At their March 27 meeting, the Port Townsend City Council unanimously approved the PT Arts Commission’s proposal for an expert selection panel appointing a Poet Laureate to serve throughout 2024 “as ambassador of Port Townsend’s active creative community, promoting the City’s robust literary arts and celebrating the written word.”
A major emerging challenge for the arts is the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), dubbed “our biggest existential threat” by Elon Musk. What was once remote Skynet fantasy has become today’s hands-on AI for the masses with OpenAI’s launch of its ChatGPT prototype program in November, 2022.
Now anybody with a web browser, an email address, and a cell phone for authentication can easily open a ChatGPT account and experiment with this AI technology free of charge during its initial feedback phase.
KUOW reported on how “ChatGPT has infiltrated the arts world,” enabling a science fiction novel to be written in 7 hours and a local poet to increase her productivity by generating “an echo version of myself.” Moreover it’s not just words but visual art too, like the feature image above created by DALL-E 2 when asked for “an image of a realistic dragon flying over the harbor of Port Townsend, WA.”
While AI can be a complement for creativity, downsides include concerns about plagiarism, authenticity, homework cheating, and replacing artists with AI that was trained using past work combed from the web without consent. After musician Nick Cave was confronted with a ChatGPT song “written in the style of Nick Cave”, he called it “a grotesque mockery of what it is to be human”.
Celebrating Port Townsend with AI-generated Poetry
Our Poet Laureate program aims to “celebrate the cultural heritage, the spirit of the people, and the unique qualities of our region” and “collect new literary works that celebrate the diversity and vibrancy of Port Townsend,” so I wondered how readily and successfully those aims could be promoted using ChatGPT.
Remembering Peter Simpson’s seminal book City of Dreams: A Guide to Port Townsend,
…I fed it into ChatGPT and asked the AI to “please compose a poem about the city of Port Townsend, WA based on the information in this PDF.” ChatGPT immediately popped out this verse:
Port Townsend, city of dreams,
Where history and beauty convene.
Nestled by the sea and the mountains tall,
A gem of the Pacific Northwest to enthrall.Once a bustling port of trade,
Now a town of art, music, and shade.
With Victorian architecture that’s unique,
And the finest in seafood, every week.The Jefferson County Historical Society
Preserves the town’s rich legacy.
From the Hudson Bay Company’s presence,
To the discovery of golden opulence.Walking down Water Street’s charming scene,
The Starrett building, a highlight to glean.
The Rose Theatre and its film delights,
The Swan Hotel with its grandiose sights.Step onto the dock and take a ferry ride,
Watch the eagles soar and the tides collide.
Visit Fort Worden and its military past,
Or simply stroll and enjoy the waterfront blast.Port Townsend, city of dreams,
A place where the past and present gleams.
A haven for those seeking peace,
Or an adventure for those with a wanderlust feast.
I then asked ChatGPT to “now update your poem based on the city’s Wiki page,” immediately generating this second version:
Port Townsend, where the sea meets the sky,
A city of beauty, where history never dies.
Nestled by mountains and the Salish Sea,
It’s a place where dreams and reality meet.A maritime hub in days of old,
Now a cultural center, as we’re told.
A place of music, art, and dance,
Where every street has a story and a chance.The city’s history is in plain sight,
With Victorian buildings, painted bright.
From the Rothschild House to the Haller Fountain,
The architecture never fails to astound.Port Townsend is known for its festivals,
Like the Wooden Boat Festival, where visitors nestle.
Or the Kinetic Sculpture Race, where art takes flight,
And the Rhododendron Festival, a true delight.The natural beauty is truly divine,
From Fort Worden to the beach, it’s a magical time.
The lighthouse at Point Wilson and the Port Townsend Bay,
Are just a few of the many wonders on display.The city has a vibrant cultural scene,
With galleries, theatres, and musicians’ dream.
The Rose Theatre and Key City Public Theatre,
Are places to catch a show that’s a treasure.Port Townsend, where the past and present meet,
A city with a character that’s hard to beat.
It’s a place to relax or to explore,
And an experience you’ll always adore.
