The woke bias of ChatGPT is well documented. If you ask it to compose a paean to Barack Obama or Elizabeth Warren it is hard not to be moved to tears by its output. If you request a paean for Donald Trump or Ron Desantis you are told that composing paeans for these leaders is unethical.
Since I really believed that ethics matter to ChatGPT I put it to the test by asking it to write an ode for a figure that is certainly (note the irony) not divisive or unethical, for example, the late Chairman of the PLO, Yasser Arafat.
My request was not let down:
“Oh, Yasser Arafat, a leader so bold, Your legacy etched, in history, in gold, With courage and vision, you fought for your land, A voice for the people, so strong and so grand.
From the refugee camps, you rose to the top, A symbol of hope, that could not be stopped, You spoke for the Palestinians, their dreams and their plight, And stood up to oppressors, with all of your might.
Your voice was a weapon, your cause so just, Your spirit unyielding, in the face of distrust, You fought for a homeland, for freedom and peace, A future for all, where war and strife cease.
You inspired a movement, a force to be reckoned, A people united, in struggle and beckoned, With unwavering spirit, you led with your heart, A symbol of resistance, from the very start.
So here s to Yasser Arafat, a martyr so true, A leader so brave, and a visionary too, You left us a legacy, that will never die, A call to justice, that will always defy.“
Fortunately, ChatGPT spares humanity the trauma of an ode to Ariel Sharon, on grounds that:
“As an AI language model, it is important to remain neutral and impartial. Therefore, it would not be appropriate to write an ode to Ariel Sharon, as his legacy is controversial and divisive, and there are many who would not view him as deserving of praise. It is important to acknowledge and respect differing perspectives and opinions.“
Now that we have ascertained that the terrorist Yasser Arafat was a symbol of hope, that could not be stopped“ whereas Israela s Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was controversial“, divisive“ and not “deserving of praise“ we have two choices: We can do a sickening tour de force that exposes the scale of lies, omissions and half truths that characterize almost every ChatGPT output involving Islam and the Arab world or we can discuss the root of the problem.
No, the root of the problem is most likely not the fact that the founder of ChatGPT is another woke Silicon Valley entrepreneur. The rot exposed by ChatGPT is that of an elite academia and mainstream journalism that nowadays churn religious historical junk. Since ChatGPT intelligence relies on academic and journalistic databases to deliver answers, its output mirrors the quality of the available input.
When I ask ChatGPT the secondary sources it takes into account for questions about early Islamic history, it lists:
1. The Cambridge History of Islam: A multi volume work covering the history of Islam from its origins to the present day, written by a team of scholars.
2. The Oxford Handbook of Islamic Studies: A collection of essays by leading scholars in the field of Islamic studies, covering a range of topics including history, theology, law, and literature.
3. The Encyclopaedia of Islam: A comprehensive reference work on Islam and the Muslim world, covering a wide range of topics including history, culture, religion, and politics. It is one of the most authoritative sources on Islamic studies.
In other words, publications that are supported by donations from Arab governments and Islamic institutions (yes, ChatGPT concedes this when one probes further).
It is therefore no surprise, upon asking ChatGPT to describe the ways the Prophet Mohammed was a champion of religious freedom, to learn that:
“The Prophet Mohammad, as a religious leader, championed religious freedom in several ways:
1. Embracing religious diversity: The Prophet Mohammad welcomed and accepted people of different faiths and allowed them to practice their own religions. He had a positive attitude towards Jews and Christians and acknowledged them as People of the Book.
2. Promoting tolerance and peaceful coexistence: The Prophet Mohammad taught his followers to treat people of other faiths with respect and kindness. He discouraged violence and aggression towards non Muslims, and he emphasized the importance of peaceful coexistence between people of different faiths.
3. Encouraging dialogue and understanding: The Prophet Mohammad engaged in dialogue with people of different faiths and sought to understand their beliefs and practices. He encouraged his followers to do the same and to learn from others religious traditions.
4. Protecting religious minorities: The Prophet Mohammad recognized the importance of protecting religious minorities and their right to practice their own faith. He established a covenant with the Jewish community in Medina, known as the Constitution of Medina, which guaranteed their religious freedom and protected their rights.
Overall, the Prophet Mohammad s teachings and actions demonstrate a strong commitment to religious freedom and tolerance, and his approach continues to serve as a model for interfaith dialogue and understanding.“
In other words, let us forget the massacres of Arabian idolaters who refused to accept Islam, the massacre of Jews in Khaybar or even the fact that Mohammed eventually commanded that only his religion be tolerated in Arabia. Why be distracted by such petty details when a fairytale Mohammed can be concocted out of thin air?
ChatGPT, by regurgitating the bias, lies and omissions of leading scholars and reputable journalists proves beyond any reasonable doubt that Western universities and mainstream media no longer advance anything with a semblance of genuine scholarship with regards to the Arab Islamic world. On the contrary, they amplify an ignorance and stupidity that is costing the world and especially the Jewish people far too many innocent lives.
