S’amuser avec ChatGPT : Écrire une histoire sur des extraterrestres qui aident la communauté aveugle

Preface

For the past few months, seemingly everyone has been talking about ChatGPT, and large language models in general. We at Pneuma Solutions are certainly watching this space with interest, especially now that GPT-4 can take images as input; we’ve already submitted a request to the wait list for API access to GPT-4. But this post is about something that I did with GPT-4, via ChatGPT Plus, just for fun.

Background

Last weekend, a post on Mastodon sparked my interest in using ChatGPT to write fiction. You can check out my own first experiment in this area, using GPT-3.5 via the free ChatGPT, in one of the replies. The model produced a good sketch of a story, and I was impressed at the inferences it made about what would be involved in an AI learning to communicate with dogs. Up until this point, I had been skeptical about large language models, but now I was curious to learn more about what they could do.

During a series of ChatGPT sessions late at night while I should have been sleeping, I arrived at the idea of writing a story about aliens coming to Earth and interacting with the blind community. I had ChatGPT write a few stories about aliens giving sight to a blind person and dealing with the various reactions that would come out of that, but the story I’ll present here takes a different direction, albeit still one that was arguably just as idealistic and implausible. But it was fun, and the session shows us both the limitations and the promise of this cutting-edge large language model.

Before we begin, I should note that when it comes to writing fiction, I’m decidedly a dilettante. I’m a nerd, and a software developer by occupation, not a writer. The last time I recall writing a complete short story was in high school, and from what I recall, that story was decidedly cringe-worthy. (And no, I don’t still have a copy of it.) But maybe that’s why I’m more comfortable exploring the use of a large language model to write fiction rather than code. It doesn’t get too close to my own work. Still, I know a few things about writing fiction, and I’ve read some science fiction; both of these things will inform my commentary below.

Without further ado, here is how I interacted with GPT-4 via ChatGPT Plus to write a story. I’ll provide commentary after each exchange.

Prompt

First scene in a screenplay: benevolent aliens come to Earth and offer assistance to humans at the United Nations

Output

Title: Celestial Aid

INT. UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY HALL – DAY

The United Nations General Assembly Hall is filled with diplomats, world leaders, and the press. They all chatter anxiously, awaiting the arrival of the ALIEN DELEGATION.

A large holographic screen on stage displays a 10-second countdown. The audience’s excitement builds as the countdown nears zero.

INT. ALIEN SPACESHIP – CONTINUOUS

Inside the spaceship, the ALIEN AMBASSADOR, a tall and wise-looking being with iridescent skin and gentle eyes, speaks to its advisors in a melodic, harmonic language. They nod in agreement, and the Alien Ambassador taps a button on its wrist device.

EXT. UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY HALL – CONTINUOUS

As the countdown reaches zero, the spaceship slowly descends and lands gently on the lawn outside the hall. The spaceship’s doors open, and the ALIEN DELEGATION exits the craft, walking towards the entrance.

INT. UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY HALL – CONTINUOUS

The Alien Delegation enters the hall, and the room goes silent. The ALIEN AMBASSADOR approaches the podium, and with the help of a voice-translating device, speaks in perfect English.

ALIEN AMBASSADOR
Greetings, esteemed leaders and representatives of Earth. We come in peace and offer our assistance to your kind.

The audience is captivated, hanging on the Alien Ambassador’s every word.

ALIEN AMBASSADOR (CONT’D)
Our people have been observing your planet for centuries. We have seen your progress and achievements, as well as the challenges you face. We believe that by working together, we can help you overcome these challenges and create a better future for all.

A murmur of excitement ripples through the crowd. The UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL, an older woman with a strong presence, stands up to address the Alien Ambassador.

UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL
We welcome you, Ambassador, and your people to our planet. We appreciate your offer of assistance and look forward to working together in the spirit of peace and cooperation.

The Alien Ambassador nods in agreement, as the screen behind them displays images of advanced technologies, renewable energy, and thriving ecosystems.

INT. UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY HALL – LATER

The Alien Delegation and world leaders discuss collaboration, sharing ideas, and forging partnerships. The atmosphere is filled with hope and optimism.

FADE OUT.

Commentary

First, why did I ask for a screenplay? I would have preferred prose, as in a novel or short story. But in previous sessions, I had learned that asking for a screenplay was a way of coaxing the model to produce more dialogue. As it is, GPT-4’s output in this opening is disappointing. In what will become a recurring problem, it violates a cardinal rule of fiction writing, namely « show, don’t tell. » It’s doing a lot of telling here, with only a little concrete dialogue. The results in this area will be mixed throughout the session. I could have requested a rewrite, and I did in earlier sessions, but at this point I just wanted to move forward quickly.

As for the rest of my prompt, it certainly establishes the idealistic flavor of the story, which GPT-4 will maintain throughout. Perhaps having aliens come to the UN is a science fiction cliché, but it was a way of taking the story where I wanted it to go. What I regret most about this prompt is that I didn’t instruct GPT-4 to give our alien species a name. This becomes especially awkward toward the end of the story, when the aliens are back on their home planet (also unnamed). No real science-fiction author would have made this mistake, and I certainly won’t if I attempt another story like this one. But in my defense, at times I wanted to leave things unspecified to see how creative GPT-4 would be. So the result in this case is a bit disappointing.

We also don’t learn anything significant about what makes our aliens alien. What kind of body do they have? How many eyes and limbs? GPT-4 vaguely describes the language in this scene. Presumably, though, the language has more or less human-like consonants and vowels in addition to the melodies and harmonies, since a few of the aliens are given human-like names in later scenes. As for « harmonies », maybe the aliens have two mouths, like the Forhilnor species in Robert J. Sawyer’s novel Calculating God. Who knows? The details of their language never come up again. They conveniently use perfect machine translation, allowing flowing conversations with humans throughout the story. These aliens also use human-like gestures from the start, so add another point to the implausibility score.

Still, for all its flaws, I was satisfied with this opening. I really only intended it to be a brief prologue. The story is about to take a sharp turn anyway.

Prompt

Next scene: one of the aliens, who should be given a name, encounters a blind person, who should also be given a name, in the UN building. Mention the kind of work the blind person does. The alien is surprised to meet a human who is born blind.

Output

INT. UNITED NATIONS BUILDING – HALLWAY – DAY

ALIEN DELEGATE LUMARA, a youthful and inquisitive member of the delegation, explores the United Nations building. They round a corner and bump into HENRY, a blind man in his 40s with a white cane, who works as a linguistic analyst for the United Nations.

LUMARA
(alarmed)
Oh, I’m sorry! I didn’t see you there.

HENRY
(smiling)
No problem. I didn’t see you either. I’m Henry, by the way.

LUMARA
Greetings, Henry. I am Lumara. I must say, you are the first human I’ve encountered who is unable to see.

HENRY
Yes, I was born blind. I’ve learned to navigate the world in different ways. I work here as a linguistic analyst, helping with translations and interpretations. It’s fascinating work, and I love being able to contribute to global communication.

Lumara is intrigued and touches their wrist device, which projects a holographic image of the human brain and optic nerve.

LUMARA
(looking at the hologram)
I see. Our species has the ability to heal certain types of blindness, but we have not encountered a human born blind before. May I ask what caused your blindness?

HENRY
I have a condition called Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis. It’s a rare genetic disorder that affects the retina, causing severe vision loss from birth.

Lumara looks at the hologram thoughtfully, studying the information and then glances back at Henry.

LUMARA
Thank you for sharing that, Henry. We might not have a solution now, but with our collaboration, who knows what we could achieve together in the future? We have learned so much from your kind already.

HENRY
(nodding)
That’s what it’s all about, right? Different beings coming together, learning from each other, and helping one another. I’m looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish together.

They exchange warm smiles and shake hands, their encounter signifying the beginning of a deep connection and understanding between their two species.

FADE OUT.

Commentary

I don’t know if the « Next scene » prefix is truly necessary. Perhaps GPT-4 would have implied it from context. But, as we don’t really know how astute these large language models can really be, I decided to leave no doubt that I wanted the next scene rather than, say, a modification of the first scene. So, while it might be annoyingly repetitive to someone reading this transcript, I repeat that prefix throughout.

I had discovered in earlier sessions that GPT-3.5, at least, would sometimes leave characters unnamed. In this meeting of our two main characters, I wanted to make sure that didn’t happen, hence the awkward asides. Similarly, in a precursor story with GPT-3.5, the model initially didn’t specify what kind of work the blind person did, so I specified that as well.

