Reddit user turns 60,000 words of comments into AI-generated psychological profile

Ever wondered what your online comments reveal about you? Most of us see our digital footprints as fleeting moments, ephemeral thoughts captured in passing. But Reddit user Grays42 saw potential.

Diving deep into the sea of his own online interactions, he transformed a year of Reddit discussions, debates, and casual remarks into data for OpenAI's ChatGPT. The outcome? A staggering psychological profile meticulously crafted from 60,000 words of his history, offering a mirror into his psyche like never before.

The methodology was straightforward but meticulous:

• Grays42 started with extracting his comments from Reddit, amassing around 60,000 words in total.

• These comments were structured and organized to prepare them for AI analysis.

• The model of choice was ChatGPT, which was fed the comments in digestible chunks, ensuring the integrity of each comment was maintained. Each chunk was limited to 10,000 words to ensure optimal performance.

• The AI was set to work, analyzing each chunk of text and subsequently merging these individual analyses into a singular, cohesive psychological portrait.

The results were enlightening. The AI highlighted Grays42's analytical mindset, showcasing his logical reasoning and skeptical approach. Beyond that, the profile painted the picture of a secular thinker with strong leanings towards social justice advocacy. His personal interests, such as a love for role-playing games and a pronounced fascination with technology, especially AI, were also brought to the fore.

Yet, the journey had its bumps. Grays42 observed ChatGPT's innate bias toward positivity. In response, he fine-tuned the instructions to the model, emphasizing the need for an unbiased, impartial analysis.

Reactions to such a detailed profile were mixed. Some saw it as an innovative use of technology, while others raised eyebrows at the potential ethical implications. One user, after receiving their analysis, chose to delete their account. The power to derive deep psychological insights from mere online comments is undoubtedly groundbreaking. However, it also brings forth questions about privacy, the accuracy of such profiles, and the ethical considerations of generating detailed psychological evaluations without the explicit consent of the individuals involved.

Grays42's experiment offers a glimpse into the possibilities of AI in self-assessment and reflection. Yet, it also serves as a reminder of the potential biases inherent in AI models and the profound effects they can have on individuals.

For those unfamiliar with ChatGPT's workings, the model operates on a token system, with the 16k context model interpreting about 750 words for every 1,000 tokens. When interfacing with the API, users aren't working with a continuous memory, as seen in web browsers. Instead, they provide all historical data for each response, allowing for fine-tuned control over input.

This experiment brings forth a practical consideration: When seeking a deep dive into one's mind, should we opt for the analytical prowess of AI or the nuanced understanding of a human? AI can quickly process vast amounts of data, drawing out patterns we might miss. On the other hand, humans offer context and emotional intelligence. Even for professional psychologists, incorporating AI analysis could provide a fresh perspective. Comments alone can't capture a whole personality, but they might spotlight aspects previously unnoticed.

Would you prefer an AI's analysis or a human's touch?