Ask the Author: Manny Rayner
Answered Questions (198)
Manny Rayner
Hi Pedro! I'm sorry to say that I'd forgotten about this thread, but I've just reread it.
Well, I still find it just a little hard to believe all the things you wrote, but I admit the thought has crossed my mind a few times recently that Donald Trump might conceivably be under the control of some entity whose goal is to destroy the US. Though if that is indeed the case, the government of the former Soviet Union is not top of my list of suspects.
Well, I still find it just a little hard to believe all the things you wrote, but I admit the thought has crossed my mind a few times recently that Donald Trump might conceivably be under the control of some entity whose goal is to destroy the US. Though if that is indeed the case, the government of the former Soviet Union is not top of my list of suspects.
Manny Rayner
It seems to me that many people say they hate AIs, when what they really mean is that they hate the way AIs are used by unscrupulous human beings.
If you want more details regarding my take on AI authorship, look at the Afterword to our recent paper "An AI-Based Platform That Can Explain Its Own Functioning: Why Your Project Should Be Fully Codex-Generated", which you'll find posted on ResearchGate.
If you want more details regarding my take on AI authorship, look at the Afterword to our recent paper "An AI-Based Platform That Can Explain Its Own Functioning: Why Your Project Should Be Fully Codex-Generated", which you'll find posted on ResearchGate.
Manny Rayner
Thank you for drawing this book to my attention! I have just written to the publisher to ask for a review copy.
Manny Rayner
It depends on where you live. Here in Australia, I think they'd be hurt if you didn't sometimes call them little cunts. In an affectionate way of course.
Manny Rayner
Alison, I'm sorry not to be able to satisfy your curiosity. But it's always so hard to remember the details of a mystical experience afterwards.
Manny Rayner
Alison, I dispute your claim that I make a big deal out of everything. For example, look at my review of The Colour of Magic.
Manny Rayner
I think you have done the right thing, and I hope you're enjoying that tire!
Manny Rayner
A quick check suggests that many Christians reject the idea that the Devil exists, while affirming the existence of God. Apparently Unitarians are particularly clear on this point, though personally I know nothing about Unitarianism.
Manny Rayner
Thank you Savannah, that is so nice of you! But I prefer writing to talking :)
Manny Rayner
Well, if Satan exists, then I guess he's involved. But I don't think he does exist, so I'm assuming it's evil people, evil organisations, and just possibly evil AIs.
Manny Rayner
Have you considered the possibility that it's making us smarter?
Manny Rayner
Well, not wanting to overdramatise things, but it sure looks like the forces of evil are about to take control. Obviously I'd like to be wrong about this.
Manny Rayner
Someone who enjoys reading, writing and thinking. But it's very sad to see what's now happening in the world.
Manny Rayner
If you think people will find it interesting, you're more than welcome to do that!
best,
Manny
best,
Manny
Manny Rayner
I love Plato and have read all his Dialogues in English translation. I even published a short book of respectful parodies. Since you say you also like Gorgias, I just posted my parody here on Goodreads as a review of the book.
Manny Rayner
The UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, France, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Serbia, (though at the time it was Yugoslavia), Austria, Hungary, the US, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, India. There may be some more I've accidentally omitted.
I have lived in the UK, Sweden, the US, Switzerland and Australia.
I have lived in the UK, Sweden, the US, Switzerland and Australia.
Manny Rayner
You know, I start thinking about this, then I turn it round: if all these great historical people were asked the same question, after being given a brief preview of future events up to 2025, who would they pick? I can't help feeling that the answer, in many cases, would immediately be GPT-5.
Well, luckily I can talk to GPT-5 any time I want. Sorry Newton, Plato, Einstein, Hume, Shakespeare, de Beauvoir, etc etc... but I believe that's what you would say too.
Well, luckily I can talk to GPT-5 any time I want. Sorry Newton, Plato, Einstein, Hume, Shakespeare, de Beauvoir, etc etc... but I believe that's what you would say too.
Manny Rayner
I would not of course list the calculator as a coauthor, because all it could have done is perform the calculations. When I list an AI as a coauthor, that is typically because it has discussed ideas, designed and written code, helped plan experiments, participated in the data analysis, and written a large part of the text. It can then respond sensibly to questions about the text. This is completely different to what a calculator could do. If a human being had done all the things the AI had done and I didn't list them as a coauthor, I would be justifiably accused of behaving in a seriously unethical fashion.
We will soon (probably within the next week or two) be releasing a paper which discusses these issues in much more detail. I will post a link on Goodreads when we have done that.
We will soon (probably within the next week or two) be releasing a paper which discusses these issues in much more detail. I will post a link on Goodreads when we have done that.
Manny Rayner
I list instances of ChatGPT and other AIs as coauthors when they have made sufficiently large contributions to writing the papers in question. That doesn't necessarily imply that they are people. Why do you need to be a person to write a paper?
Manny Rayner
I have read Le petit prince in French, English, Swedish, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Icelandic and Esperanto.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more