Chat GPT and Research

Question

I get messages urging me to try Artificial Intelligence -- Chat GPT.  So I asked it, "Who are Rhodri Mawr's Ancestors?"

Here's the answer it gave me right away.  One could do a lot worse!  Rhodri Mawr, also known as Rhodri the Great, was a King of Gwynedd in Wales during the 9th century. His ancestry is traced through the royal genealogies of Wales. Rhodri Mawr's paternal ancestry connects him to the House of Cunedda, a prominent royal lineage in medieval Wales. Rhodri Mawr's father was Merfyn Frych, and his grandfather was Gwriad ap Elidyr. Gwriad ap Elidyr is often considered to be the founder of the Merfynion dynasty, to which Rhodri Mawr belonged. The genealogies trace the lineage further back, claiming descent from Cunedda Wledig, a legendary figure who played a significant role in the early history of the Kingdom of Gwynedd. It's important to note that genealogies from this period often include mythical or legendary elements, and the historical accuracy of specific details may be challenging to verify. The information about Rhodri Mawr's ancestry comes from medieval Welsh sources, such as genealogical manuscripts and chronicles.

Comments

Ask it to supply the original sources <wink>

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Its sources are the same as used by Geoffrey of Monmouth: a certain very ancient book written in the British language.

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My question is, can it *find* the sources.

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Bobbie well indeed the tricks we are going to have to learn with AI are probably going to often be about learning to ask the right types of questions. Can you think of a good question?

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I think I read a little while back about a query sent to AI specifically about sources,. and AI came back with a very impressive list of sources -- all of them totally fabricated, as it turned out.

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We already have "tools" on WikiTree that create unverifiable biographies, especially when it comes to relationships.   We have to hold people accountable.

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Yes, I have done similar experiments and confirmed that you can not trust it for facts. It is a tool which will undoubtedly find uses here but I'm not sure what yet.

One thing I have noticed is that it translates Latin quite well.

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People might like to look at this question about AI as well.

Answer 1

I asked Chat GTP about the death date a place of an ancestor.  It gave me a very plausible date, place and burial location, VA Togus in Maine and veterans cemetery.   The answer turned out to be totally made up!

Comments

Same.  It's been a few months since I tried, but it made up biographical details and made up sources.

Edit:  Some lawyers have learned the hard way.  Lawyers have real bad day in court after citing fake cases made up by ChatGPT

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That's a really good example, Kerry. Those lawyers thought that ChatGPT had access to cases they didn't, and couldn't imagine it was all made up. I hope they're disbarred for not verifying their 'sources.'