AI and Chatbots

[colly]

Just to see what it's all about I got onto a chatbot site this morning. I wondered how good it really was so I put in....'Story about cycling in Leeds and surrounding villages' This is what it came up with in about 3 seconds:

Leeds is a cycling hotspot in the UK, offering a wide range of routes and trails to explore. From the busy city centre with its winding cobbled lanes, to the rolling hills and quaint villages of the surrounding countryside, Leeds is a cyclist's paradise. The city has a well-developed cycle network, with dedicated bike lanes and plenty of bike-friendly routes. Those looking for more challenging routes can head to the nearby hills of the Yorkshire Dales, where the stunning scenery and winding roads are perfect for a leisurely ride. For more serious cyclists, there are plenty of mountain biking trails in the area. From the challenging trails of Swinsty and Eccup Reservoir to the family-friendly routes of Middleton Woods and Chevin Forest Park, there's something for everyone. If you're looking for a quieter ride, the villages around Leeds provide plenty of opportunities. From the picturesque village of Otley in the north, to the quaint streets of Wetherby in the south, these villages offer an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Leeds is also home to a vibrant cycling community, with plenty of cycling clubs, shops, and events. From the regular Criteriums...

I mean it's wrong in many respects so far as the actual detail goes and I can detect the style of wording you might find on a tourist website and so on.
But for a three second effort it's pretty good.

So that is kind of scary.

 

[Rocky]

I am beginning to think that @Mad Doug Biker is a chat bot. But I'm not sure about the AI bit.......there's plenty of A but not much I.

 

[MichaelO]

I've been using ChatGPT to do monotonous jobs (mainly writing reports) for me since Christmas. Makes my working day SO much easier - just hope no-one realises I could be mostly replaced by an AI bot!! I would say that whatever prose it provides is an 80% solution which then just needs refining/editing.

Its impact on the education system will be interesting to watch.

 

[colly]

I just had another go:

I typed in the subject (underlined) and gave a couple of prompts as and when it ceased composing and it came up with this.

Dyslexia in the uk education system In the UK

There are a number of measures in place to help support students with dyslexia in the education system. These measures include: • Early identification and assessment: Schools are expected to use screening tools to identify and assess students who may have dyslexia. • Additional support: Schools are expected to provide additional support to students with dyslexia, such as specialized teaching, one-to-one tuition, and specialist software. • Reasonable adjustments: Schools must make reasonable adjustments to ensure that students with dyslexia are not disadvantaged in their education. These adjustments might include extra time for tests, the use of assistive technology, or other forms of access arrangements. • Dyslexia friendly schools: The Department for Education has introduced a new ‘dyslexia friendly schools’ initiative to help ensure that schools are taking appropriate steps to support students with dyslexia. • Support for students: A number of charities, such as the British Dyslexia Association and Dyslexia Action, provide advice and support for students with dyslexia. However, it is important to note that schools are also responsible for supporting students with dyslexia. Unfortunately, dyslexia still remains a problem in the UK education system, and more needs to be done to ensure that all students are given the support they need to succeed. But this rarely happens because schools often lack the resources or understanding of dyslexia to provide the necessary support. Not only that but there is still a great deal of stigma attached to dyslexia, which can make it difficult for students to ask for help. In addition many professional and training programmes still lack the expertise or resources to adequately recognise and diagnose dyslexia. There is a definite resistance to acknowledge the existence of dyslexia in the UK education system. If the UK is to truly become dyslexia-friendly, then more needs to be done to ensure that schools are properly resourced and trained in the diagnosis and support of students with dyslexia. In addition, there needs to be greater awareness of dyslexia, and efforts to reduce the stigma attached to it. There are charities which are providing support for dyslexics, but this support is often limited and not always sufficient. It is also important to note that dyslexia is a lifelong condition, and so support needs to be provided throughout the education system, and into the workplace. The White Rose Dyslexia Association is a charity which provides support for dyslexics in the UK. They offer online resources and workshops, as well as providing trained mentors to work with dyslexic students. They also provide advice and support to parents, teachers and employers. In conclusion, the UK education system still has a long way to go in terms of adequately supporting students with dyslexia. However, with more awareness, resources and training, the situation can be improved. With the right support and understanding, dyslexic students can reach their full potential.

The whole thing took less than 2 minutes.

 

[colly]

I've been using ChatGPT to do monotonous jobs (mainly writing reports) for me since Christmas. Makes my working day SO much easier - just hope no-one realises I could be mostly replaced by an AI bot!! I would say that whatever prose it provides is an 80% solution which then just needs refining/editing.

Its impact on the education system will be interesting to watch.

The impact on students too.

Calculators were feared as being the 'end of childeren being able to do maths' , which has never really happened but this is several orders of magnitude up from a simple calculator.

 

[Rocky]

It's pretty scary - and while there are obvious problems (for example calling people with dyslexia, dyslexics) - it's actually quite good. The grammar is fine although I'd want to see some references to back up the claims made in these pieces. When I used to work for a living as a university academic, I'd have given my right hand to have assignments which were written like this - it's clear, there's a verb in every sentence. There's an introduction and a conclusion!! Give the Bot a 2:1.

 

[MichaelO]

It's pretty scary - and while there are obvious problems (for example calling people with dyslexia, dyslexics) - it's actually quite good. The grammar is fine although I'd want to see some references to back up the claims made in these pieces. When I used to work for a living as a university academic, I'd have given my right hand to have assignments which were written like this - it's clear, there's a verb in every sentence. There's an introduction and a conclusion!! Give the Bot a 2:1.

Just ask it to to include references, and it will provide them!!

 

[Rocky]

Just ask it to to include references, and it will provide them!!

Even better - give it a first!!

 

[DCLane]

Its impact on the education system will be interesting to watch.

We're already watching it

I gave the AI system my first semester's assignment to do and it wouldn't have passed. But the ChatGPT AI system will improve over time. There's also been a system designed to check whether assignments have been written by an AI chatbot, which we have access to.

My assignment briefs are designed to make it very difficult for anyone who's not studied the module to cheat; i.e. pay someone in an essay mill to write it for them. There's been couple of suspicions in the latest batch but both have done badly and it's the volume of complaint from both students which pretty-much confirmed it for me.

Open assessment briefs will be easy for an AI system to produce to, and they're the worry for those in education.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

I am beginning to think that @Mad Doug Biker is a chat bot. But I'm not sure about the AI bit.......there's plenty of A but not much I.

How VERY dare you!

Technology doesn't yet exist to replicate the sheer kackhandedness that I possess.

 

[MichaelO]

There's also been a system designed to check whether assignments have been written by an AI chatbot, which we have access to.

Does that work if a chatbot is used to create a first draft, which the student then adds to/edits/develops further? It's how I'm using it for mundane work reports - it's not sophisticated enough (yet) to just copy & paste its output.

 

[DCLane]

@MichaelO - that's one we'd probably struggle to detect, although I do have pilot access to software that evaluates the author's writing style and tries to determine whether the author of one piece is the same as a series of other pieces.

 

[HobbesOnTour]

@MichaelO - that's one we'd probably struggle to detect, although I do have pilot access to software that evaluates the author's writing style and tries to determine whether the author of one piece is the same as a series of other pieces.

Is that not using AI to "catch" AI ?

 

[DCLane]

@HobbesOnTour - sort of, but it takes quite a bit of analysing the results. It produces outputs which then require some interpretation rather than a definite yes/no.

 

[lazybloke]

Is that not using AI to "catch" AI ?

How do we know it's telling the truth?

Too late! Skynet became self-aware at 2:14 on August 29th, 1997...