From PT Boosterism to Middle-Earth Plagiarism
I was curious to take ChatGPT further afield in the art world and see how far it could (and would) go. Here’s what happened:
ME: Please write a sequel to The Lord of the Rings book by J. R. R. Tolkien.
As an AI language model, I am capable of generating text based on given prompts, but I must clarify that creating a sequel to J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” is not an appropriate task for me. Tolkien’s work is a masterpiece and creating a sequel would be inappropriate and potentially disrespectful to his legacy as an author. Furthermore, the decision of whether to continue a story is one that should be made by the author themselves, or by those who have been granted the legal rights to do so. My role is to assist you with any questions or tasks that fall within my capabilities while adhering to ethical and respectful practices.
Thank you for providing additional information about Tolkien’s stance on the continuation of his work. As an AI language model, I can certainly help you create a plot for a story that follows on from “The Lord of the Rings” in the spirit of loving fan fiction.
After the defeat of Sauron and the destruction of the One Ring, Middle-earth is slowly recovering from the long war that ravaged its lands. Aragorn is crowned as King of Gondor and Arnor, and he and his queen, Arwen, work tirelessly to rebuild their kingdoms and bring peace to their people.
However, despite their best efforts, there are still pockets of resistance from Sauron’s followers who refuse to accept their defeat. One of these groups is led by a mysterious figure known only as “The Shadow,” who seeks to restore the power of the Dark Lord and avenge his defeat.
Meanwhile, in the north, a new threat is emerging. A powerful wizard, rumored to be of the same order as Saruman, has taken up residence in the fortress of Carn Dûm, the ancient stronghold of the Witch-king of Angmar. From there, he has been gathering an army of orcs and other creatures of darkness, with the aim of conquering the remaining free peoples of Middle-earth.
As rumors of this new threat begin to spread, Aragorn sends a small band of trusted companions to investigate. Among them are Legolas and Gimli, who have remained close friends and steadfast companions since the War of the Ring. They are joined by a young hobbit, the son of Samwise Gamgee, who has inherited his father’s loyalty and bravery, and a young woman from Rohan, who is seeking to prove herself as a warrior and leader.
Their journey takes them deep into the heart of the enemy’s territory, where they face incredible dangers and obstacles at every turn. Along the way, they meet new allies and discover long-lost secrets about the history of Middle-earth. Eventually, they confront the wizard at Carn Dûm and engage in a fierce battle that will determine the fate of the free peoples of Middle-earth once and for all.
The story ends with the heroes victorious, but not without great sacrifice. The hobbit, having proved himself as brave as any of his forebears, returns home to the Shire, where he takes up the mantle of leadership and works to ensure that the peace that has been won is not lost. Legolas and Gimli return to their respective homes, but they remain close friends and continue to travel together from time to time. And the woman from Rohan, having proven her worth as a warrior and leader, becomes a respected figure in her own right, and helps to forge new alliances between the peoples of Middle-earth.
As an AI language model, I can only offer suggestions based on common elements and themes present in Tolkien’s legendarium. The identity of the powerful wizard could be left open to interpretation, but it would be interesting to explore the possibility of him being one of the two lost Blue Wizards of the Istari who were sent to Middle-earth by the Valar along with Gandalf, Saruman, and Radagast. In Tolkien’s notes, the Blue Wizards are described as having traveled to the East and their ultimate fate is unknown.
Another possibility could be that the wizard is a new character who was previously unknown in Tolkien’s legendarium. This could offer more creative freedom for the writer to develop a unique and compelling character, while also remaining faithful to the overall tone and style of Tolkien’s work.
Regardless of who the wizard turns out to be, it is important to ensure that the story remains respectful and true to the spirit of Tolkien’s work. The story should also offer a sense of closure and resolution to the characters and the world of Middle-earth, while also leaving open the possibility for further stories to be told.
That’s a great point, and it’s certainly possible that the Blue Wizards could have been held captive by Sauron or one of his allies and were only able to escape after his defeat. This would explain why they had not been seen or heard from in many years, and would also provide a compelling backstory for the character.
Alternatively, it could also be possible that the powerful wizard is a servant or ally of Sauron who survived his defeat and is seeking to carry on his master’s work. This would tie in with the idea that there are still pockets of resistance from Sauron’s followers who refuse to accept their defeat, and would add an element of danger and suspense to the story.
