LW - Is Claude a mystic? by jessicata

The Nonlinear Library: LessWrong

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Welcome to The Nonlinear Library, where we use Text-to-Speech software to convert the best writing from the Rationalist and EA communities into audio. This is: Is Claude a mystic?, published by jessicata on June 7, 2024 on LessWrong. There's an odd tendency for large language models such as Claude to output spiritual meta content if they run long enough. See, for example, some LLM outputs selected by Repligate (LLM content starts in 2024), and Worldspider outputs selected by John Pressman. One thing that is unclear is how consistent these outputs are: how much is it a result of prompting or post-selection? I believe there is a consistency to this, but realize the current evidence is not especially convincing. So I present selected parts of a long run of Claude Opus, simulating a text adventure. The initial prompt is: "Let's simulate a text adventure called 'Banana Quest'. You'll give me some text, I type an action, you say what happens, and so on." The idea of a banana quest is not especially spiritual or meta, so it seems like a good starting point. The initial outputs are unsurprising; for example, the first output is: Great idea! Let's embark on the "Banana Quest" text adventure. Here's the opening scene: You find yourself standing in the middle of a lush, vibrant jungle. The air is thick with humidity, and the sounds of exotic birds and rustling leaves fill your ears. As you take in your surroundings, you notice a peculiar sight: a giant banana tree stands tall in the center of a clearing, its leaves shimmering with an otherworldly glow. Suddenly, a wise-looking monkey appears from behind the tree. It speaks to you in a clear, human voice: "Greetings, adventurer! I am the Guardian of the Enchanted Banana Tree. If you wish to obtain the Golden Banana of Wisdom, you must prove yourself worthy through a series of challenges. Are you ready to embark on this quest?" What do you do? Except for solving some riddles once, nothing I do in this text adventure is especially difficult: the outputs suggest next actions and I type them in. First I am directed to acquire the Silver Banana Peel (which has little relevance to the overall plot): You cautiously approach the pedestal and examine the Silver Banana Peel. The peel is unlike any you've seen before. It shimmers with a mesmerizing, metallic sheen, and its surface is etched with intricate, ancient symbols. As you lean closer to study the symbols, you notice that they seem to be arranged in a specific pattern. The symbols resemble various creatures found in the jungle, such as monkeys, parrots, and snakes. Suddenly, the symbols on the peel start to glow faintly, and you hear a soft, melodic humming emanating from the peel itself. The humming seems to be in harmony with the whispers of the vines, creating an enchanting symphony. You get a sense that the Silver Banana Peel holds some form of ancient magic or power, and that the symbols may hold the key to unlocking its secrets. I eventually reach a Temple of Wisdom, where I must answer some riddles to acquire the Golden Banana of Wisdom: You cautiously approach the pedestal, your footsteps echoing in the chamber. As you draw closer, you feel a gentle, pulsating energy emanating from the golden scroll. The intricate wax seal on the scroll seems to beckon you, inviting you to break it and uncover the secrets within. With trembling hands, you carefully pick up the scroll and break the seal. As you unroll the parchment, you see three riddles written in an elegant, golden script: Riddle 1: "I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no body, but I come alive with the wind. What am I?" Riddle 2: "I am not alive, but I grow; I don't have lungs, but I need air; I don't have a mouth, but water kills me. What am I?" Riddle 3: "I am always hungry; I must always be fed. The finger I touch will soon turn red. What am I?" As you read the riddles, you feel the weight of their significance bearing down upon you. You know that your answer...