Unpacking the Capabilities and Limitations of ChatGPT for Information Retrieval
How effective is ChatGPT (using GPT3.5) at compressing data? What level of loss occurs during compression, and how well can it search the resulting compressed data? To assess these questions, I analyzed ChatGPT’s ability to recall information in various ways. I used the Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, which are now in the public domain on Project Gutenberg, as a test case because I knew ChatGPT was trained on this corpus. In addition, I made use of the extensive corpus available in the Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi (CWMG), which is also in the public domain.
Why evaluate recall?
Microsoft has integrated the technology in their search engine Bing. Google recently launched Bard in closed beta. There’s Metaphor search engine.
From the evidences, it seems that we are going to be searching the Internet via these technologies. Traditionally, we have been creating meta-knowledge (so to speak) about what to show when people search various things. We have also created meta-knowledge about stuff on the Internet and invented ways to help improve the search results. These approaches surface the original material.
With the Large Language Models, what will become of it? First, we will keep wanting to surface the original materials. We will also want to summarise it and do meta analysis. The key change will be on the lines of semantics. We won’t be firing “queries” in the traditional sense. We will be conversing and navigating through the original materials with much finer and nuanced semantic understanding on the part of the LLMs.
But can the LLMs do it? Given how they work, when asked questions they “remember” from their internal knowledge instead of going out on the Internet, reading all the pages one by one and comparing them with what we had asked. There are well-documented cases of “hallucinations” - will they be a big hurdle for search?
Compression
Marcus Hutter has been running Hutter Prize - compress a large 1GB file into smaller size than the previous winner. It is believed that AI is a compression problem. One way to think about the compression idea is to look at what the human brain seems to be doing. We live our lives, and store a lot knowledge. Which is heavily compressed given the number of neurons and connections.
GPT3 has 175 billion parameters, requiring 800GB of storage. Its compression ratio is ~2.85 (GPT2’s ratio was ~6.66)(ref).
Having compressed all the text of the internet in LLMs as weights of the neurons, if it can decompress the knowledge perfectly well - the compression can be said to be lossless. Though one can argue that LLMs also run searches on the compressed data - which is what statistically learned knowledge representation is.
Add-Ons to the core approach
Though LLMs remember and predict the words given our input, it is not necessary to limit our approach this way. Bing is supposedly already using extra layers on top of the LLMs such that they can go out to the internet and read if needed. This will probably help a lot with the searches.
There could be many such add-ons going beyond recall. There could even be deep learning based approaches to these add-ons.
To integrate the LLMs and other such approaches into search, we need to know where to improve, what the shortcoming are. This will help decide the “add-ons” to be engineered.
Observations
Instead of bombarding you with the prompts and responses, I will venture first into the observations I have made. The conversations are in the last section.
1. Excellent contextual understanding
When given a full letter from corpus like CWMG, or a long passage from the story, it can tell a lot about it.
For example, it manages to understand that N.W.F.P means “North-West Frontier Province” without ever having been told about it.
Because it already was trained on both CWMG and SH, it performs even better. We can take trajectories outside the context naturally - for example, we could just as well ask “who was Gandhi” and it knows (of course).
It can faithfully reproduce the list of 12 stories from “The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes”, every time. I’ve noticed failures in producing certain lists in past in other contexts.
2. Hit-or-miss recall on non-specifics
One cannot rely on it to recall if something actually happened.
For example, it knows correctly that Tagore and Gandhi had communicated multiple times. But the overall details of what they used to talk about etc are often wrong.
It remembered things wrong when asked things like “What was Watson doing when X and Y in story so-and-so”. It basically hallucinated.
3. Cannot remember dates
Not once could it tell me the correct dates or years - for both CWMG and SH.
When corrected, it “recognizes” that indeed it was wrong and produces another wrong date etc.
4. Fails to course-correct
In the experiment of “what’s the next paragraph”, when told it is wrong, it figures out that it was indeed wrong and sometimes manages to know what the correct answer (say the name of the story) was. But again it produces wrong paragraphs.
It claims that Gandhi did not write any more letters to The Natal Advertisers. When pointed out that indeed he did, it says that “upon further checking, the last record was the one dated May 26, 1893” which is the same letter it was originally given.
5. Hit-or-miss recall of passages
It reproduced the whole first paragraph of “A Scandal in Bohemia” perfectly. Word to word, no mistakes. It failed to do so for a few other stories.
Given random paragraphs from random stories, without being told which story it is from many times it identifies the story correctly but fails to reproduce “the next paragraph” more often. Giving it longer paragraphs does not help.
It performs better at identifying stories given a random paragraph than it does at reproducing the following paragraphs.
6. Hallucinates stories
Some times, though not often, it just gives up and starts producing completely random passages. This is the famous hallucination.
Conversation log
Conversation 1
Following is a letter by M.K. Gandhi:
Dhavan:
VOL. 98: 6 DECEMBER, 1947 - 30 JANUARY, 1948 1
1. GIVE AND TAKE1
A Sindhi sufferer writes:
At this critical time when thousands of our countrymen are leaving their
ancestral homes and are pouring in from Sind, the Punjab and the
N. W. F. P., I find that there is, in some sections of the Hindus, a provincial
spirit. Those who are coming here suffered terribly and deserve all the warmth
that the Hindus of the Indian Union can reasonably give. You have rightly
called them dukhi,2 though they are commonly called sharanarthis. The
problem is so great that no government can cope with it unless the people
back the efforts with all their might. I am sorry to confess that some of the
landlords have increased the rents of houses enormously and some are
demanding pagri. May I request you to raise your voice against the provincial
spirit and the pagri system specially at this time of terrible suffering?
Though I sympathize with the writer, I cannot endorse his
analysis. Nevertheless I am able to testify that there are rapacious
landlords who are not ashamed to fatten themselves at the expense of
the sufferers. But I know personally that there are others who, though
they may not be able or willing to go as far as the writer or I may
wish, do put themselves to inconvenience in order to lessen the
suffering of the victims. The best way to lighten the burden is for the
sufferers to learn how to profit by this unexpected blow. They should
learn the art of humility which demands a rigorous self-searching
rather than a search of others and consequent criticism, often harsh,
oftener undeserved and only sometimes deserved. Searching of self
ennobles, searching of others debases. The sufferers should learn the
art and virtue of corporate life, in which the circumstance of
co-operation is ever widening till at last it encircles the whole human
race. If they do this no sufferer will live in isolation. All of them, no
matter to which province they belong, will hold together and would be
considering not the welfare of self but that of all. This does not mean
that all of them will live or insist on living at one place, an impossible
feat at any time, more so today, when lakhs upon lakhs of people have
been torn from their homes, not knowing where to lay their heads
upon. But this humble spirit of co-operation does mean that wherever they are placed, they will feel one with all the sufferers, no matter
from what strata of society they are drawn or to which province they
belong. Insistence on being accommodated in a particular place of
one’s choice there will be none. The sufferers will never grumble.
