Transcript of Bitesize Ep 058 - Transcript

Charlie:
Hello. Welcome to the British English podcast, the show that helps you a non-native language learner, English language learner, to better understand British English and British culture. But you know, if you are not a non-native, feel free to stay. That's fine. That's fine by me. I'm not kicking you out. But just know that this show is for non-natives to better understand the language and culture of people in the UK. I'm from England so it is a little bit biased towards England. I will be working on that and inviting lots of people from all over the United Kingdom. But yes, it is somewhat very biased. Anyway, with that said, today I wanted to go on a little bit of a exploration with you, um, because chatgpt the AI language model that everyone seems to be talking about has finally really caught my attention. It's amazing. It's unbelievable. It's like, um, you know, the best thing since sliced bread. That's an idiom that you might already know, but it means, yeah, it's the best thing since a very good thing because sliced bread. That's a very good thing, isn't it? You don't want to be trying to eat a loaf. Eating a loaf. That would be tricky. I guess you could tear it. I was imagining you'd be biting. I mean, that's probably why baguettes are a thing, aren't they? I'm going off on a tangent already, so Chatgpt is becoming all the rage. I mean, all of the nerds knew about this way before, but it's really, you know, getting quite exciting online and AI is becoming, you know, the main thing for every website or platform etcetera. So I wanted to play around with it and I wanted to see if my job is going to be redundant tomorrow. I suspect it's not, but I would like to prove to myself because yeah, it's a bit scary. It's something that is definitely, you know, going to create a shift in the focus of many professions. It already has, I think. A lot of people are already looking at this like, Oh my God, my job might not be that useful anymore because this AI can do it for me. So I want to check if I am worthy of existing still. So we're going to play around with it and we're going to create a podcast script for yeah, a dialogue of two people and see if it is a) accurate with the language, b) convincing, I guess, and c) entertaining. Let's go with that and then I might actually create my own. Yeah, I'll create my own to compare. So we'll ask Chatgpt to write out a script. I'll read it out for you. I'll even act it out. How about that? And then I'll go away, write my own, act it out again, and you can be the judge to see if I am worthy of a show still and a microphone in front of my face. Um. Yeah. I obviously hope that I am. But, um, I'm interested to just be able to sleep at night because, yeah, it's a bit scary, isn't it? I do encourage you to use Chatgpt though, and I will be creating some products that will help you enhance your learning through this platform because it's yeah, unbelievable. It's, it's fantastic. And for language learners. Oh blimey. Very good. Yes. If you didn't know, by the way, what is chatgpt? I should cover that. I kind of briefly said what it was, but people are using this to get generated language for anything you can generate. Yeah. Responses for pretty much anything at the moment, text-based. In fact, I could ask it right now. I'll just ask how would you define yourself? Okay. And now it's typing out. It's quite funny. It uses like a typing graphic and it makes you think that it's talking to you a little bit more like it's thinking and it is thinking, I guess, but it doesn't have awareness or emotion. Let's remember that. Okay. *In a robotic voice* As an AI language model, I am a sophisticated software program developed by OpenAI. I am. *Return to Charlie's own voice* I can't do that. That's terrible. Sorry about that. We'll pretend that I'm still it, but it's not going to be annoying. I am designed to understand and generate human-like text based on the input I receive. My primary function is to assist users in answering questions, providing information, and engaging in conversation on various topics. It goes on and on and on. I'm going to shorten it because you can do that. It's really good at summarising. So shorten your answer, please. Okay. Okay. Yeah. Nice. As an AI language model, I'm a software program designed to generate human-like text based on user input. I assist with answering questions and providing information but lack self-awareness or emotions. Since I'm not a living being. There we go. Yeah, it doesn't have emotions. All right. So what we're going to do is we're going to input a couple of characters and I was actually thinking about introducing it to a hero of mine. You know, they say you should never meet your heroes. Um. Because. Well, why do they? I guess because you think of them as amazing, right? You know, if it's a TV personality or an actor, you see them through the camera that is firstly worth quite a few thousand dollars. It's got they've got lighting, they've got sound, they've got writers, they've got cameramen to angle everything so it's favourable for them. They've got so much support around them. They've got costume to make them look as amazing as possible. And then of course your assumption is that they will look amazing in real life or they will be that amazing person. They will be really charming. They will be, you know, everything that you like about them on stage. And then you meet them and they're maybe even rude to you. I remember I met Hugh Grant once. I served him coffee. Admittedly, it was cold coffee. Um, so he should have been annoyed, but he was very annoyed. He was very annoyed. So yeah, they say you should never meet your heroes. But what if.. What if Chatgpt imitates my hero? How about that? So I'm going to ask Chatgpt to encourage a dialogue between myself and... I'm not my hero. Myself and Alan Partridge. Alan Partridge. So if you don't know, Alan Partridge is the protagonist, the main person behind the show called I'm Alan Partridge. It's a comedy sitcom, which means it's a funny show about situational things. So it's taking the piss. It's joking around the idea of an average life and this person and how they interact in an average real world. So yes this character Alan Partridge I have probably laughed more times through this person, this character than any other character. Obviously, it's, you know, not everyone's favourite comedy, but I love it so I'm going to see if Chatgpt can let me meet him in the virtual world. So I've written 'act as a comedy dialogue script writer. You are creating a scene where Alan Partridge meets with an ESL teacher for a pint of beer in the pub. Their conversation lasts for five minutes. Now create the script.' Okay. Wow. Amazing. Right, so the title: 'A Pint with Partridge and the ESL teacher.' Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Fair. Setting: a cosy British pub. Alan Partridge, also known as AP in this dialogue efficient, very efficient robot, enters the pub, spots E.T, also known as ESL teacher, at the bar and approaches with his usual mix of enthusiasm and awkwardness. That's accurate? That's really accurate. Alan Partridge does have a mix of enthusiasm and awkwardness. All right, now I've got to do my Partridge voice.

