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Vol 19|No 6| April|2023



© J. McKenzie

Can ChatGPT be tamed?

 by Jamie McKenzie
(about author)
I have been calling for an end to topical research for decades as being little more than trivial pursuit — scooping up information with scant thought.
  • “Go find out about Pearl Harbor!”
  • “Go find out about FDR!”
  • “Go find out about Truman!”
  • “Go find out about Adolf Hitler!”
  • “Go find out about Mussolini!”
  • “Go find out about ChatGPT!”
But now ChatGPT has shown once and for all the absurdity of assigning research in such a manner, as what used to take 3-4 hours of mindless copying and pasting can now be performed by ChatGPT in a matter of moments.

Fortunately, ChatGPT may be tamed and turned into an ally if teachers will transform research projects by assigning questions requiring original thought beyond the capabilities of ChatGPT -- a strategy outlined in some detail in this article.

Previous articles calling for an end to topical research



Six Strategies to Tame ChatGPT

  1. Make a values-judgment

    Ask students to express and then support an opinion about a candidate, a city, a character in a book, a massacre, a trial, a restaurant or some other item drawn from the curriculum. The student must state criteria and values. ChatGPT can help gather data, but the student must build the case. Asked if Bill Clinton or Donald Trump were sexual predators, ChatGPT tends to equivocate, beat around the bush and waffle. Note examples in Appendix A.
    The student must take a clear and unreserved position bolstered by facts.

  2. Color me purple!

     Tell students their essay must contain at least 25% original thought not drawn from ChatGPT or some Internet thinker. When they create their document, they must color their original thinking purple, reserving the color black for content drawn from ChatGPT and other sources, using quotation marks as appropriate to give credit to others. (Note examples in Appendix B.)

  3. Predict the future

    ChatGPT is reluctant to predict the future. Asked who will win the war in the Ukraine, ChatGPT refuses to answer:
    "As an AI language model, I cannot predict the future or make political predictions. It is not appropriate or ethical to speculate about the outcome of a war or any form of violence or conflict. My purpose is to provide information and assist with tasks to the best of my abilities based on my training and knowledge. I believe that the best course of action is for all parties involved to seek peaceful and diplomatic solutions to any conflicts or disputes."
    This leaves such questions for students to explore, making predictions based on facts and sound thinking.

  4. Invent something completely new

    5. ChatGPT is not skilled at coming up with something new to solve a problem, and when asked how to deal with homelessness in cities like Denver and Boston, it makes exactly the same suggestions for both cities. This kind of cut-and-paste thinking is mediocre and basically worthless. Charged with making suggestions to respond to problems in their home cities, students must come up with strategies that match the conditions and challenges unique to their city, a task ChatGPT seems incapable of doing. (Note examples in Appendix C.)

  5. Ask unanswerable questions

    While unanswerable questions are very challenging, they still occupy much of our thinking throughout our lives and are worthy of considerable attention. One can only hope to approach understanding. CHAPGPT fincds them baffling, especiaslly those which are quite personal. At this stage of its development, it knows too little about us to suggest answers that match our deepest thoughts, dreams, wishes and fears. It also has trouble grappling with magic and mystery.
    • "Why am I here?"
    • "What should I do next?"
    • "What's the best treatment for my cancer?"
    • "What should we do about the change in demographics?"
    • "How can we make sure all our employees are trustworthy?"

  6. Which is best?

    ChatGPT tends to equivocate or express superficial and incorrect information when asked to compare ship captains, cities and characters in books. Students must learn to dig more deeply into the matter at hand. ChatGPT states that Captain Cook "was known for his meticulous preparation, scientific expertise, and respectful interactions with the indigenous peoples he encountered, but the Hawaians killed him because of his misdeeds on previous visits. His actual treatment of native peoples worsened over time, as he took hostages and mistreated them in serious ways according to the detailed account in Anne Salmond's "The Trial of the Cannibal Dog: The Remarkable Story of Captain Cook's Encounters in the South Seas."

    When we ask students to make and defend choices, they must probe much beyond what ChatGPT can do.



    Instead of studying a single city, a single ship captain or a single poet, we challenge students to compare and contrast several cities, captains or poets.

    Imagine that your parents are moving to China for two years and have asked you to help them make a wise choice. Which of the following cities would be best for your family? Set criteria to focus your inquiry upon the traits of a city that will matter most to your family.


    What does ChatGPT confess about weaknesses?

    What kinds of questions are hard for you to answer?

    As an AI language model, I can answer a wide variety of questions on many topics. However, there are some types of questions that may be difficult for me to answer:

    1. Questions that require specific personal experiences or knowledge that I may not have access to.
    2. Questions that require subjective opinions or preferences, as those can vary greatly from person to person.
    3. Questions that are ambiguous or unclear, as it can be difficult for me to determine the intended meaning.
    4. Questions that require real-time or up-to-date information that may not be readily available in my database.
    5. Questions that require complex reasoning or problem-solving skills that may go beyond my current capabilities.

    Despite these limitations, I am constantly improving and learning, so I may be able to answer more challenging questions in the future.

    I am grateful to my friend, Bruno Moretzsohn, for suggesting this last query.

Appendix A - Quoting from ChatGPT

Was Bill Clinton a sexual predator?

