Truly yours: ChatGPT

Over the years I have been asked numerous questions by youth that I tried to answer. A few times I failed. All such perplexing questions have been stored in my counselling journal until recently ChatGPT was introduced. The application dives into a sea of books and other resources to present the answer to any question in a conversational form, giving a human-like text impression. The following script mentions some of the questions and how AI answers them.

I think these questions, eighteen in number, will stimulate a novel thinking pattern in the readers of this script, enabling them to look at the blind spots of their lives.

1) Why do break-ups happen? “Breakups happen due to a variety of reasons, including incompatibility, communication issues, trust issues, changes in priorities, abuse, loss of intimacy, external influences, repeated conflicts, feeling unappreciated, and infidelity.” 2) Why do people stop giving time to their partners? “People may stop giving time to their partners due to growing apart, changing priorities, feeling emotionally disconnected, or experiencing conflicts and issues that create distance in the relationship.” 3) What is a soul partner? “A soul partner, often referred to as a soulmate, is a person with whom one shares a deep and profound connection, understanding and compatibility on emotional, intellectual and spiritual levels, creating a sense of completeness and belonging.” 4) What is more important, love or money? “The importance of love or money depends on individual values and circumstances; both can play crucial roles in life, but their significance varies from person to person.” 5) Why do good people meet bad people? “Encountering bad people can be an inevitable part of life’s journey, allowing good people to learn, grow and develop resilience while appreciating the contrast between good and bad.”

6)What to do if one’s beloved has no time for oneself? “If the people you love have no time for you, communicate your feelings and needs openly with them to foster understanding and explore ways to reconnect.” 7) Why does one write poetry about someone? “People write poetry about someone to express their deep emotions, feelings and thoughts about that person, capturing the essence of their connection and experiences.” 8) How to know how important you are to someone? “To know how important you are to someone, observe their consistent actions, attentiveness and willingness to invest time and effort in your relationship.” 9) Why do people lose interest in other people? “People may get bored of other people due to routine predictability, lack of novelty in interactions and unmet emotional needs.”

10) What does “too busy” mean? “Too busy generally means that the person feels overwhelmed with other commitments or activities, and they don’t have enough time or energy to prioritise or invest in the relationship with you.” 11) What happens to old friends when people find new ones? “When people find new friends, they may naturally spend more time and energy with their new social circle, leading to a decrease in interactions with their old friends. Consequently, a gradual drift or fading of old friendships happens over time. However, this isn’t always the case, as some old friendships can endure despite new connections being formed.”

12) Why do people change? “People change due to personal growth, life experiences and evolving circumstances, shaping their beliefs, values and behaviours over time.” 13) How to know if I am the luckiest? “Your gratitude reveals it!” 14) How to know if the other person wants to move on? “Distance tells you.” 15) How to move on from a past relationship? “Self-reflection, acceptance, support and time.” 16) How to know if I am important to someone? “The consistent presence of the other person.” 17) When a person finds new soul partners what happens to the old ones? “The dynamics of relationships may change, and while some old connections may remain, others might naturally fade as people prioritise their new soul partners.” 18) Lastly, what is happiness? “It is subjective fulfilment.”

Ironically, emotionless AI can help humans deal effectively with their relationships and emotional needs.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 31^st, 2023.

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