I’m aware that there are, in fact, multiple UN buildings. But during this session, playing with ChatGPT late at night, I just wanted to bring my nerdy fantasy to life, without being overly concerned about such details. Yes, that will be a recurring theme.

Why would the alien be surprised to meet a human born blind? I never dig into this in the story. Maybe the aliens never had congenital blindness as a condition. Maybe they did, but eliminated it, through early treatment or even some form of eugenics. I certainly didn’t want to pursue the latter subject here, but the intelligent Neanderthals in Robert J. Sawyer’s Neanderthal Parallax series were certainly an influence; I had even played with that world in an earlier session that same night. Anyway, it seems plausible that, since congenital blindness is uncommon, the aliens had simply never encountered a human born blind while studying Earth from afar (presumably through our mass media). So I wanted to see what kind of first meeting GPT-4 would imagine.

About that first meeting, I’m not sure what to make of Henry’s first line, and Lumara’s immediate deduction that Henry didn’t just fail to see Lumara in the moment but is unable to see. Given what is commonly known about large language models, I realize that GPT-4 didn’t have a thought process as we understand it, and if I had asked it to articulate what I was thinking, it would have fabricated a plausible-sounding thought process on the spot. So instead I’ll speculate about what thought process might lead to this sequence. Maybe Henry, in his first line, is responding to the accident with humor, possibly on the assumption that his blindness would be obvious to whoever he’s talking to. As for Lumara’s deductive leap, I suppose it was obvious that Henry couldn’t see at all, since a sighted human presumably couldn’t have failed to miss the presence of an alien.

This brings up a problem with this scene that, to be honest, didn’t occur to me until I was writing this commentary. Henry doesn’t react the least bit surprised at meeting an alien, or star-struck at meeting a member of the presumably world-famous alien delegation. We don’t even know at what point it becomes apparent to Henry that he’s talking to an alien. When Lumara speaks for the first time, what does Henry hear? Does he hear the alien language followed by a machine translation, or do the aliens have some way of not having to speak audibly? Is the machine translation indistinguishable from a human voice, or is there something distinctive about it? It seems plausible to me that Henry wouldn’t have made the startling realization until Lumara’s second line, at which point there should have been some reaction. But of course, that would have been a distraction from what I had instructed GPT-4 to do in this scene. So maybe it was just following my instructions, and this is another of my mistakes as an inexperienced fiction writer.

I’m glad GPT-4 described Lumara as youthful and inquisitive. I suppose the inquisitiveness is implicit; after all, the alien lingers on a chance encounter with a blind person (though GPT-4 doesn’t know how much I’ll focus on this until the next prompt) rather than just apologizing and going about their business. But I think spelling it out makes the rest of the story a bit more plausible.

What’s a linguistic analyst? The nature of this job remains vague throughout the story, and as I said, I wasn’t overly concerned about such pesky real-world details. If I had been, I might have asked GPT-4 to rewrite the scene but simply call him a linguist. But I decided to just roll with it. I was glad that GPT-4 didn’t take the completely stereotypical option of having him work in accessibility or advocacy, but went with something a little more off the beaten path that, at least on the surface, is plausible for a blind person working at the UN. However, I know just enough about linguistics (not much at all) to realize that some aspects of that field pose challenges for accessibility, and that knowledge led to a crucial turning point in the story. So GPT-4’s input here, as handwavy as it is, nudged me to take the story in a different direction than I probably would have taken otherwise.

A quick Wikipedia check on Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis shows that Henry’s description of it, as imagined by GPT-4, is correct, though GPT-4’s capitalization isn’t typical.

GPT-4 has Lumara go straight to the possibility of healing certain types of blindness. (Full credit to GPT-4 for not simply saying « heal blindness ».) That’s not surprising, especially considering that Lumara is youthful and inquisitive. Recall though that I didn’t prompt GPT-4 to take that specific direction in this scene. Anyway, the rest of the dialogue is suitably ambiguous about whether their collaboration will lead to giving him sight, or something else.

On reflection, Henry’s responses throughout this scene are milder than we might expect. He was interrupted while going about his business, and on top of that, now he’s being asked about his blindness for what must feel like the hundred-thousandth time. But he stops everything to give a friendly, informative response. Of course, I didn’t instruct GPT-4 to have him do otherwise. So stack up another implausibility; this one’s on me.

Finally, note that not only does our alien use human-like gestures, but the awkwardness of exchanging « warm smiles and handshakes » between an alien and a blind human doesn’t come up. This is a recurring problem in this story. I just allowed it to go by.

Prompt

Next scene: Lumara tells the other aliens about the conversation with Henry.

Output

INT. ALIEN SPACESHIP – COMMON AREA – DAY

The Alien Delegation has gathered in the common area of their spaceship, discussing their experiences at the United Nations building. Lumara, excited to share their encounter, addresses the group.

LUMARA
(fascinated)
I met a human named Henry today. He was born blind due to a genetic condition, which intrigued me. I didn’t expect to encounter a human with such a condition.

ALIEN ADVISOR ZARIA, a wise and experienced delegate, listens intently and poses a question.

ZARIA
Interesting. How does Henry navigate his world without sight?

LUMARA
(smiling)
He has developed other senses and skills to compensate for his lack of vision. He works as a linguistic analyst, helping with translations and interpretations for the United Nations.

The other aliens nod in admiration.

ALIEN SCIENTIST ROLON, a tall and slender being with a keen intellect, speaks up.

ROLON
This could be a valuable learning opportunity for us. Humans possess a remarkable ability to adapt and thrive despite their limitations. We should study their adaptive strategies and the underlying biology to enhance our understanding of resilience.

ZARIA
(agrees)
Indeed, Rolon. Our alliance with humans should be a two-way street, where we learn from each other’s strengths and find ways to support each other’s growth.

The Alien Delegation murmurs in agreement, acknowledging the importance of understanding and respecting the diversity of life on Earth.

FADE OUT.

Commentary

At this point it’s clear that Lumara’s chance encounter with Henry is the true beginning of the story. If it seems implausible that, after coming to Earth and offering the kind of assistance sketched in the first scene, the aliens would change their focus like this, hold that thought. That implausibility didn’t escape me even at the time. But as I said, I was exploring a fantasy scenario anyway.

The closing paragraph in this scene is another example of GPT-4 telling rather than showing. There will be more paragraphs like this one throughout the story.

I like where GPT-4 takes this, especially with the response from the alien scientist Rolon. The aliens decide to learn from blind humans, not just cure them. But then I complicate things in the next scene.

Prompt

Next scene: In a meeting of aliens and humans, one of the aliens raises the possibility of curing blind people like Henry, and a human explains that some blind people are opposed to such a cure.

Output

INT. UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY HALL – DAY

A JOINT MEETING between the Alien Delegation and human representatives is in progress. They sit around a large conference table, discussing various projects and ideas. Lumara raises the topic of curing blindness in humans like Henry.

LUMARA
We have been exploring the possibility of finding a cure for blindness in humans like our friend, Henry. Our scientists believe that with further research, we could potentially restore vision to those affected by certain conditions.

DR. EMILY NOLAN, a leading human geneticist and expert on congenital blindness, takes the floor.

DR. NOLAN
While the prospect of curing blindness is exciting and could improve the lives of many, it’s essential to consider the feelings of the blind community. Some individuals may not view their blindness as something that needs to be « cured » or « fixed. »

The Alien Delegation listens intently, trying to understand this perspective.

DR. NOLAN (CONT’D)
Blindness is an integral part of some people’s identity, and they’ve developed unique skills and abilities as a result. They’ve built their lives and communities around their shared experiences, and some may not wish to change that.

ZARIA
We appreciate your insight, Dr. Nolan. It’s important to respect the wishes and autonomy of the individuals affected. We will ensure that any advancements we make in this area will be optional and consider the diverse perspectives of the blind community.

The human representatives nod in agreement, grateful for the Alien Delegation’s understanding and sensitivity to the matter.

FADE OUT.

Commentary

Note that I’m the one that introduces the word « cure » in this session. I’m aware of the problems with this word. But it’s plausible that our aliens wouldn’t be.

But my prompt was sloppy in another way. I know that it makes no sense to talk about curing blindness generically. Blindness is caused by a variety of conditions, which have to be treated separately. My prompt is ambiguous on this point; the reference to « blind people like Henry » could be talking specifically about blind people that have Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis. I don’t remember now if I had that in mind when writing the prompt. Regardless, GPT-4 has one of the aliens talk about « certain conditions », though the word « restore » in that line is also a problem for people born blind like Henry.

I didn’t specify which alien brought up the subject. It makes sense, though, that Lumara, the youthful (thanks GPT-4) and hence possibly over-zealous delegate, would do it.