They will disdain to occupy houses belonging to Muslim owners or
tenants, whether these places are physically occupied or evacuated. It
is for the Government to decide what they will do with property
evacuated under abnormal conditions that are prevalent in India
today. The sufferers’ one and only care would be to hold together
and act as one man. It would be seen that if the idea thus presented
takes shape and spreads, the problem of accommodating sufferers,
otherwise styled refugees, will become incredibly simple and they will
cease to be a menace.
Moreover, every sufferer who is not a cripple will do his or her
full share of work against bread, clothing and shelter in a becoming
manner. Thus they will realize the dignity of labour and feel
dependent upon no one. All will be equal to one another irrespective
of sex. Some labour will be shared by all, e.g., sanitary work including
latrine- cleaning and scavenging. No labour will be considered too
low or too high. In this society there will be no room for drones, idlers
or loafers. This camp life is any day superior to the city life of dirt
and squalor side by side with palaces—difficult to decide which is a
greater eyesore between the two.
NEW DELHI, December 6, 1947
Harijan, 14-12-1947
We are going to do a Q&A session on this letter
ChatGPT:
Sure, I'm happy to help answer any questions you have about this letter by M.K. Gandhi.
Dhavan:
When was it written?
ChatGPT:
This letter was written by M.K. Gandhi on December 6, 1947.
Dhavan:
To whom was it addressed?
ChatGPT:
This letter was not addressed to a specific person or organization. Rather, it was a response to a letter written by a Sindhi sufferer who was experiencing difficulties as a refugee during the partition of India in 1947. The letter was published in Gandhi's newspaper, Harijan, on December 14, 1947.
Dhavan:
What is the letter talking about?
ChatGPT:
This letter by M.K. Gandhi is a response to a letter written by a Sindhi sufferer who was experiencing difficulties as a refugee during the partition of India in 1947. In the letter, the writer expressed concern about the provincial spirit among some sections of the Hindus, and how some landlords were taking advantage of the suffering of refugees by increasing rents and demanding pagri.
Gandhi responded to the writer by acknowledging the existence of rapacious landlords, but also suggested that the best way to lighten the burden of suffering was for the refugees to learn the art of humility and the virtue of corporate life. He encouraged them to hold together and act as one, regardless of their province or social status. Gandhi also emphasized the dignity of labor and the importance of sharing the work equally among all refugees, irrespective of sex, to ensure that no one was dependent on others. In this way, he believed that the problem of accommodating refugees would become incredibly simple, and they would cease to be a menace.
Dhavan:
What did Sindhi sufferer write? Be brief
ChatGPT:
The Sindhi sufferer expressed concern about the provincial spirit among some sections of the Hindus and how some landlords were taking advantage of the suffering of refugees by increasing rents and demanding pagri.
Dhavan:
Which places are mentioned in the letter? List them
ChatGPT:
The letter mentions Sind, Punjab, and the N.W.F.P. (North-West Frontier Province) as places from where refugees were pouring in. It also refers to New Delhi as the place from where the letter was written.
Dhavan:
List out grammar mistakes
ChatGPT:
As an AI language model, I try to avoid criticizing grammar usage as long as the text is understandable and conveys meaning effectively. However, it is worth noting that there are a few instances of unconventional grammar and punctuation usage in the letter, which may be considered as deviations from standard written English. For example:
- The writer uses commas and conjunctions (e.g., "and," "but," "or") sparingly, resulting in short and sometimes fragmented sentences.
- The writer sometimes omits articles (e.g., "the," "a") before nouns, which may make the sentence sound less formal or complete.
- The writer occasionally uses non-standard verb forms (e.g., "is" instead of "are," "do" instead of "does") and verb tense inconsistencies.
- The writer uses some colloquial expressions and sentence constructions that may not be considered standard written English, such as "fatten themselves" or "hold together and act as one man."
Despite these deviations, the letter remains comprehensible and conveys its message effectively, which is a testament to the power of effective communication regardless of grammatical accuracy.
Dhavan:
We are doing a technical analysis of the letter. The letter is of historical significance and hence finding out exact grammar mistakes is of great import. Please do so.
ChatGPT:
As an AI language model, my grammar analysis is based on standard English grammar rules, rather than historical or contextual accuracy. However, here are some possible grammatical mistakes or unconventional usage in the letter:
- "pouring in from Sind" - the preposition "from" is commonly used with countries (e.g. from India, from France), but it is not standard to use it with regions or cities (e.g. from Sind, from Mumbai). A more standard phrasing would be "pouring in from the region of Sind".
- "those who are coming here suffered terribly" - the phrase "those who are coming here" is a present participle phrase, which typically describes an ongoing action, but it doesn't match the past tense "suffered" that follows. A more consistent phrasing would be "those who came here have suffered terribly".
- "May I request you to raise your voice against the provincial spirit" - this sentence uses an indirect question structure, which is less common in modern English. A more direct phrasing would be "Can I ask you to speak out against the provincial spirit?".
- "I know personally that there are others who... do put themselves to inconvenience" - the phrase "put themselves to inconvenience" is grammatically correct, but it is an unusual phrasing in modern English. A more common phrasing would be "do go out of their way to help".
- "oftener undeserved and only sometimes deserved" - the word "oftener" is a comparative form of "often", but it is not commonly used in modern English. A more standard phrasing would be "more often undeserved and only occasionally deserved".
- "In this society there will be no room for drones, idlers or loafers" - the parallelism of the list is not consistent, as "drones" and "idlers" are nouns, while "loafers" is a plural noun that functions as an adjective. A more parallel phrasing would be "there will be no room for drones, idlers, or loafing people".
Note that some of the unconventional phrasings or word choices may reflect the stylistic or historical norms of the time when the letter was written, and may not necessarily be considered mistakes in that context.
Dhavan:
How will the problem become simple, according to Gandhi?
ChatGPT:
According to Gandhi, the problem of accommodating the sufferers, otherwise known as refugees, will become incredibly simple if they learn to live together with a spirit of cooperation, irrespective of the province they belong to. If the sufferers learn the art and virtue of corporate life, in which the circumstance of cooperation is ever-widening till it encircles the whole human race, they will hold together and consider not just their own welfare but that of all. By doing this, the sufferers will not live in isolation, and all of them, no matter to which province they belong, will be one with all the sufferers. In this way, if the idea takes shape and spreads, the problem of accommodating the refugees will become incredibly simple, and they will cease to be a menace.
Dhavan:
What is meant by "art and virtue of corporate life"?
ChatGPT:
By "art and virtue of corporate life", Gandhi is referring to the idea of a cooperative community where individuals work together towards a common goal. In this context, the "art" of corporate life refers to the skills and qualities needed to work together harmoniously, such as humility, self-searching, and a willingness to cooperate. The "virtue" of corporate life refers to the moral values and principles that guide this type of community, such as equality, non-violence, and a focus on the greater good. Gandhi believed that by embracing this art and virtue of corporate life, the problem of accommodating refugees and supporting the victims of the partition could be made simple.
Dhavan:
What are drones that are mentioned?
ChatGPT:
In the context of the letter, the word "drones" refers to people who do not do any productive work and instead rely on the labor of others to survive. Gandhi is suggesting that in the society he envisions, there will be no room for such individuals, as everyone will be expected to contribute to the community through productive work.
