The development of AI in recent months has made headlines - and I wanted to test its knowledge of Liverpool.
ChatGPT is an artificial-intelligence chatbot developed by OpenAI and was launched last year. Users are able to sign up and ask its AI questions, ranging from recommendations on where to visit to writing computer code and explaining scientific theories. The AI pulls in data from across the internet to give you an answer to your queries.
ChatGPT hasn’t been without controversy since it launched. Italy has banned the service over privacy concerns, while some university students have used its AI to write essays for them.
READ MORE: Warning to anyone with ChatGPT as Italy bans use of chatbot tool
I decided to go in with an open mind and ask it a series of questions about Liverpool to examine what it said about the city and how accurate its claims were. I started off with a simple question: Where is Liverpool?
The chatbot accurately replied: “Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough located in the northwest of England, United Kingdom. It is situated on the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary, and its coordinates are approximately 53.4106° N, 2.9779° W. Liverpool is known for its rich maritime history, cultural heritage, and contributions to music, particularly as the birthplace of The Beatles.”
I followed up by asking it where Merseyside was. It was also spot on - it said Merseyside was a county in the north west of England, and said its major cities and towns included “Liverpool, Birkenhead, St. Helens, Wallasey, and others.”
I then decided to ask the AI where I should visit in Liverpool. Again, there was some solid recommendations, such as the Albert Dock, the Museum of Liverpool and St George’s Hall. However, it recommended visiting Anfield but not Goodison, an error it will need to brush up if it is to earn the trust of Evertonians.
ChatGPT’s most interesting recommendation was at the bottom of its answer. It said:“Don't forget to try some local delicacies, such as Scouse (a traditional meat and vegetable stew) and visit some of the city's historic pubs during your visit to Liverpool.”
I then asked for a Scouse recipe, which it gave me in good detail. At the end of this answer it said: “Enjoy making and savouring this classic dish that has a special place in Liverpool's culinary heritage!”
Given ChatGPT’s apparent love of Liverpool’s most famous meal, I followed up by asking where it personally likes to visit in Liverpool. However, I could not get a straight answer and the chatbot reminded me: “As an AI language model, I do not have the capability to visit physical locations. I am a digital entity that exists solely in the virtual realm and does not have a physical presence or the ability to engage in physical activities.”
I moved on to ask what Liverpool was most famous for. It gave some expected answers, such as its maritime history, music, architecture and sports (this time it did mention Everton).
But again, ChatGPT went a little deeper and cited the city’s “people and spirit”. It said: “The people of Liverpool, known as "Scousers," are renowned for their warmth, humour, and sense of community.”
It added: “The city has a strong sense of identity and pride, and its residents have a unique spirit that is reflected in its culture, music, arts, and sports. The resilience and determination of the people of Liverpool have been evident in the city's history, including during challenging times such as economic changes and social transformation.”
It's reassuring that even robots are aware of how great Scousers are. Of course, those concerned about AI might be worried that it can give answers in that level of detail.
However, I felt satisfied about how ChatGPT answered my questions. Hopefully, if it does continue, it will learn even more positive things about Scouse and Scousers.
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