I believe the setting of this scene is off. I know that the UN General Assembly hall is where full meetings of the General Assembly take place. What we want here is really a conference room. Again, I allowed that to slide by. Later scenes get this detail right.

It struck me as more plausible that a sociologist would speak up here rather than a geneticist. Then again, maybe Dr. Nolan, being an expert on congenital blindness as GPT-4 describes, has worked on a treatment for some cause of blindness, and as a result has learned why some blind people don’t want to be cured.

I noticed that it was GPT-4 that introduced the phrase « the blind community » in this session, here in this scene. I guess it shouldn’t be surprising that GPT-4 knows the concept of « the blind community », but wanted to call it out anyway.

Prompt

Next scene: Lumara observes Henry using a computer via a screen reader, then asks him what he thinks about a cure. He’s concerned about all that he would have to relearn and how it would alienate him from his blind friends and the blind community.

Output

INT. UNITED NATIONS BUILDING – HENRY’S OFFICE – DAY

Lumara visits Henry in his office. They find Henry using a computer with a screen reader, efficiently navigating through documents and emails with the help of audio feedback.

LUMARA
(curious)
Henry, I see that you’ve adapted well to using technology without sight. It’s remarkable.

HENRY
(smiling)
Thank you, Lumara. It took time and practice, but now it’s second nature to me.

Lumara hesitates for a moment before asking Henry about his thoughts on a potential cure for blindness.

LUMARA
We discussed the possibility of curing blindness in our joint meeting earlier. I wanted to know your perspective. What do you think about it?

Henry pauses, considering the question carefully.

HENRY
(sighs)
Well, Lumara, it’s a complex issue for me. On one hand, gaining sight would open up a whole new world. But on the other hand, I would have to relearn everything I’ve mastered in my life. I’ve built my career, my friendships, and my identity around my blindness.

Lumara nods, listening intently.

HENRY (CONT’D)
I’m also concerned about how it would affect my relationships with my blind friends and the blind community. We’ve formed strong bonds based on our shared experiences. I worry that gaining sight could alienate me from the very people I’ve grown so close to.

Lumara understands Henry’s concerns and appreciates his honesty.

LUMARA
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Henry. It’s important for us to understand the complexities and emotions surrounding this issue. We’ll make sure to consider all perspectives when making decisions about potential cures.

HENRY
(smiling)
I appreciate that, Lumara. It means a lot to know that you’re considering our feelings and experiences in your efforts to help humanity.

The mutual respect and understanding between Lumara and Henry deepens, representing a crucial step forward in the collaboration between their two species.

FADE OUT.

Commentary

The bit about Lumara observing Henry using a screen reader turns out to be a throw-away detail, though I did have Henry talk a bit about the limitations of a screen reader in a later scene. I think I put it in there just because I figured it would be too abrupt to have Lumara go straight to talking about a cure. But then, maybe adding this part made it even more abrupt. Logically, as Lumara watches Henry being productive at his work, they might come to understand that blindness really isn’t something to be fixed. But I wasn’t done exploring the cure angle yet, though I didn’t quite know where I was going with it in this session; I didn’t have an ending in mind from the beginning, as a good fiction writer would.

I was arguably sloppy again in this prompt when talking about a cure. Note that in the dialogue, GPT-4 has Lumara talk about « curing blindness » generically. Then again, maybe I was just being terse, finding out how much GPT-4 could infer without me spelling everything out.

It occurs to me that Henry’s internal response to Lumara saying « it’s remarkable » wouldn’t be « thank you », but more like, « oh please, not this again. » So, as in the first meeting, Henry is implausibly patient. To my blind readers, I’ll have to beg your forgiveness for letting this go by; GPT-4 may not know better, but I do.

I’m not sure what to make of Lumara’s hesitation in this scene, which I didn’t prompt. Again, we know that GPT-4 doesn’t have a thought process as we understand it. But is it having Lumara hesitate because that’s what would probably happen when approaching a sensitive subject? Or is it because of the change in focus in my prompt, after the throw-away detail of observing Henry using a screen reader?

Full credit to GPT-4 for having Henry talk about gaining sight, not regaining it. But the line, « I’ve built my career, my friendships, and my identity around my blindness, » is problematic. To me, building his career around his blindness would have meant working in a field like accessibility or advocacy, which isn’t what GPT-4 imagined in the scene where he’s introduced. So while his response is plausible for what I instructed GPT-4 to do in this prompt, it doesn’t take the full story into account. We’ll see that, even with GPT-4, long-term memory (even for a short story like this one) continues to be a weakness.

Prompt

Summarize the story so far.

Output

Title: Celestial Aid

The story begins with the arrival of a benevolent Alien Delegation at the United Nations General Assembly Hall. They offer assistance to humanity, and the leaders of the world are optimistic about the potential collaboration.

One of the aliens, Lumara, meets a blind man named Henry who works as a linguistic analyst for the United Nations. Lumara is intrigued by Henry’s condition and the way he has adapted to his blindness. Lumara shares the encounter with the other aliens, and they discuss the value of learning from the adaptive strategies of humans.

In a joint meeting between the Alien Delegation and human representatives, Lumara raises the possibility of curing blindness in people like Henry. Dr. Emily Nolan, a human geneticist, explains that some blind people may not view their condition as something that needs to be « cured » or « fixed » and that it is important to respect the wishes and autonomy of the individuals affected.

Lumara later observes Henry using a computer with a screen reader and asks for his perspective on the potential cure for blindness. Henry shares his concerns about having to relearn everything he has mastered and the potential alienation from his blind friends and the blind community. Lumara appreciates his honesty and assures him that all perspectives will be considered when making decisions about potential cures.

The story highlights the importance of understanding and respecting the diversity of life on Earth, as well as the mutual respect and collaboration between the Alien Delegation and humanity.

Commentary

I was aware that large language models don’t have reliable long-term memory even within a single session. I had even seen the ffects of this in earlier sessions with GPT-3.5 via the free ChatGPT. So I decided to reinforce GPT-4’s memory by prompting it to write a summary so far. I guess I also just wanted to find out how good a summary it would write. And this is a good summary, though the misguided concept of a generic cure for blindness does come up again.

Prompt

Next scene in the screenplay: Henry discusses the possible cure with a sighted colleague, who points out that being able to see would eliminate some challenges that Henry currently faces as a linguistic analyst. Henry says he’ll have to think about it.

Output

INT. UNITED NATIONS BUILDING – CAFETERIA – DAY

Henry sits at a table in the bustling cafeteria, having lunch with his sighted colleague, LAURA, a fellow linguistic analyst. They chat about the potential cure for blindness that the Alien Delegation is researching.

LAURA
You know, Henry, I understand your concerns about the cure, but I can’t help but think about how it could improve certain aspects of your life, especially in our field.

HENRY
(raising an eyebrow)
How so?

LAURA
Well, as a linguistic analyst, being able to see would allow you to work with visual languages and scripts more easily. It could open up new opportunities for you in your career.

Henry ponders Laura’s words, acknowledging the potential benefits.

HENRY
You have a point, Laura. Gaining sight could eliminate some challenges and expand my capabilities in our field. But it’s still a lot to process, and I need to weigh the pros and cons carefully.

LAURA
(nodding)
Of course, Henry. It’s a life-changing decision, and it’s important to take your time and consider all aspects of it. Just know that whatever you decide, we’ll be here to support you.

Henry smiles, appreciating Laura’s understanding and support.

HENRY
Thank you, Laura. It means a lot to know I have friends like you who will be there for me, no matter what I decide.

As they continue their lunch, the conversation serves as a reminder of the importance of support and understanding among friends and colleagues, regardless of the choices one faces.

FADE OUT.

Commentary

I screwed up on this prompt. Henry wouldn’t need Laura to point out that gaining sight would eliminate some challenges in his job; he’d already know that all too well. And if she pointed it out anyway, he’d respond, perhaps with exasperation, that he already knows this. So, another implausibility on my part. The nature of the job of « linguistic analyst » also remains vague. And again we have the generic cure for blindness, which the aliens are apparently actually working on now. I take responsibility for that one, since I wrote « the possible cure » in the prompt. Thankfully, the story is about to take a different direction. GPT-4 did a decent job with this input.

Prompt

Next scene: Henry discusses Laura’s point with Lumara. He explains that the root problem is that screen readers and similar tools don’t give him direct access to the shapes that his sighted peers see, but to alternative representations such as speech or braille. He wonders if the alien’s technology could be used to develop a tactile display that goes beyond what’s possible with human technology. Lumara promises to discuss this with the delegation.

Output

INT. UNITED NATIONS BUILDING – HENRY’S OFFICE – DAY

Henry and Lumara sit in Henry’s office, discussing the potential cure for blindness and the conversation Henry had with his sighted colleague, Laura.

HENRY
Laura made an interesting point. As a linguistic analyst, gaining sight could help me work more efficiently with visual languages and scripts. However, I wonder if there’s another solution that would allow me to maintain my identity as a blind person while enhancing my capabilities.

Lumara listens attentively, intrigued by Henry’s suggestion.

HENRY (CONT’D)
The root problem is that screen readers and similar tools don’t give me direct access to the shapes that my sighted peers see, but rather alternative representations like speech or braille. I wonder if your technology could be used to develop a more advanced tactile display, something beyond what’s possible with human technology.

Lumara considers Henry’s idea thoughtfully.

LUMARA
That’s a fascinating suggestion, Henry. It could potentially enhance your capabilities while respecting your identity and connection to the blind community. I’ll bring this idea to our delegation and explore the possibilities.

HENRY
(smiling)
Thank you, Lumara. I appreciate your willingness to consider alternative solutions that respect our individual needs and wishes.

As Lumara leaves Henry’s office, the conversation represents another step towards a more nuanced understanding of the diverse needs and desires of different communities on Earth and a commitment to finding innovative solutions.

FADE OUT.

Commentary

This is a turning point in this story, in more ways than one. Not only does this scene set the focus for the rest of the story, but this prompt is also the point where I started a second revision of this story. In the first revision of my prompt for this scene, the tactile display was Lumara’s idea. But even as I was stacking up implausibilities, I wasn’t satisfied with that; I decided that the solution needed to be the blind person’s idea.

Of course, tactile graphics are already a thing, and I shouldn’t neglect to acknowledge the work that has already been done in this area by pioneering products such as the Optacon, and later companies such as ViewPlus. I admit, though, that this is an area that I don’t know much about, as tactile graphics displays and embossers aren’t as widely available as text-to-speech or even Braille displays. Still, in retrospect, it seems likely that Henry would be using the existing tactile graphics technology, possibly even including a vintage Optacon, and I should have taken that into account here. Anyway, in this blind nerdy fantasy, alien technology solves the problem of tactile graphics. What kind of technology? Presumably nanotech, but neither I nor GPT-4 get into specifics.

And yes, I forgot to properly capitalize Braille in this prompt, though I got it right in a later prompt.

GPT-4 has Henry say, « However, I wonder if there’s another solution that would allow me to maintain my identity as a blind person while enhancing my capabilities. » And a little later, Lumara basically repeats that, and calls Henry’s idea a fascinating suggestion. They’re talking like the whole idea of assistive technology is something new, though admittedly, it might be new to the aliens. But then, this whole story is really not for the jaded among us.

And then we have one of those concluding paragraphs that simply state what we’re supposed to take away from the scene. Good writing, or at least the kind respected by critics, isn’t so preachy. I wonder if there’s anything in my prompts that triggered this style, but I’m not seeing it.

Prompt

Next scene: Lumara discusses the tactile display idea with the other aliens, emphasizing that it was Henry’s idea.

Output

INT. ALIEN SPACESHIP – COMMON AREA – DAY

The Alien Delegation has gathered in the common area of their spaceship. Lumara brings up the idea of a tactile display during their discussion of potential solutions for the blind community, emphasizing that the suggestion came from Henry.

LUMARA
(excited)
I had an enlightening conversation with Henry about an alternative solution to curing blindness. He suggested that we could use our technology to develop an advanced tactile display that would allow blind individuals to perceive shapes directly, rather than through speech or braille.

The Alien Delegation listens intently, fascinated by the concept.

LUMARA (CONT’D)
This solution would enhance their capabilities while respecting their identity and connection to the blind community. I believe it’s worth exploring as an option alongside our research into curing blindness.

ZARIA, the wise and experienced delegate, nods approvingly.

ZARIA
I commend Henry for his innovative thinking. This idea has the potential to bridge the gap between the sighted and blind communities while preserving their unique identities. It also exemplifies the importance of collaboration and learning from each other.

ROLON, the Alien Scientist, is intrigued by the concept and eager to start working on it.

ROLON
I agree, Zaria. This idea presents a challenge that would allow us to apply our knowledge and technology in a way that respects human diversity. I’ll begin researching the possibilities and consult with human experts to develop a prototype.

The Alien Delegation is excited by the prospect of creating a solution that not only enhances the lives of blind individuals but also respects their unique identities and experiences, further solidifying the value of their collaboration with humanity.

FADE OUT.

Commentary

This scene is largely a rehash of what was said in the previous scene, including what some would consider the over-excitement about just another assistive technology. I did this prompt mostly because I wanted to find out what GPT-4 would have the other aliens say. But this scene does have a legitimate function in the story; Lumara should consult with the other aliens before the work on this project begins.

Thankfully, this scene contains the last reference to the generic cure for blindness.

Prompt

Next scene: Lumara presents the prototype tactile display to Henry. It needs more work before it’s truly usable. The aliens failed to consider that touch is lower-bandwidth than vision. Henry points out that before the invention of Braille, sighted people made a similar mistake when they promoted raised print as a solution for blind people. Still, Henry is optimistic that they can solve the problem and provide direct tactile access to visual information when needed.

Output

INT. UNITED NATIONS BUILDING – HENRY’S OFFICE – DAY

Lumara visits Henry’s office to present the prototype tactile display that the Alien Delegation and human experts have been working on. The device is a sleek, compact gadget with a touch-sensitive surface.

LUMARA
(excited)
Henry, I wanted to show you the prototype tactile display we’ve been working on. It’s designed to provide direct tactile access to visual information.

HENRY
(impressed)
This is amazing, Lumara! Thank you for considering my suggestion.

Henry explores the prototype with his hands, trying to make sense of the tactile feedback it provides. After a few moments, he notices some limitations.

HENRY (CONT’D)
Although it’s a great start, there’s still work to be done. Touch is lower-bandwidth than vision, and the current design doesn’t take that into account.

LUMARA
(listening intently)
I see. How can we improve the design to address this issue?

HENRY
Before Braille was invented, sighted people promoted raised print as a solution for blind people, but it was inefficient and difficult to use. We must learn from that mistake and find a way to optimize the tactile display for touch without sacrificing the richness of visual information.

Lumara appreciates Henry’s insight and is eager to continue refining the prototype.

LUMARA
Thank you, Henry, for your valuable feedback. We’ll continue to work on the prototype, taking your suggestions into account. Together, I believe we can find a solution that truly benefits the blind community while respecting their unique experiences.

Henry nods, optimistic about the potential for the tactile display to revolutionize the way blind individuals access visual information.

FADE OUT.

Commentary

This prompt is another significant point of divergence from the first revision of the story. In that revision, the tactile display created by the aliens was already perfectly customizable. I knew that was implausible, and I wanted to give our blind guy another chance to steer the project with his input. This is definitely one of my longer, more specific prompts, as I had a very particular idea of what I wanted to do with this scene, at least in this revision.

Perhaps I’m getting a bit over-confident in an area outside my expertise when this prompt states as a fact that touch is lower-bandwidth than vision. One also wonders whether Henry would have stated it that way. But I think the point is approximately on track; even with all ten fingers, the amount of information one can take in at a time is less than a sighted person can absorb visually. And, if I understand correctly, normal-sized characters or other shapes that are easily discerned by a fully sighted person would be hard to make out by touch if rendered at the same size. I already understood that this was a problem with raised print before Louis Braille’s crucial invention. While writing this commentary, I read some of the Wikipedia article on Louis Braille, and it appears that my rough understanding was basically correct.

I’m happy that GPT-4 somewhat embellished the description of the prototype tactile display. If this story were expanded to the length of a novel, I’d want to explore how the touch-sensitive surface is used.

I wondered if GPT-4 would be able to expand on my prompt with some of the actual history of Braille. Apparently not.

I never envisioned this hypothetical advanced tactile display as a substitute for Braille, only another option to be used alongside it, and I tried to convey that with the phrase « when needed » at the end of this prompt. I’m afraid that never comes across in the generated story, so I should have been more emphatic about this point, possibly in a later prompt.

Prompt

Next scene: Lumara and the aliens discuss Henry’s feedback with human experts. A low-vision accessibility expert, who should be given a name, suggests that the tactile display should offer a magnified view of the original image, with customizable magnification.

Output

INT. UNITED NATIONS BUILDING – CONFERENCE ROOM – DAY

Lumara and the Alien Delegation meet with human experts, including DR. MELISSA COLEMAN, a low-vision accessibility expert, to discuss Henry’s feedback on the prototype tactile display.

LUMARA
(relaying feedback)
Henry suggested that we must optimize the tactile display for touch without sacrificing the richness of visual information. He mentioned the limitations of touch being lower-bandwidth compared to vision. We’d like to hear your thoughts on how we can improve the design.

Dr. Coleman ponders the problem for a moment and then proposes a solution.

DR. COLEMAN
One possibility is to incorporate a customizable magnification feature into the tactile display. By offering a magnified view of the original image, we can ensure that blind users can access the visual information more efficiently.

The Alien Delegation and human experts nod, considering the idea.

ROLON
That’s an excellent suggestion, Dr. Coleman. A magnified view would allow blind users to explore the visual information at a comfortable scale, making it easier to process the tactile feedback.

DR. COLEMAN
(smiling)
Exactly, and by making the magnification customizable, we can cater to the unique needs and preferences of each user. This would enable the tactile display to be more versatile and user-friendly.

LUMARA
We appreciate your input, Dr. Coleman. With your expertise, we can refine the prototype and create a device that truly benefits the blind community while respecting their unique experiences.

As the meeting continues, the collaboration between the Alien Delegation and human experts demonstrates the power of working together to develop innovative solutions for diverse populations.

FADE OUT.

Commentary

The phrase « low-vision accessibility expert » in this prompt is ambiguous. Is she low-vision herself (like me), or does it just mean she’s an expert on accessibility for low-vision people? I had the former in mind, but I guess it doesn’t really matter.

I thought about having this expert suggest that an existing screen magnification program be run on the PC that’s presumably connected to the tactile display. But I figured that if the magnification is built into the display itself, the interface could be smoother (especially with that touch-sensitive surface GPT-4 imagined), and the display might use advanced alien technology to achieve better magnification than we currently have, e.g. with smoother shapes.

I think GPT-4 slightly missed the mark on why customization is important, at least in this scene. What I had in mind wasn’t that the user would set a magnification level that’s right for them and leave it there, like a blind person adjusting their screen reader’s speaking rate, but that different images would require different magnification levels to be comprehensible through touch. Of course, I shouldn’t expect a general-purpose large language model to get this nuance; I should have been a bit more specific in this prompt.

Prompt

Next scene: Lumara presents the second prototype to Henry. It takes time, but he eventually learns to use it effectively.

Output

INT. UNITED NATIONS BUILDING – HENRY’S OFFICE – DAY

Lumara visits Henry’s office once again to present the updated prototype of the tactile display, incorporating the magnification feature as suggested by Dr. Coleman.

LUMARA
(enthusiastic)
Henry, we’ve updated the prototype based on your feedback and Dr. Coleman’s suggestions. The new tactile display now offers customizable magnification to optimize the experience for touch.

HENRY
(curious)
That sounds promising, Lumara. Let’s give it a try.

Henry carefully explores the updated prototype, adjusting the magnification as needed. Initially, he struggles to find the optimal settings, but with time and practice, he learns to use the tactile display more effectively.

HENRY (CONT’D)
(smiling)
This is a significant improvement, Lumara! The magnification feature makes it much easier to process the tactile information. I can see this being a game-changer for the blind community.

LUMARA
(beaming)
I’m glad you find it useful, Henry. Your insight and collaboration have been invaluable in making this project a success.

As they continue to discuss the potential applications of the tactile display, the growing bond between Lumara and Henry is a testament to the power of collaboration and understanding between different species and cultures.

FADE OUT.

Commentary

To properly convey the time-consuming process of learning to use this device effectively, I probably should have stretched this out over two or three scenes. But I thought GPT-4 might even do that for me, as it did in the very first scene (the arrival of the aliens at the UN), which was really a few scenes strung together. So we have another violation of « show, don’t tell. » Of course, if this exercise had been anything other than a diversion, I would have tried again.

On reflection, Henry’s final response might be over-enthusiastic. A tactile display like this would be a valuable niche tool for certain tasks, like the existing products in this area, but possibly not game-changing on the level of, say, the invention of Braille. Then again, considering how much information is visual, a tactile display that’s both more capable and more affordable than existing options might indeed be a game-changer for the blind community. Anyway, the enthusiasm is entirely from GPT-4, and if I was doing anything more than exploring a nerdy fantasy, I could push back.

Prompt

Next scene: Henry uses the tactile display to work together with a colleague on a problem involving an unusual language script.

Output

INT. UNITED NATIONS BUILDING – LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS LAB – DAY

Henry and his sighted colleague, LAURA, are working together in the Linguistic Analysis Lab on a problem involving an unusual language script. The updated tactile display sits on the table, ready for use.

LAURA
(excited)
Henry, we’ve been given a new assignment to analyze this rare and complex script. I think this would be a perfect opportunity to test the tactile display in a real-world scenario.

HENRY
(agreeing)
You’re right, Laura. Let’s give it a try.

Henry places the tactile display next to Laura’s computer screen, which displays the unusual language script. He adjusts the magnification settings and starts exploring the script using the tactile display.

As they work together, Laura shares her insights on the visual aspects of the script, while Henry shares his unique perspective, analyzing the script through touch. Their combined efforts enable them to uncover new insights about the language.

HENRY (CONT’D)
(smiling)
This is incredible, Laura. With the tactile display, I can access the script directly and work alongside you in ways I never thought possible.

LAURA
(grinning)
I’m thrilled to see the potential of the tactile display in action, Henry. Our collaboration has become even more powerful now that we can both access the same information in our preferred formats.

As they continue working on the assignment, Henry and Laura’s successful collaboration demonstrates the potential of the tactile display to bridge the gap between sighted and blind individuals, opening up new opportunities for understanding and teamwork.

FADE OUT.

Commentary

The nature of the task being done here is vague, like Henry’s job and the setting of this scene (the « Linguistic Analysis Lab »). But overall, I think GPT-4 did a good job of fleshing out my brief prompt. It even seems to grasp that the magnification settings need to be adjusted for specific tasks, as I mentioned in earlier commentary.

Prompt

Next scene: The leader of the alien delegation confronts Lumara about how much time they’re spending on the project with Henry. The tactile display project might not reach completion.

Output

INT. ALIEN SPACESHIP – COMMON AREA – DAY

The leader of the Alien Delegation, GAVRON, approaches Lumara in the common area of their spaceship, looking concerned.

GAVRON
(stern)
Lumara, I appreciate your dedication to the tactile display project with Henry, but I’m concerned about the amount of time and resources we’re investing in it. We have other important projects to work on, and we can’t afford to lose focus.

Lumara looks surprised and slightly defensive.

LUMARA
(resolute)
I understand your concerns, Gavron, but this project has the potential to revolutionize the way blind individuals access visual information. It’s an opportunity for us to make a meaningful impact on Earth by fostering collaboration and understanding.

GAVRON
(sighing)
I agree that the project is important, Lumara. However, we must balance our priorities and ensure that we’re not neglecting our other commitments.

LUMARA
(nodding)
I understand. I’ll work with the human experts to find a way to streamline the project, so we can still make progress without compromising our other responsibilities.

GAVRON
(appreciative)
Thank you, Lumara. Your passion for this project is commendable, and I trust that you’ll find a way to make it work within our constraints.

As Gavron walks away, Lumara is left to ponder how to maintain the progress of the tactile display project while balancing the needs of the Alien Delegation’s other initiatives.

FADE OUT.

Commentary

This prompt is my acknowledgement of the implausibility of aliens coming to Earth and focusing on a new assistive technology for blind people, especially after teasing other, more plausible projects in the prologue. In the context of the story, I decide to pin this on the youthful (thanks again GPT-4), possibly over-zealous Lumara. I think GPT-4 did a pretty good job of fleshing out this fairly concise prompt into plausible dialogue.

Prompt

Next scene: Henry tells Lumara about using the tactile display with Laura, and Lumara tells Henry about the conversation with Gavron. Henry pleads with Lumara to not let the project die. Henry suggests that the aliens focus on teaching humans to manufacture and support the displays.

Output

INT. UNITED NATIONS BUILDING – HENRY’S OFFICE – DAY

Lumara visits Henry’s office to discuss the progress of the tactile display project. Henry excitedly shares his experience of using the display with Laura.

HENRY
(smiling)
Lumara, the tactile display has been a game-changer! Laura and I were able to work together on a complex language script in ways I never thought possible. I can’t thank you enough for your support in making this happen.

Lumara looks a bit uneasy and decides to share her conversation with Gavron.

LUMARA
(sighing)
Henry, I’m glad the tactile display has been so helpful, but I have some concerning news. Gavron, our delegation leader, is worried about the time and resources we’re spending on the project. We have other important projects to work on, and he’s concerned that we might not be able to see the tactile display project through to completion.