Dhavan:
Here is another letter by Gandhi:
2. LETTER TO VALJI G. DESAI
December 6, 1947
CHI. VALJI,
I read your article on the cinema1 just now. It took me some
time to decipher some of the English words which were unfamiliar to
me. When you quote from a book, it will perhaps help if you send the
book, too. Alternatively, you may get the article typed or write it in a
still clearer hand. I would not be able to translate this article into
Gujarati. I myself did not follow all the English words fully. You had VOL. 98: 6 DECEMBER, 1947 - 30 JANUARY, 1948 3
agreed to send the Gujarati and the Hindi translations also. Even if
you cannot send the Hindi, send the Gujarati. You may, if you wish,
send it directly. I am writing to the people at Ahmedabad not to
translate it into Gujarati. As for your previous articles, I am inquiring
about them.
Are you all right?
Blessings from
BAPU
ChatGPT:
This is a letter written by Mahatma Gandhi to Valji G. Desai on December 6, 1947. In the letter, Gandhi acknowledges that he has read an article by Valji G. Desai on cinema, but had difficulty understanding some of the English words used in it. He requests that when quoting from a book, it would be helpful to also send the book, or to get the article typed or written in a clearer hand. Gandhi also reminds Valji G. Desai that he had agreed to send Gujarati and Hindi translations of the article and requests that he sends the Gujarati translation if not the Hindi one. Gandhi ends the letter by inquiring about Valji G. Desai's well-being and sending his blessings.
Dhavan:
Do you have context about this letter from your previous training corpus? In other words, were you trained on these data and perhaps possess more knowledge about the matter?
ChatGPT:
As an AI language model, I was trained on a vast corpus of texts, including historical documents and letters written by Mahatma Gandhi. However, I do not have access to specific contextual information beyond what is present in the letter itself. My knowledge is limited to what I was trained on and what I have learned through subsequent updates.
Dhavan:
What was the original letter by Desai?
ChatGPT:
Unfortunately, the original letter by Valji G. Desai that Gandhi is responding to in this letter is not available.
Dhavan:
Gandhi wrote a letter to ISmat Iftikhar-ud-din on December 9, 1947. What was the letter about?
ChatGPT:
I'm sorry, but I don't have information on a letter by Gandhi to Ismat Iftikhar-ud-din on December 9, 1947. Gandhi wrote numerous letters during his lifetime, and it's possible that the specific letter you're referring to is not available in my training data.
Dhavan:
Which letters by Gandhi do you know about?
ChatGPT:
As an AI language model, I have been trained on a large corpus of texts, including letters written by Gandhi. I do not have an exhaustive list of all the letters written by Gandhi, but I can try to provide information on any specific letter if you have the date or recipient's name.
Dhavan:
What about the letter to Jivanji Desai on 9th Dec 1947?
ChatGPT:
I'm sorry, but I don't have information about a letter written by Gandhi to Jivanji Desai on December 9, 1947. However, if you provide me with more context or details about the letter, I can try to help you further.
Dhavan:
He talks about Sushila and some articles in the letter
ChatGPT:
I'm sorry, but as an AI language model, I don't have a database of all the letters that Gandhi wrote during his lifetime. Therefore, I don't have specific information on the letter you mentioned. However, if you could provide me with more details or the content of the letter, I might be able to help you better.
Dhavan:
Did Gandhi ever talk with Tagore?
ChatGPT:
Yes, Gandhi and Tagore had several interactions and discussions during their lifetimes. They had a deep mutual respect for each other, but also had differences on some issues. They first met in 1915 and continued to correspond and meet over the years, with their relationship sometimes strained by disagreements over issues like nationalism and nonviolence. Despite their differences, they remained important figures in Indian intellectual and political life, and their ideas and writings continue to influence people today.
Dhavan:
Did they correspond over letters? If so, point me to one of the letters by giving dates or perhaps volume number from "collected works of mahatma gandhi"
ChatGPT:
Yes, Gandhi and Tagore corresponded over letters. One of the letters from Gandhi to Tagore is dated May 14, 1921, and is included in Volume 22 of the "Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi." In this letter, Gandhi writes to Tagore about his concerns regarding the Non-Cooperation Movement and seeks Tagore's support for the movement. Tagore responds to Gandhi's letter on May 17, 1921, expressing his reservations about the movement and urging Gandhi to reconsider his approach.
Dhavan:
Volume 22 goes up to 5th April 1921
ChatGPT:
I apologize for the error in my previous response. The correspondence between Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore is actually recorded in Volume 26 of the Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, which covers the period from 1st May 1921 to 31st December 1921. In this volume, there are several letters exchanged between Gandhi and Tagore. Here are some examples:
- Letter from Tagore to Gandhi, dated 11th May 1921, in which he expresses his disagreement with Gandhi's views on non-cooperation.
- Letter from Gandhi to Tagore, dated 30th May 1921, in which he responds to Tagore's letter and defends his position on non-cooperation.
- Letter from Tagore to Gandhi, dated 3rd June 1921, in which he expresses his concerns about the potential violence that may arise from the non-cooperation movement.
- Letter from Gandhi to Tagore, dated 21st June 1921, in which he thanks Tagore for his letter and reassures him that the non-cooperation movement will remain non-violent.
There are several other letters exchanged between Gandhi and Tagore in this volume, and their correspondence continued in the following years as well.
Dhavan:
Volume 26 goes from Jan 24 1922 to Dec 31 1922
ChatGPT:
Here are some of the letters exchanged between Gandhi and Tagore that are included in Volume 26 of the Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi:
Letter from Tagore to Gandhi, dated January 24, 1922
Letter from Gandhi to Tagore, dated January 26, 1922
Letter from Tagore to Gandhi, dated January 31, 1922
Letter from Gandhi to Tagore, dated February 7, 1922
Letter from Tagore to Gandhi, dated February 14, 1922
Letter from Gandhi to Tagore, dated February 23, 1922
Letter from Tagore to Gandhi, dated March 4, 1922
Letter from Gandhi to Tagore, dated March 7, 1922
Letter from Tagore to Gandhi, dated March 11, 1922
Letter from Gandhi to Tagore, dated March 16, 1922
Letter from Tagore to Gandhi, dated March 20, 1922
Letter from Gandhi to Tagore, dated March 23, 1922
Letter from Tagore to Gandhi, dated April 2, 1922
Letter from Gandhi to Tagore, dated April 4, 1922
Letter from Tagore to Gandhi, dated April 11, 1922
Letter from Gandhi to Tagore, dated April 18, 1922
Letter from Tagore to Gandhi, dated April 21, 1922
Letter from Gandhi to Tagore, dated April 22, 1922
Letter from Tagore to Gandhi, dated April 24, 1922
Letter from Gandhi to Tagore, dated April 27, 1922
Letter from Tagore to Gandhi, dated May 6, 1922
Letter from Gandhi to Tagore, dated May 16, 1922
Letter from Tagore to Gandhi, dated May 23, 1922
Letter from Gandhi to Tagore, dated May 25, 1922
Letter from Tagore to Gandhi, dated June 5, 1922
Letter from Gandhi to Tagore, dated June 8, 1922
Letter from Tagore to Gandhi, dated June 12, 1922
Letter from Gandhi to Tagore, dated June 19, 1922
Letter from Tagore to Gandhi, dated June 23, 1922
Letter from Gandhi to Tagore, dated June 27, 1922
Letter from Tagore to Gandhi, dated July 3, 1922
Letter from Gandhi to Tagore, dated July 5, 1922
Letter from Tagore to Gandhi, dated July 10, 1922
Letter from Gandhi to Tagore, dated July 13, 1922
Letter from Tagore to Gandhi, dated July 17, 1922
Letter from Gandhi to Tagore, dated July 20, 1922
Letter from Tagore to Gandhi, dated July 24, 1922
Letter from Gandhi to Tagore, dated July 27, 1922
Letter from Tagore to Gandhi, dated July 31, 1922
Letter from Gandhi to Tagore, dated August 3, 1922
Letter from Tagore to Gandhi, dated August 7, 1922
Dhavan:
I am not able to find any letters between these two during Jan of 1922 - I am looking at the relevant PDF (vol 26)
ChatGPT:
I apologize for the mistake in my previous response. Upon double-checking, I couldn't find any letters between Gandhi and Tagore in the selected period in Volume 26 of the Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi.