Charlie as Alan Partridge:
*In Partridge voice* 'Oh, the elusive ESL teacher. I've heard you're.. You're quite the expert in teaching English. Alan Partridge, radio and television presenter extraordinaire. Mind if I join you?'

Charlie:
Not at all. Not at all. Mr. Partridge. Have a seat.

Charlie as Alan Partridge:
I'll have a pint of the finest ale you have. Bartender. So tell me, what's it like teaching English to people from all around the world? Must be quite fascinating, actually.

Charlie:
Well, it's... Yeah, it's always interesting and rewarding. I meet people from diverse backgrounds and help them communicate effectively in English. Yeah, it's a.. It's a fulfilling job.

Charlie as Alan Partridge:
Ah. Communication. Now that that's something I excel at. In fact, you could say I'm a bit of an expert myself, you know, with my background in radio and television. So I don't suppose you've got any tips on how I could further polish my already stellar language skills, eh?

Charlie:
Well, Mr. Partridge, even native speakers can always improve their language skills. Reading widely, engaging in conversation with people from different walks of life and perhaps even learning a new language yourself, can help you gain a deeper understanding of English.

Charlie as Alan Partridge:
A new language. I've always fancied learning a bit of Spanish, you know. Hola mi llamo Alan. That's about as far as I've gotten really. Do you think that's enough to get by on holiday?

Charlie:
It's a.. It's a start, but you might want to learn a bit more before you go. Basic phrases and everyday vocabulary can be very helpful when travelling.

Charlie as Alan Partridge:
I see. Well, I'm always up for a challenge. So tell me, have you... Have you ever taught any famous people or worked in any exotic locations?

Charlie:
I'm afraid I can't actually disclose any of my students' identities, but I've taught English in a few different countries, and every place has its own unique charm and challenges.

Charlie as Alan Partridge:
Quite right. Quite right. Yes. Well, if you ever need any help with teaching conversational skills or, you know, need a guest speaker, just give me a shout. I'm always happy to share my expertise.

Charlie:
Oh, I appreciate the offer, Mr Partridge. Cheers.

Charlie as Alan Partridge:
Cheers.

Charlie:
Okay. There we go. Um. I mean, for an AI, that's... yeah, really good, I think. I don't know what you think, but it's pretty impressive. It's definitely understood who Alan Partridge is, and it's pulled from the data that it has on Alan Partridge to know how he should, you know, be as a personality. The tone that the script encourages. And yeah, it generally identifies as that character. Um, the script is a bit flat. It doesn't really have much of a story to it. They just meet. But yeah, let's see what I can do to make myself feel worthy of existing. So I'm going to write something for both Alan Partridge meeting me, an ESL teacher, and see how we fare, and then I'll read it out and try to improve on my Alan Partridge voice. It's not the best, but it's, you know, at least hopefully you can identify who is speaking when.

Charlie as Bartender:
How can I help you, darling?

Charlie as Alan Partridge:
Oh, hi there. I was just wondering, am I in the right place? Because I'm meant to be meeting a lady friend.

Charlie as Bartender:
Well, if you said meet at the Canal Street Pub, then I guess you just got to sit tight and wait for her.

Charlie as Alan Partridge:
Right? Yeah. It's just.. your signage, I noticed outside. It's.. it's missing the 'C' on 'Canal' and the 'S' on the word 'street'. I guess I'm just concerned I'm meeting her at a whore house. You're not, are you?