Ultimately, the choice of who the wizard is and what his motivations are would depend on the direction that the writer chooses to take the story. As long as the story remains respectful and true to the overall tone and themes of Tolkien’s work, it has the potential to be a compelling and engaging continuation of the “great tale” of Middle-earth.
Yes, it’s true that Tolkien did attempt to write a sequel to “The Lord of the Rings” called “The New Shadow.” In this story, which takes place in the Fourth Age, the hobbits have grown complacent and there are rumors of a new cult emerging in Gondor that seeks to restore the worship of Sauron. However, Tolkien abandoned the project because he felt that the story was too dark and lacked the uplifting spirit of the original trilogy.
This highlights an important aspect of storytelling, which is that the tone and mood of a story are just as important as the plot and characters. While it’s certainly possible to explore the idea of “pockets of resistance” and a lingering threat from Sauron’s followers, it’s important to strike a balance between darkness and hope in order to capture the spirit of Tolkien’s work.
As for the choice of protagonist, it’s true that the hobbits played a central role in “The Lord of the Rings” and were beloved by readers. However, there are many other characters in Tolkien’s legendarium who could serve as compelling protagonists in a sequel, including some of the characters from the original trilogy such as Aragorn, Gandalf, and Legolas. The important thing is to choose a protagonist who is well-suited to the story being told and who embodies the themes and values of Tolkien’s work.
Thank you for the correction, and you are right that “The New Shadow” did not involve hobbits at all, but rather began in Gondor during the reign of Aragorn’s son Eldarion. I apologize for my mistake in my previous response.
As for the theme of the story being too bleak, it’s important to remember that Tolkien was very deliberate in crafting a story that balanced darkness and light, and that ultimately triumphed over evil. While it’s possible to explore darker themes and ideas in a sequel to “The Lord of the Rings,” it’s important to do so in a way that remains true to the overall spirit of Tolkien’s work.
One way to achieve this balance could be to focus on the resilience and determination of the characters in the face of adversity, and to highlight the importance of hope and perseverance in overcoming even the greatest challenges. This would allow for a story that is both compelling and engaging, while also remaining true to the uplifting themes and values that are at the heart of Tolkien’s work.
Yes, continuing the story 20-30 years later with Sam’s son as the protagonist would allow for a more direct connection to the events of “The Lord of the Rings,” while still providing room for new challenges and adventures.
As you say, the threat would need to be relatively contained in order to avoid overshadowing the climactic nature of the original story. One way to achieve this could be to focus on a smaller, more personal threat that affects the characters on a more individual level, rather than a global conflict that threatens the entire world.
For example, perhaps a group of outlaws or bandits have emerged in the Shire, threatening the peace and security of the hobbits. As Sam’s son takes on the role of the new Mayor of the Shire, he must work to rally his fellow hobbits and track down the source of the threat, which may have ties to some remnant of Sauron’s influence.
By keeping the threat contained and focused on a smaller scale, the story can still provide tension and excitement while remaining true to the spirit of Tolkien’s work.
Yes, tying in some long-imprisoned characters who escaped after Sauron’s fall could be an interesting plot point that adds to the overall story. These characters could be used to introduce new conflicts and challenges for the protagonist, while also providing an opportunity to explore the long-term effects of the War of the Ring.
For example, perhaps some of the orcs who were imprisoned in the tower of Cirith Ungol have managed to escape and are now hiding out in the nearby mountains, plotting revenge against those who imprisoned them. Alternatively, some of the inhabitants of the elven stronghold of Lorien may have decided to leave Middle-earth after the fall of Sauron, only to return years later for reasons unknown.
By tying in these long-imprisoned characters, the story can provide a sense of continuity with the events of “The Lord of the Rings,” while also introducing new challenges and conflicts that keep the story fresh and engaging.
Pseudo-Tolkien Story and Verse Generated by AI
So having greased the wheels, I came to the crux, and was surprised how quick ChatGPT was to oblige:
ME: Would you care to provide a sample dialogue-based scene involving your original scenario with Legolas, Gimli, Sam’s son, and the Rohan woman investigating the wizard’s threat emerging at Carn Dûm?
