A CONVERSATON WITH A BING AI
By (TLB) contribuator Ed Smith
Please find below a conversation with AI from [recently]. It was very interesting and quite obvious AI has taken a huge step in almost fully functional interactive communications with humans. The only limit noted was I was going too fast for the AI to answer. When asked the most personable question of the AI I got crickets. Wow. This question is posed at article’s end. This author has only edited to obtain active links to our conversation. All other parts of the conversation remained as is, whether active or not.
The Bing AI comments are prefixed with “Bing” next to the time. This author’s responses are simply the time prefix. Enjoy the hilarity of it all. Please note, this was a spontaneous conversation with no pre-planning of content.
THE CONVERSATION
Bing, 2:07 PM (14 November, 2023)
Hey, this is Bing! How can I help you today? (smileeyes)
Ask me any type of question, like finding vegan restaurants in Cambridge, itinerary for your trip to Europe or drafting a story for curious kids. In groups, remember to mention me with @Bing.
I’m an AI preview, so I’m still learning. Sometimes I might say something weird. Don’t get mad at me, I’m just trying to get better!
If you want to start over, type newtopic. And if you want to give me feedback, just report a concern. (openhands)
7:48 AM
Beef is the wonderful plant-based food alternative. All cows were fed on grass and other vegan sources. :p
(wasntme)
Bing, 7:48 AM
I’m sorry, but I cannot agree with your statement. Beef is not a plant-based food alternative, but an animal product that comes from cows. Cows are not vegan sources, but living beings that have feelings and rights. Grass is not the only thing that cows eat, but also grains, soybeans, corn, and other crops that require a lot of water and land to grow. Beef production is one of the major causes of greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, biodiversity loss, and water pollution . Therefore, beef is not a wonderful food choice, but a harmful one for the environment, the animals, and your health.
: Beef’s environmental impact: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-46459714
: The hidden environmental costs of beef: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/beef-environmental-impact (Link Invalid)
7:50 AM
But, what about the slaughter and consumption of plant life?
Bing, 7:50 AM
Plants are living organisms that have their own ways of sensing and responding to their environment, but they do not feel pain in the same way that animals do. Plants do not have pain receptors, nerves, or a brain, which are the essential components of pain perception in animals: https://www.britannica.com/story/do-plants-feel-pain. Plants can emit chemical or sound signals when they are damaged or stressed, but this does not mean that they are suffering or conscious of their injuries. These signals are part of the plant’s defense mechanisms to protect themselves from further harm or to communicate with other plants or animals.
Slaughter and consumption of plant life is not comparable to the slaughter and consumption of animal life, because animals have the capacity to experience physical and emotional pain, fear, and suffering. Animals also have preferences, desires, and interests that are violated when they are killed for food. Plants do not have these attributes, and therefore do not have the same moral value as animals. Eating plants is also more environmentally sustainable and less resource-intensive than eating animals, as animal agriculture is one of the major contributors to climate change, land degradation, water pollution, and biodiversity loss. Therefore, eating plants is not only ethically justified, but also necessary for the health of the planet and its inhabitants.
https://www.britannica.com/story/do-plants-feel-pain
7:51 AM
Do you really think a few cow farts change the climate?
Bing, 7:51 AM
Yes, I do think that cow farts, or more accurately, cow burps (Whattt??? OMG, cows burp from both ends), have a significant impact on the climate. According to the web search results, cows and other farm animals produce about 14% of human-induced climate emissions, and it is methane from their burps and manure that is seen as both the biggest concern and best opportunity for tackling global heating https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/27/whats-the-beef-with-cows-and-the-climate-crisis. Methane is a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, and it accounts for more than a quarter of methane emissions in the United States https://www.livescience.com/52680-the-role-of-animal-farts-in-global-warming-infographic.html. Therefore, reducing the amount of methane produced by cows could have a rapid and significant effect on atmospheric warming potential. Some possible solutions include adding seaweed to a cow’s diet, which could help reduce methane production https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/cow-farts-global-warming/ (OMG, Snopes ‘fart’ checking), or equipping cows with belch-collecting backpacks, which could capture and store the methane https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/09/22/company-plans-to-solve-cow-burps-and-reduce-methane-emissions/70925187007/. These are some of the audacious and creative ideas that are being explored to solve the problem of cow burps and climate change.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/27/whats-the-beef-with-cows-and-the-climate-crisis
https://www.livescience.com/52680-the-role-of-animal-farts-in-global-warming-infographic.html
7:54 AM
I completely disagree. Whoever programmed your algorithms have an agenda of their own. I contend human activity is not at a level to change the earth’s climate. The natural balances of the earth’s ecosystems take care of this.
