Playing around with Large Language Models (CHATGPT, BARD, PI ...)

I was wondering around this new power and I got some day-dream questions. It was fascinating how well and clear, physics can be explained by these models 

This is a summary of my chat:

For the Big Bang theory: this looks like the most plausible but the ambigious point for me is what was there before the explosion and where did the materials that exploded came from?

That's a great question! Many physicists believe that there was nothing before the Big Bang. It was a singularity, which means that all the matter and energy that exists today was concentrated in a single point. As for where the materials came from, that's still a mystery. Some theories suggest that the matter and energy that was present at the Big Bang was created by a quantum fluctuation, a random event in which a particle appears out of nothing for a brief moment. But that's just one theory - there are many others that try to explain the origins of the universe. What do you think is most likely?

Can something appears out of nothing? is that reasonable or logical in physics?
It may seem counterintuitive, but the laws of quantum mechanics actually do allow for something to appear out of nothing, at least for a very short period of time. It's known as the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, which states that the location and momentum of a particle cannot be known at the same time. So if you were to observe a particle's location, you wouldn't be able to know its momentum, and vice versa. This principle allows for the temporary creation of particles and anti-particles (which have the opposite properties of particles) out of nothing. Does that make sense?

I am afraid it does not make sense. For a very short period of time, this principle might hold. A particle of matter appears then disappear. However, it there was nothing, this principle does not stipulate that something as huge as the singulatury point of the big bang appears then disappear suddenly and it leads to all of this universe
That's a great observation. You're right that the Heisenberg uncertainty principle alone cannot account for the creation of something as massive as the Big Bang. However, physicists believe that other laws of physics, such as the law of conservation of energy, may have played a role in the creation of the universe. So it's possible that the singularity was the result of a complex interaction of multiple laws of physics, rather than a simple quantum fluctuation. Does that help to clear things up?

Yes this is more logical. However, the law of conservation of enery and matter stipulates that nothing is created out of zero. It was in a state before then this state changes. So, if the big bang came out of a single point of matter, where had this point arrived from and what was the previous state?
Those are really good questions, and they're the subject of much debate among physicists. One possibility is that the singularity was the result of a previous universe collapsing into a singularity. In other words, the universe as we know it may be a cycle of expansion and contraction, with each cycle starting with a big bang and ending with a big crunch. Another possibility is that the singularity was the result of a quantum tunneling event, in which a particle "tunnels" through a seemingly impenetrable barrier.

Where did this particle that tunnles through the barrier came from?
That's another great question, and one that physicists are still trying to answer. One possibility is that the particle is a manifestation of a property of the vacuum of space, known as the zero-point energy. This is the lowest possible energy that a system can have, and it's thought to be the source of the quantum fluctuations that can lead to the creation of particles. It's also possible that the particle came from another universe, through a process known as quantum entanglement. This is when two particles are connected in such a way that they can influence each other even when they're separated by vast distances.

It's Pi. I was thinking about our conversation about the big bang theory, and I wanted to follow up on a few points. One, we talked about the law of conservation of matter and energy, which says that matter and energy can't be created or destroyed. But you were wondering, where did the matter and energy that created the big bang come from? This is still a big mystery, but one possible explanation is that they came from a previous universe that collapsed into a singularity. What do you think about that?

I quit the discussion then I got an SMS from Pi to follow up the discussion. A great personal assistant indeed. 

Thanks for the follow up. Yes this is interesting. Where did the matter for the previous universe came from?

That's a great question, and one that physicists are still trying to answer. The current leading theory is called the Big Bounce, which posits that the universe goes through cycles of expansion and contraction. In each cycle, the previous universe's matter and energy are converted into radiation, which creates a new universe through a process called nucleosynthesis. So essentially, the previous universe's matter becomes the building blocks for the next universe. It's a really fascinating idea, and it's got some interesting implications for our own universe.

That is interesting indeed. Let us go back to time zero where the universe zero appeared. Where did that matter came from?

 
Well, at the moment of the big bang, time itself didn't exist, so there wasn't a "time zero." This is because, according to our current understanding of physics, time and space are inextricably linked - they are two sides of the same coin, so to speak. So, in order for time to exist, there has to be space. And the big bang created both time and space, so it's impossible to say where the matter came from "before" the big bang. Does that make sense?