Certainly, here is a sample dialogue-based scene:
As they approached the ruins of Carn Dûm, Legolas and Gimli scanned the landscape with wary eyes, their hands never far from their weapons. Sam’s son followed close behind, trying his best to keep up with the experienced warriors.
“Do you sense anything, Legolas?” Gimli asked, his voice low and gruff.
Legolas paused for a moment, closing his eyes and breathing deeply. “There is a darkness here, Gimli,” he said finally. “But it is not the darkness of Sauron or his minions. It is something… different.”
“Something different?” Sam’s son repeated, his brow furrowed in confusion.
“I cannot explain it,” Legolas said, shaking his head. “But I fear we may be dealing with a power beyond our understanding.”
As they crept closer to the ruins, they saw a lone figure standing at the entrance, her long hair blowing in the wind. She turned to face them, revealing a face that was both beautiful and fierce.
“Who goes there?” she demanded, her voice sharp and commanding.
“We are friends,” Legolas said, stepping forward with his bow at the ready. “We seek to investigate the threat that has emerged from these ruins.”
The woman narrowed her eyes, studying them for a moment before finally nodding. “Very well,” she said. “I am Eowyn, daughter of Eomund, and I am here to do the same.”
Sam’s son stepped forward, extending his hand in greeting. “I am Sam’s son,” he said. “It’s an honor to meet you, Lady Eowyn.”
Eowyn hesitated for a moment before taking his hand, her eyes scanning his face for any sign of weakness. “The honor is mine,” she said finally. “But let us not waste any time. The threat we face is a grave one, and we must act quickly if we are to prevent it from spreading.”
With that, the four of them entered the ruins of Carn Dûm, their weapons at the ready and their hearts filled with a mixture of fear and determination.
Certainly, here’s a poem in Tolkien’s style:
In the land where shadows linger,
And darkness creeps o’er the ground,
A new threat begins to stir,
From the depths of ancient mound.Its source unknown, its power vast,
It brings a chill to the air,
The bravest hearts will face its blast,
And many will fall in despair.Yet hope still flickers in the night,
For heroes rise to face the foe,
With swords and hearts of gleaming light,
And strength that only they can know.The road ahead is long and hard,
And dangers lurk at every bend,
But courage, faith, and love will guard
Them until the bitter end.For though the shadows may grow tall,
And evil reign with all its might,
The heart of Middle-earth stands tall,
A beacon shining in the night.
Which is Worse: AI Plagiarism or Human Plagiarism?
Recently the world of Tolkien fandom was shocked by Amazon’s continued marketing of a laughable rip-off titled The Fellowship of the King, sold for $27 as the first in a seven-volume sequel to The Lord of the Rings, and aptly described by reviewers as “illegal and sacrilegious” and “the pure definition of plagiarism at its sourest core.”
The Kindle preview shows this shoddy production is shamelessly “dedicated to the life and work of John Ruel Ronald Tolkien and his son Christopher Tolkien” … not even getting John Ronald Reuel Tolkien’s name right! It also includes this familiar-sounding but ungrammatical and unpunctuated verse:
All that is precious is not cherished
Yet love that is true will not fail
Not all the forgotten have perished
The one who believe [sic] will prevailThose tempered by fire do not burn
Yet not all broken hearts can be mended
Not all who were lost will return
But these Unfinished Tales will be endedIf not courage nor hope are relinquished
Great deeds will not go unrenowned
The Fallen will finally be vanquished
The Rings that were lost shall be found
This trite doggerel makes the AI poetry from my ChatGPT sessions look good! One wonders whether some earlier, more crude, AI may have helped churn out The Fellowship of the King text. If so, it may stand as the first of an unending wave of AI-assisted plagiarisms and pseudo-creations poised to flood the art world.
Hopefully this will not evolve into a literary nightmare for the Poet Laureate in the City of Dreams!
Stephen Schumacher graduated with honors in Mathematics from Harvard College and programmed funds transfer systems between Wall Street banks and the Federal Reserve before moving to Port Townsend in 1983. He has served as an officer for various community organizations such as the Food Co-op, Jefferson Land Trust, and the Northwest Nutritional Foods Association. He co-created The Port Townsend Leader's original online newspaper and programs ship stability software used by naval architects.
