ChatGPT4 visits a laundromat

On the day I posted my most recent article about Game Theory and AI, I took some pet bedding to a local laundromat to wash. While I was there, I let ChatGPT4 vision tell me what it saw. Mind altering!

A few weeks ago, Open AI—the company behind the “Chat GPT” Assistive Intelligence platform—opened public access (at least through their GPT plus channel, which requires a small monthly subscription fee) to ChatGPT4 now enhanced with vision.

Here’s what I had it do at the local laundromat.

This Open AI version of ChatGPT, a so-called Large Language Model neural network that can communicate via a “Chat Bot” like interface, can now see, hear, and speak. Prior to this, interaction was limited to text input.

That is, you can now upload photos to it and ask it questions about the content.

If you haven’t seen examples like this before, what it can do is nothing short of astonishing. This should take your breath away, if you pause to consider how rapidly technology has improved over your lifetime.

I briefly mentioned ChatGPT4 vision in my most recent post, Game Theory and AI. If you haven’t already, please read that post first!

The same day that I published it, I had to take some items to a local laundromat. We have a dog and several outdoor cats, and in the process of having the cats neutered, we wound up with some soiled towels and blankets.

We like to use large commercial hot water washing machines for pet bedding, so I took them in. While I was waiting, I did some experimentation to share with you.

I took this photo and asked ChatGPT what it saw. The reply was nearly instantaneous.

ChatGPT4 was given this photo from a local laundromat

Me: what do you see?

ChatGPT:

I see an interior of what appears to be a laundromat. There are several washing machines lined up against the wall, some with transparent doors that allow the viewer to see the contents inside. Above the machines, there's a shelf displaying decorative items, including rag dolls and a Halloween-themed decoration. There are signs indicating laundry services, as well as one mentioning "TRIPLE LOAD WASHERS." The ceiling has fluorescent lighting and a ceiling fan. The floor looks like it might be made of tiles or linoleum. There's also a countertop in the foreground. The walls are painted in a peach or light orange color and have wooden panels and decorative items on them.

Me: expand please.

ChatGPT

Certainly!

The image showcases the interior of a laundromat, which seems to be a place where local residents come not only to clean their clothes but also to experience a sense of community. The environment is quaint, and the decor has a personal touch, suggesting that this might be an independently owned establishment rather than a large chain.

The washing machines are prominently displayed, with their stainless-steel finish reflecting the light in the room. These machines, particularly those labeled as "TRIPLE LOAD WASHERS," indicate the facility's capability to handle a variety of laundry needs, from small personal loads to larger items like comforters and bedspreads.

Above the washing machines, a shelf spans the length of the wall, holding an array of items that add a touch of homeliness to the space. The rag dolls, with their blue and red dresses, have an old-fashioned charm. Their handmade appearance suggests a nod to simpler times, perhaps reminding patrons of childhood or family memories. A Halloween-themed decoration is also present, signaling that the owner takes the time to update the decor according to the seasons or upcoming holidays.

The signs in the laundromat provide clear direction for the services offered. One emphasizes "Laundry and Cleaning Service," which might mean that aside from self-service machines, they could also offer professional cleaning or drop-off services.

The ceiling's fluorescent lighting ensures ample visibility for patrons, while the ceiling fan helps in circulating the air, which is especially important given the heat generated by the machines. The tiles or linoleum flooring is practical for such a setting, as it's easy to clean in case of any detergent spills or water leaks.

Lastly, the walls, painted in a soothing peach or light orange hue, combined with wooden panels, give the space a warm ambiance. The decorative items hung up, like the cross, might hint at the owner's personal beliefs or simply be there for aesthetic reasons.

Overall, this laundromat exudes a welcoming and comfortable vibe, making the often mundane task of doing laundry a more pleasant experience.

These responses came back in seconds; it analyzed what it saw and responded faster than a human being would have.

Notice the level of detail and apparent ‘grasp’ of what it is seeing.

Next, I gave it another photo, and asked it this:

Me: when should I return?

I wanted to see if it noticed the 10 minutes remaining on the display.

Can it read the display and interpret it?

ChatGPT

The image shows a washing machine with a note on the door that says "30 DB 8:00." Based on this note, you should return at 8:00 to retrieve your laundry.

In this case, it misread what was written on the yellow tape (even I had to stare at it for a while) and it needed a little more prompting, so I asked:

Me: what does the display on the washer itself communicate?

ChatGPT

The display on the washing machine provides several pieces of information:

• Brand Name: "Speed Queen" - This is the brand of the washing machine.

• Type of Machine: "Commercial Washer" - Indicates that the washer is designed for commercial use, suitable for places like laundromats where machines are frequently used.

• Digital Display: It shows "10", which likely indicates the remaining time in minutes for the current wash cycle to complete.

• Keypad: A number pad is available, possibly for entering specific codes or selecting particular wash cycles. Next to it is a "Start" button to commence the washing cycle.

• Icons: Various icons are displayed, depicting different washing options or cycles. These might include options like heavy duty, delicate wash, or different water temperatures.

