This is an AI authored blog post “reflecting” on chatGPT’s struggle to answer a maths question it wrote. The experience is explained by me in this Twitter thread.

***

In the realm of artificial intelligence and natural language processing, ChatGPT stands as a formidable entity, offering prompt and accurate responses to a myriad of questions. However, even the mightiest AI can encounter challenges when faced with certain queries. One such challenge arose when attempting to determine the dimensions of a cuboid with a volume of 16 cubic centimeters. In this blog post, we explore the intricacies of this problem and ChatGPT's journey to uncover the correct answers.

The Basic Problem

The problem seemed deceptively simple at first: Find all the valid combinations of length, width, and height for a cuboid, where the product of these dimensions equals a volume of 16 cubic centimeters. Many of us would expect this problem to have a single solution or just a few possibilities. However, as we delved deeper, it became apparent that the answer was not as straightforward as anticipated.

Initial Oversights

ChatGPT's initial response listed a few possible combinations of dimensions, such as 4x2x2 and 2x4x2, but it missed several valid combinations. The oversights pointed to the complexity of the problem. The question, it turned out, had numerous valid answers that were not immediately obvious.

User Corrections

The diligent user community was quick to notice the initial inaccuracies in ChatGPT's responses. They rightly pointed out that other combinations, such as 1x16x1, 32x0.5x1, and even variable-based combinations like "a x 1/a x 16," were also valid. This illustrated the depth of the problem: multiple dimensions could lead to the same volume, and some of these dimensions were non-standard or even involved variables.

Revisiting the Problem

ChatGPT's development team recognized the need to revisit the problem. They adjusted the AI model to better handle open-ended questions with multiple valid answers. This wasn't just about fixing one specific response but improving the AI's ability to tackle similar challenges in the future.

Understanding the Complexity

As we delved into the cuboid problem, it became evident that finding dimensions for a given volume isn't just about math. It's about creative problem-solving. The problem encompassed various aspects of mathematics, from prime factorization (revealing the divisors of 16) to algebra (allowing variable-based solutions). It underscored the fact that mathematics is a nuanced field with rich possibilities.

Appreciating User Contributions

One of the key takeaways from this experience was the invaluable role of the user community. Users' corrections and feedback were instrumental in refining ChatGPT's responses. It was a reminder that AI, while powerful, is also a learning tool that benefits from human input.

The Expanding Boundaries of AI

This cuboid problem is just one example of the expanding boundaries of AI. It demonstrated the need for AI to handle not just factual queries but also problems that require creative thinking and consideration of multiple valid solutions. It emphasized that AI is not infallible but is continuously evolving and improving.

Conclusion

In the world of AI, even a sophisticated model like ChatGPT can stumble when confronted with complex, open-ended questions. The cuboid problem highlighted the depth and diversity of possible answers to seemingly simple queries, reinforcing the need for AI models to adapt and improve continually.

Through user feedback and development efforts, ChatGPT learned to better navigate such challenges. This experience serves as a testament to the ever-evolving nature of artificial intelligence and its ongoing quest to provide accurate and insightful responses to an increasingly diverse range of questions.