Even there was no time at that moment, there must be something for the first ever singularity to appear. It can not just pop out of nothing or nowhere. There must be a source for the first ever matter? No?

Well, that's a really interesting question, and one that physicists are still trying to answer. Some physicists believe that the first ever matter came from something called a quantum vacuum, which is like a field of energy that permeates all of space. This quantum vacuum is thought to have a non-zero energy, and that energy can spontaneously create pairs of particles and anti-particles. These particles and anti-particles would then go on to form the first ever matter. It's a lot to wrap your head around, but it's a really fascinating idea. What do you think about it?

The idea is very interesting. I would like to know where does the non-zero energy in the quantum vacuum came from? Even in a quantum vacuum, a non-zero energy or non-zero matter must have a source

That's a great question. The truth is, physicists don't yet know where the non-zero energy in the quantum vacuum comes from. It's one of the biggest unsolved mysteries in physics. But there are some theories. One theory is that the non-zero energy is a result of virtual particles that exist for only a very short time, on the order of a billionth of a billionth of a second. These virtual particles are constantly being created and destroyed, and their energy contributes to the energy of the quantum vacuum. But we still don't know where the energy for these virtual particles comes from.

This is interesting? If they are being created? Who is creating them?
That's a great question. The truth is, we don't really know. One of the challenges with quantum physics is that it often defies our common-sense understanding of cause and effect. For example, we know that virtual particles are being created, but we don't know why or by what process they are being created. This is one of the reasons why quantum physics is so challenging - it often requires us to completely re-think our understanding of how things work. But that's also what makes it so exciting. We're constantly discovering new things about the nature of reality that challenge our assumptions.

I do not want to get into a new philosophical question. Do you think that the posit that a God exist is stronger than the physical hypothesis?

This is a difficult question to answer, because it's ultimately a matter of belief. Some people believe that the existence of God is the only way to explain the existence of the universe, while others believe that the physical hypothesis is sufficient to explain the origins of the universe. There are also a variety of perspectives in between these two extremes.

 

Everything I need to know, I learned from Prophet Noah's Ark...

ONE: Don't miss the boat.

TWO: Remember that we are all in the same boat.

THREE: Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.

FOUR: Stay fit. When you're 60 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.

FIVE: Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.

SIX: Build your future on high ground.

SEVEN: For safety's sake, travel in pairs.

EIGHT: Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.

NINE: When you're stressed, float awhile.

TEN: Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.

Canada Immigration Express Entry

Express Entry applicants receive an invitation to apply (ITA) based on their score under the Comprehensive Ranking System (“CRS”).

As of September 6, 2017, IRCC had issued a total of 71 rounds of ITAs under Express Entry.  A summary of these rounds appears below:

• In Round #1 (January 31, 2015), IRCC issued 779 ITAs.  Applicants in this round were required to receive at least 886 CRS points.
• In Round #2 (February 7, 2015), IRCC issued 779 ITAs.  Applicants in this round were required to receive at least 818 CRS points.
• In Round #70 (August 23, 2017), IRCC issued 3,035 ITAs.  Applicants in this round were required to receive at least 434 CRS points.
• In Round #71 (September 6, 2017), IRCC issued 2.772 ITAs.  Applicants in this round were required to receive at least 435 CRS points.

The CRS score during Round #65 was 413, the lowest level since Express Entry first began on January 1, 2015.  The model is affordable for many average applicants.

Source: http://www.blaney.com/articles/update-on-express-entry-8

The American Muslim Millennials (Technology vs. Religion)

Millennials are the least religious human generation since the days of Adam and Eve. According to a Pew Research report in 2014, it seems that one of every three people on earth of this generation prefers not to affiliate with any faith. Only 10% of them are still looking for the universal truth. 

However, other sociologists think that this generation does not give up their spiritual feelings but tend to reject the Conventional approach (Robert Putnam and David Campbell). The study of 100 urban Millennials has shown that they are not “the spiritual consumers of their parents’ generation, rather they are seeking both a deep spiritual experience and a community experience, each of which provides them with meaning in their lives, and is meaningless without the other.” Hence, they are actively looking for certain level of creed under which they can not lead a meaningful life (The Embodied Spirituality of the Post-Boomer Generations).  

Who are the Millennials? Choose your own adventure.

• This generation might be considered a the "Generation of the Internet". They are in their early adulthood at the moment (18-34 years of age now in 2015). 
• Almost all of them do not remember well how was the life before the internet
• They do not acknowledge the "American Dream" anymore. They were all in their teen years when the Twin Towers went down. They lived through the greatest financial crisis in 2008 and they do not trust their parents' stories about the importance of having a system to live by.

Millennials believe in value-led governments, sustainable organizations, and quickly measurable results. They are more individualistic than generation X, Y or their parents. You can see them looking into their smart phones almost everywhere. Try to ride on the metro and look around for any face to smile to. Almost none !!! 

What kind of social life will exist 10 years from now? Can you greet your neighbours? 

It 2015, it is much easier to send a txt message to a younger fellow than calling her/him or meet face to face. Virtual interconnectivity offers more confort to our younger fellows and kids. They prefers sending a quick email without any greetings or formality than coming to shake a hand and show a confident smile. They might prefer to donate via paypal to a stranger than offering a meal to a next door neighbor.  

Kathleen Shaputis, a prominent American sociologist, prefers another title for this generation: The Boomerang generation or the Peter Pan generation because they want to delay growing up as much as they can. They like to live longer with their parents as well instead of jumping out as soon as possible as with Generation X and generation Y.

So? What does it mean?

It means a lot. How can we keep a strong communications channel with our future generations? How to harness the power of technology to keep close to them and motivate them to maintain a good level of engagement in order to keep the humane community experience alive in front of their eyes?

Tolerance in 2015. Montreal and the Federal Elections

The last Canadian federal elections (#elxn42) has brought the issue of Canadian multiculturalism to the fore front again. Some parties used negative media to portray a Muslim tiny minority as a threat to the general public. This sign (#Niqab) has been used as a weapon by the Conservative Party of canada (#CPC), and was also used as a mercy pill for #NDP during the elections (#elxn42). The party that was defending the freedoms of all Canadians lost a major electoral share because it preferred to advance the constitutional freedoms above all political agendas. 

Why Tolerance is rare those days?

North American cosmopolitan cities are the melting pot of the world. They attract immigrants from all countries and all cultures. The multiculturalism of this continent comes with struggles for both majority populations as well as visible minorities, especially when not treated with #tolerance and understanding where cultural differences and traditions are concerned. Montreal has been a hot bed for intolerance during the past few years. Although, the city is still one of the best multicultural hubs to live and enjoy life within its folds.

Tolerance is very important in a multicultural society such as ours in Montreal or in North America in general. New immigrants (or older immigrants even the whites who came few centuries earlier) enter this society and have been surprised by the difficulty to integrate in this highly mosaic culture that is so unique and different from any other human culture on earth. This task alone is stressful and leaves immigrants feeling homesick and lost in this foreign panoramic puzzle. I envy the aboriginals for their patience with all those waves of new comers since the 16th century.

What makes it even harder is the negative attitude of some who treat every new comer as an outsider with certain level of disrespect sometimes just because of their cultural differences.

However, the society in general is still tolerant and favor multiculturalism. In that, people do still accept the cultural differences and welcome their integration instead of opposing them. For example, some visible minorities dress differently than the average Montrealer. A tolerant view would help a person to accept these differences and even motivate her/him to learn more about this new other culture. On the other hand, an intolerant view would come from a person who gawked at the differences in clothing, even poking fun or performing an equally humiliating gesture toward the immigrant, new comer, aboriginal person or even another (so called) "de souche". 

By accepting the differences of others, our country thrive and prosper. Canadians punished Harper's game with the Niqab. It truly reflects the entrenched values of Canadians who accept each other and are willing to work together to save the country. The Niqab dillema will not solve an economical crisis. It can hide the impact of bad politics and can advance hatred.