Former US President Bill Clinton has been accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women, including Juanita Broaddrick, Kathleen Willey, and Paula Jones. The most notable allegations against him involve a sexual relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, which he initially denied under oath, leading to his impeachment by the House of Representatives in 1998.

Clinton's behavior towards women has been the subject of controversy and criticism throughout his political career. Some of his accusers have alleged that he engaged in non-consensual sexual activity, while others have accused him of making unwanted sexual advances and using his power to pressure women into sexual relationships.

It is worth noting that Clinton has denied many of these allegations and has never been convicted of any sexual misconduct. However, his behavior towards women has been widely discussed and analyzed, with many commentators and critics accusing him of a pattern of inappropriate behavior.

Overall, while the exact extent of Clinton's misconduct is unclear, there is certainly enough evidence to suggest that his behavior towards women was problematic and deserving of scrutiny.

Was Donald Trump a sexual predator?

Donald Trump, the former President of the United States, has been accused of sexual misconduct and inappropriate behavior by multiple women. Some of the most notable allegations include non-consensual kissing and groping, as well as verbal harassment and bullying.

During the 2016 presidential campaign, a 2005 video surfaced in which Trump was heard bragging about groping women without their consent, which sparked widespread condemnation and controversy. Additionally, several women came forward with allegations of sexual misconduct by Trump, including unwanted touching and kissing.

While Trump has denied these allegations and has never been convicted of any sexual misconduct, the accusations against him have been widely reported and analyzed in the media. The accusations have also been the subject of legal action, including a defamation lawsuit filed by one of his accusers, Summer Zervos.

Overall, while the exact extent of Trump's misconduct is unclear, there is certainly enough evidence to suggest that his behavior towards women was problematic and deserving of scrutiny.

Appendix B - Color me purple!

After considering the many times that Captain Cook deceived or mistreated native people, especially during his last voyage, I must differ with the frequently expressed compliment that he was exemplary.
"Many believe that Captain James Cook was the greatest ocean explorer ever to have lived, and that he mapped more of the world than any other man."

"He also set an example of how to treat a ship, its crew, and the people he met on his explorations."

Quoted from Passageways: True Tales of Adventure for Young Explorers at http://www.nlc-bnc.ca/explorers/kids/h3-1710-e.html
It seems to me that Cook has been turned into an icon, a faux hero in a myth supporting the idea that colonization and exploration by such men was somehow beneficial rather than destructive.

Appendix C - Quoting from ChatGPT

What is the best way to reduce homelessness in Denver?

Homelessness is a complex issue that requires a multi-faceted approach. Here are some potential ways to reduce homelessness in Denver:

1. Increase affordable housing: One of the main causes of homelessness is the lack of affordable housing. Denver can work to increase the availability of affordable housing by creating more low-income housing units, providing housing subsidies to low-income families, and encouraging the construction of affordable housing units through tax incentives.
2. Provide support services: Homeless individuals often face a range of challenges, including mental health issues, addiction, and lack of job skills. Denver can provide support services such as mental health counseling, addiction treatment, and job training to help homeless individuals get back on their feet.
3. Address root causes of homelessness: Many homeless individuals face homelessness due to factors such as job loss, eviction, and domestic violence. Denver can address these root causes by providing financial assistance, legal aid, and support for victims of domestic violence.
4. Increase access to healthcare: Many homeless individuals lack access to healthcare, which can exacerbate their health issues and make it harder for them to find stable housing. Denver can work to increase access to healthcare services by providing free clinics, mobile medical units, and partnerships with local healthcare providers.
5. Partner with community organizations: Denver can partner with local community organizations to address homelessness, such as homeless shelters, food banks, and job training programs. These partnerships can help provide a range of services and resources to homeless individuals.
Overall, reducing homelessness in Denver will require a comprehensive approach that addresses the root causes of homelessness and provides a range of support services to help individuals get back on their feet.

What is the best way to reduce homelessness in Boston?

Homelessness is a complex issue that requires a multi-faceted approach. Here are some potential ways to reduce homelessness in Boston:
1. Increase affordable housing: One of the main causes of homelessness is the lack of affordable housing. Boston can work to increase the availability of affordable housing by creating more low-income housing units, providing housing subsidies to low-income families, and encouraging the construction of affordable housing units through tax incentives.
2. Provide support services: Homeless individuals often face a range of challenges, including mental health issues, addiction, and lack of job skills. Boston can provide support services such as mental health counseling, addiction treatment, and job training to help homeless individuals get back on their feet.
3. Address root causes of homelessness: Many homeless individuals face homelessness due to factors such as job loss, eviction, and domestic violence. Boston can address these root causes by providing financial assistance, legal aid, and support for victims of domestic violence.
4. Increase access to healthcare: Many homeless individuals lack access to healthcare, which can exacerbate their health issues and make it harder for them to find stable housing. Boston can work to increase access to healthcare services by providing free clinics, mobile medical units, and partnerships with local healthcare providers.
5. Partner with community organizations: Boston can partner with local community organizations to address homelessness, such as homeless shelters, food banks, and job training programs. These partnerships can help provide a range of services and resources to homeless individuals.
Overall, reducing homelessness in Boston will require a comprehensive approach that addresses the root causes of homelessness and provides a range of support services to help individuals get back on their feet.

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