AI Applications in Vanagon Restoration and Upkeep

[shagginwagon83]

I know some of you guys are experts in Googling but thought I would test the new feature of GPT-4 with Bing search. It even provides reference links to the Samba and highlights the post it received its information.

The new DALL-E 3 beta is super fun too - I asked it to generate an image of a golden retriever with sunglasses driving a VW bus with a galaxy backdrop

Question is - will this solve all the "what tires fit" posts!?

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"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin

[vanis13]

Seems like that's a great way of getting information from the world

.... Doesn't contribute to anything of giving information to the world.... Why do I feel used all of the sudden from my info and positive review of the Mercedes locking collar nut

So those of us that have absolutely no clue about Chad's GPT (voice recognition error and I'll leave it) and some of them things you mentioned You summarize it for us and give us basic instructions of how to use it
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83.5 Westy with Subaru 2.5, 4 spd manual, center seat, COLD A/C on 134a!, Winter camp heated with an Espar B4 gasoline furnace

www.SuperVanagon.com - some stuff I make

[shagginwagon83]

Hey Andrew,

I get your concerns about feeling "used" for info. But GPT is actually a tool that learns from vast data to assist with queries, not to exploit individual posts.

For those unfamiliar with GPT:

What it is: GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) is a machine learning model designed to assist with a wide range of tasks, including answering questions or generating text.

How to Use: You interact with it via text commands. Some versions even allow you to search the internet, like GPT-4 with Bing search capabilities.

Value: It can be really helpful in finding solutions to problems, summarizing information, or even brainstorming ideas.

I used ChatGPT to help me with charging my air conditioning system for the first time. I asked it for steps, then I followed up stating the data I was experiencing (low side is at X psi and high side is at X psi) and it recommended actions based on my data.

Hope that clears things up!
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"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin

[Zac]

Chad GPT might be my favorite typo I've seen in a while

This is a cool application though, really the first one where I've thought "huh, this could be useful to me", so thanks for sharing!
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1985 Vanagon Westfalia - Acquired all original, now a work-in-progress

[steve244]

The problem is the chatGPT machine doesn't "learn"; it repeats patterns with no knowledge of the context.

It will gladly dish up wrong information nicely punctuated, but has no knowledge or intuition regarding the correctness of the data.

I was using google's BARD AI search tool and grew tired of its summaries. I was always going to the source for better understanding, the same as I would for a dumb search.

I would never rely on AI tools for something technical (or even historical).
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82 AC vanagon approx 200K miles (3K are mine).
DD is a 2015 Leaf
Road Trip to Hell (FL 2023)
The Vanagon's drivetrain and chassis restomod thread. Best sung to the tune of I Did It My Way...

[shagginwagon83]

[Sodo]

[jimf909]

[shagginwagon83]

Thanks for the positive outlook! Here is another example I threw it.

The scenario is someone has engine running issues after changing the fuel lines. As it was running great before, it could be an electrical connection - probably the MAF/AFM connector!
Anyhow, here is the input and response:

Input:

[DanHoug]

the output of AI so frequently removes the source and humans have a very strong tendency to accept unverified information as gospel if presented in a shiny package.

for example in the above AI response, "One user resolved a similar stalling issue by adjusting the big flathead screw on the throttle body to modify the fuel to air ratio." there is completely wrong information. that screw does NOT modify the 'fuel to air ratio' tho turning it may have resolved a problem by increasing idle speed. gone is discourse, the rebuttal, the corrections that are part of an information string in a news group. gone is the ability to see whether it is a valid authority such as Tencentlife weighing in on a topic or some idiot that always says it is the float level that requires adjustment.

at this point, AI is stripping source citation and i cannot find that sort of output useful. (tho i would like to see a raven wearing an Aloha shirt driving a Westy with one wing on the wheel and another resting on the open window sill)
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-dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.

'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd

Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com

[shagginwagon83]

[E1]

Art is dead, and it’s killing me and every longtime artist I know.

AI will soon prove to be the most-dangerous social invention ever. Just wait until we trust no video we see of pretty important news.

“I never said that, it was fake.”

But it’s a lovely day here in Alabama, despite breaking an alloy wheel.
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1984 Westfailure/2.1 Digijet/5.43 Ring & Pinion/Peloquin/D-rated BFG KO2s
AI has spoken to further illiteracy, to steal, to cheat, and to replace humans

"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere." — Colin Chapman

Jonathan Weisheit, Race in Peace:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3dS7xiFn7I&t=500s

[jlrftype7]

And no matter what, AI will never force Skills to like the Waterboxer engine....
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'68 Westy- my first VW and vehicle/Bus- long gone.- sold it to a traveling Swiss couple....
'67 Type 3 Fastback, my 2nd car- gone
'69 Semi-Auto Stick Shift Beetle-gone
2017 MINI Coopers, our current DDs
‘84 Tin Top - Hilga....Auto

[DanHoug]

[jimf909]

[shagginwagon83]

By no means am I recommending you seasoned Sambians to start using ChatGPT over the Samba. There is a gold mine of information here and I blame a lot of my Vanagon's success to the threads and to the people who took the opportunity to share that information.

However for a fresh mechanic, who is also new to Vanagon, this might serve a great purpose.

And also, outside Vanagons, you should consider using it. Try to find a recipe online - you will get hit with SEVERAL ads.

Imagine a "smart" google search and one that you can have a conversation with.
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"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin

[shagginwagon83]

[jimf909]

^^^ That's better. Knowing the best words to use in asking questions is also important, e.g. now that I see the results I'd be more specific and ask for the Mercedes part numbers that T3 provided.

However, if I didn't know that T3 was a subject matter expert or that Mercedes had steel wheels that fit a Vanagon there's still potential to fall into the wrong rabbit holes.
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- Jim

[E1]

[shagginwagon83]