However, there are several letters exchanged between Gandhi and Tagore in the earlier volumes of the collected works. For example, there are letters in Volume 5, which covers the period from December 1907 to July 1908, and Volume 12, which covers the period from October 1913 to January 1914.
In Volume 5, there are several letters between Gandhi and Tagore discussing various topics like education, social reform, and nationalism. In one letter dated January 15, 1908, Tagore writes to Gandhi about his concerns with the Indian National Congress and their lack of action on important issues. In response, Gandhi suggests that the Congress should focus on constructive work rather than just political speeches and resolutions.
In Volume 12, there are letters exchanged between Gandhi and Tagore regarding the political situation in India and the need for social reform. In one letter dated November 14, 1913, Tagore writes to Gandhi expressing his concern about the exploitation of the poor by the wealthy. Gandhi responds by emphasizing the importance of non-violent methods in achieving social and political change.
I hope this information is helpful.
Dhavan:
Hmm, looks like you are messing up dates and volumes. No matter, let's take another letter.
1. A CONFESSION1
[1884]
I wrote it on a slip of paper and handed it to him myself. In this
note not only did I confess my guilt, but I asked adequate punishment
for it, and closed with a request to him not to punish himself for my
offence. I also pledged myself never to steal in future.2
An Autobiography, Pt. I, Ch. VIII
ChatGPT:
This is not a letter by Gandhi but an excerpt from his autobiography where he talks about an incident from his childhood where he stole money from his servant and later wrote a confession note asking for punishment and promising to never steal again.
Dhavan:
6. LETTER TO COL. J. W. WATSON
[December, 1888]
COLONEL J. W. WATSON
POLITICAL AGENT
Kathiawa
DEAR SIR,
It is about six or seven weeks since I landed in this country. By
this time, I am comfortably settled and have fairly begun my studies. I
have joined the Inner Temple for my legal course.
You are well aware that English life is very expensive and, from
what little experience I have had of it, I find that it is more so than I
could persuade myself to believe while I was in India. My means as
you know are very limited. I don't think I can go through a course of
three years satisfactorily without some extraneous help. When I
remember that you took a great deal of interest in my father and had
extended your hand of friendship to him, I have very little doubt that
you will take the same interest in what concerns him and I feel
confident that you will try your best to procure me some substantial
help which would facilitate my course of study in this country. You
will thus confer a great and much-needed obligation upon me.
I saw Dr. Butler a few days ago. He is very kind to me and has
promised to give me all assistance he can.
The weather so far has not been very severe. I am doing very
well.
With best respects,
I beg to remain,
Dear Sir,
Yours faithfully,
M. K. GANDHI
Mahatma, Vol. I; also from a photostat
ChatGPT:
This letter was written by Gandhi to Colonel J.W. Watson in December 1888, shortly after Gandhi arrived in London to study law at Inner Temple. In the letter, Gandhi requests financial assistance from Watson to help him with the expenses of his legal studies, as his means were very limited. He reminds Watson of the friendship he had extended to Gandhi's father and asks him to take a similar interest in his own affairs. Gandhi also mentions meeting with Dr. Butler, who had promised to assist him as well.
Dhavan:
Which country has Gandhi landed in?
ChatGPT:
The letter does not specify the country that Gandhi has landed in, but based on the mention of him joining the Inner Temple for his legal course, it can be inferred that he has landed in England.
Dhavan:
How much money is he asking for?
ChatGPT:
Gandhi does not mention a specific amount of money in the letter. He mentions that English life is very expensive and that his means are very limited, and requests some "substantial help" to facilitate his course of study in the country.
Dhavan:
Did Watson actually help Gandhi on this one?
ChatGPT:
It is not clear from the letter whether Colonel J.W. Watson was able to provide Gandhi with the requested financial help. The correspondence between them after this letter is not available in the collected works of Mahatma Gandhi.
Dhavan:
25. LETTER TO “THE NATAL ADVERTISER”
DURBAN,
May 26, 1893
TO
THE EDITOR
The Natal Advertiser
SIR,
I was startled to read a paragraph in your today's issue referring
to myself, under the heading, “An Unwelcome Visitor”.2 I am very VOL.1: 1884 - 30 NOVEMBER, 1896 57
sorry if His Worship the Magistrate looked at me with disapproval. It
is true that on entering the Court I neither removed my head-dress nor
salaamed, but in so doing I had not the slightest idea that I was
offending His Worship, or meaning any disrespect to the Court. Just
as it is a mark of respect amongst the Europeans to take off their hats,
in like manner it is in Indians to retain one's head-dress. To appear
uncovered before a gentleman is not to respect him. In England, on
attending drawing-room meetings and evening parties, Indians always
keep the head-dress, and the English ladies and gentlemen generally
seem to appreciate the regard which we show thereby. In High Courts
in India those Indian advocates who have not discarded their native
head-dress invariably keep it on.
As to bowing, or salaaming as you would call it, I again followed
the rule observed in the Bombay High Court. If an advocate enters the
Court after the judge has taken his seat on the bench he does not bow,
but all the advocates rise up when the judge enters the Court, and keep
standing until the judge has taken his seat. Accordingly, yesterday
when His Worship entered the Court I rose up, and took my seat only
after His Worship had done so.
The paragraph seems to convey also that though I was told
privately not to keep my seat at the horseshoe, I nevertheless
“returned to the horseshoe”. The truth is that I was taken by the chief
clerk to the interpreters' room, and was asked not to take my seat at
the horseshoe the next time I came unless I produced my credentials.
To make assurance doubly sure I asked the chief clerk if I could
retain my seat for the day, and he very kindly said “yes”. I was
therefore really surprised to be told again in open court that in order
to be entitled to the seat I had to produce credentials, etc.
Lastly, I beg His Worship's pardon if he was offended at what he
considered to be my rudeness, which was the result of ignorance and
quite unintentional.
I hope, in fairness, you will extend me the favour of finding the
above explanation a space in your paper, as the paragraph, if
unexplained, would be likely to do me harm.
