, the I Ching responded to my question "How to understand the Book of Changes" with hexagram number 25 which contains a moving line number 2, resulting in the evolved hexagram 10. What could be the interpretation of these heaxagrams ?​

ChatGPT answered:

Great, I'd be happy to help you interpret your reading from the I Ching.

Hexagram 25 is called "Wu Wang" or "Without Falsehood". It is comprised of the trigrams of Thunder over Heaven, which represents a time of great power and potential. This hexagram suggests that you should be true to yourself and your ideals, and avoid deceit or falsehood in your actions and interactions with others. It is a reminder to act with integrity, honesty, and authenticity.

The moving line in the second place suggests that you may encounter obstacles or challenges in your pursuit of truth and honesty. This can be a time of confusion and uncertainty, but it is important to remain steadfast in your commitment to truth and resist the temptation to compromise your values. This line advises you to be patient and persevere in the face of difficulties.

The evolved hexagram 10 is called "Lu" or "Treading", and it is formed by changing the second line of hexagram 25. This hexagram suggests that you should be cautious and deliberate in your actions, taking small steps and paying attention to every detail. It is important to tread carefully and avoid impulsive decisions, especially in times of uncertainty and confusion.

Overall, your reading suggests that you should remain true to your values and act with integrity, even in the face of obstacles and challenges. You should be patient and persistent, taking small steps and paying attention to every detail along the way. By doing so, you will be able to navigate the changes and challenges in your life with grace and wisdom.

 

[hilary]

ChatGPT needs to learn the knack of applying the reading to the question. No doubt it will, given time.

In the meantime, I can seriously recommend finding yourself a translation of the book. Everything in your screenshots and in ChatGPT's reply is commentary, which is all very well, but not what the oracle is saying to you.

25 line 2 says,

'Not ploughing and reaping,
Not weeding cleared fields,
And so then it is fruitful to have a direction to go.'

...which to my mind suggests that understanding the Yi need not involve a lot of industrious labour, but only a sense of purpose and willingness to explore.

 

[my_key]

...which to my mind suggests that understanding the Yi need not involve a lot of industrious labour, but only a sense of purpose and willingness to explore.

Yep. I agree.
How to Understand the Book of Changes?
25:2 <> 10
To understand the Book of Changes it is best to focus on the integrity of the process and not the outcome.