HENRY
(alarmed)
That’s disappointing to hear, Lumara. We can’t let this project die. It has the potential to transform the lives of blind individuals worldwide.

Lumara nods, understanding the importance of the project.

HENRY (CONT’D)
(pondering)
Maybe there’s a way to keep the project alive without overextending your resources. What if the aliens focus on teaching human experts how to manufacture and support the tactile displays? That way, we could continue the project with minimal involvement from your delegation.

LUMARA
(considering)
That’s an excellent idea, Henry. By empowering humans with the knowledge and expertise to produce and maintain the tactile displays, we can ensure the project’s success without jeopardizing our other commitments. I’ll discuss this with Gavron.

Henry smiles, hopeful that his suggestion will save the project and bring the benefits of the tactile display to the blind community.

FADE OUT.

Commentary

If I remember correctly, I had planned this scene and the two before it as a sequence, and with this prompt I set up a « good news, bad news » scenario, which I think GPT-4 handled well.

However, in this scene GPT-4 forgets Lumara’s gender. In earlier scenes, it used the pronoun « they », but now it’s « her ». I decided to just let that slide. But it confirms the weakness of GPT-4’s long-term memory even within this session.

I realize that the aliens teaching the humans to manufacture and support the displays wouldn’t necessarily be as straightforward a solution as I make it sound in this prompt. How many alien technologies would need to be introduced to humanity first, thus prolonging the time they spend on this project? But to keep things moving along, we’ll just imagine that the aliens provide a mostly automated system of producing either the device as a whole or the parts based on alien technology, and actual human understanding can wait until later.

Prompt

Next scene: Lumara discusses with Gavron

Output

INT. ALIEN SPACESHIP – COMMON AREA – DAY

Lumara approaches Gavron in the common area of their spaceship to discuss Henry’s suggestion for continuing the tactile display project without overextending their resources.

LUMARA
(confident)
Gavron, I spoke with Henry about your concerns regarding the tactile display project. He suggested an interesting solution that might allow us to continue the project without sacrificing our other priorities.

Gavron looks intrigued.

GAVRON
(curious)
What did he propose?

LUMARA
He suggested that we focus on teaching human experts how to manufacture and support the tactile displays. By empowering them with the knowledge and expertise, we can ensure the project’s success with minimal involvement from our delegation.

Gavron considers the proposal and nods in agreement.

GAVRON
(approving)
That’s a wise suggestion. It aligns with our mission to collaborate with and empower humans. Let’s proceed with this plan. Coordinate with the human experts and develop a training program to ensure the tactile display project’s continued progress.

LUMARA
(grateful)
Thank you, Gavron. I’m confident that this approach will benefit both our delegation and the blind community on Earth.

As Lumara leaves to coordinate the training program, the collaborative spirit between the Alien Delegation and humanity is strengthened, demonstrating the power of working together to find innovative solutions.

FADE OUT.

Commentary

This prompt is especially terse. I wanted to see what happened if I simply prodded GPT-4 to expand on what it had Lumara promise to do in the previous scene, and it didn’t disappoint.

Prompt

Next scene: Lumara and aliens meet with humans to discuss this plan. One human representative suggests starting a commercial company to sell the displays, possibly led by Henry. Another human suggests licensing the technology through a non-profit consortium to make it available to as many as possible worldwide.

Output

INT. UNITED NATIONS BUILDING – CONFERENCE ROOM – DAY

Lumara and the Alien Delegation meet with a group of human experts and representatives, including Dr. Coleman, to discuss the plan of transferring knowledge and expertise for the tactile display project.

LUMARA
(serious)
We’ve decided to empower you, the human experts, with the knowledge and expertise to manufacture and support the tactile displays. This will ensure the project’s continued progress while allowing us to maintain focus on our other commitments.

The human representatives exchange excited glances, realizing the potential impact of this decision.

HUMAN REPRESENTATIVE 1
(enthusiastic)
This is a fantastic opportunity! I suggest we establish a commercial company to sell the displays, possibly led by Henry. This would create a sustainable business model and ensure the technology reaches those who need it.

HUMAN REPRESENTATIVE 2
(concerned)
While that could work, I’m worried about accessibility and affordability for people worldwide. Instead, we could license the technology through a non-profit consortium. This would make the technology available to as many people as possible, regardless of their financial means.

The room buzzes with discussion as the human representatives weigh the pros and cons of each approach. Lumara and the Alien Delegation listen attentively, respecting the humans’ autonomy in deciding the best course of action for their own community.

DR. COLEMAN
(resolute)
Why not combine both ideas? We can establish a commercial company to manufacture and sell the displays, while also working with a non-profit consortium to ensure that the technology is accessible and affordable to those in need. This hybrid approach could balance sustainability with global accessibility.

The human representatives and Alien Delegation agree that this could be an effective solution.

LUMARA
(supportive)
Dr. Coleman, that’s an excellent compromise. We’ll support you in establishing this hybrid model to ensure that the tactile display technology benefits as many people as possible.

As the meeting concludes, the collaboration between the Alien Delegation and human experts paves the way for a promising future for the tactile display project, with the potential to transform the lives of blind individuals worldwide.

FADE OUT.

Commentary

My two competing ideas in this prompt are half-baked. The possibility of Henry leading the company that sells the devices is particularly dumb in retrospect. In the first revision of the story, per my instructions, that bit was suggested by Lumara; perhaps I figured that was plausible since Lumara had become Henry’s friend. But a human probably wouldn’t suggest that. Whatever a linguistic analyst does, such a person in his forties would probably not leave it all behind and become a tech entrepreneur. Fortunately, that bit ends up being a throw-away detail that doesn’t seem to influence the rest of the story. I’m also not sure of the difference between a consortium and a foundation, but if I had anticipated the hybrid model (however that actually works), I would have gone with the latter.

As it is, I left the resolution unspecified, so GPT-4 surprised me with the hybrid, and I just rolled with it. One aspect of GPT-4’s contribution to this scene that particularly impressed me was that it had the aliens stand back while the humans discussed the options, out of respect for human autonomy. The re-appearance of the earlier character Dr. Coleman in this scene also surprised me, so I decided to give her a role in the next scene as well.

Prompt

Next scene: Lumara, Henry, and Dr. Coleman present the tactile display at a convention of the World Blind Union.

Output

INT. CONVENTION CENTER – WORLD BLIND UNION EVENT – DAY

Lumara, Henry, and Dr. Coleman stand at a booth in a bustling convention center, where the World Blind Union is hosting a major event. A large banner above their booth reads: « Revolutionary Tactile Display: Bridging the Gap Between Sight and Touch. »

Delegates from around the world, including blind and visually impaired individuals, stop by the booth to learn about the groundbreaking tactile display technology.

HENRY
(enthused)
With this tactile display, we can now access visual information directly through touch, making collaboration with sighted individuals seamless and efficient.

Dr. Coleman explains the hybrid model for the tactile display’s distribution, emphasizing the partnership between the commercial company and the non-profit consortium.

DR. COLEMAN
(passionate)
Our goal is to ensure that this technology is accessible and affordable for blind individuals worldwide. By combining the efforts of a commercial company and a non-profit consortium, we can achieve this while maintaining a sustainable business model.

Lumara looks on proudly as Henry demonstrates the tactile display to an intrigued audience.

LUMARA
(satisfied)
This project has been a rewarding journey for our delegation. We’re grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with human experts like Henry and Dr. Coleman to develop a solution that truly benefits the blind community.

As delegates continue to explore the tactile display, it’s clear that the collaboration between Lumara, Henry, Dr. Coleman, and the Alien Delegation has resulted in a transformative technology that has the potential to change the lives of blind individuals worldwide.

FADE OUT.

Commentary

I figured that it would be appropriate for a project that started with aliens coming to the United Nations to be presented to a WBU convention. I have no idea what a WBU convention is like, so I let GPT-4 use its imagination. I do wish I had provided some more input on what makes the tactile display different; if we’re going to keep talking it up as revolutionary, game-changing, etc., it’s important to acknowledge prior work in this area and say what makes this thing different.

Perhaps this is the point where I should have made sure the tactile display had a proper name. This mistake will become obvious soon.

Prompt

Next scene: Lumara tells the rest of the alien delegation, including Gavron, about the response to the tactile display.

Output

INT. ALIEN SPACESHIP – COMMON AREA – DAY

Lumara gathers the Alien Delegation, including Gavron, in the common area of their spaceship to share the response to the tactile display at the World Blind Union event.

