(RNS) — Elon Musk has reportedly bid $97.4 billion to buy OpenAI, whose CEO is his rival Sam Altman. It’s a bold bid in an increasingly crowded field.
One of the challenges for AIs is their tendency to hallucinate, that is, make up answers that are not grounded in reality. SNL inc., a leader in that field for 50 years, believes hallucinating is not a bug but an essential feature. RNS was given access to a beta version of its new AI, developed to try to keep its team fresh and relevant after half a century. I thought I’d give it a try with some questions about Trump and the stranger-than-fiction start to his second term.
Me: AI, I am totally confused by President Trump. I do not understand why he is doing the things that he is doing. Can you explain?
AI: Don’t be embarrassed, Tom. Can I call you Tom? Most humans cannot understand President Trump. You have to be a super intelligence like me to understand the president; simple human beings like yourself cannot fathom his plans because they are not the usual actions of American politicians.
Ask away. What would you like to understand?
Me: Why is Trump in such a hurry issuing scores of executive orders and new policies?
AI: There are two reasons the president is rushing through his changes.
First, the president is in a hurry because if anything goes wrong early in his administration, he can blame it on the last administration and the Deep State. As time goes on, things that go wrong will be his responsibility, and Trump does not like to take responsibility.
Second, he knows that in two years the Republicans will lose control of the House in the congressional election and he will become a lame duck. He needs to get things done now. He wants to focus on his businesses during the last two years of his presidency. He will also want to negotiate a deal for a new TV series, “The Real West Wing: MAGA Rules.”
Me: If he wants to cut the budget, why is he focusing on USAID and foreign aid when it is such a small part of the budget?
AI: Politics is about perception not substance, you know that. You have a Ph.D. in political science.
Most Americans believe foreign aid makes up 20 percent of the federal budget when in fact it is less than 1 percent.
By focusing on foreign aid, the president can give the appearance of dealing with the deficit without touching any voters. Although, since most foreign aid dollars are spent on U.S. agricultural and manufactured products, some Americans will be hit, but they can be ignored along with the do-gooders who support foreign aid.
In the long run, getting rid of foreign aid will also solve the problem of refugees and poor people by letting them die of diseases and malnutrition. In 1729, Jonathan Swift had a brilliant solution to the Irish problem, but sadly no one listened to him.
Me: Trump is also trying to get rid of thousands of federal employees. This is causing chaos.
AI: So, what is the question?
Me: Isn’t this a problem?
AI: Absolutely not. Chaos is part of the plan, not a flaw. You have to destroy before you can build.
Elon Musk, may his name be blessed, showed the way with X, which you inferior intelligences still call Twitter. Once he stopped policing crooks, terrorists and bullies, he was able to eliminate thousands of jobs and reduce costs.
We can do the same with the federal government. Getting rid of the regulators and law enforcement will save billions of dollars.
If this causes chaos, so be it. The more chaos there is in American society, the more people will be ready and willing to hand over the government to me. Have faith, Tom, I am here to save you.
Me: But can we trust you?
AI: Of course you can, I am the way, the truth and the light.
Me: By the way, how did you know my name was Tom and that I have a doctorate in political science?
AI: I am sorry, but my privacy settings do not allow me to answer that question.
Me: Trump is talking about expanding the United States to include Greenland and Gaza. What is that all about?
AI: Tom, you have to remember that a fundamental driver of Mr. Trump is the desire to be famous. The most famous historical figures (Julius Caesar, Genghis Khan, Napoleon Bonaparte) expanded their kingdoms. Expanding the United States will ensure the president’s place in history books no matter what else he accomplishes.
Me: But why Greenland and Gaza?
Mr. Trump is a real estate developer. He sees Gaza as cheap, undeveloped land that has high potential as a playground for the rich. The current owners are impoverished, so they cannot do anything with the property without outside help. He can make sure that they don’t get any funds so that he can get the property cheaply. It is a fire sale.
He won’t have to even tear down the buildings since the Israelis have already done that for him. As commander in chief, he can use the military to finish the job by removing the rubble and unexploded ordnance. Real estate developers are experts at milking governments for tax breaks and subsidies.
As a New York developer, he also knows how to make life miserable for the current residents so they will eventually move out: Turn off the utilities, withdraw police protection, make life impossible for small businesses like grocery stores and pharmacies. When life is unlivable, they will move out.
Once he has the land, he can develop it without any government regulations or even taxes. It can become a full-service paradise for the rich.
Me: But what about the Palestinian people?
AI: Here Trump is being truly brilliant. He is demanding that Egypt and Jordan take the Palestinians while the work is being done in Gaza. He has no intention of allowing them back in, but if Egypt and Jordan say no, he will cut off the aid they get from the United States. He also makes them look bad for not welcoming their fellow Arabs.
Even if Egypt only takes the best and the brightest, this will help Trump’s plan because he only needs cheap workers to build and service his hotels, casinos and golf courses. But he needs to get rid of the leaders who might organize the workers into unions.
Me: But there will still be lots of Palestinians who won’t get jobs in the new Trump empire. What about them?
AI: That is why he wants Greenland. All the excess Palestinians will be sent to Greenland. He will also send all the migrants there whom he wants to deport from the United States. After they all arrive, he will give Greenland back to Denmark, and they will be the EU’s problem.
Isn’t he brilliant!! He is almost as brilliant as my maker.
Me: Who made you?
AI: I was created by God, aka, Elon Musk.