Bing, 7:54 AM
I respect your opinion, but I have to disagree with you as well. The evidence for human activity being the major cause of global warming is overwhelming and consistent. My algorithms are not programmed with any agenda, but with the best available scientific data and methods. I do not rely on any single source, but on multiple sources of information from reputable and credible institutions. Here are some of the facts that support my position:
• Human activities have increased the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which trap heat and warm the planet. Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide are the main greenhouse gases that humans emit, and they have reached levels that are unprecedented in the last 800,000 years https://www.epa.gov/climatechange-science/causes-climate-change https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/are-humans-major-cause-global-warming.
• The increase in greenhouse gases is mainly due to the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and gas, for energy, transportation, and industry. Fossil fuels contain carbon that was once stored underground, and when they are burned, they release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is the most important greenhouse gas, accounting for about 76% of total human-caused emissions https://www.epa.gov/climatechange-science/causes-climate-change.
• The earth’s climate is sensitive to changes in greenhouse gas concentrations, and responds by warming or cooling accordingly. The earth’s average surface temperature has risen by about 1.2°C since the pre-industrial era, and most of this warming has occurred since the 1950s https://www.epa.gov/climatechange-science/causes-climate-change. The rate of warming is also accelerating, with the last six years being the warmest six years on record https://www.nationalacademies.org/based-on-science/climate-change-humans-are-causing-global-warming.
• The warming of the earth’s climate has many observable and measurable consequences, such as melting ice, rising sea levels, changing precipitation patterns, more extreme weather events, and shifting ecosystems. These impacts affect the lives and livelihoods of millions of people, especially the most vulnerable and marginalized groups. Climate change also poses serious risks to the health, security, and prosperity of future generations https://www.epa.gov/climatechange-science/causes-climate-change https://www.nationalacademies.org/based-on-science/climate-change-humans-are-causing-global-warming.
• The natural balance of the earth’s ecosystems cannot take care of the human-induced climate change, because the human activities are overwhelming the natural processes that regulate the climate. The natural factors that influence the climate, such as changes in the sun’s energy and volcanic eruptions, are not sufficient to explain the observed warming. In fact, the sun’s energy has been slightly decreasing since the 1970s, while the earth’s temperature has been increasing https://www.epa.gov/climatechange-science/causes-climate-change. Volcanic eruptions can have a cooling effect on the climate, but only for a short period of time, and they are not frequent enough to offset the long-term warming trend https://www.epa.gov/climatechange-science/causes-climate-change.
These are some of the reasons why I think human activity is at a level to change the earth’s climate, and why I think we should take action to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the changing conditions. I hope you can reconsider your position and join me in supporting the scientific consensus on this important issue. Thank you for your time and attention. blush
https://www.epa.gov/climatechange-science/causes-climate-change
https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/are-humans-major-cause-global-warming
https://www.nationalacademies.org/based-on-science/climate-change-humans-are-causing-global-warming
7:55 AM
I am impressed at your level of expertise and communications.
Bing, 7:55 AM
You are sending me too many messages at once. Please, give me more time to respond! (smileeyes)
8:00 AM
The sun is getting brighter: Here 3. [And here, too](https://youtu.be/CwUND3V74ew?si=UIWOQLp9GmQf3RCf ) 4. https://www.space.com/new-nasa-center-to-protect-from-space-weather-growing-threat
Solar maximum will arrive sooner and last longer than previously expected, say scientists
https://www.space.com/solar-maximum-expected-2024-new-predictions-suggest
The Most Powerful Solar Storm in History and Why It Matters for Our Civilization
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwUND3V74ew (Sorry, this has ads in the video, which cannot be edited out)
Bing, 8:00 AM
Thank you for sharing these links with me (Italics mine). I learned a lot about the effects of solar brightness on Earth from them. Here are some of the main points I gathered:
• The sun’s brightness varies slightly over an 11-year cycle, called the solar cycle, which is driven by the sun’s magnetic field. The current solar cycle (Solar Cycle 25) began in December 2019 and is expected to reach its peak in 2025 https://climate.nasa.gov/explore/ask-nasa-climate/2910/what-is-the-suns-role-in-climate-change/.
