A bit OT, but I met John Brunner once, years ago (I used to hang out with
some of the SF crowd...)
J^n
On Tuesday, June 10, 2025 at 3:23:48 PM UTC+1 Edward K. Ream wrote:
> Here <https://gemini.google.com/gem/ba2fb3843c39/1f68d964dc8b42ea>is my
> first real conversation with an AI. I am astounded by its capabilities.
>
> Note how gemini gently corrects some poorly-worded questions. It also
> ignores without comment my saying "information" instead of the intended
> "misinformation". I doubt any human could answer my questions as cogently
> and completely.
>
> *An important trick*
>
> I used a hidden technique in this conversation: asking "What would it take
> to accomplish an objective?" This technique comes from the
> Hugo-Award-Winning SciFi novel Stand on Zanzibar
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stand_on_Zanzibar>.
>
> I read this novel decades ago. For me, the pivotal moment comes when the
> protagonist "unfreezes" Shalmanizar, an almost all-powerful supercomputer.
> As I vaguely remember, the computer starts rejecting inputs about Beninia,
> a (fictional?) region in Africa. The solution is starts with this dialog:
>
> QQQ
> Evaluate this, then: Postulate that the data given you about Beninia are
> true.
> Cue: what would be necessary to reconcile them with everything else you
> know?
> QQQ
>
> After lengthy computation, Shalmanizar replies that it needs to accept the
> possibility of an unknown factor influencing the Beninians' actions.
>
> The protagonist then instructs the computer to accept this unknown factor
> as fact. "I tell you three times" :-)
>
> *Summary*
>
> You will see this (tactical? strategic?) trick in various places in my
> dialog. The most important use of this trick is this question:
>
> What would it take to convince Pushmeet Kohli to use Gemini to improve
> public policy?
>
> I then followed up the answer with additional questions, the first being:
>
> "So, would combating misinformation have (in your words), "Clear and
> Measurable Impact on Complex Societal Challenges"?
>
> I like this approach. It lets the AI do the arguing for me. What do you
> think?
>
> Edward
>
> P.S. I asked gemini to "polish" this letter. I despise the results. What
> you are hearing in this email is *my* voice, not some way-too-suave
> imitation.
>
> EKR
>
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