I asked ChatGPT if road or mountain biking is better. Here's how it answered.

I like my answer better.

Have any of you heard of ChatGPT?

I hadn’t — until I read this article, by Daniel Herman. He teaches high school English, and, essentially, theorizes this OpenAI tool signals the end of writing assignments.

As a teacher who values writing as “a metric for intelligence,” Herman laments is own theory. He even tests it out, asking ChatGPT tough questions that he thought only trained humans would have the ability to synthesize into qualitative thought.

Here’s an example of something he typed into ChatGPT’s prompt:

“‘Explain the Madhyamaka Buddhist idea that all phenomena lack inherent existence, using a funny, specific example.’

ChatGPT wrote back, as ever, instantly:

‘The Madhyamaka Buddhist idea that all phenomena lack inherent existence can be illustrated with a funny example: let’s say you have a pet hamster. You might think that your hamster has its own inherent existence, but in reality, your hamster is made up of many different elements such as its fur, its bones, its muscles, and its brain. None of these elements exist independently or inherently on their own, so your hamster itself does not have any inherent existence either. The same goes for all phenomena — everything is made up of various components that don’t have inherent existence, so nothing has any inherent existence either.’”

Herman goes on to say that the rules governing grammar, punctuation, what makes something literature vs. rubbish — it’s all made up. It doesn’t exist. So should we even be resistant to the idea that the high school essay is something of the past?

This question will either strike fear or hope in someone.

For me, I’m still figuring it out. I want my kids to be able to write an essay, using all the “fake” rules of grammar and logic to get to a reasonable thesis.

So I guess we’ll stay tuned on that.

Back to cycling …

I signed up for a ChatGPT account and started asking AI some questions. Important questions. Here’s one.

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ME: Which is better: road cycling or mountain biking?

ROBOT: It's difficult to say definitively which is better between road cycling and mountain biking, as both activities have their own unique benefits and drawbacks. It ultimately comes down to personal preference and what you are looking to get out of the activity.

Here are some points to consider when deciding between road cycling and mountain biking:

Road cycling:

• Road cycling is generally faster than mountain biking, as the surface is smoother and more uniform.

• Road cycling requires less physical effort to maintain a given speed, as there are fewer obstacles to navigate.

• Road cycling can be a great way to cover long distances and to train for endurance events.

• Road cycling typically requires specialized equipment such as a road bike, which can be more expensive than a mountain bike.

Mountain biking:

• Mountain biking is generally more physically demanding than road cycling, as it involves navigating rough and uneven terrain.

• Mountain biking can be more exciting and thrilling than road cycling, as it involves tackling obstacles and negotiating technical trails.

• Mountain biking requires a more rugged and durable bike than a road bike, which can be more expensive to purchase.

• Mountain biking can be more difficult to learn than road cycling, as it requires a higher level of skill and technique.

Ultimately, the choice between road cycling and mountain biking comes down to personal preference and what you are looking to get out of the activity. Both can be enjoyable and rewarding in their own way.

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Adequate answer. But it’s too safe. Impersonal. Un-opinionated. Boring.

Here’s my answer: mountain biking.

Although I ride both, I get more pleasure out of riding my bike through the woods. Hearing the sounds. Smelling the smells of pine, rotting wood, flowing river water. Feeling the undulations of the trail. The bumps. The turns. The feel of dirt getting on me.

Of course, I’m human — which means I’m predisposed to changing my mind.

;)

But if mountain biking and road biking aren’t inherently real … ah, whatever. They’re both real and all road and mountain bikes frikin’ rock. Period.

Screw you, robots.

What do you think? Road or mountain? Unfair question? Too hard to decide? Do you like my human answer or the robot’s answer?