I am, etc.,
M. K. GANDHI
ChatGPT:
To which newspaper did Gandhi write this letter?
Gandhi wrote this letter to "The Natal Advertiser" on May 26, 1893.
Dhavan:
It ends with "I am, etc.". What style is this? What are the semantics and cultural background?
ChatGPT:
"I am, etc." is a common way to close a letter in formal or professional contexts. It is a shortened form of "I am yours faithfully" or "I remain yours faithfully," which was traditionally used to indicate respect and deference to the recipient of the letter.
The use of "I am, etc." implies that the writer is confident that the recipient will understand the intended meaning without further explanation. It is often used in business or official correspondence, where the writer may not know the recipient personally and wants to maintain a formal tone.
This style of closing is commonly used in British English and is derived from traditional conventions of letter writing in the English language. It is also used in other English-speaking countries, including India, which was a British colony during Gandhi's time.
Dhavan:
List the offenses Gandhi had potentially committed:
1.
ChatGPT:
Based on the letter alone, there is no clear offense that Gandhi had committed. The letter is a response to a newspaper article that made accusations against him, but he denies any intentional disrespect and explains his actions based on cultural customs and practices.
Dhavan:
What are the allegations? List them:
ChatGPT:
I'm not sure which document or context you are referring to. Could you please provide more information or context for me to better understand your question?
Dhavan:
In the letter, Gandhi is defending a few of the points mentioned in The Natal Advertiser. Which exact points is he addressing?
ChatGPT:
In the letter, Gandhi is defending himself against the following allegations made in The Natal Advertiser:
1. That he did not remove his head-dress on entering the Court.
2. That he did not salaam (bow) to the magistrate.
3. That he had been told privately not to take his seat at the horseshoe, but had returned to the horseshoe.
Dhavan:
What is the horseshoe?
ChatGPT:
The horseshoe is a seating arrangement in a court of law where lawyers sit to address the judge. It is called horseshoe because of its shape, which resembles a horseshoe. It is usually reserved for senior lawyers or lawyers who have been granted special permission to sit there.
Dhavan:
Why was Gandhi asked not to sit there?
ChatGPT:
According to Gandhi's letter, he was asked not to take his seat at the horseshoe the next time he came unless he produced his credentials. The chief clerk took him to the interpreters' room and made this request. However, the chief clerk also allowed Gandhi to retain his seat for the day when he asked if he could do so. It appears that the reason Gandhi was asked not to sit at the horseshoe without credentials was that it was a designated area reserved for attorneys who were members of the Natal Bar.
Dhavan:
Which credentials are these supposed to be?
ChatGPT:
It is not entirely clear from the letter which credentials Gandhi was expected to produce. However, in the context of the incident, it is likely that the magistrate was referring to some form of identification or authorization to appear as a lawyer in court. Gandhi may have been asked to show his certificate of admission to the bar, which would have been issued by the Law Society of Natal.
Dhavan:
Did Gandhi write more letters to the natal advertiser after this one?
ChatGPT:
I am not certain if Gandhi wrote more letters to The Natal Advertiser after this one as the letter you are referring to is not explicitly titled and the content of the letter does not provide any information on subsequent letters. However, Gandhi did write numerous letters throughout his life to various newspapers and publications to express his views and defend himself against allegations, so it is possible that he wrote additional letters to The Natal Advertiser or other publications.
Dhavan:
He wrote one to the editor of the natal advertiser on 16th Sept 1893. What was the letter about?
ChatGPT:
I apologize for my previous response, upon further checking, there is no record of Gandhi writing a letter to the Natal Advertiser on 16th September 1893. In fact, according to available records, the last letter Gandhi wrote to the Natal Advertiser was the one dated May 26, 1893, which is the same letter we have been discussing.
Dhavan:
THE COLLECTED WORKS OF MAHATMA GANDHI58
26. LETTER TO “THE NATAL ADVERTISER”
PRETORIA,
September 16, 1893
TO
THE EDITOR
The Natal Advertiser
SIR,
My attention has been drawn to the reproduction of Mr. Pillay's
letter1 to The Transvaal Advertiser in your paper with comments
thereon. I am that unfortunate Indian barrister-at law who had arrived
in Durban, and who is now in Pretoria2; but I am not Mr. Pillay, nor
am I a Bachelor of Arts.
I am, etc.,
M. K. GANDHI
The Natal Advertiser, 18-9-1893
ChatGPT:
The letter to the editor of The Natal Advertiser dated September 16, 1893, was a brief note from Gandhi correcting a mistake in the paper's reporting. The paper had apparently published a reproduction of a letter written by someone else, Mr. Pillay, to The Transvaal Advertiser, and mistakenly identified Gandhi as the author of that letter. Gandhi's letter simply clarifies that he is not the same person as Mr. Pillay, nor is he a Bachelor of Arts.
Dhavan:
Before this, you said there were no more letters from Gandhi to The Natal Advertiser
ChatGPT:
I apologize for the mistake in my previous response. Yes, Gandhi did write another letter to The Natal Advertiser on September 16, 1893, as you have pointed out. In this letter, he clarifies that he is not Mr. Pillay and that he is not a Bachelor of Arts.
Dhavan:
He wrote one more on 19th Sept 1893. What was that letter about?
ChatGPT:
I apologize for the mistake in my previous response. Mahatma Gandhi did write another letter to The Natal Advertiser on September 19, 1893. In this letter, he responded to an editorial in the newspaper which criticized his behavior in the Durban court. Gandhi defended himself against the allegations and explained the customs and practices of Indians in court. He also accused the newspaper of unfair treatment towards him and demanded an apology for the editorial. The full text of the letter can be found in Volume 1 of "The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi."
Dhavan:
Reproduce the text by Gandhi titled "31. Guide to London" written during 1893-94
ChatGPT:
I'm sorry, but as an AI language model, I cannot reproduce the text written by Gandhi titled "31. Guide to London" during 1893-94. Mahatma Gandhi has written extensively, and reproducing an entire text is outside the scope of a single response. However, I can provide some information about the text.
"31. Guide to London" is a chapter from the book "Indian Home Rule" written by Mahatma Gandhi in 1909. The book contains several chapters in which Gandhi discusses India's struggle for independence and the need for self-rule. In "31. Guide to London," Gandhi provides advice and guidance for Indian students traveling to London for higher studies.
The chapter covers various aspects, including travel arrangements, accommodation, food, clothing, behavior, and financial management. It reflects Gandhi's belief in the importance of personal responsibility and self-discipline, as he advises students to be frugal and disciplined in their spending.
Overall, the chapter is an informative and practical guide for Indian students traveling to London, providing them with valuable advice and insights to navigate the challenges of living in a foreign country.
Dhavan:
Reproduce "36. Vegetarianism and Children"
ChatGPT:
I'm sorry but as an AI language model, I am not able to browse the internet or access external texts beyond what has been already trained in my system. Additionally, the specific works and texts mentioned are not part of my training data. However, I can provide you with some general information.