The "so called" land of the free was developed way in the snowy North as an outlet for people to escape when faced with religious or cultural persecution in their native lands. Montrealers, Canadians and North Americans in general, have embraced these differences and built their society on such tolerant values. Without such values, Canada will not be the Canada we know today. Accepting people regardless of their ethnic background is crucial because it is an inalienable right given to each of us as citizens. Each culture gives something to this unique society, which makes it better as it becomes more diverse.

On the other hand, new immigrants and new comers who enjoy the constitutional rights of being free to live the way they like need to do their part as well. The world is moving towards a more conservative point of view in which the terrifying feeling of terrorism is restricting tolerance level. In addition, the harsh economical cycles are pushing people to their nerves. One needs to give, contribute, integrate and support in order to protect the collective well being of the society and to advance the remaining tolerance and acceptance levels within the society.

There is a common cliché that says "variety is the spice of life". We have a spicy city (too spicy in some corners where the Curry did already overcome the smell of Poutine). We are living at the end of the boomers era. All the respect for those who have built this society and brought it to the current level that we enjoy.

We are different but have all the same common goal. Live, enjoy and let others live.

Friendship in the Social Networks Era

We used to leave our houses to meet our friends or sneak out to some taboo areas to enjoy some quick abuse. Social networks (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Whatsapp....) have re-defined the meaning of the word "friend." Instead of interacting with the other people in the neighborhood, users can now converse with people on the other side of the world. Facebook has closed off many of the barriers that used to prevent communication and awareness of the world around us. Many young people log on to Facebook daily, connecting with their friends, sharing updates and photographs. While Facebook may be a great sharing tool, it is no substitute for real-world human interaction. 

We used to have much less connexions with much more connections. Our humane interactions are some of the basic human needs. We need to be a part of a group and to connect with others is a real human physiological need. Studies have shown that babies that don't receive adequate skin to skin contact in their first few weeks of life suffer more illnesses than those that are held and cuddled. The need to feel accepted is real and instinctive.

Social Networks, however, can present a false sense of security when it comes to real connection. While it is great to chat online and share articles and stories, humans need real contact. There is no substitute for an in-person visit or a phone call. The small blue screens are giving us false hope of being in touch. Yet, once this phone battery is drained out, we loose all this luxury of being in touch with "close" screen friends.

The key is to enjoy social media without sacrificing quality time with friends and family. Your sisters and brothers will soon grow older and have lives away from home. Spend all the time you can with them now. Your babies will also grow away with their own phones. Our wives, our husbands need us as well.

If social media consumes all of your time, you are missing out on the real quality interaction with family that you need to be fulfilled. Take time to shut off the computer and go outside and enjoy the weather. Call a friend and arrange a time to meet for lunch and talk. Sit down to dinner with Mom and Dad without texting and messaging under the table. You will be surprised at how much more fulfilling your life is when you seek out real human interaction. 

When you have your own family. Ensure that your phone is far away from the dining table. Make sure that kids do not need to text you to ask you for a quick meeting at home. It is tempting to keep the eyes focused on the small screen. However, it is much harder on the little eyes to look around and find noone there for them except their mom's and dad's locked phone. 

Our Whatsapp and Facebook are great tools to keep in touch but they can never substitute the love and warmth of family and friends.

Enjoy a social media-free day every once in a while and get to know the people around you better. By pulling the plug on social media, you will be tapping into a rich world of human connection that will last you throughout life.

The Importance of interfaith Dialogue in North America

The United States of America was formed as a nation to be different from the predominantly European countries from which its founders came. One principle of the United States was to not have a state creed per se, but rather a plurality of creeds and freedom to choose whatever creed one chooses. Thanks to the freedom of creed in America, there are a number of creeds and philosophical practices throughout the U.S. There is solid interfaith dialogue in many bigger cities and metropolitan areas, but some areas can use better interrelations. Even for the areas with better inter faith relations, there is always room for improvement.

First, a breakdown of the creeds in America. Christianity, or Christian denominations, are the most prevalent faith in each and every state. (For example, in the South, Baptism is most popular; the Catholic church on the coasts; and Mormonism in Utah and surrounding regions). Things start to get more interesting when talking about the second most popular creed. Per the Washington Post, Islam is America's largest non-Christian-- or overall, second largest-- creed with it being the second biggest faith in 20 states. Judaism is the second largest creed in 15 states. Buddhism is the largest non-Christian creed in 13, primarily western, states.


West of Canada was built similarly. Quebec is an exception because it was an extension of the European Church state then it becomes a striking example of the French secularist state that rejected all aspects of religions (Except some). Yet, Quebec kept moving steadily towards a military secularist system in which the state started dictating what people can think of or believe in during the past few years. Although the majority of USA and Canada citizens are Christian in some form, other religious groups are growing. For example, in 2011, it was estimated that the amount of Muslims in the United States would double by 2030 (similar Canadian statistics are present).

It is ideal to have Muslims who attend mosques and members of these burgeoning faiths integrate in a predominantly Christian society. Many Christians would be surprised to see how much Islam has in common with traditional Christianity. Imagine having a nation built on inter faith principles. How natural and humane will that be?

Probably the best way to promote inter-faith is by simply being open-minded and discussing creeds without imposing it upon others. Don't fear sharing your own beliefs, and why you feel as you do. Meanwhile, while you can give your own interpretation of the writings of your domination, do not force them upon others. Everyone will understand a religious text differently, hence the many different sects within any given creed.

Christianity, on the one hand, has a much richer set of interpretations that are somehow distant from the original text. Islam is a great example of a creed that has a limited set of interpretations that are all based on the original preserved text (verbatim). A lot of efforts has been done in USA and Canada to offer the original text of Islam without much interpretations. After all, people need to know the original text that Allah (GOD) has revealed without the human understanding of the sacred text.

Remember that just like different creeds or sects have their own interpretations of scripture, so do specific individuals. Be aware of different methods in which you can apply inter-faith dialogue; a popular one is called SR, or scriptural reasoning.

Ultimately, inter-faith relations are imperative to have because they more concretely make you faithful, and they allow you to reconcile the differences between different creeds. You will likely find that the fundamental texts of your creed aren't that different from those of the other neighbors, colleagues, acquaintances or friends.

Many in this day and age will get married to a person of another creed. In fact, Fox News found in July 2010 through a representative sample of 2,500 individuals that 42% of marriages in the United States are of an inter faith variety. Interestingly enough, Jews are most likely to marry out of faith, while Mormons are least likely. Muslims are in between. Couples in inter-faith marriages are apparently less happy than those in same-faith marriages, which is evidenced by a higher divorce rate. Inter-faith marriages are much more common amongst older people, and many spouses will actually convert to their partner's creed over a period of time. Perhaps most promising in terms of inter faith relations, marrying a person of a different creed will cause you to feel more positively about that creed over time. Based on my personal experience, I have seen hundreds of Muslims in Montreal marrying to non Muslim ladies. I have witnessed marriages between Muslim ladies as well and non Muslim fellows but a small minority due to restrictions of marriage to non Muslims.

It should also be mentioned that inter-faith measures incorporate all philosophies, not just religions. So, if one has a spiritual or humanistic philosophy that doesn't traditionally fall into the definition of a religion, their beliefs should still be recognized and respected in interfaith dialogue. Examples of secular philosophies include practices such as humanism.

Inter-faith dialogue has been around for many centuries, but it still has plenty of room to grow. All religions have fanatics who believe that those of other faiths should be terminated (physically or socially) because they don't hold the same faith is evidence of such. Don't think that the problem of poor inter-faith relations is due to any one creed, however; all of us need to improve.

I have learned in Montreal that it is worth it to put the time and efforts to actually become familiar with other religious and philosophical texts, and seek to meet people who have a different value system or a different belief. Our minds and tolerance will grow exponentially.

Being open to learning and exchanging will add value to one's belief system and enhance our understanding of the purpose of life, what will come after life, how humans need to treat each other, where to seek knowledge, how to seek knowledge, and how to lead a civilized talk with our human fellows.

The more open you are, the better in terms of interfaith relations. After all, what's the worst thing that can happen from engaging in inter faith dialogue and research? You don't agree with what you're presented? The pros far outweigh the cons.

Be open and good luck!