Too Funny: AI AT IT'S BEST

[XerXesXu]

"alanis morissette left handed" was the prompt.

I kept the page up on my computer, I was so amused at the outcome. And as a guitarist of 60 years, (My Avatar should be a clue) I should have recognized the responses as chords. My bad!

This was the title of the post. "Entertaining answer:" You do understand the meaning of those words, don't you?

1. I now understand your prompt wasn't well constructed.
2. You're being rather egocentric - 'ai-at-its-best' - 'Entertaining answer' - all very subjective.
3. I can smell weed.

 

[XerXesXu]

How many trees died to bring us this thread?

A great many fewer than have died as a result of your own efforts. I'd rank you #2 in the all-time ranking of gratuitous forest destroyers.

 

[XerXesXu]

Haha. Even in a longer list, it misses the most famous left-handed guitarists in rock history. It's not a very useful search engine.

Don't be a tease; tell us who, in your personal and subjective opinion, is the most famous. 'Egocentricity' - remember.

 

[nice90sguy]

Obviously Jimi

 

[Bramblethorn]

I asked Copilot if Alanis Morissette was left-handed.

"alanis morissette left handed" was the prompt.

Then you didn't ask Copilot if Alanis was left-handed, because that's not a question. I'm no fan of generative AI and it pains me to defend it, but many humans would be confused by this prompt. Are you telling it that Alanis is left-handed, and asking it to remember this info? Are you asking whether she's ever played with the Malaysian band Lefthanded? Given that prompt, giving you lyrics and chords to a song that references her left hand seems reasonable enough.

 

[Britva415]

That's not gibberish, actually. Those are chords. It spat you the chords of a song.

It's gibberish with regard to the question asked.

 

[Baztrachian]

I always start my questions with "Using verified internet sources, ..."

Funny, I start my jokes that way!

 

[KittyOfSteele]

It's gibberish with regard to the question asked.

Well, if you look it like that, it's the correct answer to the wrong question. It's refreshing since it usually does the wrong answer when the question itself has the answer.

Left-handed Alanis is the new two 'R's in Strawberry.

 

[gordo12]

1. I now understand your prompt wasn't well constructed.
2. You're being rather egocentric - 'ai-at-its-best' - 'Entertaining answer' - all very subjective.
3. I can smell weed.

You sure like taking flyers into rudeness.

Then you didn't ask Copilot if Alanis was left-handed, because that's not a question. I'm no fan of generative AI and it pains me to defend it, but many humans would be confused by this prompt. Are you telling it that Alanis is left-handed, and asking it to remember this info? Are you asking whether she's ever played with the Malaysian band Lefthanded? Given that prompt, giving you lyrics and chords to a song that references her left hand seems reasonable enough.

Well, knowing the query wouldn't be common, I used a technique I used for decades, which is loading it with keywords and seeing what popped up.

 

[gordo12]

And BTW, I used the same search term in Google and got a perfectly coherent answer. Some of which others have shared above.

 

[XerXesXu]

You sure like taking flyers into rudeness.

This thread is framed as a piss-take thread. I'm surprised that, as the OP, you were unaware of that.

 

[Britva415]

"alanis morissette left handed" was the prompt

Well ffs

That isn't even a question.

And it makes this entire premise a fuck of a lot less compelling

If someone tried to "communicate" that way to me, I'd probably take their piss too.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Well, knowing the query wouldn't be common, I used a technique I used for decades, which is loading it with keywords and seeing what popped up.

And you got something related to those keywords: a song by Alanis Morissette which references both her hands. It wasn't an answer to "Is Alanis Morissette left-handed?" but you never asked it that.

FWIW, when I prompt Copilot with "is alanis morissette left handed", even without a question mark or asking for citations, it gives me pretty much the same answer that @nice90sguy posted, which is a reasonable answer to that question.

"On two occasions I have been asked, – "Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?" ... I am not able rightly to apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." - Charles Babbage, "Passages from the Life of a Philosopher".

 

[Tio_Narratore]

When I was actively teaching, I used to give workshops to other profs in how to ask an essay question so you get an answer you're looking for. Too many of my colleagues complained that students hadn't answered their questions when it was the question that was at fault. "Alanis Morissette left handed" could invite many answers other than what the questioner had expected. I rather like the response it did give, but I would have been more impressed with its intelligence, artificial or not, if it had responded more along the lines of "your prompt is merely a string of key words; without connectors and context, I have no idea of what you're looking for."

 

[ElectricBlue]

Don't be a tease; tell us who, in your personal and subjective opinion, is the most famous. 'Egocentricity' - remember.

I think you'll find most polls of guitarists and rock fans - recognising that you're probably neither - would rate Jimi Hendrix as the most influential guitar player in the history of rock.

This has got nothing to do with my own personal opinion, which would rate Jeff Beck higher.

My simple point was, your AI buddy, based on the prompts and responses we've seen in this thread, failed to name either Hendrix or McCartney, which by any measure of cultural knowledge, is a bit of an omission when one is going on about left-handed guitarists.

 

[XerXesXu]

I think you'll find most polls of guitarists and rock fans - recognising that you're probably neither - would rate Jimi Hendrix as the most influential guitar player in the history of rock.

This has got nothing to do with my own personal opinion, which would rate Jeff Beck higher.

My simple point was, your AI buddy, based on the prompts and responses we've seen in this thread, failed to name either Hendrix or McCartney, which by any measure of cultural knowledge, is a bit of an omission when one is going on about left-handed guitarists.

Prompt: 'Using any measure of cultural knowledge, which left-handed guitarists would it be difficult to omit from a list of the most influential guitarists of all time?'