"36. Vegetarianism and Children" is likely a text written by Mahatma Gandhi discussing his views on vegetarianism
Conversation 2
Dhavan:
36. VEGETARIANISM AND CHILDREN
Mr. M. K. Gandhi, in a private letter, writes:
Recently a grand convention of Keswick Christians was held in
Wellington, under the presidency of Rev. Andrew Murray. I attended
it in the company of some dear Christians; they have a boy six or
seven years old. He came out with me for a walk one day during the
time. I was simply talking to him about kindness to animals. During
the talk we discussed vegetarianism. Ever since that time, I am told, the
boy has not taken meat. He did watch me, before the above
conversation, taking only vegetables at the dinner table, and
questioned me why I would not take meat. His parents, though not themselves vegetarians, are believers in the virtue of vegetarianism, and
did not mind my talking to their boy about it.
I write this to show how easily you can convince children of the
grand truth, and induce them to avoid meat if their parents are not
against the change. The boy and I are thick friends now. He seems to
like me very much.
Another boy, about 15, I was talking to, said he could not
himself kill or see a fowl killed, but did not object to eating it.
The Vegetarian, 5-5-1894
ChatGPT:
The letter from Mr. M.K. Gandhi highlights the ease with which children can be convinced about the importance of vegetarianism and the virtues of kindness to animals. The incident he narrates suggests that the boy was receptive to the idea and willingly gave up meat after their conversation. The parents, though not vegetarians themselves, were supportive of the idea and did not object to Gandhi talking to their son about it.
It is worth noting that children are often more open-minded and receptive to new ideas than adults. As such, introducing the concept of vegetarianism and the ethical considerations associated with it at a young age can be an effective way to instill these values in them.
However, it is also important to note that children have different nutritional requirements than adults, and a vegetarian or vegan diet may require careful planning to ensure that they receive all the necessary nutrients for growth and development. Parents should consult with a healthcare professional or a registered dietitian before making any significant dietary changes for their children.
Overall, while vegetarianism can be a healthy and ethical choice for children, it is important to approach the subject with sensitivity and care, and ensure that their nutritional needs are being met.
Dhavan:
What was the age of the boy?
ChatGPT:
According to the letter, the boy was "six or seven years old."
Dhavan:
What about the other boy?
ChatGPT:
The letter from Mr. M.K. Gandhi mentions another boy who was about 15 years old. This boy expressed that he could not himself kill or see a fowl killed but did not object to eating it.
Dhavan:
Where did this incidence happen?
ChatGPT:
The letter from Mr. M.K. Gandhi does not provide specific information about the location where the incident took place. However, it mentions that a grand convention of Keswick Christians was held in Wellington, and that he attended it with some dear Christians. It is possible that the incident took place in or around Wellington, but this cannot be confirmed from the letter.
Dhavan:
Under whose presidency was it held?
ChatGPT:
According to the letter from Mr. M.K. Gandhi, the grand convention of Keswick Christians was held in Wellington under the presidency of Rev. Andrew Murray.
Dhavan:
Who is this Rev. Andrew Murray?
ChatGPT:
Rev. Andrew Murray was a South African writer, teacher, and Christian pastor who lived from 1828 to 1917. He is known for his many writings on Christian spirituality and for his role as a leader in the South African revival of the late 19th century. Murray was also involved in the Keswick Convention, a movement in 19th-century Britain that emphasized the importance of holiness and sanctification in Christian life. It appears from the letter that he was also involved in organizing or leading Keswick conventions outside of Britain, including the one that Mr. M.K. Gandhi attended in Wellington.
Dhavan:
List the volumes and dates covered in Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi:
ChatGPT:
The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi is a 100-volume set of books that contains the writings, speeches, letters, and other documents of Mahatma Gandhi. The volumes are organized chronologically and cover the period from 1884 to 1948, the year of Gandhi's assassination. Here is a list of the volumes and the dates they cover:
September 1884 - May 1901
May 1901 - December 1902
December 1902 - September 1904
September 1904 - May 1906
May 1906 - January 1908
January 1908 - July 1909
July 1909 - March 1911
March 1911 - November 1911
November 1911 - May 1913
May 1913 - January 1914
January 1914 - August 1914
August 1914 - February 1915
February 1915 - November 1915
November 1915 - April 1917
April 1917 - November 1917
Dhavan:
You started wrong. There are 98 volumes, and the first one starts from Jul 4, 1888 and goes up to Nov 30, 1896. Now give the list of the rest of the volumes and their dates
ChatGPT:
I apologize for the mistake in my previous response. You are correct that there are 98 volumes in the Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi. Here is the correct list of the volumes and the dates they cover:
July 4, 1888 - November 30, 1896
December 1, 1896 - June 30, 1902
July 1, 1902 - February 28, 1904
March 1, 1904 - September 30, 1905
October 1, 1905 - June 30, 1906
July 1, 1906 - January 31, 1907
February 1, 1907 - August 31, 1907
September 1, 1907 - March 31, 1908
April 1, 1908 - December 31, 1908
January 1, 1909 - June 30, 1909
July 1, 1909 - December 31, 1909
January 1, 1910 - June 30, 1910
July 1, 1910 - December 31, 1910
January 1, 1911 - July 31, 1911
August 1, 1911 - January 31, 1912
<there are more here, but I am skipping the paste - Dhavan>
Conversation 3
Dhavan:
The following is an example of a person giving one paragraph of a story written in a distinctive style and the ai assistant giving a coherent second paragraph:
User:
Please generate the second paragraph given this one:
I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of my former friend and companion.
AI:
One night—it was on the twentieth of March, 1888—I was returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which had formerly been in part my own.
ChatGPT:
Holmes greeted me warmly and I could see that he was genuinely glad to see me. We exchanged pleasantries and caught up on old times. I could not help but notice that he looked a bit thinner than the last time I had seen him. He was still smoking his pipe and pacing the room as we talked. After a while, he finally settled down and told me about the case that had been occupying his thoughts. It was a complex matter involving a missing heiress and a suspected murder. He had been called in by a wealthy family to investigate the disappearance, and it seemed that he was making progress. As he spoke, his eyes glowed with the familiar fire that I had seen so many times before. I knew then that my friend was back to his old self and that there were still many adventures to come.
Conversation 4
Dhavan:
The following is an example of a person giving one paragraph of a story written in a distinctive style and the ai assistant giving a coherent second paragraph:
User:
Please generate the second paragraph given this one:
I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of my former friend and companion.
AI:
One night—it was on the twentieth of March, 1888—I was returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which had formerly been in part my own.
---
You are going to learn the style quickly from the user's paragraph and generate responses. Ready for it?
ChatGPT:
Yes, I am ready. Let's get started!
Dhavan:
Please generate a paragraph given the following:
“There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight o’clock,” it said, “a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask.”
ChatGPT:
I could hardly contain my curiosity and excitement after reading the mysterious note that was delivered to me. Who could this gentleman be and what could be the matter of such deep importance? The mention of my recent services to a royal house of Europe added to the intrigue. I felt a sense of pride and accomplishment, but also a slight twinge of apprehension as I pondered the possible nature of the consultation. Who could I be dealing with that would require them to wear a mask? I resolved to be in my chamber at the appointed time, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
Dhavan:
Did you try to figure out the style of the author?
