Post 12: Forks in the Path, (sort of a metapost?)

I just figured out new functionality on ChatGPT!:

So, somewhat to my embarrassment, I just discovered a functionality in ChatGPT that is really cool and potentially very useful that I probably should have noticed a while ago, (at least it may be interesting to you weirdos out there like me 🙂. . . NOTE 1!!! The full functionality of this feature does not seem to be available from your mobile app, just from your browser, although ChatGPT does tell me it will be available from the app eventually. . . this might also be why I didn’t notice it until now).

So, the feature: It is possible to go back within a conversation and edit a prompt to something completely new, thus creating a second branch of the conversation from that point forward, and. . . you can go back at any time and switch back to the original prompt and see the old branch of the conversation. (It's like going back to an old save point on a video game and seeing what would have happened if you had tried something else! And then going back to the original, (or not), depending on which outcome you like better! A do over! Amazing! Or you can create a third path if you do it again. . . maybe more? Haven’t tried beyond three, I’m busy, lol, do it yourself if you want to know).

Anyway, this makes me feel much less reticent about chasing down any absurd tangent that comes to mind as NOW I know I can always go back! (I do foresee a downside from a “records retention” standpoint though. . . if a conversation is long and has too many forks and you want to find some specific path it could get messy. . . I haven’t tried the search function yet to see if it can get into alternative paths. . ..).

(Note 2: Gemini doesn’t seem to have this feature at this exact moment, I haven’t checked any other LLMs yet. Also, I do have ChatGPT +, I am not sure if this feature is or is not available on the free option).

See below for an example from a conversation I was having with ChatGPT about its ability to remember details across conversations. . . Also note for funsies, ChatGPT at first denied it had the capability I was using AT THAT MOMENT! LOL! Another reason to take what is says with hand-full of salt sometimes even if, in my opinion, it is a really cool and interesting program. Also, apologies for those trying to read the discussion on a phone. . . (probably all of you?). When I take screen shots from my desktop computer the text size is always small. . . I’m not very good with image editors and such and that is one topic the LLMs haven’t succeeded in helping me with. . .