AI IS GETTING SMART: Asking CHATGPT about Theropoda (Including Birds) and reviewing its answers

A Conversation Between me and ChatGPT

Even though today is April Fools Day, This post is completely serious. So I decided to check out this new AI chatbot called "CHATGPT" to see how accurate will the information it will give me on Theropoda be. Surprisingly, my "interview" went well.

Question 1. Did Theropods Have Feathers?

When I asked this question to ChatGPT I was waiting for something like some common misinformation, but I was wrong. ChatGPT answered : "Yes, many theropod dinosaurs are now known to have had feathers, particularly those that are more closely related to birds. The first evidence of feathered theropods came from the fossils of a small dinosaur called Sinosauropteryx, which was discovered in China in 1996. Since then, numerous other feathered theropod species have been identified, including Velociraptor, Archaeopteryx, and even some large, carnivorous theropods like Tyrannosaurus rex. The discovery of feathers in theropods has revolutionized our understanding of these animals and has led to new insights into the evolution of birds."This answer is quite accurate, with few missinformation. For example, the first feathered dinosaur to be discovered was archaeopteryx,not Sinosauropteryx which was the first dinosaur that we know the colour of. Another thing the AI got wrong is that there have been fossils of T.rex and Velociraptor that show feathers. Even though there is evidence of feathers in both genuses, there aren't any preserved feathers in any specimen of them. With all that, I corrected CHATGPT and it actually responded kindly with more information, saying that the Archaeopteryx was discovered in 1863 Germany, which is true!

Question 2: Are Birds Reptiles?

This is a trick question that tortured scientists and still does sometimes. However, the most accepted answer, which is also the most likely to be true is yes. Since birds are theropods, and theropods are dinosaurs, then of course they are reptiles. Specifically, they are archosaurs. ChatGPT answered with "Birds are not technically reptiles, but they are closely related to them. Both birds and reptiles belong to a larger group of animals called sauropsids, which also includes dinosaurs and other extinct reptiles. However, birds have a number of features that distinguish them from reptiles. For example, birds are warm-blooded, have feathers, and have a unique respiratory system that allows them to fly efficiently. These features are not found in any living reptiles, although some extinct reptiles had feathers or other bird-like features. Despite these differences, birds and reptiles share a common ancestor and are therefore considered to be part of the same larger group of animals." So ChatGPT claimed that because they are war,m-blooded and have feathers they are distinguished from reptiles. However, this can be easily debunked since there is evidence that the non-avian dinosaurs were also warm-blooded, and also feathers are a trait of the whole group "Ornithodira",in which dinosaurs, birds and pterosaurs belong. Now, about their unique Respiratory system, it is indeed kind of unique. Again, I corrected ChatGPT and it responded kindly with more infromation

Archaeopteryx

Question 3: Is Oxalaia S.aegyptiacus?

The old fans of this blog will knwo where does this come from. In the series that made this blog popular, "Spinosaurus's relatives... or just other Spinosaurids" I kept on questioning the phylogeny of Spinosauridae, and my biggest and most outraging for some people claim was that Oxalaia is Not Spinosaurus. So I decided to ask ChatGPT what does it think. Its responce was "Oxalaia is a genus of spinosaurid dinosaur that was first described in 2011 by Brazilian paleontologists. It is not a nomen dubium, which is a term used for a fossil taxon that is of uncertain or doubtful identity, usually due to incomplete or inadequate fossil material. The holotype specimen of Oxalaia consists of a fragmentary skull and associated bones, but it is considered to be distinct enough from other known spinosaurids to warrant its own genus. The discovery of Oxalaia has helped to expand our understanding of the diversity of spinosaurid dinosaurs, which were a group of large, carnivorous theropods that lived during the Cretaceous period." Later on, I started a conversation with the AI on how we had similar "thoughts". 

Question 4: How many discovered species of modern aves are there?

I think that most people know that the answer is around 10.000. And that is also what I excpected from ChatGPT, But no. This AI wrote a whole paragraph on an answer as simple as that, explaining why does this number change constantly because of new discoveries (it even specifies that these discoveries can be morphological, phylogenetic or just new species being found) and also saying which are the most abudant groups of bird. Here is the full responce: "As of 2021, there are over 10,000 species of modern birds that have been discovered and described by scientists. This number is constantly changing as new species are discovered and existing species are reclassified based on new genetic and morphological evidence. The largest group of birds is the passerines, which includes over half of all bird species and is found worldwide in almost every type of habitat. Other major groups of birds include the raptors, waterfowl, and gamebirds. The diversity of modern bird species is a testament to their adaptability and success in colonizing diverse environments around the world."

Question 5: What Is thegreekfossildudesblog.blogspot.com?

It is April fools,so I asked this to ChatGPT. You know what it responded with? Here: "thegreekfossildudesblog.blogspot.com is a blog created by a group of paleontologists in Greece who are interested in sharing their research, discoveries, and thoughts about fossils and ancient life. The blog features articles on a wide range of topics, including dinosaur fossils, early human evolution, and the geology of Greece. The authors of the blog are affiliated with various academic and research institutions in Greece, and they use the blog as a platform to communicate their findings and insights to a wider audience. If you are interested in paleontology and ancient life, you may find their blog to be a valuable resource for learning and exploration." This sadly has little truth to it. First, for now at least, it is only me who owns this blog. Second, I haven't even gotten through high school yet, so I'm just an amateur. Still, they got the theme of this blog kind of right. I decided to correct Chat GPT, and it responded with "I apologize for the mistake, and thank you for clarifying. It's great to hear that you are interested in and passionate about paleontology and sharing your knowledge through your blog. Keep up the good work!" The best part is that I didn't even mention paleontology,I just said "geology,animals and fossils". 

Talking to ChatGPT was really authentic for an AI, it just felt too human like. As a person who has talked to many people about these topics, Chat GPT really resembles an actual conversation. It makes me sad thinking that this was just a robot though. Anyways, see you!