LUMARA
(beaming)
I’m pleased to report that our presentation at the World Blind Union event was a resounding success. The response to the tactile display was overwhelmingly positive, and people were genuinely excited about the potential impact of the technology.

Gavron smiles, visibly proud of their accomplishment.

GAVRON
(appreciative)
Well done, Lumara. Your dedication and collaboration with the human experts have led to a solution that will truly benefit the blind community. This project aligns perfectly with our mission to empower and support humanity.

Lumara nods, grateful for Gavron’s acknowledgment of her hard work.

LUMARA
(optimistic)
With the continued collaboration between our delegation and human experts, I’m confident that we can make a lasting impact on Earth by helping to bridge the gap between sight and touch for blind individuals.

The Alien Delegation applauds Lumara’s efforts and the successful outcome of their collaboration with the humans. Their accomplishment serves as a shining example of how working together across species can lead to innovative solutions and a better future for all.

FADE OUT.

Commentary

Pretty straightforward; I provided a brief prompt, and GPT-4 fleshed it out, inferring that I was talking about the previous scene in particular. This scene might be pure filler; then again, it resolves the tension that arose between Lumara and the leader Gavron earlier. On that point, though, I think GPT-4’s long-term memory might have slipped again. In this scene, Lumara talks about continued collaboration, whereas earlier, the point was to move onto other projects. Maybe the mood changed after the positive reception at the WBU event, or maybe GPT-4 just didn’t take the earlier discussion into account.

Prompt

Next scene: At a school in rural America, a blind student, the only blind student at the school, has been unable to fully participate in a computer programming class because that class uses a visual programming environment. But now with the tactile display, the blind student can collaborate with a sighted student for the first time.

Output

INT. RURAL AMERICAN SCHOOL – COMPUTER LAB – DAY

A group of students work on their computers in a programming class at a rural American school. JESSICA, a blind student and the only blind student at the school, sits at a computer station equipped with the new tactile display.

Previously, Jessica had struggled to fully participate in the class due to the visual programming environment. Now, with the help of the tactile display, she can finally experience the same content as her sighted peers.

Jessica’s sighted classmate, LUCAS, sits beside her, working on his own computer. The two students collaborate on a programming project, sharing ideas and solving problems together.

JESSICA
(excited)
I can’t believe I can finally understand the visual programming environment, Lucas! The tactile display makes such a difference.

LUCAS
(smiling)
I’m really glad we can work together on this now, Jessica. Your ideas and input make our projects so much better.

As Jessica and Lucas continue to collaborate, their teacher, MR. ANDERSON, watches with pride and satisfaction.

MR. ANDERSON
(sincere)
Jessica, it’s wonderful to see you fully participating in the class and working with Lucas. The tactile display has truly made a difference in your education.

JESSICA
(grateful)
Thank you, Mr. Anderson. I appreciate your support, and I’m excited to learn even more with the help of the tactile display.

The impact of the tactile display on Jessica’s education and the collaboration between her and Lucas highlights the potential of the technology to create a more inclusive world for blind individuals.

FADE OUT.

Commentary

Lots of telling rather than showing at the start of this scene. To really set this up properly, I should have done it at two scenes: one where Jessica struggles to participate or is outright excluded from what the rest of the class is doing, and then another scene where she works with a sighted student using the tactile display. Better yet, if I had planned this properly, I could have dropped the first scene at some point before the tactile display is unveiled, to start a parallel subplot.

When I say « visual programming environment » here, I have in mind something like Scratch or Snap. The former is especially popular in educational settings, and the rise of these environments does pose an accessibility problem. I’m aware of one group that’s working on making a block-based programming environment accessible with a screen reader, but still, one could imagine some benefits of having access to the same representation that a sighted classmate is looking at. I think this scene would have come out better if I had said something like « Scratch, a visual programming environment », rather than leaving it generic.

In the first revision of the story, this scene took place in a school in a developing country (I didn’t specify which one), and GPT-4 chose non-English names for the students. I changed it in the second revision because I thought the first version might come across as patronizing. But I wanted to emphasize that Jessica was the only blind student, since that’s an experience that a lot of us know. GPT-4 didn’t really do anything with that fact though, except to repeat it in the prolonged exposition at the beginning of the scene.

Prompt

Next scene: As Lumara and Henry reflect on their time together and prepare for Lumara to move onto other projects, they receive a thankful message from Jessica on social media.

Output

INT. UNITED NATIONS BUILDING – HENRY’S OFFICE – DAY

Lumara and Henry sit in Henry’s office, reflecting on their time together and the successful collaboration on the tactile display project. As Lumara prepares to move on to other projects, the mood is bittersweet.

HENRY
(sincere)
Lumara, I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done to make the tactile display project a reality. Your dedication and support have made a difference in the lives of countless people, including mine.

LUMARA
(grateful)
Henry, working with you has been an honor. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together, and I know our collaboration will have a lasting impact on the blind community.

As they speak, Henry’s phone chimes, indicating a new notification. He checks his phone and finds a message from Jessica on social media, expressing her gratitude.

HENRY
(smiling)
Lumara, listen to this message from a blind student named Jessica: « Thank you, Henry and Lumara, for your incredible work on the tactile display. It has changed my life and allowed me to fully participate in my programming class for the first time. You’ve made a real difference, and I’m forever grateful. »

Lumara beams, clearly touched by Jessica’s heartfelt message.

LUMARA
(moved)
Henry, it’s messages like these that make everything we’ve done so worthwhile. Our collaboration has made a positive impact on people’s lives, and I couldn’t be prouder.

HENRY
(nods)
I couldn’t agree more. Thank you, Lumara, for everything.

As they share a heartfelt moment, the success of their collaboration shines through, proving that working together can change lives and make the world a more inclusive place.

FADE OUT.

Commentary

One of my regrets about the first version of the story was that the blind student never got to thank the aliens. This prompt corrects that, and also puts the aliens back on track to move on from this project.

I figured that Henry and Lumara would be celebrities at this point, so contacting them on social media would be most plausible. I didn’t specify which social media. I wanted to see if GPT-4 would be more specific, but at least it inferred that the message would come in through Henry’s phone.

Prompt

Next scene: Years later, Jessica and Lucas watch media coverage of the alien delegation preparing to leave Earth. As part of this coverage, Lumara is interviewed and talks about the tactile display project. Jessica and Lucas decide to start a software company together.

Output

INT. JESSICA’S LIVING ROOM – DAY – YEARS LATER

Years later, Jessica and Lucas sit together in Jessica’s living room, watching a news report on TV about the Alien Delegation preparing to leave Earth. As part of the coverage, Lumara is interviewed and reflects on the tactile display project.

REPORTER
(on TV)
Lumara, as the Alien Delegation prepares to leave Earth, what are some of the projects you’re most proud of?

LUMARA
(on TV)
One project that I hold close to my heart is the tactile display we developed in collaboration with human experts like Henry. It has been a privilege to witness the positive impact it has had on the blind community.

Jessica and Lucas exchange smiles as they remember the difference the tactile display made in their lives.

LUCAS
(energetic)
Jessica, remember when we first used the tactile display in our programming class? It changed everything for us.

JESSICA
(enthusiastic)
Absolutely! It allowed us to work together and learn from each other. You know, Lucas, we’ve always talked about starting a software company together. What if we make that dream a reality?

Lucas nods, excited about the idea.

LUCAS
(inspired)
I love that idea, Jessica. We can develop software that’s accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities. We’ve seen firsthand how transformative technology can be when it’s designed with inclusivity in mind.

JESSICA
(determined)
Let’s do it, Lucas. Let’s create a company that embodies the spirit of collaboration and innovation that the Alien Delegation brought to Earth.

As they shake hands, Jessica and Lucas embark on a new adventure together, inspired by the lasting impact of Lumara, Henry, and the tactile display project.

FADE OUT.

Commentary

Here I establish that some years have passed between the conclusion of the tactile display project and the aliens leaving earth, implying that the aliens did indeed work on other projects. GPT-4 picked up on this in the reporter’s question.

I don’t think GPT-4 should have had Lucas say « remember when we first used the tactile display ». That would imply, to me at least, that both of them are blind, which is a mistake that GPT-4 explicitly makes in the final summary.

I didn’t specify what kind of software their company works on, but GPT-4’s output here is in keeping with the idealistic flavor of the whole story.

Prompt

Next scene: Later, Henry and his team watch an interview with Jessica and Lucas about their company and how the tactile display helped them get started. Henry thanks Laura for inspiring the tactile display project, and says he misses Lumara.

Output

INT. HENRY’S OFFICE – DAY

Henry and his team, including Laura, gather around a large screen in the office, watching an interview with Jessica and Lucas about their successful software company and the role the tactile display played in its inception.

INTERVIEWER
(on screen)
Jessica and Lucas, can you share the story behind the creation of your company and how the tactile display influenced its beginnings?

JESSICA
(on screen)
Absolutely. The tactile display allowed me to fully participate in my programming class and collaborate with Lucas. It was a game-changer for us, and we decided to create a software company focused on inclusivity and accessibility, inspired by the collaboration between Lumara and Henry.

Henry looks over at Laura with a smile, acknowledging her role in the project’s success.

HENRY
(appreciative)
Laura, I want to thank you once again for inspiring the tactile display project. Your support and encouragement have led to incredible things, as we can see with Jessica and Lucas’s company.

LAURA
(modest)
Thank you, Henry. But it’s your dedication and collaboration with Lumara that made the project a reality.

HENRY
(nostalgic)
I miss Lumara. I hope she knows the lasting impact she’s had on Earth and how her work has changed lives.

As the team watches the interview, they share a moment of gratitude for the tactile display project and the far-reaching effects of their collaboration with Lumara and the Alien Delegation.

FADE OUT.

Commentary

It might have been a mistake for me to have Henry thank Laura for inspiring the project. Supporting it? Sure. But as I mentioned in the commentary on the lunch scene, he likely would have responded with exasperation when she pointed out what was already obvious to him, about the challenges he faced in his work. Still, her reminding him might have got him thinking about the solution.

Anyway, I think GPT-4 did a fine job fleshing out this prompt.

Prompt

Next scene: On the aliens’ home planet, Lumara tells the aliens about meeting Henry and working with him on the tactile display, then shows the TV interviews. Lumara asks questions about what it was like to work with a blind human.

Output

INT. ALIEN HOME PLANET – LUMARA’S RESIDENCE – DAY

Lumara, now back on the Alien home planet, gathers a group of fellow aliens in her residence. She tells them about her experiences on Earth, particularly her collaboration with Henry on the tactile display project.

LUMARA
(enthusiastic)
Working with Henry, a blind human, was a unique and enriching experience. Together, we developed a tactile display that has made a significant difference in the lives of blind individuals on Earth.

Lumara activates a screen and shows the TV interviews featuring Jessica and Lucas, as well as her own interview before leaving Earth.

LUMARA
(proud)
This is the result of our collaboration. Jessica and Lucas, two humans who have benefited from the tactile display, went on to create an inclusive software company.

The aliens watch the interviews with great interest, curious about Lumara’s experiences.

ALIEN 1
(fascinated)
Lumara, what was it like to work with a blind human? Were there any challenges you faced in understanding their perspective?

LUMARA
(insightful)
At first, it was challenging to comprehend the differences between the experiences of sighted and blind individuals. However, as we worked together, I gained a deeper understanding of their unique needs and perspectives. This collaboration allowed us to create a solution that truly met the needs of the blind community.

ALIEN 2
(curious)
How did your work with Henry influence your approach to collaboration and problem-solving?

LUMARA
(reflective)
Working with Henry taught me the importance of empathy and the value of incorporating diverse perspectives when developing new solutions. By understanding the specific needs of those we aim to help, we can create more meaningful and effective innovations.

As the aliens continue to ask questions and discuss Lumara’s experiences, it’s clear that the collaboration with Henry and the development of the tactile display have left a lasting impact, not only on Earth but also on the Alien home planet.

FADE OUT.

Commentary

I made a simple mistake in this prompt; I wrote « Lumara asks questions » when I meant « Lumara answers questions ». GPT-4 did what I meant anyway.

This scene is where I really wish I had given a name to the alien species at the beginning. GPT-4 even capitalizes the word « Alien » when referring to the home planet.

I figured if it’s common for people to ask what it’s like to be blind, then it would be plausible for the other aliens to ask Lumara what it was like working with a blind human. I left it open-ended though, and I was particularly happy with the direction GPT-4 took with alien 2’s question, Lumara’s answer, and the closing paragraph of this scene.

Prompt

Final scene: On Earth, while Henry is having dinner with Jessica and Lucas, he receives an unexpected email from Lumara, thanking him for their time together.

Output

INT. RESTAURANT – NIGHT

Henry, Jessica, and Lucas are having dinner together at a nice restaurant, celebrating the success of Jessica and Lucas’s software company. They chat and reminisce about their experiences with the tactile display and Lumara.

As they continue their conversation, Henry’s phone chimes, indicating a new email. He checks it and finds a surprising message from Lumara.

HENRY
(surprised)
Jessica, Lucas, you won’t believe this. I just got an email from Lumara!

JESSICA
(excited)
What does it say?

Henry reads the email aloud.

HENRY
(reading)
« Dear Henry, I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to thank you for the incredible journey we shared together on Earth. Our collaboration on the tactile display has not only made a lasting impact on your planet, but it has also influenced my own people. I often think about our time together and the lessons we learned from one another. I wish you, Jessica, Lucas, and everyone benefiting from the tactile display project continued success. With warm regards, Lumara. »

JESSICA
(touched)
That’s amazing, Henry. It’s incredible to think that our collaboration with Lumara has made such a difference, not just on Earth, but on their home planet as well.

LUCAS
(inspired)
It’s a testament to the power of working together, across cultures and even across worlds. We should always remember what we’ve achieved and continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible.

As Henry, Jessica, and Lucas toast to their shared experiences and the impact of their collaboration with Lumara, they are reminded of the importance of empathy, understanding, and working together to create a better world for all.

FADE OUT.

THE END

Commentary

I was finally ready to end the story. I hoped that GPT-4 would draw on the ending of the previous scene in Lumara’s surprise email to Henry, and it didn’t disappoint. This seemed to me like a good way to bring it to a close.

I don’t exactly know why Henry is having dinner with Jessica and Lucas, but I wanted a scene where Henry could read the email in the presence of other people, to have some dialogue. This seemed like as good a solution as any. And maybe, with the passage of unspecified years, Henry is retired at this point, and in the mood for both looking back and meeting up with a pair of successful people that he indirectly helped.

Prompt

Summarize the full story, with a new title.

Output

Title: « Touching the Stars: A Story of Collaboration and Inclusivity »

The story begins with a benevolent alien delegation arriving on Earth and offering assistance to humans at the United Nations. Lumara, one of the aliens, meets Henry, a blind linguistic analyst who works at the UN. Lumara is intrigued by Henry’s abilities and perspective, and they discuss the challenges that Henry faces in his work.

Henry introduces Lumara to a screen reader, and they discuss the possibility of a cure for blindness. However, some blind people, including Henry, are opposed to such a cure, fearing the loss of their identity and community. Instead, Henry proposes that Lumara help develop a tactile display that would offer direct access to visual information for blind individuals.

Lumara collaborates with Henry and human experts, refining the tactile display prototype through multiple iterations. Eventually, they create a successful tactile display that enables blind individuals to access visual information directly. Henry uses the display to work with sighted colleagues, including Laura, a fellow linguistic analyst.

As the alien delegation prepares to leave Earth, Lumara and Henry’s collaboration inspires blind students like Jessica and Lucas, who go on to start a software company focused on accessibility and inclusivity. Lumara returns to her home planet, where she shares her experiences with her fellow aliens, emphasizing the lasting impact of their collaboration with Henry and the development of the tactile display.

Years later, Henry, Jessica, and Lucas continue to celebrate the success of their collaboration with Lumara and the difference it has made in the lives of blind individuals across the world. The story highlights the power of empathy, understanding, and working together to create a better world for everyone.

Commentary

I wanted to see how coherently GPT-4 could summarize the whole story at this point. I also wanted a new title, since I had never like the original title of « Celestial Aid ». The new title isn’t bad. And the summary is good, except that this is where GPT-4 explicitly makes the mistake of saying that both Jessica and Lucas are blind students, when the point of that scene was that Jessica was the lone blind student who could now collaborate with a sighted peer in that class.

Conclusion

I made several mistakes during this session, and GPT-4 got some things wrong as well. But it was fun, and I was impressed at everything that GPT-4 got right, and how much it understood. It took my half-baked ideas and produced some fairly well-executed scenes, taking care of a lot of the mechanics of setting and dialogue, which I’m not good at. If it was this effective in the hands of an inexperienced fiction writer like me, it’ll be interesting to see how it can help someone who’s actually good at whatever they’re doing. I’m finally ready to start using it, tentatively and carefully, in my programming work. And of course, this is just the current state of the art; we don’t know how much better it will get. But in any case, this new type of tool is fascinating, and definitely something to keep exploring.