So Bard says Boris is guilty — I wouldn’t want to argue with that one! I wonder how long before eAi is used “to weigh up evidence”?
I’m also trying Bard — have to say my favourite so far is Jasper

Yes, I was simplifying with “average”, but it’s still just a sophisticated digital linguistic filter presenting a viewpoint from its inputs. I’d started to look briefly at AI for computer systems help and maintenance before I retired.
You can also ask it to restrict its source material for answers, e.g. for those controversial views on marriage and homosexuality.
“Garbage” is harsh, but it sums up a vast majority of the internet, but if you restrict the input, say to the Bible, then you can get answers without taking in various alternative opinions. And, of course, similarly for other answers to questions.
An interesting question is whether, say, Boris Johnson misled Parliament. If you weight it to his defence brief, then no; if you take reported facts and opinion then, well, Bard says yes.
Interestingly, having just tried Bard, that does seem quite distinguishable from a human in its tone; ChatGPT, from what I’ve seen so far, less so. Maybe we do need different personalities presenting answers.
We shall wait and see where this goes…

Thanks very much for your thoughtful comments!
Thanks very much for your thoughtful comments
On “garbage in – garbage out”, its more sophisticated than just an “average”. And I would say that to summarise the vast wealth of information on the internet garbage is a little harsh? There is a huge amount of garbage (of course) but also a great deal of material that we use every day, that is valuable and important to our lives and work. But yes I agree that in the end you still need (human) wisdom to know the difference if we are to harness this power of AI.
On the Turing Test (ie can it generate output indistinguishable from a human), yes, AI certainly does that.
And your last point is most interesting – could you feed it only the Bible and generate an Amish-like community? I’m sure that’s true. Nothing against the Amish of course but the internet has been responsible for the creation of many other unhealthy communities, often based around some kind of conspiracy and misinformation. And yes AI means this undesirable effect can and probably will increase many-fold.

Ha ha — that’s hilarious David 🙂 Well said! (and PS it is ME writing this comment … I think :-))