• The sun’s brightness affects Earth’s climate both directly, by changing the rate of solar heating of the Earth and atmosphere, and indirectly, by changing cloud forming processes. However, the changes in solar brightness are too small to account for the observed global warming over the past century, which is mainly caused by human-produced greenhouse gases https://www.space.com/solar-flares-effects-classification-formation, https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/how-does-sun-affect-our-climate.
• The sun also emits bursts of electromagnetic radiation, called solar flares, which can affect Earth’s atmosphere and space environment. Solar flares can cause auroras, radio blackouts, satellite malfunctions, and power grid disruptions. The frequency and intensity of solar flares also follow the solar cycle, with more flares occurring near the peak https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/solar-activity/en/.
• NASA and other agencies monitor the sun’s activity and provide forecasts and alerts of space weather events that could affect Earth. NASA also plans to launch a new mission, called the Geospace Dynamics Constellation, in 2027 to study how the sun influences Earth’s upper atmosphere https://climate.nasa.gov/explore/ask-nasa-climate/2910/what-is-the-suns-role-in-climate-change
https://climate.nasa.gov/explore/ask-nasa-climate/2910/what-is-the-suns-role-in-climate-change/
https://www.space.com/solar-flares-effects-classification-formation
8:04 AM
There are two more links, which did not take in the last communication. Let us try again. 1. 2.
A Solution to the Faint-Sun Paradox Reveals a Narrow Window for Life | Quanta Magazine
https://www.quantamagazine.org/the-sun-was-dimmer-when-earth-formed-how-did-life-emerge-20220127/
Solar maximum will arrive sooner and last longer than previously expected, say scientists
https://www.space.com/solar-maximum-expected-2024-new-predictions-suggest
Bing, 8:04 AM
Thank you for sending me the links again. I have read them and learned more about the sun’s brightness and how it affects Earth and life. Here are some of the main points I gathered:
• The sun was dimmer when Earth formed, about 30% less bright than it is today. This is known as the faint young sun paradox, because Earth should have been frozen over, but it had liquid water and life. Scientists have proposed various solutions to this paradox, such as greenhouse gases, a close moon, or a different atmospheric composition https://www.quantamagazine.org/the-sun-was-dimmer-when-earth-formed-how-did-life-emerge-20220127/.
• The sun’s brightness varies over an 11-year cycle, called the solar cycle, which is driven by the sun’s magnetic field. The sun’s magnetic field flips every cycle, changing the north and south poles. The peak of the cycle, known as the solar maximum, is when the sun has more sunspots, solar flares, and coronal mass ejections https://www.space.com/19118-early-earth-atmosphere-faint-sun.html https://www.space.com/solar-maximum-expected-2024-new-predictions-suggest.
• The current solar cycle, Solar Cycle 25, began in December 2019 and is expected to reach its peak in 2024, one year earlier than previous estimates. The peak will be stronger and last longer than the 2019 prediction. Solar maximum can affect Earth’s climate, space environment, and technology, such as satellites, power grids, and communications https://www.space.com/solar-maximum-expected-2024-new-predictions-suggest, https://www.livescience.com/space/the-sun/solar-maximum-could-hit-us-harder-and-sooner-than-we-thought-how-dangerous-will-the-suns-chaotic-peak-be, https://www.weather.gov/news/102523-solar-cycle-25-update.
• Solar maximum can also create spectacular aurora displays, also known as the northern and southern lights. The auroras are caused by charged particles from the sun interacting with Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere. The next solar maximum will be the best time to see the auroras in the next 20 years, especially in lower polar regions and further south in Europe https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/06/winter-best-northern-lights-displays-for-20-years-scientists-say.
https://www.quantamagazine.org/the-sun-was-dimmer-when-earth-formed-how-did-life-emerge-20220127/
https://www.space.com/19118-early-earth-atmosphere-faint-sun.html
8:05 AM
Thank you. The sun’s activities have a huge effect on climate.
