AI debate between the IT boffin and his boss makes ChatGPT less of a threat than an inadequate partner
 An IT boffin, the son of a shipping journalist of our acquaintance, was in a dispute with his boss about the use of artificial intelligence, namely ChatGPT depicted as being in the state of terror over AI's potential danger, while the young boffin thought of it as just another tool in his tool kit the way one uses online currency converters and translation programmes.
At our shop, we first tried AI out more than a year ago at a time when public intellectual Jordan Peterson and super tycoon Elon Musk were stressing about its inherent dangers. Dr Peterson said AI’s quality level approximated that of a master’s thesis. But one forgets a master’s thesis is a lot less masterful than a doctoral dissertation. And Elon's imagination ran wild fearing the worst of all possible outcomes as he is most capable of doing. But the worst is not the surest – far from it.
So we drafted a prompt to do 1,000-word essay on an aspect of shipping from ChatGPT. The result was nothing special. There was one thing wrong and another thing that was out of date. One sentence was interesting, and that we made use of it in the article that finally emerged from the process. Overall, though, we were unimpressed by the ChatGPT experience.
Much time as passed since, and the AI ogre has grown in the public imagination. But it wasn't until the problem of the boffin and his boss came to light, that AI given much thought around here. But to see if there had been any improvement since, one started with the following prompt for the ChatGPT programme:
“Write a 1,000-word journalistic article on the prospects of increased or decline in US west to east coast road and rail freight of Asian cargo since the Panama Canal expansion more than doubled throughput from 2016.”
In less than 20 seconds 1,000 words appeared. This time, it did not get one thing wrong or out of date, but nor did it say anything interesting. It started with the headline:
"Navigating the Waves of Change: US West to East Coast Freight Routes in the Post-Panama Canal Expansion Era"
That headline summarised the problem, but told us nothing new. I was to learn the rest of the story was as disappointing as the headline.
And thus it began.
"In the wake of the Panama Canal expansion completed in 2016, which more than doubled its capacity, the global shipping landscape has undergone a seismic shift. This expansion has not only altered the dynamics of maritime trade but also sparked a ripple effect across other modes of transportation, particularly road and rail freight in the United States.
"The Panama Canal, a critical artery connecting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, has long been a linchpin in global trade routes. Prior to its expansion, ships transiting the canal were limited by the size of the locks, restricting the size of vessels that could pass through. The expansion project, inaugurated in June 2016, introduced a new set of larger locks, allowing for the transit of significantly larger vessels known as New Panamax ships.
"This enlargement has had profound implications for international shipping. It has enabled larger ships, primarily from Asia, to reach the eastern seaboard of the United States directly from the Pacific without the need to offload cargo onto smaller vessels for transit through the Panama Canal.
"One of the most visible impacts of the Panama Canal expansion on US transportation infrastructure has been on rail freight. Traditionally, Asian cargo arriving at West Coast ports such as Los Angeles and Long Beach would be transported via rail across the country to East Coast destinations like New York and Miami. With the expanded Panama Canal, however, there has been speculation about potential shifts in cargo routing.
"Rail operators and logistics companies have had to adapt to changing dynamics. While the West Coast ports remain crucial entry points, the volume and nature of cargo handled on the East Coast have seen growth. Rail networks connecting major inland hubs to East Coast ports have expanded capacity to accommodate increased freight traffic originating from Asia.
"Similarly, the trucking industry has had to adjust to accommodate shifts in freight patterns. West Coast ports have seen continued traffic, but the competition from East Coast ports has intensified. Trucking routes from ports like Savannah and Charleston to major metropolitan areas in the Midwest and Northeast have become more competitive as shipping lines explore faster and more cost-effective transportation options.
"The implications of these changes extend beyond transportation logistics. Economically, East Coast ports have invested heavily in infrastructure upgrades to handle larger ships and increased cargo volumes. Cities and regions traditionally served by West Coast ports are also seeing shifts in economic activity and employment patterns as logistics networks realign.
Strategically, the expansion of the Panama Canal has prompted broader discussions about the resilience and redundancy of global supply chains. Events such as the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted vulnerabilities in supply chains heavily reliant on single routes and modes of transport. The canal expansion has provided an alternative route that diversifies options for shippers and reduces dependency on any single transportation corridor.
Looking ahead, East Coast freight routes will likely continue to evolve in response to global trade dynamics and infrastructure investments. The Panama Canal expansion has opened new possibilities and challenges for stakeholders across the transportation sector. While West Coast ports maintain their significance as key entry points for Asian cargo, East Coast ports are poised to capture a growing share of the market.
"Adapting to these changes will require ongoing investments in infrastructure, technology, and workforce development. Collaboration between public and private sectors will be essential to ensure that US transportation networks remain competitive and resilient in an increasingly interconnected global economy.
"In conclusion, the Panama Canal expansion has reshaped the landscape of US West to East Coast freight routes, amplifying competition between coastal ports and redefining the role of rail and road transportation in transcontinental logistics. As stakeholders navigate these waters of change, strategic foresight and adaptability will be crucial in charting a course towards sustainable growth and efficiency in the years to come," said the AI submission.
In a campaign to entice rather than inform, to create click-bait, one is often forced to play the tiresome game of Find the News, which has been denied the reader in the headline but is still suspected to be lurking deeper in the story. But nothing like that appears to be offered here In this ChatGPT test the prompt made an extensive survey of shallow waters and revealed nothing new.
AI at its present stage of development AI can package in an encyclopaedic manner, what is generally known to anyone with familiarity of the field in an encyclopaedic manner, but it has yet to unearth anything new to such a person. |
