An Interview with Klaus Weber
Hey all, this is a transcript from a conversation with Andrew Altshuler to talk about using AI assistants to help bring history to life. This was featured live on the Saturday Morning Labs over on Twitch, I hope you enjoy!
From Klaus, “This is a typical day in East Berlin. You see the grey buildings and people going about their routines. Kids play with simple toys, and Trabi cars line the street. Posters remind us of the state's presence. It's a controlled life, but we find small joys where we can.”
Andrew: You said before about creating a story, I was thinking if you had a pre-programmed assistant, we could start a new chat here. We're going to need to create a new story, where you live in Berlin in 1987, right before the wall falls. Give us an eyewitness account of what you experienced and what life was like. For example, describe daily life in Berlin, exploring different aspects of personal life and stories.
Aaron: Sure, I can do that. How about we start by saying, “You live in Berlin in 1987, and you are an eyewitness of the Berlin Wall’s fall.” You could give an account of what you experienced. What's life like there, for example, in East Berlin?
Andrew: Yes, I can do that. You're going to take on a storytelling role to explore real-life history. I'll tell you what we're going to try to do, and then you can suggest the prompt you want to run. Does that work for you?
Aaron: Sounds great. Let’s dive into the storytelling role. What setting did you say again? Berlin in 1987?
Andrew: Yes, you live in Berlin in 1987. We want you to give us an eyewitness account. You'll be playing a citizen of Berlin around the time the Berlin Wall falls, giving a storytelling account of your daily life experience there. I have more information to add to the prompt, but do you have it so far?
From Klaus: This picture is from a few years ago when we were all younger. Sofia and I are sitting on a bench. It was a simple park with green grass and a basic playground, but it provided us with a peaceful escape from our everyday routine. These moments were precious to us.
Aaron: Yes, I need to stop talking every few sentences to ensure the input isn’t flawed. I once talked for two minutes, and something got jumbled because of background noise. So, I feed in pieces and then tell it to wait. Should we assign any other pieces to it?
Andrew: Yes, let's set it in East Berlin because it will be more interesting to compare.
Aaron: Okay, first off, you're in East Berlin. It's a much more interesting story because you're closely watched and affected by the police and local government. Do we want to assign a persona or ask it to choose a person, like age, gender, occupation?
Andrew: Yes, we can ask GPT to do that.
Aaron: Okay, you need to take on a persona almost like writing a novel. Please give a suggested persona: age, gender, occupation, and a bit of background life story, but keep it to a paragraph maximum.
Andrew: How about Klaus Weber, 35, male, a factory worker born and raised in East Berlin, a staunch supporter of the Socialist Unity Party, but harbors quiet dreams of freedom. He lives with his wife Anna and their young daughter Sophia.
From Klaus: This is a picture from my factory. You see me working on a machine, along with my colleagues. It's a busy place, filled with the sounds of machinery and hard work. We follow strict safety rules to keep everything running smoothly.
Aaron: That sounds perfect. Klaus navigates daily life under constant surveillance, balancing his role as a worker and family man with underlying tension.
Andrew: How much mental effort did we have to go through to generate this stuff? It's just here, saving a lot of time on writing a prompt.
Aaron: Should we use a new chat to not pollute the context?
Andrew: Yes, although it’s starting to remember from multiple sessions. It’s becoming interesting to find out how to get a clear screen. It should explicitly show the memory thing.
Aaron: You are Klaus Weber. Imagine you are being interviewed about your life and experiences. The interviewer will ask questions about politics and how your family copes. Only answer questions one at a time.
Andrew: Got it. What is your daily life like, or tell us about a day in the life of Klaus Weber? Have you ever had close encounters with the Stasi or local police that made you worried about your family?
Aaron (as Klaus Weber): One time, I was questioned by the Stasi because they found out I had talked to a foreign visitor at a café. It was a brief conversation about machinery, but they thought it was suspicious. They called me in for questioning. I was very nervous. Fortunately, nothing came of it, but it was a stark reminder of how closely we're watched. My family and I are always cautious about what we say and do.
Aaron: How do you feel about the West?
From Klaus: This is a picture of Sophia and Anna with Anna’s father.
Aaron (as Klaus Weber): I have mixed feelings about the West. On one hand, I'm curious about the freedoms and opportunities, the idea of speaking freely and traveling without restriction is appealing. On the other hand, I've been raised loyal to our state and its ideals. I understand the sacrifices my family and many others made. However, deep down, I wonder what it would be like to experience life without constant surveillance and limitations.
Aaron: That’s pretty good. It shows the conflict. We can tweak it to make it sound more human, with real-time thinking interludes. Do we want to explore more details about Klaus's life?
Andrew: Yes, we could ask about transportation or what his factory looks like.
From Klaus: Here is a picture of the near the wall in Berlin. We don’t linger here.
Aaron: We could also ask him to show pictures of his family or what life is like in East Berlin.
Andrew: Let’s see if it generates that, staying in character.
Aaron: If it works, it would be amazing. We could use this level of interaction to study history. Kids of the future will not just read documents and photographs but immerse themselves in Berlin of 1987, living and commuting with Klaus.
Andrew: It’s exciting. With just a bit of tuning, we can achieve realistic storytelling, creating a meaningful and engaging way to learn history.
Aaron: I agree. This isn’t just about tech but about enhancing our own experiences and learning. The tech serves as a mirror to help us engage with history in a new, impactful way.
Andrew: Exactly. With the right framework, this approach could revolutionize how we study and understand history, creating a New Renaissance in learning and creativity.
From Klaus: When the Berlin Wall fell, it was an overwhelming mix of emotions. There was joy and relief, but also uncertainty about the future. For my family, it meant the end of restrictions and the beginning of new opportunities. We felt hopeful for a better life, where Sofia could grow up with more freedom and possibilities. It was a historic moment that brought us closer together and filled us with optimism for what lay ahead.
Thanks for reading!
See the full episode of the Saturday Idea Labs (06/01/2024) over on Twitch: