Using Artificial Intelligence to Uncover Erdnase's True Identity
/AI has been a common subject in my email recently. Mainly because of Wednesday’s post and also the popularity of ChatGPT, an AI that is optimized for dialogue that blew up online recently.
I think it’s good to check in from time to time and see how close AI is to taking over our creative endeavors. I was listening to someone on a podcast recently, and he said something like, “In the future, if you want to watch a new season of Cheers, you’ll just be able to ask AI to create it for you and you’ll be able to watch it instantly.”
I don’t really buy that. I think there’s some elements of the creative process that aren’t replicable by even the most advanced computing. But maybe I’m wrong.
I’ll keep an eye on things and let you know once or twice a year where AI stands on its abilities to create a magic trick.
With that in mind, here are some examples from ChatGPT that people have sent me this week…
First we have the response to this prompt:
“Explain an innovative new magic trick, done with everyday items.”
🤖 One possible way to perform a magic trick using everyday items is as follows:
First, gather a few items that you might find around the house, such as a pencil, a rubber band, and a coin.
Have the spectator choose one of the items, and then place it on the table.
Next, pick up the other two items, and place the rubber band around them so that they are tightly secured together.
Hold the items in your hand, and then ask the spectator to focus their attention on the chosen item on the table.
Slowly and carefully, use your other hand to lift the items (with the rubber band still attached) up and over the chosen item, making sure to keep the items hidden from view.
As you do this, you can use a simple misdirection technique to distract the spectator's attention away from what you are doing. For example, you could ask them a question, or make a comment about something else.
Once the items are lifted up and over the chosen item, quickly and smoothly remove the rubber band and release the items, allowing them to fall onto the table.
The spectator will be amazed to see that the chosen item has somehow disappeared, and the other two items are now lying on the table in its place!
This simple trick is a great way to entertain and surprise your friends, using only everyday items that you might have lying around the house. It's also a great way to practice your sleight of hand and misdirection skills. 🤖
I like how that had numbered steps. Like it was a very specific process you had to follow in order to do this magic trick which was just utter gibberish.
Is mentalism more your thing? Well how about this clever way to use your mental powers to reveal someone’s birthday.
Propless mentalism at it’s finest.
“Note, this trick will not work every time.”
Well, I’m going to have to disagree with you there, robot. Determining the month someone was born, and then the day, is actually a very efficient way to find out their birthday.
My conclusion is that magic creators are safe for the time being.
So far the trick ideas generated are either unworkable or not magic. You literally can’t do worse than that.
(Thanks to CF and JH for sharing these responses.)
Okay, but what about presentations as opposed to methodologies?
I tried to tease out some ideas from the AI in a few different ways.
First I asked:
What would be a good presentation to go along with the Ambitious Card magic trick?
🤖 A good presentation to go along with the ambitious card magic trick could involve telling a story or creating a narrative to engage the audience. For example, the magician could start by introducing themselves and explaining their passion for magic. They could then talk about the history of the ambitious card trick, highlighting its origins and the famous magicians who have performed it over the years.🤖
Yeah, no thanks. That’s some Ricky Jay shit that only he could make interesting.
So I tweaked the question:
What would be a good analogy to present along with the ambitious card magic trick?
🤖 A good analogy to present along with the ambitious card magic trick could be the analogy of a plant growing towards the sun. The magician could start by explaining that, just like a plant, the chosen card has an innate desire to rise and reach for the top. Despite the magician's attempts to keep it in place, the card will continue to strive for greatness and rise to the top of the deck.🤖
Okay, that’s still garbage. But not worse than many presentations for the Ambitious Card that you see magicians actully do.
Could I generate a Jerxian presentation for the Ambitious Card?
I asked:
How could I present the Ambitious Card magic trick in a way that it would feel like an emotionally affecting immersive experience for the person watching?
🤖To present the ambitious card magic trick in a way that it would feel like an emotionally affecting immersive experience for the person watching, you could focus on creating a personal connection with the audience and using the trick to tell a heartfelt story. For example, you could start by introducing yourself and explaining why you love magic. You could then talk about a specific time in your life when you felt like the chosen card, struggling to rise above your circumstances and reach for your goals.🤖
Then I considered an incredible short-cut to greatness. What if I just asked AI how a particular famous magician might present a trick (say, the Ambitious Card). Then I could just steal whatever it suggested.
So I asked:
How might Penn and Teller present the Ambitious Card magic trick?
🤖 Penn and Teller are well-known for their unique and entertaining approach to magic. If they were to present the ambitious card magic trick, they might approach it in a way that challenges the audience's expectations and subverts traditional magic conventions.
For example, Penn and Teller might start by explaining the rules of the trick and asking a member of the audience to choose a card. They might then perform the trick, but with a twist: instead of making the chosen card rise to the top of the deck, they might make it disappear entirely. This would surprise and intrigue the audience, and set the stage for the rest of the trick.
Next, Penn and Teller might reveal that the chosen card is actually inside a sealed box that was on stage the entire time. They might then open the box and show the audience the card, proving that it is not a trick and that the card really did disappear. This would add an element of mystery and suspense to the trick, and keep the audience guessing.
Finally, Penn and Teller might conclude the trick by revealing the true secret behind the ambitious card: the chosen card was actually a duplicate, and the real card was hidden in the box all along. This would surprise and delight the audience, and leave them with a sense of amazement and wonder. Overall, Penn and Teller's unique and playful approach to magic would make the ambitious card trick feel fresh and exciting. 🤖
Now, here’s where the AI really began to show it’s bullshit. I then asked how Criss Angel might perform the Ambitious Card, and it said.
🤖 Criss Angel is known for his high-energy, larger-than-life approach to magic. If he were to present the ambitious card magic trick, he might use his signature style to create a thrilling and impressive performance.
For example, Criss Angel might start by asking a member of the audience to choose a card. He might then perform the trick, but with a twist: instead of making the chosen card rise to the top of the deck, he might make it disappear entirely and then reappear in a different location. This would shock and awe the audience, and set the stage for the rest of the trick.
Next, Criss Angel might take the trick to the next level by performing the ambitious card in front of a live audience, in a public location like Times Square or the Las Vegas strip. He might also incorporate other elements of magic, such as levitation or mind reading, to add to the sense of wonder and amazement.
Finally, Criss Angel might conclude the trick by revealing the secret behind the ambitious card: the chosen card was actually a duplicate, and the real card was hidden in a secret location all along. This would surprise and delight the audience, and leave them with a sense of amazement and wonder. Overall, Criss Angel's energetic and dynamic style would make the ambitious card trick feel like a high-stakes performance and an unforgettable experience.🤖
This bitch is already out of ideas. It had one shitty idea for how Penn and Teller would perform it, and then it recycled the same dumb idea for Criss Angel. I’m not impressed.
I decided to try and get some definitive answers, because the creative stuff wasn’t working. So I asked who S.W. Erdnase’s real identity was and the chat app was like, “This can’t be known.”
So then I went to the art app and asked it to draw S.W. Erdnase and here were the results…
These are clearly four different people. So perhaps I needed a more direct prompt. So I asked instead for a portrait of the guy who wrote The Expert At The Card Table.
And finally, after 120 years, we have our answer.
Here’s what he looked like.
Mystery solved!