With fanfare, President Trump a few weeks back encouraged a private sector investment of up to $500 billion to enhance Artificial Intelligence.
There’s an irony here, because Artificial Intelligence thinks he’s crazy.
Well, not quite, but close enough for me.
Trump praised A.I. and the proposed joint venture by Softbank, Oracle, and OpenAI, declaring, “A.I. seems to be very hot. And our country will be prospering like never before.”
Since that’s what Donald Trump thinks of A.I., I wondered what A.I. thinks of Donald Trump.
So, without naming names, I asked ChatGPT to discuss “national leaders who were crazy.”
In a few seconds, a list appeared, topped by A.I.’s caution:
“The term ‘crazy’ is subjective and can often be used to describe leaders whose actions or beliefs seem erratic, unconventional, or extreme.
“History has seen several national leaders who might be characterized in this way, often due to their controversial decisions, bizarre behavior, or ideologies.”
As examples, A.I. provided eight candidates, leading off with Adolf Hitler and concluding with Uganda’s reviled Idi Amin. At number 5, just ahead of Napoleon: Donald Trump.
In case you’re curious about ChatGPT’s choices and what it said about them, here’s the list:
1. Hitler: His “Extreme nationalism, expansionist policies, and genocidal campaign against Jews and other minorities are often viewed as manifestations of madness in a political sense. His belief in Aryan supremacy and his delusional vision for Germany led to catastrophic consequences during World War II.”
2. Kim Jong-il: “The former leader of North Korea was known for his eccentric behavior and personality cult. Reports of odd decisions, such as … the claim that he had invented hamburgers, reflect a surreal and often bizarre leadership style.”
3. Muammar Gaddafi of Libya: “Gaddafi was known for his erratic behavior, lavish lifestyle, and eccentric public appearances…. and he often engaged in grandiose displays of power, including the way he conducted diplomatic meetings.”
4. Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines: “Marcos led the Philippines for over two decades, during which he declared martial law, and was associated with considerable corruption. His administration was marked by oddities, including his wife’s obsession with fashion and the bizarre responses to dissent.”
5. Donald Trump: “Trump’s unorthodox style, unconventional communication methods (especially through social media), and sometimes contradictory policies have led some to describe him as unpredictable or erratic. His approach to governance often sparked controversy and debate.”
6. France’s Napoleon: “While Napoleon was undeniably a brilliant military strategist, his ambition drove him to take extreme risks, including the ill-fated invasion of Russia. His self-appointed title as emperor and grand aspirations for a European empire can be seen as evidence of his extreme ambitions.”
7. Richard Nixon: “Nixon’s presidency ended in scandal and his perception of enemies has often been regarded as paranoid. The Watergate scandal and his subsequent resignation highlighted a retreat from reality and a level of distrust that bordered on the irrational.”
8. Idi Amin: “Amin’s reign was marked by brutality and bizarre behavior, including declaring himself ‘The last king of Scotland’ and his penchant for extravagance and outlandish public appearances. He was infamous for human rights abuses and erratic decision-making.”
So there you have historical context as seen by Artificial Intelligence, which also volunteers this conclusion:
“These leaders, characterized by extreme behavior or controversial ideologies, remind us that political power can sometimes be wielded in unpredictable and dangerous ways.”
Not that we didn’t already know that.
But especially nowadays, it’s wise to bear in mind that while the source of that reminder is “artificial,” the “intelligence” it reflects is all too genuine.Gerry Goldstein (gerryg76@verizon.net), a frequent contributor, is a retired Providence Journal editor and columnist.