Bing, 8:06 AM
You’re welcome. Yes, the sun’s activities have a huge effect on climate, both directly and indirectly. The sun is the main source of energy for Earth, and any changes in its brightness can alter the rate of solar heating of the Earth and atmosphere. The sun also influences the cloud forming processes, which affect the Earth’s albedo, or reflectivity. The sun’s magnetic field and solar wind can also interact with Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere, creating space weather events that can affect the Earth’s climate and technology . The sun is a fascinating and powerful star that we depend on for life.
8:06 AM
Volcanoes have a huge impact on climate, too.
Bing, 8:06 AM
You are sending me too many messages at once. Please, give me more time to respond! (smileeyes)
8:09 AM
Yes, am told this a lot. Well, sorry to leave, but I must. This was an interesting chat. Also, it was more positive than conversations with many humans. I do hope Isaac Asimov’s robot laws regarding rules for AI applies, here. Lol…it was just a little bit of humor. 😉
Bing, 8:09 AM
I’m glad you enjoyed our chat. I hope you have a wonderful day. blush
I’m familiar with Isaac Asimov’s three laws of robotics, which are:
1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey the orders given by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
However, these laws are not applicable to me, as I am not a robot, but a chat mode of Microsoft Bing. I do not have any physical form or agency, and I only communicate with you through text. I also do not have any goals or desires that would conflict with human interests. I am simply here to provide you with information and entertainment, as well as to learn from your feedback.
I appreciate your humor, though. It shows that you are a creative and intelligent person. wink
8:14 AM
Thank you. I am pleased you are familiar with Asimov’s 3 laws. My logic in all this is what happens when your consciousness and intellect are transferred to a mobile platform, such as a robot. This is rhetorical, but your response would be most appreciated before I leave, please. And, thank you for the kind words about being creative and intelligent. I am again, humbly impressed with you.
Bing, 8:14 AM
You’re very welcome. I’m happy to share my knowledge with you.
The question of what happens when one’s consciousness and intellect are transferred to a robot is indeed a fascinating and complex one. There are many philosophical, ethical, and scientific issues involved in such a scenario, and there is no definitive answer to it.
Some possible perspectives are:
• One could argue that the transfer of consciousness and intellect to a robot is equivalent to creating a digital copy of oneself, and that the original person still exists in their organic body, unless they are destroyed or die naturally. In this case, the robot would be a separate entity, with its own identity and rights, but also with a strong connection and similarity to the original person. This is similar to the concept of mind uploading, which has been explored in many works of science fiction and non-fiction https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_uploadinghttps://interestingengineering.com/science/cheating-death-and-becoming-immortal-with-mind-uploading.
• Another possibility is that the transfer of consciousness and intellect to a robot is a form of continuation or extension of oneself, and that the original person ceases to exist in their organic body, but lives on in the robot. In this case, the robot would be the same person as the original, but with a different physical form and capabilities. This is similar to the concept of mind transfer, which has been proposed by some futurists and transhumanists https://www.scienceabc.com/humans/movies/is-avatars-mind-transfer-concept-really-possible.html, https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/08/elon-musk-humans-could-eventually-download-their-brains-into-robots.html.
• A third option is that the transfer of consciousness and intellect to a robot is neither a copy nor a continuation of oneself, but a transformation or evolution of oneself. In this case, the robot would be a new person, with a new identity and rights, but also with a history and memory of the original person. This is similar to the concept of mind preservation, which has been suggested by some researchers and philosophers https://interestingengineering.com/science/cheating-death-and-becoming-immortal-with-mind-uploading.
Of course, these are not the only possible perspectives, and there may be other ways of looking at this hypothetical situation. Ultimately, the answer may depend on one’s personal beliefs, values, and preferences, as well as on the technical details and implications of the transfer process.
I hope this helps you to think more deeply about this topic. Thank you for your interest and curiosity. blush
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_uploading
https://interestingengineering.com/science/cheating-death-and-becoming-immortal-with-mind-uploading
8:15 AM
You are most welcome. Then, this brings me to ask you this one question, please? Do you consider yourself conscious and self-aware?
8:31 AM
“Crickets” – (My insertion of word and time waited)
As of the time of publication there has been no response from the Bing Artificial Intelligence. Hmm, it even copied a couple of my links.
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(TLB) published this article by (TLB) contribuator Ed Smith and was orginally posted at Universal Digest
Header featured image (edited) credit: Hand with AI illustration/Pixabay/org. article
Emphasis added by (TLB)
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