Introduction:
Welcome to another insightful lesson on “Mastering English Communication.” Today, we explore the groundbreaking advancements in artificial intelligence with the latest version of ChatGPT from OpenAI. This new iteration not only communicates but also incorporates human-like features such as sarcasm, laughter, and an expressive cadence, which have captivated and, in some cases, freaked out users. We’ll delve into how these enhancements blur the lines between human and AI interaction, drawing intriguing parallels to the sci-fi film “Her.” Enhance your English skills while engaging with this cutting-edge technology topic, perfect for both enthusiasts and learners aiming to stay ahead in the digital age.
| OpenAI releases latest ChatGPT — it can talk, laugh and even sing like a human |
Warm-up question:
Have you ever interacted with an AI assistant like Alexa or Siri? How did it make you feel, and what did you think about the experience?
Listen: Link to audio [HERE]
Read:
STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
OpenAI released the latest version of ChatGPT, which can talk and laugh and even sing. Here’s NPR tech correspondent Bobby Allyn. No, really. It’s him.
BOBBY ALLYN, BYLINE: We all know AI voice assistants can talk – Alexa, Siri – and ChatGPT has been able to do the same. But OpenAI’s latest version adds some human flourishes to conversation that have freaked some people out. In this livestream demo, a guy named Rocky tells ChatGPT he has an upcoming interview with OpenAI.
AI-GENERATED VOICE: OpenAI, huh? Sounds vaguely familiar. Kidding, of course. That’s incredible, Rocky. What kind of interview?
ALLYN: The sarcasm, the laughing, the cadence, the exuberance at the end. Rocky turns the camera on himself and asks, OK, well, how do I look?
AI-GENERATED VOICE: Maybe just run a hand through your hair or lean into the mad genius vibe.
ALLYN: These back and forths lit the internet up. Here’s Winsor Sineus reacting on TikTok.
WINSOR SINEUS: The way the AI was talking to this man, rizzing him up, bro – giggling.
ALLYN: It immediately drew comparisons to the 2013 sci-fi romance film “Her,” where Joaquin Phoenix falls in love with a computer operating system voiced by Scarlett Johansson.
SCARLETT JOHANSSON: (As Samantha) You have several thousand emails regarding LA Weekly, but it looks like you haven’t worked there in many years.
ALLYN: The AI goes through Phoenix’s hard drive. He says, oh, yeah. I saved some emails because they were funny. The AI says…
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, “HER”)
JOHANSSON: (As Samantha, laughing) Yeah, there are some funny ones. I’d say there are about 86 that we should save. We can delete the rest.
ALLYN: Sure does sound a lot like ChatGPT. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stoked the speculation himself by writing one word on X the day the new ChatGPT came out – her. In an interview with NPR, OpenAI’s chief technology officer Mira Murati said the model is not based on the movie.
MIRA MURATI: It says more about our imagination, our storytelling as society than about the technology itself.
ALLYN: She says the voice similarity and even the flirtiness is based on user input. What a Silicon Valley way describe it. She says when the new ChatGPT voice assistant is released in the coming weeks, it won’t have what tech people call latency, meaning it won’t have the awkward pauses between speaking.
MURATI: The latency doesn’t get in the way of the interaction, and it’s quite a joy to interact with this model.
ALLYN: Hopefully more joyful than the ending of the movie. Bobby Allyn, NPR News.
Vocabulary and Phrases:
- Flourishes: Stylish or decorative features that enhance something, often adding a dramatic or impressive effect.
- Freaked (someone) out: To cause someone to become suddenly very surprised, scared, or excited.
- Sarcasm: The use of irony to mock or convey contempt, often by saying the opposite of what one really means.
- Cadence: The rhythmic flow of a sequence of sounds or words, especially the way someone’s voice rises and falls when speaking.
- Exuberance: The quality of being full of energy, excitement, and cheerfulness.
- Lean into: To embrace or fully engage with something, often with enthusiasm or confidence.
- Vibe: The atmosphere or feeling that a person or place gives off.
- Back and forths: Conversations or exchanges where ideas, questions, or responses are traded back and forth between participants.
- Rizzing: Flirting or charming someone, often in a playful manner.
- Stoked: Extremely excited or enthusiastic.
- Speculation: The forming of a theory or conjecture without firm evidence.
- Flirtiness: Playful behavior intended to arouse sexual interest.
- Latency: The delay before a transfer of data begins following an instruction for its transfer, often referring to the time it takes for a computer to respond to a command.
Comprehension Questions:
- What new features does the latest version of ChatGPT have that make it seem more human?
- How does ChatGPT use sarcasm in its conversation with Rocky?
- Why did some people compare the new ChatGPT to the movie “Her”?
- What did OpenAI CEO Sam Altman do that increased speculation about ChatGPT?
- What improvement does the new ChatGPT have regarding latency?
Discussion Questions:
- How do you feel about AI being able to talk and laugh like a human?
- Do you think it is helpful for an AI to use sarcasm? Why or why not?
- What are some benefits and problems with AI sounding very human?
- Why do you think people compare new technology to movies?
- How important is it for AI to respond quickly without pauses?
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