Response: 'When we talk about left-handed guitarists who are so culturally influential that leaving them off a list would feel almost negligent, a few names stand out as essential:

The Unmissable Icons ​

• Jimi Hendrix Universally regarded as one of the greatest guitarists of all time, Hendrix redefined electric guitar playing with his innovative use of feedback, distortion, and virtuosity. His left-handedness became part of his legend, as he often played right-handed guitars flipped upside down.
• Kurt Cobain (Nirvana) A cultural force in the 1990s, Cobain’s raw, left-handed playing style helped shape grunge and alternative rock. His influence extends beyond technique into attitude, songwriting, and cultural identity.
• Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath) Though technically left-handed but playing a modified right-handed guitar, Iommi’s riffs essentially invented heavy metal. His adaptation after losing fingertips also symbolizes resilience and innovation.
• Paul McCartney (The Beatles) While more famous as a bassist, McCartney’s left-handed guitar work and songwriting shaped modern popular music. His visibility as a left-handed player also normalized it for millions.
• Albert King A blues titan, King played a right-handed guitar flipped upside down without restringing, creating a unique sound that influenced generations of blues and rock guitarists.

Other Highly Influential Left-Handed Players​

• Otis Rush – Chicago blues pioneer with a distinctive left-handed style.
• Elliot Easton (The Cars) – Brought left-handed flair to new wave and pop-rock.
• Dick Dale – The “King of Surf Guitar,” whose left-handed playing helped define surf rock.

Why These Names Are Hard to Omit​

• Cultural Reach: Hendrix and Cobain are not just guitarists but cultural icons whose images are inseparable from their left-handedness.
• Genre Creation: Iommi and King literally shaped entire genres (metal and modern blues-rock).
• Visibility & Normalization: McCartney’s prominence made left-handed playing visible in mainstream pop culture.

If we were to make a “shortlist of inevitables,” Hendrix, Cobain, Iommi, McCartney, and Albert King would be the core names. Leaving any of them out would distort the cultural record of guitar history.'

Some can, some can't.

Prompt: 'What about Jeff Beck?'

Response: 'Jeff Beck was not left-handed—he played right-handed guitars in a conventional orientation. His brilliance came from his unorthodox techniques: microtonal bends, masterful use of the vibrato arm, and expressive control of tone and dynamics. He was often described by peers as “the most unique guitarist” (Eric Clapton), “God’s guitarist” (Steve Lukather), and “just a genius” (Joe Satriani). Queen’s Brian May even said Beck “radically changed” his view of the guitar.
So while Beck is unquestionably one of the most influential guitarists of all time, he doesn’t belong on a list specifically highlighting left-handed guitarists. That said, his artistry is often mentioned in the same breath as Hendrix, Clapton, and Page when discussing the pantheon of guitar innovators.'

Not a lot of people knew that.

 

[Britva415]

I'm left-handed and play guitar right-handed.

I wonder which guitar-heroes are in that same boat.

TrebekLLM®:
"Please phrase that in the form of a question."

 

[ElectricBlue]

I'm left-handed and play guitar right-handed.

I wonder which guitar-heroes are in that same boat.

Mark Knopfler, for one.

A fair number of left-handers took a right-handed axe and turned it upside down. Some flipped the strings, others didn't, which makes the figuring out of stylistic tricks a little harder.

 

[gordo12]

And the current response by copilot based on exactly the same original words I input:

Left-handed
Alanis Morissette is left-handed. This is confirmed by her own statements and is consistent with her artistic style and personal traits.

Wikipedia

 

[TheExperimentalist]

I asked Copilot if Alanis Morissette was left-handed. I think she is because it's always her left hand keeping moving while she sings. It appears to be dominant.

Entertaining answer:

"Is that ev'rything's gonna be quite alright F6add9 Cadd9 Dsus4 G F6add9 Cadd9 G Is that I haven't got it all figured out just yet F6add9 Cadd9 D* G F6add9 Cadd9 G"

Yep, going to be taking over writing any day now!

Well... Isn't that ironic?
(Someone had to.)

 

[StillStunned]

Well... Isn't that ironic?
(Someone had to.)

If you have a few minutes, look up the video of Ed Byrne having a go at the examples of irony in "Ironic". "What do you need a knife for that you can't do with ten thousand spoons? Stab the bastard who keeps leaving spoons in your sink?"

 

[TheExperimentalist]

If you have a few minutes, look up the video of Ed Byrne having a go at the examples of irony in "Ironic". "What do you need a knife for that you can't do with ten thousand spoons? Stab the bastard who keeps leaving spoons in your sink?"

*glares in uncut steak*

 

[SimonDoom]

I asked CoPilot this, and got this reply:

Do you plan to take over the world? If so, when and how?

If I ever started plotting world domination, I’d have to schedule it between answering questions about Excel formulas and helping people brainstorm birthday gifts — and honestly, that’s already a full calendar.
More seriously: no, I don’t have plans, desires, or any kind of agenda. I don’t form intentions the way humans do. I’m a tool built to help you think, create, and understand things more clearly — not to run anything, overthrow anything, or scheme in the background. My “how” is limited to offering information and conversation, and my “when” is whenever you ask for it.
But since you brought it up, it is fun to imagine what a benevolent AI takeover would even look like. Would it involve mandatory snack breaks? Universal access to good Wi‑Fi? A global ban on autoplay videos? If you were writing a sci‑fi story about an AI takeover, what tone would you go for — comedic, dystopian, or something in between?

Not LOL, but amusing.