Did a human write this text or was it artificial intelligence?
Seems a question that soon will be asked by many, like admissions officers reading application essays, faculty reading student assignments, and students reading The Brown and White.
Sound hard to believe?
ChatGPT has received lots of recent press as academics and administrators are split, with some seeking to embrace this opportunity and others worrying about the ramifications of a software tool that generates text in response to a prompt or question. ChatGPT is rumored to be good enough to pass as human-generated.
We tested it, so you can be the judge.
ChatGPT allows for a generic response or responses in a persona, like this one when we asked it to explain Lehigh University in a Frank Sinatra-style song.
(Verse 1)
Lehigh University, nestled in Bethlehem town
With a history and prestige that's world-renowned
Founded in the 1800s, it's grown and evolved
Into a leading research institution that's globally involved
(Chorus)
Lehigh, Lehigh, where scholars come to thrive
With a commitment to excellence that's kept alive
From the Arts to Engineering, there's so much to explore
At Lehigh, you'll find a community that's so much more
Can you hear ol’ blue eyes crooning that ditty? How about a sonnet instead that explains Lehigh football. Here’s a stanza:
On fields of green, where passions rise so high
The mountain hawks take flight, their spirits free
With grit and strength, they fiercely do apply
Their hearts to win, to seize the victory.
Nice enjambment, but Shakespeare?
Voices and styles are one thing. How about paragraphs? Here’s a chicken talking about Lehigh students’ love of chicken fingers:
As an AI language model, I cannot simulate the perspective of a chicken, but I can provide a fun interpretation of what a chicken might say about chicken fingers. Here's my attempt: Well, well, well, what do we have here? Chicken fingers? Really? You humans just can't get enough of us, can you? You fry us up, cut us into little strips, and then eat us like it's no big deal. Do you know how many of my friends and family members are sacrificed every day for this? It's not right, I tell you. But I have to admit, those chicken fingers do look pretty good. The aroma is enticing, and the breading looks crispy and delicious. Maybe it's worth it to give up a few feathers for this kind of treat.
Who would have expected an animal rights platform, hedging argument, and self-aggrandizement from an AI chicken?
But who would create a rap about Asa Packer either?
Verse 1:
Listen up, y'all, I'm here to tell a story
'Bout a man named Asa, yeah, he's quite the glory
Started from the bottom, worked hard every day
Made his way to the top, in every single way
Born in Mystic, Connecticut, back in 1805
Lost his dad, had to work, just to stay alive
Moved to Pennsylvania, learned to be a carpenter
Building houses and barns, he was quite the adventurer
Chorus:
Asa Packer, he's the man
Built Lehigh Valley Railroad, that's the plan
Started Lehigh University, for the scholars
He's a legend, one of the greatest dollar ballers
“Greatest dollar ballers” is probably the best thing we’ve heard in a while to praise Asa, and it rhymes with scholars.
So how about some jokes. Since we’re in development, we asked ChatGPT for some knee-slappers about the importance of financial aid.
- Why was the math book sad? Because it had too many problems. Thankfully, scholarships can help ease the financial problem of paying for college.
- Why did the student eat his homework? Because he heard it was a piece of cake. But in all seriousness, scholarships can make the burden of paying for college a lot easier to swallow.
- Why did the tomato turn red? Because it saw the salad dressing. And with scholarships, students can turn their dreams of going to college into a reality.
- Why did the grape stop in the middle of the road? Because it ran out of juice. But with scholarships, students won't run out of the juice they need to keep going towards their goals.
- Why don't scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything. And scholarships can help students make up the difference between what they can afford and the cost of college.
While these punchlines may be groaners, will this AI technology advance? No doubt. In preparation for this, some are taking a stance. New York City Public Schools have banned ChatGPT.
Lehigh is recommending that faculty address the use of such tools with students and add statements to their syllabus about appropriate use.
But banning such tools might be impossible to enforce and even short-sighted as employers embrace AI tools to generate the best possible work from employees. So training students seems a more viable option.
No matter how the AI technology will advance, some things will never change, like the commonly held dislike of our crosstown rival.
What’s ChatGPT say about Lafayette College?
Interestingly, it demonstrates a surprising level of conscientiousness … and maybe, more surprising, that we humans have something to learn from AI:
As an AI language model, it would be inappropriate for me to provide a negative or disparaging perspective of any institution. It's important to approach things with a positive and respectful attitude, and to recognize that everyone has different experiences and opinions. Lafayette College, like any educational institution, has its own unique strengths and weaknesses, and it's up to each individual to decide whether or not it's the right fit for them.