Artificial Intelligence and Our Conversations
By C. Naseer Ahmad
Washington, DC
We are living in interesting times. This is a period when “artificial intelligence” can easily creep up into our conversations. It is not surprising because the tools of modern technology permeate so many aspects of our daily lives.
On Saturday evening, I was at the Mubarak Mosque in Chantilly, Virginia, where Michigan-based physician Mansoor Ahmed Qureshi was the guest speaker. Dr Qureshi encouraged fathers and grandfathers to think about the legacy they will leave behind for their children and grandchildren. His remarks and the questions to follow gave the audience some food for thought.
Perhaps it was the brotherly ambiance, or the delicious food served in the newly built dining hall, I woke up Sunday morning thinking about my own parents and grandparents, not to mention my teachers.
Among my teachers at St Anthony High School, Lahore, Mr Rizvi lives in my memory every day. Rizvi Sahib was our Urdu teacher in this Irish Catholic School. He was a perfect gentleman, who migrated from UP during the Partition and was always dressed in a suit and tie.
More vivid than the memory of his appearance and attire is the way he taught us the poetry of Mir Taqi Mir and Altaf Hussain Hali. But the delivery of Altaf Hussain’s epic poem was so remarkable that it feels that Rizvi Sahib is still sitting across the table sharing tea with me every day.
Perhaps it was the jolt of the morning coffee in a Sunday morning breakfast or just curiosity that forced a conversation with a tool of modern technology. So, this is how it went:
Author asks:
“Tell me about Altaf Hussain Hali’s poem “Wo nabiyon me rehmat panewala”
ChatGPT:
“Wo Nabiyon Mein Rehmat Panewala" is a famous Urdu poem written by Altaf Hussain Hali, a renowned Urdu poet, and writer from the British India era. The poem is a tribute to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his noble qualities. Hali was deeply influenced by the teachings of Islam and the life of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), and this poem reflects his admiration and reverence for the Prophet.
In the poem, Hali praises the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as the epitome of mercy and compassion. He highlights the Prophet's exemplary character, wisdom, and kindness towards all beings. The poem emphasizes the universal message of Islam, which promotes peace, justice, and love for humanity.
“Wo Nabiyon Mein Rehmat Panewala" is often recited and admired by Muslims around the world, especially during religious gatherings and occasions commemorating the life of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). It serves as a reminder of the Prophet's profound impact on the world and his timeless teachings of compassion and forgiveness.”
At first glance, this seemed to be quite an impressive response summarizing the essence of the poem. But a bit later, I realized that I forgot to type in a key word “laqab” – meaning title so I made another attempt and here is the result:
Author tries again:
“Tell me about Altaf Hussain Hali’s poem “Wo nabiyon me rehmat laqab panewala”
ChatGPT:
“"Wo Nabiyon Mein Rehmat Laqab Panevala" is a famous Urdu poem written by Altaf Hussain Hali. The poem glorifies the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and describes his noble character, virtues, and the blessings he brought to humanity. Hali, a prominent Urdu poet and scholar, composed this poem as a tribute to the Prophet (pbuh), emphasizing his role as a mercy to all mankind. The poem is revered for its eloquent language, profound reverence, and deep spiritual insight into the life of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).”
Author:
“Give me the poem”
ChatGPT:
“Certainly! Here is an excerpt from Altaf Hussain Hali's poem "Wo Nabiyon Mein Rehmat Laqab Panevala" in Urdu:
وہ نبیوں میں رحمت لقب پانے والا
نبیوں کے امام علم لانے والا
ترک شیطان و ہدایت ہدایت کا
وہ دنیا میں آیا ہی کیا نہیں وہ زمانے والا
محمدؐ اے شفیع عنایت ملنے والا
بارگاہِ رحمتِ رب العالمین کا
محمدؐ اے دیکھا جو طوفان اندھیرے کا
سایہ تیرا ہی تھا جو برق امان آنے والا
To test the tool’s capabilities, the author asks:
“Give me the entire poem.”
ChatGPT:
“Sure, here is the complete poem "Wo Nabiyon Mein Rehmat Laqab Panevala" by Altaf Hussain Hali:
وہ نبیوں میں رحمت لقب پانے والا
نبیوں کے امام علم لانے والا
ترک شیطان و ہدایت ہدایت کا
وہ دنیا میں آیا ہی کیا نہیں وہ زمانے والا
محمدؐ اے شفیع عنایت ملنے والا
بارگاہِ رحمتِ رب العالمین کا
محمدؐ اے دیکھا جو طوفان اندھیرے کا
سایہ تیرا ہی تھا جو برق امان آنے والا
بتان ہاتھوں سے مل جاتے ہیں تو شان بگڑتی ہے
خدا کو دکھانے والوں کی طرح ماں آنے والا
محمدؐ اے دلِ خستہ مرے پیامِ حق پہ
جب بھی برپا ہوا کوئی جدید دور آنے والا
بیوقوفی یا رب وہ خدا نے کیوں بنایا
کہ جس کے بغیر کھلتے ہیں ہم خواب افسانے والا
محمدؐ اے ہمارے نظر میں وہ ماہ تاروں کا
کوئی بھی چمکا روزنِ عالم میں آنے والا
دنیا کے نظام کا نظر کرتا ہوں تو دیکھتا ہوں
کہ بہار اکثر اس میں ہوں یا فصلِ خزانے والا
محمدؐ اے طیبہ کے نبیؐ تو جانتا ہے
کہ میں پیغامِ ایمان اپنی دستانے والا
رسولؐ نے کچھ آیات کی کہانی سنائی
کچھ آسمانی چیزیں دکھائی
کہ محمدؐ اے جوش محیطِ علم کے لبوں پہ
جب بھی آتا ہے کوئی نوا نمائے والا
محمدؐ اے سنگ ارشاد، روشنی کے لیے
نکلا تھا جب بھی کوئی شبنم گاہے والا
کبھی ایک چاک سا سنجیدہ کرتا ہے
کبھی دور نظر کرتا ہے وہ آنے والا
محمدؐ اے طیبہ کے نبیؐ تو جانتا ہے
کہ میں پیغامِ ایمان اپنی دستانے والا “
Now, as an author, if I submitted the “entire” version of the poem to Rizvi Sahib, he would instantly flag it. While ChatGPT answered some questions well anyone familiar with Hali’s beautiful poem would recognize that some stanzas are missing.
This little experiment teaches us why emerging tools have the qualifier “artificial” in “intelligence.” Long story short, for more meaningful conversations, we cannot lose sight of the “context” – and relevance to the times we live in, not to mention the necessity to do old-fashioned
