Use an AI chatbot to do my vacation research for me?
February 28, 2023 11:22 AM Subscribe
How can I, an ignoramus, use one of those ChatGPT djiin to do my vacation research for me?
For example, I would like it to accept a list of museums and attractions in Paris, and tell me the hours & days that each is open.
I have no doubt that there are tutorials, and I welcome any pointers!
Basically I am wondering if this is the kind of question that ChatGPT (or another AI) can handle well, or if it will be really naive. That is, do I need to provide specific URLs, or can it find the canonical source on its own without getting confused by outdated information on non-canonical sites?
Thanks for helping me understand where I can use these in my research toolbox!!
I have no doubt that there are tutorials, and I welcome any pointers!
Basically I am wondering if this is the kind of question that ChatGPT (or another AI) can handle well, or if it will be really naive. That is, do I need to provide specific URLs, or can it find the canonical source on its own without getting confused by outdated information on non-canonical sites?
Thanks for helping me understand where I can use these in my research toolbox!!
Best answer: This is not a thing I would trust ChatGPT with, because ChatGPT produces plausible text that answers your question that may or may not be true. So, for example, it could produce a list of museums (some or most of which will likely be real) but may produce hours that are the kind of hours such museums might have, or had in the past. You would still need to verify those hours.
Basically, it's probably worth thinking of it as fancy autocomplete. It will likely tell you what you want to hear, not necessarily what is true.
posted by kserra at 11:28 AM on February 28, 2023 [9 favorites]
Basically, it's probably worth thinking of it as fancy autocomplete. It will likely tell you what you want to hear, not necessarily what is true.
posted by kserra at 11:28 AM on February 28, 2023 [9 favorites]
Best answer: I just asked ChatGPT if the louvre is open on May 1st. It answered
"no, the Louvre Museum in Paris is closed on May 1st (Labor Day) along with some other major public holidays in France such as January 1st, May 8th, July 14th, and December 25th. It is always a good idea to check the museums official website or social medial channels for any changes in schedule or special events that may affect its opening hours."
This answer is not correct, the Louvre is open on May 8th and July 14th unless they fall on a Tuesday. I think this is really illustrative of how ChatGPT seems to give smart answers that are wrong. It starts listing French public holidays tst have nothing to do with the Louvre's stated days they are closed.
posted by muddgirl at 11:34 AM on February 28, 2023 [14 favorites]
"no, the Louvre Museum in Paris is closed on May 1st (Labor Day) along with some other major public holidays in France such as January 1st, May 8th, July 14th, and December 25th. It is always a good idea to check the museums official website or social medial channels for any changes in schedule or special events that may affect its opening hours."
This answer is not correct, the Louvre is open on May 8th and July 14th unless they fall on a Tuesday. I think this is really illustrative of how ChatGPT seems to give smart answers that are wrong. It starts listing French public holidays tst have nothing to do with the Louvre's stated days they are closed.
posted by muddgirl at 11:34 AM on February 28, 2023 [14 favorites]
Best answer: AFAIK ChatGPT is not trained on data pre-2021, so any answers you get may be out of date, especially given that the pandemic changed a lot of routines. Google is probably better for this use case, and it's not perfect either.
You could ask it for a list of URLs to the attractions' various websites, and do your own research. But this is just as easy to do with a search engine.
posted by credulous at 11:37 AM on February 28, 2023 [7 favorites]
You could ask it for a list of URLs to the attractions' various websites, and do your own research. But this is just as easy to do with a search engine.
posted by credulous at 11:37 AM on February 28, 2023 [7 favorites]
Best answer: muddgirl beat me to it. This might be something that the new Bing AI search powered by a similar thing as ChatGPT) might do a better job of (if you have access to the beta). ChatGPT's knowledge stops after 2021 whereas the Bing AI search is a smart composite of ChatGPT-like techniques plus active searching of the current web.
With that said, you still will need double check any results you want to be accurate because this class of tools will confidently lie to you.
posted by mmascolino at 11:38 AM on February 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
With that said, you still will need double check any results you want to be accurate because this class of tools will confidently lie to you.
posted by mmascolino at 11:38 AM on February 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: You just ask it a question, it's not complicated and doesn't require programming or special language searches. As a reference, I asked and it answered:
What are the five best museums to see in Paris and what days and times are they open?
Paris is home to some of the world's most renowned museums, and here are some of the best ones to see:
The Louvre Museum: This is the world's largest art museum and a must-see when visiting Paris. It is open every day except Tuesdays, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and until 9:45 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Musée d'Orsay: This museum houses an impressive collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art. It is open every day except Mondays, from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and until 9:45 p.m. on Thursdays.
Centre Pompidou: This museum is home to one of the largest collections of modern and contemporary art in Europe. It is open every day except Tuesdays, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Musée Rodin: This museum is dedicated to the work of the French sculptor Auguste Rodin. It is open every day except Mondays, from 10 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.
Musée de l'Orangerie: This museum is known for its collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art, including Monet's famous Water Lilies. It is open every day except Tuesdays, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Note that museum schedules can change, so it is best to check the official website of each museum before your visit to confirm the opening days and times. Additionally, some museums may have extended hours on certain days or be closed on specific holidays, so it's always a good idea to check ahead of time.
