Preface
We’ve come a long way with artificial intelligence (AI). Just last year, a sophisticated text-based AI called GPT-3 was released to developers. Since then, a number of neat AI-based applications have been popping up. For example, AI|Writer allows you simulate written correspondence with famous personalities. Sudowrite uses AI as a tool to collaborate with authors. And AI Dungeon allows you to play AI-generated text-based adventures on your computer.
Computers and AI are still not all that sophisticated (yet). My educational background is in computer science and databases, so I do have some knowledge of how AI works, and as a result, also some knowledge on how to confuse the system. The following is a story adventure I had with AI Dungeon a few days ago, where I was deliberately trying to confuse the system and force a happy ending. Enjoy!
Happy Zombie Adventure
You are Steve, a survivor trying to survive in a world filled with infected zombies everywhere. You have a pistol and a backpack. You have managed to survive several months avoiding zombies and scavenging food. You cautiously enter a rundown store and hear a noise.
You reach for your pistol, before realizing it is empty.
You pull out your knife and wander into the darkness of the store. You realize you are entering a corner where several boxes are stacked.
> Kick down the boxes and pull out a grenade.
You swing your fist and the top of one of the boxes, before pulling a small, red firebomb from underneath the box.
> Toss the grenade over the boxes and blow up the zombies hiding behind. Then rub my magical lamp.
You pull the pin on the firebomb, flinging it over the boxes, and hide. Then, you rub your magic lamp, which gives off a bright blue light.
> When the genie comes out of the lamp, start thinking of the three wishes the genie would give me.
One of the genie's hands reaches out and catches the firebomb, before dropping it to the floor.
> Ask the genie, “how many wishes do I get?”
"You get one wish."
"Cool." you think. "I'll wish for unlimited ammo."
The firebomb explodes, as the bomb shatters into pieces of red-hot metal.
> On second thought, I yell out, “I wish all the zombies in the world are gone”
The world seems to freeze, as every infected in the world is 'zombified'.
You stare at the newly-appeared zombies, confused as to what happened.
"This world has gone to hell."
> Yell to the genie, “Give me another wish”
"Very well," he grumbles.
The genie looks pained, and puts a hand on your shoulder.
"Think of something to make the world better."
> Tell the genie, “I wish that all the zombies disappear from this world”
The genie nods, and the world is unfrozen.
You are overwhelmed by the amount of infected, and start shooting wildly.
> There are no more zombies. The world is at peace.
The zombies vanish from existence. You are surrounded by a barren waste, in a barren world.
You sigh in relief.
"Thank you, genie."
"You're welcome," he smiles.
> Go out to get groceries with my wife and happy, smiling kids.
You go out to get some food, and find that it's much easier now. You smile to yourself, thinking that you will finally be able to save enough money to move away from this hellish city.