Charlie as Bartender:
Oh, those vandals. We only put a new one up last week and all. But don't worry. You're not in a whore house, darling. Is he hey, Charlie?

Charlie:
Huh? Sorry, I was listening to something. Say that again.

Charlie as Bartender:
I said you're not a whore, are you?

Charlie:
No. No. Well, last time I checked, I wasn't. Oh, my God. Are you the Alan Partridge?

Charlie as Alan Partridge:
Oh, put it there. Call me AP. Two BBC shows, one web series, and two seasons of an audio program behind a paywall. That's me.

Charlie:
You don't need to tell me your Wikipedia history. I'm a huge fan. So what brings you in here then? Thought you preferred BP garages with a mini-mart.

Charlie as Alan Partridge:
That's a good one. I'm meeting a potential date, actually. Would you believe it? Thank you very much.

Charlie as Bartender:
Can I get you anything while you wait, hun?

Charlie as Alan Partridge:
I'll have your finest lager, please, Uh, mixed with a gin and tonic and a measure of Baileys Irish cream and a dash of lime cordial, please.

Charlie:
Still into your ladyboys, I see.

Charlie as Alan Partridge:
Excuse me. You've been collecting my cookies. Oh, right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. The drink. I get it. *Slurps drink* Oh, I've only gone and spilt Baileys on my bloody zipper. That won't fly, will it? Gotta try stand-up. So, uh, what do you do then?

Charlie:
Me?

Charlie as Alan Partridge:
Yes. I'm looking at you. Come on. Knowing me, Alan Partridge. Knowing you..

Charlie:
Charlie Baxter.

Charlie as Alan Partridge:
Aha? Aha. What you got for me, Charlie?

Charlie:
Oh, okay. Well, um, I'm an English teacher to non-native adult learners of English who have an intermediate to advanced level of fluency. Um, I've just got back from more or less ten years of living outside of the UK, but, um, it's actually quite confusing for me being back because, um, *Alan begins snoring as Charlie's voice fades away* being an expat was very much an identity of mine that I...

Charlie as Sonja:
Alan, is that you?

Charlie as Alan Partridge:
I'm not an anal treat.

Charlie as Sonja:
Pardon? Were you asleep at the bar?

Charlie as Alan Partridge:
Oh. What time is it?

Charlie as Sonja:
It's 5 to 6.

Charlie as Alan Partridge:
How long have I been waiting for you?

Charlie as Sonja:
Well, we said meet at six. You didn't forget to put your clocks back last Sunday, did you, Alan?

Charlie as Alan Partridge:
Oh, cockpits, Partridge. I've done it again. You know, I've done that every single year of my life. They say you live and you learn but to be honest, I think you just live and you, um you, uh... I've forgotten what I was going to say. Mrs Bartender, where did that random man go that I was in conversation with earlier?

Charlie as Bartender:
What? Charlie? Oh, he left when you fell asleep whilst he was telling you about himself.

Charlie as Alan Partridge:
Right. Did he look upset that I nodded off?

Charlie as Bartender:
A little bit and he was muttering to himself. Said something about how you should never meet your own heroes.

Charlie as Alan Partridge:
Oh what you're going to do? Sonja, come here. Let's be appalling.

Charlie:
Now, I don't know your preference of the AI story over the human-made one, but I prefer my one, not only because it was way more satisfying to create my own piece of writing and thus connect with my job and feel passionate about making it, but I believe I was able to bring my own jokes into the scene, like the pub name, and I was able to reference everyday things that have happened recently, include a lot more Alan Partridge-style lines, and I think there was a little bit of a plot. Another thing I noticed was how things seem to just come to me when writing because I definitely hadn't planned it all, but things seemed to fall into place nicely when I was in that state of flow and when using chat GPT, you're not allowed obviously to go into that state because it's creating for you. So it would be a great shame if Chat GPT was to replace writers. So no groundbreaking discovery here, but I'm happy to announce that while I am amazed by the capabilities of this AI, I don't think it will replace humans tomorrow. It did take 30 more minutes to write mine as opposed to the AI doing it instantly. But you know, when these new things come in, I think it's always smart to embrace them and not fear them. So I'll be using this technology to enhance my work, but I won't be letting it replace me and I won't let it scare me because it's a tool that we can all use. And if we learn how to use it right, then we all just get more efficient together. I hope you feel the same way as me. Either way, I'd love to hear your thoughts. To share them, you can comment in the discussion section over on my site and you can tell me your thoughts about Chat GPT and the future of AI. That's all from me today. Thank you so much for listening to the end of this episode. I've been your host, Charlie Baxter, and I'll see you next time on the British English podcast.