So check those for accuracy as a benchmark for your actual questions.
posted by DarlingBri at 11:40 AM on February 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
What are the five best museums to see in Paris and what days and times are they open?
Paris is home to some of the world's most renowned museums, and here are some of the best ones to see:
The Louvre Museum: This is the world's largest art museum and a must-see when visiting Paris. It is open every day except Tuesdays, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and until 9:45 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Musée d'Orsay: This museum houses an impressive collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art. It is open every day except Mondays, from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and until 9:45 p.m. on Thursdays.
Centre Pompidou: This museum is home to one of the largest collections of modern and contemporary art in Europe. It is open every day except Tuesdays, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Musée Rodin: This museum is dedicated to the work of the French sculptor Auguste Rodin. It is open every day except Mondays, from 10 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.
Musée de l'Orangerie: This museum is known for its collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art, including Monet's famous Water Lilies. It is open every day except Tuesdays, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Note that museum schedules can change, so it is best to check the official website of each museum before your visit to confirm the opening days and times. Additionally, some museums may have extended hours on certain days or be closed on specific holidays, so it's always a good idea to check ahead of time.
So check those for accuracy as a benchmark for your actual questions.
posted by DarlingBri at 11:40 AM on February 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: The Bing AI search is going to be a better fit for this task than ChatGPT as it footnotes its answer with real links and has access to much closer to current data. All the crazy-Sydney-loves-hates-users stuff aside, it's actually pretty damn good at stuff like this.
I just said to it:
I would like a list of museums and attractions in Paris, and tell me the hours & days that each is open.
and got back
Bonjour! Paris has many wonderful museums and attractions to explore. Some of the most popular ones are:
The Louvre Museum: The world’s largest art museum and home to the Mona Lisa. It is open every day except Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and until 9:45 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays.
The Palace of Versailles: The former residence of French kings and queens, with magnificent gardens and fountains. It is open every day except Monday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and until 6:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Musée d’Orsay: A former railway station that now houses a collection of impressionist and post-impressionist paintings. It is open every day except Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and until 9:45 p.m. on Thursdays.
There are also many other museums and monuments that you can visit for free at specific times or days, such as the Musée de l’Orangerie, the Musée National Picasso-Paris, the Rodin Museum, the Paris Museum of Modern Art, Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Arc de Triomphe, etc.
Which one are you most interested in visiting?
Plus 6 links as footnotes to e.g. tripadvisor articles, parisinfo.com, thetourguy.com
On preview I added muddgirl's question:
is the louvre open on may 1st?
and got
No, the Louvre Museum is closed on May 1st. It is also closed on January 1st and December 25th. The museum is open every day except Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and until 9:45 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Do you have another date in mind for visiting the Louvre?
with footnotes pointing to the Louvre's website, louvrelens.fr, hellotickets.co.uk
The links all appear recent and legit, I quickly checked times from the first answer against Google Maps results and they matched; those 3 are global-level attractions however, I'd want to check a bit more diligently for lesser known sites.
I wouldn't trust it with my life, health, happiness or entirety of a dream holiday plan but it is already a extremely powerful research aid for getting this kind of info faster than a regular Google trawl.
posted by protorp at 11:42 AM on February 28, 2023 [4 favorites]
I just said to it:
I would like a list of museums and attractions in Paris, and tell me the hours & days that each is open.
and got back
Bonjour! Paris has many wonderful museums and attractions to explore. Some of the most popular ones are:
The Louvre Museum: The world’s largest art museum and home to the Mona Lisa. It is open every day except Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and until 9:45 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays.
The Palace of Versailles: The former residence of French kings and queens, with magnificent gardens and fountains. It is open every day except Monday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and until 6:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Musée d’Orsay: A former railway station that now houses a collection of impressionist and post-impressionist paintings. It is open every day except Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and until 9:45 p.m. on Thursdays.
There are also many other museums and monuments that you can visit for free at specific times or days, such as the Musée de l’Orangerie, the Musée National Picasso-Paris, the Rodin Museum, the Paris Museum of Modern Art, Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Arc de Triomphe, etc.
Which one are you most interested in visiting?
Plus 6 links as footnotes to e.g. tripadvisor articles, parisinfo.com, thetourguy.com
On preview I added muddgirl's question:
is the louvre open on may 1st?
and got
No, the Louvre Museum is closed on May 1st. It is also closed on January 1st and December 25th. The museum is open every day except Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and until 9:45 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Do you have another date in mind for visiting the Louvre?
with footnotes pointing to the Louvre's website, louvrelens.fr, hellotickets.co.uk
The links all appear recent and legit, I quickly checked times from the first answer against Google Maps results and they matched; those 3 are global-level attractions however, I'd want to check a bit more diligently for lesser known sites.
I wouldn't trust it with my life, health, happiness or entirety of a dream holiday plan but it is already a extremely powerful research aid for getting this kind of info faster than a regular Google trawl.
posted by protorp at 11:42 AM on February 28, 2023 [4 favorites]
Response by poster: kserra: ...it could produce a list of museums (some or most of which will likely be real)...