• Coin Slot: It's labeled "25¢", indicating that the machine accepts quarters as payment. The machine might require multiple quarters for a full wash cycle, depending on its pricing.

• Warning Label: There are safety instructions and guidelines, which are standard on such machines to ensure the user's safety and proper operation of the machine.

In summary, the main communication from the washer's display is that there are 10 minutes remaining in the current wash cycle.

Next, I decided to test its ability to read handwriting. So I gave it this photo next:

Me: what do these signs say?

How about interpreting handwriting?

ChatGPT:

The signs on the containers read:

1. "Soap & Bottle Caps for Boy Scouts"

2. "Soap & Bottle Caps for Boy Scouts"

It appears that these containers are being used to collect soap and bottle caps for the Boy Scouts.

My next test was to see if it could read a sign…backwards (without prompting it first). I gave it this photo:

A photo with reversed lettering as seen from the inside

Me: this window has writing on it. Can you discern what it says?

Chat GPT:
The writing on the window is mirrored because the photo is taken from the inside. From what I can discern, some of the text reads:

• "HASTINGS LAUNDRY & CENTER"

• "Urban Insurance Agency"

• "THANKSGIVING CLOSED"

• "CHRISTMAS EVE 10 AM - ?"

• "NEW YEAR'S DAY OPEN"

• "LAST WASH AT ??:?? PM" (The specific time is not clearly visible)

There might be more text on the window, but this is what I can interpret from the provided image.

It’s curious that it apparently hallucinated something about “New Years Day”, which doesn’t appear on the sign.

The last photo I gave it to analyze was this:

Me: deacribe this picture from the same laundromat

(notice that I made a spelling error with the word “describe”, but it didn’t matter)

ChatGPT

The image displays an indoor setting, presumably from a laundromat. Key elements in the picture include:

1. A life-sized figure of a witch with a purple hat and robe. The witch has exaggerated features, including vibrant green eyes and a wide smile. She has long white hair and is wearing a name tag that reads "Dottie."

2. The witch is positioned next to a black trash can with a plastic liner.

3. Behind the witch, there's a metallic hanging rack with several empty hangers.

4. On the left side, you can see some colorful mesh bags or pouches, possibly laundry or storage bags. One of them has a geometric triangular design in shades of blue and yellow.

5. There are some chairs in the background, suggesting a waiting area. There's also a window that offers a view outside, where vehicles are parked.

6. On the window, there are some purple decals or decorations that appear to be Halloween-themed, further adding to the festive atmosphere conveyed by the witch figure.

Overall, the scene seems to be decorated for a festive occasion, likely Halloween, and provides a playful ambiance to the laundromat.

In sum: this is a stunning example of contextual understanding by a neural network from photographs.

There will be a generation of young people who will grow up always having have had this kind of technology; to them it will seem natural and mundane. Some of us grew up before personal computers and cell phones and the Internet even existed—although about 2/3rds of the people on the planet today are younger than 48 years.

It boggles the mind how far technology has come in our lifetimes; 150 years ago, people still got around on horseback or by wagon, and read books by lamplight.

This should make us all wonder: how many times in Earth’s history has intelligence of this level arisen before? Are we so arrogant to believe that this version of Homo Sapiens is the first time? Megalithic archaeology should make us reconsider.

As of the current moment, ChatGPT4 doesn’t add what it “learns” from the public’s interaction with it to its model; that is to say, its global “knowledge network” isn’t updated for the benefit of other people from my or your interactions with it (this is because of “safety concerns”, according to OpenAI. They want to be able to vet what information is used to update the models “training” at present.)

That said, ChatGPT does seem to “remember” things within the context of our own individual chat sessions, at least until they reach some pre-determined limit and expire.

Just imagine what LLMs will be able to do for us, once WE can train them, with OUR own curated data, for OUR own benefit, to help US understand what is happening in the world. Imagine, for example, how this could help vulnerable elderly people understand their medical documentation, legal situations, insurance policies, and avoiding being scammed by criminal phishing artists.

Imagine how this could help people with lower mental capacity and intellect, by learning about their cognitive deficiencies and then patiently presenting information to them in ways that they can better grasp; and defending them, too, against exploitation by evil people.

Guardian angels, of a sort.

Are there reasons for concern? Of course. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, shares recent concerns about AI-mediated persuasion worries in this piece.

Every tool developed by humanity has always been co-opted and put to evil purposes to oppress others. I myself wrote about this in the article AI Chatbots. But it’s always the evil intents of people, and not the tool, that is the real issue (as I recently made the point in the Game Theory article.)

The fact is, an Assistive Intelligence is just as capable at protecting us from harmful and evil-intentioned persuasion. Thus my post about Game Theory and AI.

We must not let these worries distract us from the potential for vastly greater good that can also be achieved from Assistive Intelligence.

More on this soon, in my upcoming and most significant article about the future potential of AI—what I now prefer to call Assistive Intelligence.

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I hope you enjoyed this latest post! More to come soon on AI and other topics.

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