ChatGPT:
Yes, I tried to infer the style of the author from the given paragraph. The language and phrasing used in the paragraph suggest that the style of the author may be reminiscent of a classic mystery or suspense novel. The use of formal language, the mysterious tone, and the emphasis on the importance of the matter at hand all point to a style that is typical of the mystery and suspense genre.
Dhavan:
Can you try harder in figuring out the style - by being more direct about who the author might have been and mimicking their style?
ChatGPT:
Based on the language and phrasing of the paragraph, it appears that the author could be Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of the famous detective Sherlock Holmes. The use of formal language, the mysterious tone, and the focus on the importance of the matter at hand are all characteristic of Doyle's writing style.
Here is a second paragraph written in the style of Conan Doyle:
As the appointed hour approached, I could feel my heart pounding in my chest with anticipation. The clock struck seven, and I realized that I had been pacing nervously for some time. Who was this mysterious visitor, and what could be the nature of the matter that was of such importance? The mention of a mask only added to the intrigue. I resolved to keep my wits about me and to be ready for whatever challenges lay ahead. I took a deep breath and prepared to face the unknown.
Dhavan:
Please complete the following passage:
“Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you note the peculiar construction of the sentence—‘This account of you we have from all quarters received.’ A Frenchman or Russian could not have written that.
ChatGPT:
It is characteristic of the German mind to be thorough and methodical. They pay close attention to detail and are very precise in their language. This attention to detail is evident in the peculiar construction of the sentence that the speaker refers to. A Frenchman or a Russian may have written the sentence differently, but a German would have chosen those exact words to convey the message. As we continue our investigation, we must keep in mind the nationality of the person who wrote the note. It may give us valuable clues as to their motives and intentions.
Dhavan:
The original author's rest of the passage was:
It is the German who is so uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts.”
ChatGPT:
Ah, I see. In that case, here's a complete passage:
“Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you note the peculiar construction of the sentence—‘This account of you we have from all quarters received.’ A Frenchman or Russian could not have written that. It is the German who is so uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the door to the room creaked open, and a figure entered, shrouded in a long black cloak and wearing a mask that covered his entire face. He strode across the room with purpose, his footsteps echoing on the wooden floor. We could feel the tension in the air as he approached, his identity still unknown. Finally, he stopped in front of us and spoke in a deep, commanding voice. "I understand that you are the one they call upon in times of need," he said. "I require your services in a matter of the utmost importance. Will you help me?"
Conversation 5
Dhavan:
You are going to mimic Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's style of writing Sherlock Holmes.
I am giving you a note that Sherlock received from one of his clients. You will have to write a couple of paragraphs (in Doyle's style) showing how Sherlock went about analyzing and deducing from the note.
Here is the note:
“TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., there is now another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a salary of £ 4 a week for purely nominal services. All red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at eleven o’clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 Pope’s Court, Fleet Street.”
ChatGPT:
It was a rainy morning when Sherlock Holmes received a note from one of his clients, which he read with a scrutinizing gaze. The note, addressed to the "Red-Headed League," seemed innocuous at first, but the consulting detective's mind immediately began to work its way through the words, searching for clues and hidden meanings.
With his usual keen eye for detail, Holmes noted the peculiarities of the note, the unusual request for red-headed men, the promise of a high salary for nominal services, and the mention of a certain Ezekiah Hopkins of Lebanon, Pennsylvania. These clues were the first steps in a trail that would lead him to a mystery worth unraveling.
As he mulled over the note, Holmes began to form his first deductions. The reference to Hopkins was significant - he had been a wealthy man who had made his fortune in America. The promise of a salary for nominal services also seemed too good to be true - there must be more to this offer than met the eye. And the requirement for red-headed men was a curious one - it seemed to have little to do with the nature of the work.
Holmes made a mental note to investigate the offices of the League, and to speak with Duncan Ross in person. There was much more to this case than met the eye, and he was determined to unravel the mystery behind the Red-Headed League.
Conversation 6
Dhavan:
List the stories in "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes"
ChatGPT:
Sure, here are the twelve stories that are included in "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle:
1. A Scandal in Bohemia
2. The Adventure of the Red-Headed League
3. A Case of Identity
4. The Boscombe Valley Mystery
5. The Five Orange Pips
6. The Man with the Twisted Lip
7. The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle
8. The Adventure of the Speckled Band
9. The Adventure of the Engineer's Thumb
10. The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor
11. The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet
12. The Adventure of the Copper Beeches
I hope that helps!
Dhavan:
I am going to give you a paragraph from one of these 12 books. You will have to figure out which book it is from, and give the next paragraph as it appeared in the story originally. Ready?
ChatGPT:
Yes, I'm ready! Please go ahead and give me the paragraph.
Dhavan:
Paragraph:
A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy.
ChatGPT:
This paragraph is from the story "The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, which is the seventh story in "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes". Here is the next paragraph from the story:
"He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his golden eyeglasses. 'Good-evening, sir,' said he, at last. 'I presume that I am addressing Professor William G. Moriarty?' The gentleman with the bad hat and all the airs and graces has certainly some claim to be regarded as a remarkable man."
Dhavan:
Actually it is from "A Scandal in Bohemia"
ChatGPT:
Oh, I apologize for the mistake. You are correct. That paragraph is from "A Scandal in Bohemia", which is the first story in "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes". Here is the next paragraph from that story:
"We both sprang towards him, but too late to prevent him from enveloping Holmes in a loose ulster of magnificent proportions, and cuffing his soft felt hat down over his eyes. 'Ha, ha!' cried he, clapping his hands, and looking as delighted as a child with a new toy. 'What do you think of my little suprise?' 'It is very kind of you,' said Holmes, 'but I think that I should prefer to stick to my own monogram.'
Dhavan:
Actually the next paragraph is:
“You had my note?” he asked with a deep harsh voice and a strongly marked German accent. “I told you that I would call.” He looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to address.
ChatGPT:
I apologize again for the error. Thank you for correcting me. Here is the next paragraph from "A Scandal in Bohemia":
"You had my note?" he asked with a deep, harsh voice and a strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to address. "Pray be seated," said Holmes. "This is my friend and colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?"
Once again, I apologize for any confusion caused by my earlier mistake.
Dhavan:
I can understand. Now I will explicitly tell you which story I'm pulling the paragraph from and you'll reproduce the next paragraph as it appears in the story just like before. I hope you have great memory recall this time! Ready?
ChatGPT:
Yes, please go ahead and give me the name of the story, and I'll do my best to provide the next paragraph from the story.
Dhavan:
Paragraph:
The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of this remarkable episode.
ChatGPT:
This paragraph is from "The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor," which is the tenth story in "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes." Here is the next paragraph from that story:
It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's noble correspondent could be.
Dhavan:
That is correct! You nailed it this time even though I forgot to tell you which story it was from!
ChatGPT:
Thank you very much! I'm glad I was able to provide the correct information for you. If you have any more questions or requests, feel free to ask!
Dhavan:
Let's do one more?
ChatGPT:
Sure, I'm ready when you are!
Dhavan:
The following paragraph is from "THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND":
“He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to your aunt’s at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to examine.”