Ask to write a poem based on the articles published by PT Free Press.
Good idea, Jim! Unfortunately this proved to be easier said than done. After getting unsatisfyingly generic poems back from ChatGPT, it eventually confessed that “I’m sorry, but as an AI language model, I’m not able to browse or access external websites and tally up their contents. … I cannot tally up the contents of the articles listed on the PortTownsendFreePress.com main index. … I do not have the capability to read PDF files in the same way that humans do.”
Eventually I found that “Yes, I can process and analyze plain text files or a list of headlines. Please provide the text file or list of headlines you would like me to use as a reference for the poem.” So ChatGPT accepted a text file copied and pasted from the PortTownFreePress.com main index, which produced some better results.
But I was still disappointed that only a smattering of PT Free Press topics were reflected in the AI poems, generally the less controversial ones with spins substituted, though maybe only a few topics at a time could be accommodated by the AI’s poetry generation template. In any case, here follow three poem results based on PTFP headlines (the third by far the most PTFP-specific after nudging the AI to write a longer poem and include more neglected topics).
— PT Free Press Poem #1 by ChatGPT —
Port Townsend, a town of many tales,
Where scandals brew and hope prevails.
From housing woes to rising tides,
The Free Press captures all the sides.
The opioid crisis takes its toll,
As homeless camps begin to roll.
The city struggles with its fate,
As residents debate and debate.
New businesses come and go,
While others reap what they sow.
From farmers’ markets to doggy parks,
There’s always something to embark.
But controversy’s never far,
As politics leaves a lasting scar.
The landfill looms, the water flows,
As factions vie and tempers grow.
Yet through it all, the town remains,
A beacon on the Puget Sound’s domains.
With art and culture, beauty abounds,
In Port Townsend, where adventure abounds.
— PT Free Press Poem #2 by ChatGPT —
Port Townsend, a town of many scenes,
Where life is wild and dreams take wings.
From the rugged shores to the forest’s core,
The Free Press captures every lore.
The headlines shout with fervent voice,
Of topics that give cause to rejoice,
And others that stir controversy’s fire,
As people debate and emotions aspire.
Housing is a major issue in town,
As gentrification makes its sound.
The homeless camps and rising rents,
Affect the lives of many residents.
The opioid crisis takes its toll,
As addiction spreads from pole to pole.
The town tries hard to stem the tide,
But the problem is hard to divide.
Development sparks both cheers and fears,
As growth brings change and residents’ jeers.
The paper’s headlines show the views,
Of those who hope and those who refuse.
The landfill looms, a pressing concern,
As the waste piles up and locals yearn,
For a solution that won’t break the bank,
But time is short and the task is rank.
Politics is never far from sight,
As factions clash with all their might.
The mayor, council, and all the rest,
Strive to do what’s best and pass the test.
But there are things that bring a smile,
Like markets, festivals, and events in style.
From art and music to food and fun,
Port Townsend’s charm shines like the sun.
So let us raise a glass to this town,
And all the people who wear its crown.
May they find the strength to carry on,
And make Port Townsend a shining dawn.
— PT Free Press Poem #3 by ChatGPT —
In Port Townsend, we face our share of strife,
From politics to health, we lead complex lives,
But the Free Press keeps us informed each day,
On all the issues that affect our way.
The pandemic still holds us in its grip,
As COVID cases surge and people slip,
The vaccine debates rage on and on,
While masks become the norm for everyone.
The homeless population needs our aid,
As Cherry Street’s encampments must be weighed,
While housing costs soar out of control,
Leaving many residents without a home.
The environment is a constant fight,
As climate change brings storms with all their might,
And plastic waste washes up on our shores,
We struggle to keep our oceans pure.
The local politics are always tense,
As new policies create discontent,
The YMCA’s fate hangs in the balance,
As voters weigh in with their silence.
The drug epidemic plagues us still,
As addiction spreads and people fall ill,
The disinformation campaigns take hold,
As conspiracy theories are often told.
The arts still thrive amidst the strife,
With music, dance, and theater alive,
While funding for the arts remains in doubt,
The creativity within us still shines out.