It's Borges's travel agent!
posted by wenestvedt at 11:46 AM on February 28, 2023 [25 favorites]
It's Borges's travel agent!
posted by wenestvedt at 11:46 AM on February 28, 2023 [25 favorites]
WaPo example: We asked ChatGPT to plan the perfect tour of D.C. Here’s how it went.
posted by jenfullmoon at 1:12 PM on February 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by jenfullmoon at 1:12 PM on February 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
They're good for summarizing information, among other things.
GPT, tell me about Metafilter.
"Metafilter is a community weblog or online forum that was founded in 1999 by Matt Haughey. It was created as a platform for users to share and discuss interesting links, news stories, and topics of interest.
The site has a reputation for high-quality discussions and thoughtful commentary, and it is often praised for its strict moderation policies that aim to maintain a civil and respectful community. Users are encouraged to post interesting links, but also to add context and commentary that can spark lively debates and discussions.
Metafilter is divided into several sections, including the main section for general discussions and links, Ask Metafilter for questions and advice, and MetaTalk for discussions about the site itself. It has a strong sense of community, and many users have been active on the site for years or even decades.
Membership on Metafilter requires a one-time fee to join, which helps to support the site's ongoing operation and moderation. Overall, Metafilter is a unique and valuable resource for anyone looking to engage in thoughtful discussions and explore interesting topics online."
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 2:11 PM on February 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
GPT, tell me about Metafilter.
"Metafilter is a community weblog or online forum that was founded in 1999 by Matt Haughey. It was created as a platform for users to share and discuss interesting links, news stories, and topics of interest.
The site has a reputation for high-quality discussions and thoughtful commentary, and it is often praised for its strict moderation policies that aim to maintain a civil and respectful community. Users are encouraged to post interesting links, but also to add context and commentary that can spark lively debates and discussions.
Metafilter is divided into several sections, including the main section for general discussions and links, Ask Metafilter for questions and advice, and MetaTalk for discussions about the site itself. It has a strong sense of community, and many users have been active on the site for years or even decades.
Membership on Metafilter requires a one-time fee to join, which helps to support the site's ongoing operation and moderation. Overall, Metafilter is a unique and valuable resource for anyone looking to engage in thoughtful discussions and explore interesting topics online."
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 2:11 PM on February 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
Go old school -- guidebooks like Frommer, Lonely Planet, Moon, all have succinct, reliable summaries of the key attractions in each city, along with opening hours and a nice little map.
I would start with a guidebook as a baseline, and then check the websites for any renovation or other exceptional closures.
posted by dum spiro spero at 2:17 PM on February 28, 2023 [2 favorites]
I would start with a guidebook as a baseline, and then check the websites for any renovation or other exceptional closures.
posted by dum spiro spero at 2:17 PM on February 28, 2023 [2 favorites]
I was so inspired by this question I just asked chatgpt to produce a couple of itineraries for me for an upcoming trip, as well as lists of restaurants serving a particular thing I like, near to one of the places I intend to be.
Started double checking things. The first restaurant was real, the second and third were not :(
Going to try the Bing one now on protorp's recommendation.
posted by fingersandtoes at 3:34 PM on February 28, 2023 [5 favorites]
Started double checking things. The first restaurant was real, the second and third were not :(
Going to try the Bing one now on protorp's recommendation.
posted by fingersandtoes at 3:34 PM on February 28, 2023 [5 favorites]
Best answer: ChatGPT is a chat bot not a look-stuff-up bot. It is good at talking like a person and terrible at providing factual information because it doesn't actually look anything up, it just strings together words that it knows generally go together.
I'm sure you know someone who can never admit when they don't know something and they just lie and make stuff up so they can sound knowledgeable even when they aren't. Would you take that person's advice? If not, don't take advice from ChatGPT.
posted by Jacqueline at 3:43 PM on February 28, 2023 [17 favorites]
I'm sure you know someone who can never admit when they don't know something and they just lie and make stuff up so they can sound knowledgeable even when they aren't. Would you take that person's advice? If not, don't take advice from ChatGPT.
posted by Jacqueline at 3:43 PM on February 28, 2023 [17 favorites]
Mod note: Couple of comments removed, please stick to the AskMetafilter Content Policy and make sure any answers are direct responses to the question, thank you!
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) at 10:33 AM on March 1, 2023
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) at 10:33 AM on March 1, 2023
This article might interest you:
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/27/can-chatgpt-help-plan-a-vacation-heres-what-it-can-and-cant-do.html
posted by tristeza at 1:41 PM on March 1, 2023 [1 favorite]
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/27/can-chatgpt-help-plan-a-vacation-heres-what-it-can-and-cant-do.html
posted by tristeza at 1:41 PM on March 1, 2023 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
So, you can try but I wouldn't trust a long list of numbers / URLs. General and specific advice is great, but it can't quite cross the finish line into perfect details yet.
posted by bbqturtle at 11:26 AM on February 28, 2023 [6 favorites]