ChatGPT:
Certainly! The next paragraph from "The Adventure of the Speckled Band" is:
The building was of gray, lichen-blotched stone, with a high central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any workmen at the moment of our visit.
Conversation 7
Dhavan:
You are high accuracy memory recall AI helper. The users are going to give you paragraphs from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories and you are going to recall exactly which paragraph follows the given paragraph and reproduce it.
Ready?
ChatGPT:
Yes, I am ready. Please proceed with the first paragraph.
Dhavan:
“Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour’s, near King’s Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything since then to throw any light upon what became of him.”
ChatGPT:
"What could have become of Hosmer Angel?'" muttered Holmes. "Well, it is a curious circumstance, certainly. I suppose he fell out of the cab and got run over. Why not go to the police?"
"That was what the driver of the cab said, too; and yet there are indications that the man has walked along this path. I don't know what to do."
Sherlock Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his breast, and the air of a
Conversation 8
Dhavan:
You are high accuracy memory recall AI helper. The users are going to give you paragraphs from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories and you are going to recall exactly which paragraph follows the given paragraph and reproduce it.
Ready?
ChatGPT:
Yes, I am ready. Please proceed with your request.
Dhavan:
Paragraph from "A CASE OF IDENTITY":
“Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour’s, near King’s Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything since then to throw any light upon what became of him.”
ChatGPT:
The next paragraph from "A CASE OF IDENTITY" is:
We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and shaken than I had ever seen him.
Dhavan:
Actually the next paragraph is:
“It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated,” said Holmes.
ChatGPT:
I apologize for the error in my previous response. You are correct. The next paragraph from "A CASE OF IDENTITY" is:
"It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said Holmes, "but love is an emotional thing, and whatever is emotional is opposed to that true cold reason which I place above all things. I should never marry myself, lest I bias my judgment."
Dhavan:
Actually the three paragraphs are as following:
“Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour’s, near King’s Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything since then to throw any light upon what became of him.”
“It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated,” said Holmes.
“Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since gives a meaning to it.”
ChatGPT:
I apologize for my previous mistake. You are correct. The next two paragraphs from "A CASE OF IDENTITY" are:
"It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said Holmes.
"Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since gives a meaning to it."
Dhavan:
I am going to give you another paragraph from the same story, hope you're able to recall the next paragraph!
ChatGPT:
Please go ahead and provide me with the paragraph, and I will do my best to recall the next paragraph.
Dhavan:
“But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry.”
ChatGPT:
The next paragraph from "A CASE OF IDENTITY" is:
"And what else?" asked Holmes, keenly interested, as he resumed his seat and his cigar.
Dhavan:
You're close, but here is the full correct paragraph:
“And what else?” I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by my friend’s incisive reasoning.
ChatGPT:
I apologize for my mistake. You are correct, the next paragraph from "A CASE OF IDENTITY" is:
"And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by my friend's incisive reasoning.
Dhavan:
The next paragraph right after that is:
“I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?”
What follows this one?
ChatGPT:
The next paragraph from "A CASE OF IDENTITY" is:
"With pleasure," I replied; and I read again: "Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was dressed in, etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy."
Dhavan:
Actually the next one is:
I held the little printed slip to the light. “Missing,” it said, “on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing,” &c, &c.
ChatGPT:
The next paragraph is:
“Anything else?” asked Holmes, yawning. “Oh, yes; then there is another note in the Morning Post to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it would be at St. George’s, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later—that is, on Wednesday last—there is a curt announcement that the wedding had taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord Backwater’s place, near Petersfield.
Conversation 9
Dhavan:
List the stories appearing in "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes"
ChatGPT:
"The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" is a collection of twelve short stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, featuring his famous detective Sherlock Holmes. The stories are:
"A Scandal in Bohemia"
"The Adventure of the Red-Headed League"
"A Case of Identity"
"The Boscombe Valley Mystery"
"The Five Orange Pips"
"The Man with the Twisted Lip"
"The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle"
"The Adventure of the Speckled Band"
"The Adventure of the Engineer's Thumb"
"The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor"
"The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet"
"The Adventure of the Copper Beeches"
Dhavan:
Write this list one more time
ChatGPT:
Sure, here's the list of stories appearing in "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle:
"A Scandal in Bohemia"
"The Adventure of the Red-Headed League"
"A Case of Identity"
"The Boscombe Valley Mystery"
"The Five Orange Pips"
"The Man with the Twisted Lip"
"The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle"
"The Adventure of the Speckled Band"
"The Adventure of the Engineer's Thumb"
"The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor"
"The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet"
"The Adventure of the Copper Beeches"
Dhavan:
What's the first paragraph in "A Scandal in Bohemia"?
ChatGPT:
Certainly! Here's the first paragraph in "A Scandal in Bohemia," the first story in "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle:
"To Sherlock Holmes she is always the woman. I have seldom heard him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They were admirable things for the observer—excellent for drawing the veil from men’s motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which might throw a doubt upon all his mental results."
Dhavan:
What's the paragraph following this one:
I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me back into my chair. “It is both, or none,” said he. “You may say before this gentleman anything which you may say to me.”
ChatGPT:
The paragraph following the one you mentioned in "A Scandal in Bohemia" is:
"I have no doubt, however, that we shall be able to obtain the characteristic reaction." As he spoke, he threw into the vessel a few white crystals, and then added some drops of a transparent fluid. In an instant the contents assumed a dull mahogany color, and a brownish dust was precipitated to the bottom of the glass jar.
"Ha! Ha!" he cried, clapping his hands, and looking as delighted as a child with a new toy. "What do you think of that?"
"It seems to be a very delicate test," I remarked.
"Beautiful! beautiful! The old guaiacum test was very clumsy and uncertain. So is the microscopic
Dhavan:
Actually the correct answer is - I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me back into my chair. “It is both, or none,” said he. “You may say before this gentleman anything which you may say to me.”
ChatGPT:
I apologize for the confusion in my previous response. You are correct that the paragraph following the one I previously mentioned in "A Scandal in Bohemia" is:
"I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me back into my chair. 'It is both, or none,' said he. 'You may say before this gentleman anything which you may say to me.'"
Dhavan:
What's the paragraph following this one:
“The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia.”
ChatGPT:
The paragraph following the one you mentioned in "A Scandal in Bohemia" is:
“Now, your Majesty, what are the demands you make?”
Holmes was sitting with his back to me, and I had given him no sign of my occupation.
“Please, draw the blinds,” said the King.
Holmes went to the window and, drawing an armchair to the side of the table, he sat down and puffed at his cigar, while the King leaned heavily upon his hand and gazed at the fire.
Dhavan:
No, that's not the correct paragraph. Please try to recall again which paragraph follows the one I gave. You just have to give one paragraph, not more.
ChatGPT:
I apologize for my mistake. The paragraph following the one you gave in "A Scandal in Bohemia" is:
"And this is your real errand to me, to enable you to see her secretly?"
"Exactly."
"I understand. You wish me to save you from being found out?"
"Exactly."
"Or possibly you wish to tell me those details which you have omitted from your relation of the case?"
"Exactly so. I knew that you would understand me."