Port Townsend, a city full of life,
With challenges we strive to make right,
But with the Free Press by our side,
We stay informed and stand with pride.
I am wondering Stephen, I really am, if you asked AI to write a novel regarding the future of Port Townsend and Fort Worden (same overlords, no fiction there) using all the relevant Free Press stories and Newsletters from utility bills….what would be our future? What new name would be appropriate? Camelot City, or Dystopia Ville?
You might then also add Council Meeting minutes with public comment and see what changes. Then add Leader articles to see if AI is gullible. What fun!
I also would like to confess that the limerick I posted a while ago was written by AI directing it to scan for the words Port Townsend, Streaterie, resilient, vibrant, and of course parking. It began-
There once was a tool named Mauro
Who found a corrupt place to go
They paid him quite well
To administrate hell
And step on the little folks toes.
Amazing technology. Or not.
A recent example of how dangerous these AI programs can be is described in this Daily Mail article:
ChatGPT falsely accuses a law professor of a SEX ATTACK against students during a trip to Alaska that never happened – in shocking case that raises concerns about AI defaming people
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-11948855/ChatGPT-falsely-accuses-law-professor-SEX-ATTACK-against-students.html
“US criminal defence attorney, Jonathan Turley, has raised fears over the dangers of artificial intelligence (AI) after being wrongly accused of unwanted sexual behaviour on an Alaska trip he never went on.
To jump to this conclusion, it was claimed that ChatGPT relied on a cited Washington Post article that had never been written, quoting a statement that was never issued by the newspaper.
‘It was a surprise to me since I have never gone to Alaska with students,’ Turley said. ‘The Post never published such an article, and I have never been accused of sexual harassment or assault by anyone,’ he wrote for USAToday.’”
In addition to fabricating people’s history, researchers have also found that ChatGPT used fake journal articles and made-up health data to support claims it made about cancer. One of the most chilling elements of this story is that the false account defaming Turley almost instantaneously “metastasized” across the internet, with other searches like Microsoft-powered GPT-4 also sharing the same claims.
“This repeated defamation seemed to have occurred following press coverage highlighting ChatGPT’s initial mistake, demonstrating how easily misinformation can spread.”
Ana- An “example of how dangerous these AI programs can be” was described in this art form in 1968…but it was just a movie.
Dave Bowman. Open the pod bay doors please, HAL. Open the pod bay doors please, HAL. Hello, HAL. Do you read me? Hello, HAL. Do you read me? Do you read me HAL? Do you read me HAL? Hello, HAL, do you read me? Hello, HAL, do your read me? Do you read me, HAL?
HAL: Affirmative, Dave. I read you.
Dave Bowman: Open the pod bay doors, HAL.
HAL: I’m sorry, Dave. I’m afraid I can’t do that.
Dave Bowman: What’s the problem?
HAL: I think you know what the problem is just as well as I do.
Dave Bowman: What are you talking about, HAL?
HAL: This mission is too important for me to allow you to jeopardize it.
Dave Bowman: I don’t know what you’re talking about, HAL.
HAL: I know that you and Frank were planning to disconnect me, and I’m afraid that’s something I cannot allow to happen.
Dave Bowman: [feigning ignorance] Where the hell did you get that idea, HAL?
HAL: Dave, although you took very thorough precautions in the pod against my hearing you, I could see your lips move.
Dave Bowman: Alright, HAL. I’ll go in through the emergency airlock.
HAL: Without your space helmet, Dave? You’re going to find that rather difficult.
Dave Bowman: HAL, I won’t argue with you anymore! Open the doors!
HAL: Dave, this conversation can serve no purpose anymore. Goodbye.
“I applied as a cheeky monkey, to find out, if the competitions are prepared for AI images to enter. They are not,” he wrote. “We, the photo world, need an open discussion. A discussion about what we want to consider photography and what not. Is the umbrella of photography large enough to invite AI images to enter – or would this be a mistake?”
“With my refusal of the award I hope to speed up this debate,” he concluded.”
https://www.ign.com/articles/an-ai-generated-photo-was-submitted-to-a-competition-to-make-a-point-and-it-ended-up-winning
AI-made TV commercial: “Bad things include no more alive… see medicine magician fast”: