A talking dodo leads a new AI experiment at a zoology museum
Lead? AI experiment?
Step 1: Full Translation
Step 2: Syntax Analysis
Step 3: Summary and Interpretation
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Posted November 13, 2024
Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
- sighting / ˈsaɪ tɪŋ / (n.) – an occasion when something or someone that is rare, unusual, or difficult to see is seen
Example:
The scientists are excited because of the sighting of the endangered tiger.
endangered ?
Step 1: Full Translation
Step 2: Syntax Analysis
Step 3: Summary and Interpretation
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- drive / draɪv / (v.) – to cause something to happen or to put someone or something into a certain situation or condition, which is usually unpleasant
Example:
Rising costs have driven small businesses to close down because they can’t keep up.
Keep up?
Step 2: Syntax Analysis
Step 3: Summary and Interpretation
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- pleasantry / ˈplɛz ən tri / (n.) – a polite greeting that people usually say to help make other people feel comfortable
Example:
The managers often exchange pleasantries before starting the meeting.
A that B
Step 2: Syntax Analysis
Step 3: Summary and Interpretation
Pleasantry
Step 2: Syntax Analysis
Step 3: Summary and Interpretation
a polite greeting that people usually say to help make other people feel comfortable これの that の前後の構造,関係は,どのような構造? ChatGPT: ChatGPT この文における “that” の前後の構造と関係について、詳しく分析します。 文の構造解析 原文: “A polite greeting that people usually say to help make other people feel comfortable”
具体的な構造関係
認知言語学的な視点 認知言語学の観点から見ると、“that” は「丁寧な挨拶」という概念と「他人を安心させる機能」を結びつける役割を果たしています。この構造では、“greeting” という抽象的な概念が「通常使われる方法」や「他者を心地よくさせる」という具体的な意味を帯び、よりイメージしやすい形で読者に伝わるようにしています。 4o あなた: A(名詞)that(=) B(節)ですか? ChatGPT: ChatGPT はい、その通りです。この文の構造は 「A (名詞) that = B (節)」 という形になっています。 具体的には:
ここで “that” は 「A = B」 の関係を作り出し、A(丁寧な挨拶) が B(他人を安心させるために通常言われるもの) と等しいことを示しています。 4o あなた: Bには完全な文の構造が保たれているのですね? ChatGPT: ChatGPT はい、Bには完全な文の構造が保たれています。 具体的に見てみると、B (関係代名詞節) の部分は次のようになっています:
この節内での文の構造は、主語 (S: people) + 動詞 (V: say) + 目的語(help make other people feel comfortable) という形で、完全な文の構造が成り立っています。さらに、“to help make other people feel comfortable” は 目的を表す不定詞句として機能し、主節の内容を補足しています。 確認ポイント
このように、関係代名詞節 B では完全な文の要素(主語・動詞など)が保持されており、それが A(先行詞)に対して「どのようなものか」を限定的に説明する役割を担っています。 4o あなた: A = Bで塊=塊 と完全なものの結びつけですね? ChatGPT: ChatGPT はい、まさにその通りです。A = B の構造で、「塊=塊」として完全なもの同士の結びつけが成り立っています。 具体的には:
この構造は、Aという名詞句の塊が、Bという関係代名詞節の塊と結びつけられ、「このような挨拶」だと限定して具体化しています。AとBはそれぞれ独立した意味の塊でありながら、A = B の関係で結びつけられることにより、「丁寧な挨拶とは、他の人を安心させるために通常言われるもの」という明確なイメージが形成されます。 このようにして、意味が完全に成立する塊同士を結びつけることで、具体的かつ限定的な意味を持つ表現が作られています。 |
- specimen / ˈspɛs ə mən / (n.) – an example of something such as an animal or plant that is collected to be displayed or analyzed
Example:
The spider specimen was placed in a glass case and displayed in the museum.
- trial / ˈtraɪ əl / (v.) – to test something’s quality, value, or usefulness in a formal way or method
Example:
The new app is being trialed by selected users to see if the features work well.
Article
Read the text below.
The last confirmed sighting of a dodo was in the 17th century. But at the Cambridge Museum of Zoology, it is speaking again. These are the skeletal remains of a bird that was extinct by the 1680s—and is one of the first animals humans realized they had driven to extinction.
But now it is chatting away, answering anything and everything in a natural conversation.
Using AI technology, visitors to the museum can talk to the dodo using their smart devices.
It responds to pleasantries, it can explain how it was driven to extinction when sailors arrived at its Mauritius home, and even considers ethical questions like whether it would like to be cloned back into existence by scientists.
Jack Ashby, assistant director of the Museum of Zoology Cambridge, thinks AI provides a new way for visitors to interact with its exhibits.
He says, “Museums generally choose what to tell people, but in this way they can ask whatever they like and that’s really, really valuable, I think. They can have an actual conversation with an animal, with a specimen, and I think brings it to life in a really different way than a normal museum exhibit might.”
There are 12 other animal specimens featured in the project, each with its own unique voice.
Jack Ashby says, “When I started working with the Nature Perspectives platform, I was just asking factual questions. But because the animal’s personality comes across really quickly, you end up having an actual conversation where you’re asking more about feelings, you’re asking anything fun. You could ask how its day was or what it had for breakfast. You can have a proper conversation. And I think that it’s a different way of engaging. And it’s much more real, I think, than most information we get in museums.”
The AI technology is provided by Nature Perspectives, an international tech-education company founded by Cambridge graduates who studied together on a Master’s of Conservation Leadership program.
The technology is being trialed for a month, and the museum will then analyze the response and the types of conversations it generates.
The Nature Perspectives AI experiment runs from 15 October until 15 November 2024.
This article was provided by The Associated Press.
Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
What do you think about the AI technology that allows people to talk to extinct animals? Would you like to talk to an extinct animal using AI? Why or why not? If you were to talk with an extinct animal, like the dodo, what questions would you ask? Why? Discuss.
How do you think talking to extinct animals through the use of AI technology affects science education, environmental education, and history education? What do you think is the importance of this technology? Discuss.
Discussion B
The AI dodo talks about whether it would want to be cloned back to life. Do you think scientists should try to bring extinct animals back? Why or why not? How do you think people might react if an extinct animal were brought back to life? Discuss.
How do you think bringing back extinct animals might help or hurt the environment? Discuss.
Category: Science/Environment