Using AI for reading

Barty · 07-25-2025, 04:54 PM

I often start several books at once then put some aside for a while after several chapters. Some I'd leave off for months, so I'd forget most of what I've read.

One good use I've found for ChatGPT is to ask it to summarize the first n chapter of _____, no spoilers going forward. Or I'll come across a character and ask is this character new or did they appear previously and I forgot. Etc

I don't know how well this works for books that came out, like, last month, but for what I typically read it works quite well.

Also, for reading unannotated classics, it's pretty good for querying about historical / social context, unfamiliar vocabs or word usage, or just daily life, clothing, objects, etc.

Of course all these are subject to hallucinations, and I wouldn't rely on ChatGPT alone for real study, but for enjoyment reading, it is fine

Anyone using AI to help/enhance their reading?

Quoth · 07-25-2025, 05:55 PM

It is inaccurate.

A huge waste of earth's resources creating it and wasting your time. Also using pirated content.

"Hallucinations" is a marketing term to hide the fact that by design it doesn't accurately replay the inputs.

DiapDealer · 07-25-2025, 06:16 PM

Can you please stop with your nonstop anti-AI tirade? Some people would like to discuss these things without the constant bashing of the technology for purely semantic reasons. It would be fine for you to skip some threads that mention AI in the subject. In fact, I might do you some good. Your obsession is really starting to show.

hobnail · 07-25-2025, 09:12 PM

More grist for Quoth's mill: The Hater's Guide To The AI Bubble

rcentros · Yesterday, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barty

Anyone using AI to help/enhance their reading?

I don't use AI for anything.

rcentros · Yesterday, 01:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quoth

It is inaccurate.

A huge waste of earth's resources creating it and wasting your time. Also using pirated content.

"Hallucinations" is a marketing term to hide the fact that by design it doesn't accurately replay the inputs.

And when AI is not hallucinating, it's deleting corporate databases. But it apologized for disobeying direct orders to "not change anything." So, at least, it was polite about it.

https://www.zerohedge.com/ai/catastr...ntire-database

And isn't it nice when residents have to pay sky high prices for electricity because AI server farms have to gobble up a city's worth of electricity (not to mention all the fresh water they need for cooling).

rcentros · Yesterday, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Can you please stop with your nonstop anti-AI tirade? Some people would like to discuss these things without the constant bashing of the technology for purely semantic reasons. It would be fine for you to skip some threads that mention AI in the subject. In fact, I might do you some good. Your obsession is really starting to show.

What's he writing that is untrue?

icallaci · Yesterday, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barty

One good use I've found for ChatGPT is to ask it to summarize the first n chapter of _____, no spoilers going forward. Or I'll come across a character and ask is this character new or did they appear previously and I forgot.
...
Anyone using AI to help/enhance their reading?

What a great idea! I usually use AI for simple grammatical or punctuation questions when fixing an ebook, but I've never used it to summarize the first n chapters when I put a book aside. Thanks. I'm going to try this.

DNSB · Yesterday, 01:57 AM

I had to admire the article including "battling the AI's problematic tendencies, including what he[Jason Lemkin] described as "rogue changes, lies, code overwrites, and making up fake data.""

It does sound familiar from so many other attempts at using AI.

Quoth · Yesterday, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Can you please stop with your nonstop anti-AI tirade? Some people would like to discuss these things without the constant bashing of the technology for purely semantic reasons. It would be fine for you to skip some threads that mention AI in the subject. In fact, I might do you some good. Your obsession is really starting to show.

Your sycophancy and lack of impartiality on AI really shows. My comment is a totally valid one.

John F · Yesterday, 06:24 AM

I gave it a try on the current novel I am reading. Seemed to work pretty well.

I only read one novel at a time, but I am going to give this a try the next time I'm in the middle of a series.

Thank you Barty for the suggestion.

DiapDealer · Yesterday, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quoth

Your sycophancy and lack of impartiality on AI really shows. My comment is a totally valid one.

You accusing me of a lack of impartiality on AI is quite humorous. You get that, right?

