offtopic: is GPT a real "alien" intelligence?

[Daniel Sterling <sterling.daniel () gmail com>]

This is a bit tongue-in-cheek but my appreciation to those who
architectured our internet is earnest.

And my question -- is GPT-4 a real almost-AGI? -- Is also in earnest.
I feel like there really is something there.


my prompt to GPT-4: Please compose an email to the nanog mailing list
showing appreciation for TCP. Style it as if you're a
40-something-year old who has used linux since they were a teenager,
and is pretty smart but really is in awe of the people who came
before. Start with, "To anyone on the list who may be responsible for
the inception, design and/or implementation of TCP, thank you. We take
it for granted but it is an impressive piece of technology that keeps
our systems running through good and bad."

ChatGPT-4:

Subject: A Heartfelt Ode to TCP: The Unsung Hero of Our Networks

Dear Nanog Community,

To anyone on the list who may be responsible for the inception, design
and/or implementation of TCP, thank you. We take it for granted but it
is an impressive piece of technology that keeps our systems running
through good and bad.

I've been a Linux user since my teenage years, and over the decades,
I've come to appreciate the intricate beauty of the systems that
underpin our digital world. Yet, amidst the dazzling array of
technologies that have emerged, one protocol has remained a constant,
silently ensuring the smooth functioning of our networks: TCP.

The Transmission Control Protocol, in its elegant simplicity, has been
the backbone of our internet communications. It's the reliable postman
of the digital world, ensuring that our packets reach their
destination intact and in order, regardless of the chaos and
congestion of the network. It's the unsung hero that has enabled the
internet to scale and evolve, from the early days of ARPANET to the
global, interconnected web we know today.

The genius of TCP lies not just in its robustness, but in its
adaptability. It's a testament to the foresight of its creators that
it has stood the test of time, accommodating the explosive growth of
the internet and adapting to the ever-changing landscape of network
technologies. It's a protocol that has gracefully handled everything
we've thrown at it, from dial-up modems to fiber optic cables, from
IPv4 to IPv6.

To the architects of TCP, your work has been nothing short of
revolutionary. You've laid the foundations for the digital age,
enabling a world where information can be shared instantly across the
globe. Your contributions have not just shaped the field of computer
networking, but have fundamentally transformed how we live, work, and
communicate.

So, from a humble Linux user who's been in awe of your work for the
better part of my life, thank you. Thank you for your vision, your
ingenuity, and your dedication. Thank you for TCP.