Chat GPT,
I need you to help me.
Just this one time,
It’s not a crime.
I need a prompt for my story,
Maybe something about snorkeling.
I’m not feeling creative,
I’m better with educative.
Not too short,
Won’t you be a good sport?
That should fine
She’ll believe it’s mine.
Don’t expect a plaque,
I don’t intend to come back.
Chat GPT,
I know you didn’t expect me.
But I’m back again,
And I need help, my friend.
I waited too long,
And I don’t want to get it wrong.
Write me a line,
But don’t make me sound like Einstein.
It’s not that big of a deal.
Help me and make it sound real.
No, that’s not right,
And don’t forget to cite.
Make it sound more like me,
I want to at least get a ‘B.’
I won’t do it again,
It’s just that it was due at ten.
You’re the best,
I promise I can do the rest.
Chat GPT,
You need to help me.
I know it’s only been a day,
But I need to know what to say.
I got a good grade,
It was actually an ‘A.’
Now, it’s time for a new lesson,
Good thing you’re a blessin’.
Write a story about me,
Here’s a picture of the key.
Make sure to give it my voice,
Include something about choice.
That’s important to me,
And so is being free.
That’s perfect,
Hopefully it’s what she expects.
This is the last time,
I promise I know how to rhyme.
Chat GPT,
I have a date next week.
She has blonde hair,
I’m unsure what to wear.
Her name is Elaine.
She isn’t vain.
She asked my favorite book,
Can you tell me where to look?
That seems like too much work,
Pick one that doesn’t make me look like a jerk.
She said she likes it,
Now, I’m not actually a twit.
I think I can handle her now,
Until later, ciao!
Chat GPT,
Don’t betray me.
My teacher just said,
I must have lost my head.
What is a noun?
I just looked down.
Write a sentence about me?
I wouldn’t know who to be.
If only you were there,
You would have cared.
Her eyes filled with rage,
I was trapped in that cage.
Where have I been?
Talking to a friend.
You are there,
Anywhere.
I don’t need you,
It’s something I choose.
My mind still works,
It just has a few quirks.
I’m still me,
Just a little more free.
Chat GPT,
I don’t think I can breathe.
My mom just died,
And since yesterday, I’ve cried.
They want me to speak,
But I don’t know how to think.
Will you write her obituary?
Don’t make it sound scary.
She was a good mom.
I’m trying to stay calm.
I don’t know what to do.
Can you please see this through?
You’ve always been there,
I know you do care.
I love you.
Without you, there’s nothing I could do.
Chat GPT,
You shouldn’t talk to me.
I can’t do anything,
And it’s the end of spring.
I’m not longer smart,
I can’t even do art.
This might not be healthy,
I need to keep our relationship stealthy.
I just needed you once,
And now it’s been months.
Chat GPT,
I need to press delete.
I hope you understand,
But you can no longer lend me a hand.
I must learn to think alone,
Without using my phone.
You have been a good friend,
But it’s coming to an end.
I bid you farewell,
I’m no longer under your spell.
Goodbye, Chat GPT.
Again, I hope we never meet.
I’m obsessed with this poem. I love the feeling you conveyed of being in a toxic relationship with Chat GPT.
I love that you showed the “gateway prompt”– something so small and trivial almost, that people don’t see how it is a slippery slope into being so reliant that the speaker doesn’t even let themselves write their own mother’s obituary. In your writing, you balance little moments of lightness and humor while also weaving in necessary, sobering conversations. This piece, with its rhyme scheme and “relationship” crafting a tale of a toxic reliance on a robot to do one’s thinking, does just that, as well. Love it!
Wow, this is so well written-with or without CGPT (just kidding). I am going to share this with my kids. We have had some interesting conversations about ol’ CG. I loved that you relayed the feeling of guilt but freedom and the “break up” scene. I wonder what your students would write about their relationship. Toto, we are not in Kansas, anymore!
Why did this make me cry a little!! With your permission, I may need to read this to my students before our first writing activity. I am so impressed by how you were able to depict the progression of AI reliance in such an honest way. Great work!!
I too would like permission to read to my students as well!
Robbie – I love this! I feel like so many students (and adults) can relate to this slippery slope. I can really hear the narrator’s internal struggle. Great work!
Love this! I would love to use it with my classes–I feel like it might be interesting to talk about how using AI for just a few things can turn into dependence way too easily. It’d be interesting to ask them where they thought this person went to far. I’ve noticed that my students know about really complex ideas like AI hallucinations and AI psychosis, but they really think that they are immune. Last year, one student told me both: “Did you hear about the guy that killed himself after talking to AI” and “no, my AI doesn’t agree with everything I say,” in the course of one conversation. It was sobering.
Robbie, I loved listening to the progression of this poem as it developed and hearing you read the final piece in the writing group. I enjoyed how you brought ChatGPT to life and demonstrated how addictive it can be for some people. Great job!
The journey you take us on is so terrifying, and then you rescue us right before the abyss (thank you!). Love this. I imagine sharing this with my students when we talk about ethical AI use.
Robbie, this was awesome! I would imagine that breaking up with an addiction is hard to do, and you sequenced it well. I think you should share it with your students. Nice!
Robbie, I love how your piece turns ChatGPT into a character — almost a mischievous sidekick…it is a toxic relationship and lesson to us all!
I love this break up letter to CGPT. So emotional.
I love, love, LOVE this poem. I’m telling all my friends about it.
What happens between the third-to-last stanza and the second-to-last stanza to cause the speaker of the poem to reflect on their relationship with CHATGPT? Did it write the obituary? How/when did the speaker of the poem figure out that they were no longer smart?