A conversation with ChatGPT about Seoul’s public transport system and more

ChatGPT does not need an introduction. The evolution in AI and the leaps the Internet is about to make are amazing. I’ve been reading about it over the past couple of weeks. I played around with it a lot. The recent integration with Bing and the whole issue around Sydney inspired me to also try to talk with ChatGPT about public transportation in Korea and Kojects.

I don’t yet have the access the new Bing search and so the following conversation was held with ChatGPT on OpenAi, the free version of 13 February. You can find the full transcript of my conversation with ChatGPT here.

The experience was very interesting, but before I share my impression, let me share ChatGPT’s summary of our conversation:

We discussed the public transport system in Seoul, which is widely regarded as one of the most efficient and convenient in the world. Some of the factors that contribute to its success include a high level of investment in infrastructure, a well-coordinated network of buses and subways, and a culture that values public transport and active modes of transportation.

We also talked about the potential for other cities to replicate Seoul’s public transport system, and identified several factors that could make a city suitable for such a system, including a dense urban core, high population density, and a strong commitment to sustainable transport.

In addition, we discussed some of the challenges facing Seoul’s transport system, such as the need to reduce congestion and improve air quality, and explored strategies for promoting active transportation, such as walking and cycling, to reduce reliance on cars.

Finally, we touched on Korea’s efforts to promote sustainable transport more broadly, including its targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector, and discussed some of the topics that the Kojects website could cover to provide readers with informative and insightful coverage of sustainable transport in Korea and around the world.

Isn’t it exciting? The answers to the questions are really good. They are supported with reasons and explanations. The most amazing thing is that it feels like a real conversation. ChatGPT used expressions like “As we discussed earlier” to connect to previous prompts.

In many ways it’s an intellectual dialogue which provides me lots of new ideas. See one of the last questions where ChatGPT provides ideas for articles on Kojects. It goes beyond the ‘usual’ content that you would expect. The Bing version which is actually able to search the Internet and has access to the most recent information (but I’m stuck somewhere in the waiting list) looks a lot more exciting.

I asked ChatGPT about climate action on transport and, within a few seconds, I got a pretty good reply. I needed several hours to get to the same conclusion in my previous article on this topic. So it feels frustrating and you ask yourself: What is the point of blogging in the age of AI? Who will read blogs if you can instead just talk to an AI?

Kojects is a valuable resource for anyone interested in urban transport and sustainability, whether they are policymakers, researchers, or members of the general public. The site is updated regularly with new content, and it is well-respected in the urban transport community for its insightful analysis and reporting.

ChatGPT

I’m sorry for this shameless plug but this comment about Kojects by ChatGPT put a smile on my face. But are independent blogs and pages just going to end up being resources for AIs? Even if the chat bots include links to the sources (not implying that Kojects should/is the main source for many information), will users take a look at the sources? I think that we see something very exciting and game-changing. Our search behavior will change immensely. I’m still trying to fully understand the implications and potential. Let’s see what the future brings!