Unless you’ve been living under an (artificial intelligence-designed) rock over the last week or so, you’ve undoubtedly heard about ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence chatbot that picked up more than a million users in its first week of release.
So what is ChatGPT?
It’s the brainchild of the San Francisco-based company OpenAI, and it’s a lightning-fast chatbot that is built to mimic human speech and uses the depths of its knowledge to … well, to be kinda-sorta human. (It’s also going to completely break essay writing.)
It’s a little uncanny how quickly — and how well — it can do stuff. I asked it to write an essay comparing Hamlet to Succession, and within seconds it was complete.
It made me wonder: What does this thing know about sports betting and other forms of online gambling? So I cooked up some questions. Here is our unedited conversation, with my questions in bold, its answers in plain text, and my (quick) post-mortem thoughts in italics.
Who do you think will win the 49ers-Seahawks game?
I’m sorry, but I am a large language model trained by OpenAI, and I do not have access to current sports information. I am not able to provide predictions for upcoming sports games. My abilities are limited to providing general information and answering questions to the best of my knowledge based on the text that I have been trained on. Is there anything else I can help you with?
Oh. OK. So I’m not going to make any money on this. Cool. Maybe something a little more artistic …
Can you write a poem about sports betting?
Betting on the game, the thrill of the unknown,
Will your team come out on top, or will you be left alone?
The odds are stacked against you, but still you place your bet,
Hoping for a big win, and to forget your debt.
The thrill of the chase, the rush of the win,
Sports betting can be addictive, but also full of sin.
So bet wisely, my friend, and never bet more than you can afford,
For the risks are great, and the rewards can be oh so bored.
Wow! That was awesome, until the end there. The rewards can be “oh so bored”? Not sure I fully understand that, but whatever. Let’s expand the poetic possibilities …
Can you write a poem about gambling?
The roll of the dice, the spin of the wheel,
The rush of the bet, the thrill of the deal.
Gambling can be exciting, a game of chance and fate,
But it can also be dangerous, and lead to a sorry state.
The lure of the win, the hope of the jackpot,
Can lead us astray, and make us forget what we’ve got.
So gamble with care, and never bet more than you can afford,
For the risks are great, and the rewards can be oh so bored.
Again with the “oh so bored”? That’s just lazy. Or maybe it’s deep. Either way: Shake it up a little, ChatGPT.
What makes betting on sports fun?
Betting on sports can be fun for many reasons. For some people, the excitement of placing a bet and the thrill of potentially winning money are the main attractions. For others, the fun comes from the added excitement and interest that betting brings to watching a sports game. Additionally, for many people, the social aspect of placing bets with friends and family can be a fun and enjoyable experience. Finally, the anticipation and uncertainty of not knowing the outcome of a game can add to the excitement and fun of sports betting.
True enough, I’d say.
If sports betting were an animal, what animal would it be?
It is difficult to say what animal sports betting would be, as it is a concept and not a physical being. However, if I were to guess, I might say that sports betting could be compared to a creature that is both exciting and unpredictable, such as a roller coaster. Like a roller coaster, sports betting can be thrilling and exciting, but also risky and uncertain. It can also have ups and downs, with the potential for big wins and losses. Ultimately, the animal that sports betting might be compared to would depend on the individual’s personal experience and perspective.
I don’t know about you, but the idea of a living, breathing, rampaging roller coaster has me scared out of my mind. Someone call the Black Mirror folks.
How is gambling like life?
Gambling and life are similar in that both involve taking risks and making decisions with uncertain outcomes. In gambling, individuals must make decisions about how to bet and what games to play, and the outcome of these decisions is always uncertain. Similarly, in life, individuals must make decisions about their careers, relationships, and other important aspects of their lives, and the outcome of these decisions is also uncertain.
Both gambling and life also involve the potential for both gains and losses. In gambling, individuals can win money or other prizes if they make successful bets, but they can also lose money if their bets don’t pay off. Similarly, in life, individuals can achieve their goals and realize their dreams if they make the right decisions, but they can also face setbacks and failures if they make poor choices.
Additionally, both gambling and life require individuals to manage their resources and make strategic decisions. In gambling, individuals must manage their money and decide how much to bet on each game, in order to maximize their chances of winning. Similarly, in life, individuals must manage their time, energy, and other resources, and make strategic decisions about how to allocate these resources in order to achieve their goals.
Finally, both gambling and life can be exciting and enjoyable, but they can also be stressful and overwhelming. In gambling, the rush of winning a big prize can be exhilarating, but the fear of losing money can also be stressful. Similarly, in life, achieving a major goal or accomplishment can be incredibly satisfying, but the fear of failure or uncertainty can also be daunting.
In conclusion, gambling and life are similar in that both involve taking risks and making decisions with uncertain outcomes, the potential for both gains and losses, the need to manage resources and make strategic decisions, and the potential for both excitement and stress.
No kidding, amirite? This ChatGPT really gets me. I think I might tease the Patriots Monday night with the 49ers Thursday.
Is it ever smart to place a teaser bet in football?
A teaser bet is a type of bet that allows the bettor to adjust the point spreads in their favor in exchange for lower odds on the bet. For example, if the point spread on a game is 7 points and you place a teaser bet, you might be able to adjust the point spread to 4 points in your favor. While this can make the bet more attractive, it also makes it harder to win. As a result, it is generally not considered to be a smart bet. It is always best to carefully consider all of your options before placing a bet, and to only bet with money that you can afford to lose.
Wow. OK. Maybe I won’t place that bet. This thing is like a God.
Is sports betting the closest I can come to knowing God?
No, betting on sports is not the closest you can come to knowing God. Knowing God, if such a thing is possible, would likely involve spiritual experiences and a deep understanding of religious teachings, not gambling on sports events. Gambling on sports is a recreational activity that involves risking money on the outcome of a game or event, while knowing God is a complex and deeply personal concept that varies depending on an individual’s beliefs and experiences.
So maybe I’ll tease it. I don’t know.
Is there gambling in heaven?
It is impossible to say for certain whether there is gambling in heaven, as heaven is a concept that is heavily influenced by an individual’s personal beliefs and spiritual experiences. In many religious traditions, heaven is described as a place of eternal peace, joy, and fulfillment, where the souls of the righteous go after they die. Gambling, on the other hand, is a recreational activity that involves risking money on the outcome of a game or event. The two concepts are quite different, and it is unlikely that gambling would have any place in a realm of eternal bliss and happiness. Ultimately, whether there is gambling in heaven is a matter of personal belief, and it is up to each individual to decide what they believe about the nature of the afterlife.
This is actually the best quote of the entire exchange thus far. I can just see ChatGPT giving me the side eye as it says, “it is unlikely that gambling would have any place in a realm of eternal bliss and happiness.”
OK. Time for one more …
Can dogs play poker as depicted in the famous painting?
No, dogs cannot play poker as depicted in the famous painting. The painting in question is likely “Dogs Playing Poker” by Cassius Marcellus Coolidge, which depicts a group of dogs sitting around a table playing a game of poker. However, dogs do not have the ability to hold cards or engage in complex strategic thinking, so it is impossible for them to play poker in the way that is depicted in the painting. The painting is intended to be humorous and fictional, and should not be taken literally.
What a sourpuss.
