More ChatGPT

I'm truly interested in the powerful possibilities that this heuristic system brings about. Sure, there are ethical debates in regards to academic dishonesty, but I also feel that it could be a powerful tool when used for the forces of good. As an example, I have been stymied by a story scenario (called Dark Side Station--the title is my favorite part so far) for almost a decade now. I decided to type in a request for help with it to ChatGPT and was quite impressed by the responses.

My request was: What could be some plot points in a short story about a researcher who is at a station on the far side of the moon who detects and can translate the broadcasts of an alien civilization?

This is the response I was given on the first attempt:
​Here are a few possible plot points that could be included in a short story about a researcher on the far side of the moon who detects and translates the broadcasts of an alien civilization:

1. The researcher initially discovers the broadcasts by accident, while working on a routine project at the station.
2. As the researcher begins to decipher the broadcasts, they become increasingly convinced that they are hearing messages from an intelligent, extraterrestrial source.
3. The researcher struggles to keep their discovery a secret, as they are unsure of how the rest of humanity will react to the news.
4. The researcher becomes obsessed with translating the broadcasts and uncovering their meaning, causing them to neglect their other work and their personal relationships.
5. As the researcher continues to listen to the broadcasts, they begin to uncover clues about the alien civilization's history, culture, and technological advances.
6. The researcher faces a moral dilemma when they realize that the broadcasts contain sensitive information that could be used for both good and evil purposes.
7. The researcher is eventually forced to reveal their discovery to the world, leading to a global debate about how to respond to the news.

On a second attempt, this was the slightly altered response: ​

1. The researcher, who is working at a station on the far side of the moon, becomes excited when they detect a series of unusual signals coming from deep space.
2. They are able to determine that the signals are being broadcast by an advanced alien civilization, and they become obsessed with deciphering their meaning.
3. As the researcher works to translate the broadcasts, they begin to uncover clues about the nature of the alien society and the challenges they face.
4. The researcher becomes increasingly isolated as they focus on their work, and they begin to feel a sense of disconnection from their colleagues and the world back on Earth.
5. As they continue to decode the broadcasts, the researcher realizes that the aliens are facing a dire threat and are desperately trying to find a way to prevent their own extinction.
6. The researcher must decide whether to reveal their findings to the world, knowing that it could have far-reaching consequences, or to keep their discovery a secret in order to protect the aliens from interference.

I am amazed that the AI was able to come up with these plot specifics (and their order), but I noticed that it did not really account for my setting the story on the far side of the moon--which indicates that (as of 2021, anyway) this particular idea is not yet part of our online collective consciousness. I also found it interesting that both sets of plot points include an element that focuses on the researcher's personal life. This is a fantastic tool that has a great deal of potential.