Ask the Author: Manny Rayner
Answered Questions (193)
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
I am well aware that most academic guidelines say AIs should not be listed as co-authors, but I find the arguments unconvincing for high-end models like ChatGPT-5.2. It certainly seems to me that they often do everything a human co-author can. If an AI has performed more than 50% of the work on a paper (e.g. a large part of discussing ideas, implementing code, analysing data, writing text), then not crediting it as a co-author is highly misleading.
As far as taking legal responsibility goes: yes, for papers where the stakes are high enough that this is important (e.g. some kinds of medical research), this may change things. On the other hand, note that human academic quite often report careless or even fraudulent results in this kind of paper, and it's very rare that anyone gets sued.
As far as taking legal responsibility goes: yes, for papers where the stakes are high enough that this is important (e.g. some kinds of medical research), this may change things. On the other hand, note that human academic quite often report careless or even fraudulent results in this kind of paper, and it's very rare that anyone gets sued.
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.
Manny Rayner
Okay Nostradamus, now tell us what's going to happen during Trump's second term. Just how great will he make America, and why does he need Matt Gaetz and Tulsi Gabbard to help him do it?
Manny Rayner
The brief answer to that question is no.
Manny Rayner
Hi Muhammed,
I had trouble believing that Das doppelte Lottchen had not already been translated into Arabic, it is available in so many other languages! But I don't see it listed anywhere, so I guess you're right.
I don't have an English copy, I have only read it in German. But I would anyway not recommend translating through English. English translations of German and Scandinavian children's stories are usually quite poorly done, so you may lose something important. If you can, try getting together with a German native speaker who knows some Arabic and can advise you. With a little luck, you may find this person on Goodreads.
Good luck with your project, I'm sure many Arabic-speaking people would love to be able to read these books!
Manny
I had trouble believing that Das doppelte Lottchen had not already been translated into Arabic, it is available in so many other languages! But I don't see it listed anywhere, so I guess you're right.
I don't have an English copy, I have only read it in German. But I would anyway not recommend translating through English. English translations of German and Scandinavian children's stories are usually quite poorly done, so you may lose something important. If you can, try getting together with a German native speaker who knows some Arabic and can advise you. With a little luck, you may find this person on Goodreads.
Good luck with your project, I'm sure many Arabic-speaking people would love to be able to read these books!
Manny
Manny Rayner
Of course I'm afraid that people will be influenced by it. The book wouldn't be dangerous otherwise, would it?
Manny Rayner
Last time I got it tested, at age 10, it was apparently one of the highest in the area. But there were a lot of dumb kids in my primary school.
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