We asked ChatGPT to write a poem about Carlisle

A form of generative AI built by US firm OpenAI, it has become an online sensation because of its ability to hold natural conversations but also to generate speeches, songs and essays.

It uses information from the internet to carry out requests and has been trained on back-and-forth conversations so it is capable of understanding follow-up questions, admitting its own mistakes and limitations and rejecting inappropriate requests.

Although chatbot technology like this is not new, ChatGPT is rare in that it was made widely available for the public to use and experiment with.

As a result, it was quickly being used to fulfil unusual and very specific requests, with often impressively accurate results that were shared online.

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Word of the bot’s ability to create long, detailed answers on often niche subjects quickly spread, sparking debates around the power, usefulness and potential dangers of such technology.

We thought we'd put it to the test by asking it to write a poem about Carlisle, and this is what it came up with...

Carlisle of the North,

Your beauty is like no other

Your crenelated walls stand tall

Your streets are filled with stories old

The Grey Friars church stands proud

Your castle walls are ever strong

Your beauty is a sight to behold

Your market square so grand and wide

Your river Eden so free and wild

Your history and culture alive

Your cathedral steeple so high

Your cobbled streets so narrow and winding

Your splendour is a sight to see

Carlisle of the North,

Your beauty is like no other

Your crenelated walls stand tall

Your streets are filled with stories old

What do you think about it?