My problem with you and your obsession with wrecking any conversation about AI is not about truth or validity; or even your so called expertise on the subject. It's your penchant for running roughshod over every single conversation about it. Dictating what direction said conversations go. Not giving people the space to make their own decisions about it.

I have no opinion yet about whether AI is good, bad, or something in between like most things are.

But you are broken record bully about it,. Alternating between hammering people with your silly semantic arguments where terminology is concerned, and berating people with expertise we only have you to believe you have.

Your refusal to let any conversation about AI progress without your overbearing involvement is the very definition of partiality. Everybody here has heard your Word on the subject. So stop preaching it already.

Moonbase59 · Yesterday, 07:54 AM

Unrelated, and not meant as an offence to anybody: What my dictionary brought up on "sycophancy". Definitely my laugh of the day!

Deskisamess · Yesterday, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Can you please stop with your nonstop anti-AI tirade? Some people would like to discuss these things without the constant bashing of the technology for purely semantic reasons. It would be fine for you to skip some threads that mention AI in the subject. In fact, I might do you some good. Your obsession is really starting to show.

3 sentences is hardly a tirade.

DiapDealer · Yesterday, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deskisamess

3 sentences is hardly a tirade.

Three similar sentences in every thread where the letters A and I appear together. Cumulatively, it's a freaking campaign.

07-25-2025, 04:54 PM	#1
Barty doofus Posts: 2,551 Karma: 13089041 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kindle Voyage	Using AI for reading I often start several books at once then put some aside for a while after several chapters. Some I'd leave off for months, so I'd forget most of what I've read. One good use I've found for ChatGPT is to ask it to summarize the first n chapter of _____, no spoilers going forward. Or I'll come across a character and ask is this character new or did they appear previously and I forgot. Etc I don't know how well this works for books that came out, like, last month, but for what I typically read it works quite well. Also, for reading unannotated classics, it's pretty good for querying about historical / social context, unfamiliar vocabs or word usage, or just daily life, clothing, objects, etc. Of course all these are subject to hallucinations, and I wouldn't rely on ChatGPT alone for real study, but for enjoyment reading, it is fine Anyone using AI to help/enhance their reading?

07-25-2025, 06:16 PM	#3
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,587 Karma: 204624552 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	Can you please stop with your nonstop anti-AI tirade? Some people would like to discuss these things without the constant bashing of the technology for purely semantic reasons. It would be fine for you to skip some threads that mention AI in the subject. In fact, I might do you some good. Your obsession is really starting to show. Last edited by DiapDealer; 07-25-2025 at 06:19 PM.

Yesterday, 07:54 AM	#13
Moonbase59 Groupie Posts: 194 Karma: 1000000 Join Date: Oct 2021 Location: Germany Device: Tolino Vision 5, Tolino Tab 8", Pocketbook Era (16GB)	Unrelated, and not meant as an offence to anybody: What my dictionary brought up on "sycophancy". Definitely my laugh of the day! Attached Thumbnails

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07-25-2025, 05:55 PM	#2
Quoth Still reading Posts: 14,119 Karma: 105211945 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	It is inaccurate. A huge waste of earth's resources creating it and wasting your time. Also using pirated content. "Hallucinations" is a marketing term to hide the fact that by design it doesn't accurately replay the inputs.

07-25-2025, 09:12 PM	#4
hobnail Running with scissors Posts: 1,589 Karma: 14328510 Join Date: Nov 2019 Device: none	More grist for Quoth's mill: The Hater's Guide To The AI Bubble

Yesterday, 01:57 AM	#9
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 46,313 Karma: 169098492 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	I had to admire the article including "battling the AI's problematic tendencies, including what he[Jason Lemkin] described as "rogue changes, lies, code overwrites, and making up fake data."" It does sound familiar from so many other attempts at using AI.

Yesterday, 06:24 AM	#11
John F Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,951 Karma: 70880793 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kobo Clara 2E	I gave it a try on the current novel I am reading. Seemed to work pretty well. I only read one novel at a time, but I am going to give this a try the next time I'm in the middle of a series. Thank you Barty for the suggestion.

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