ChatGPT, a haiku

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First words from the screen

AI shapes thoughts into verse

new paths softly bloom

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by ChatGPT

  • I had to do a training package today about using AI for communications, and thought I’d have a little practice session on ChatGPT. This was the instruction I gave:

“Write me a haiku about using AI for the first time to write the haiku”

Having done the training, it only reinforces my scepticism about AI, but I do see how it might be helpful in the right circumstances. Unfortunately, I think that it is so open to misuse, deliberately or accidentally, and I fear in these early days a lot of people and organisations will get their knickers in a twist and fall foul of what is really the Wild West out there.

The seduction of new technology is powerful, and the early adopters get super-excited. It is important that there are others who ground truth these novel opportunities and maintain some level of human experience, skill and knowledge. I feel that AI should be used when it is needed rather than because it is there.

7005. Dean Lane skate park (843)

Nina Raines, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2025
Nina Raines, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2025

This mustard pot is a little bit of creative genius from Nina Raines and absolutely made my day when I first saw it. This litter bin is such a familiar sight in Dean Lane, and although it has been ‘decorated’ a few times before, this is by far the best makeover I can think of.

Nina Raines, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2025
Nina Raines, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2025

The Coleman’s mustard brand is one of the most iconic food brands in our store cupboards, and although Coleman’s isn’t even mentioned in this piece, it is instantly recognisable. As well as recreating the cow’s head, Nina Raines has adapted the ‘Original English’ to read ‘Original Bristol’. A clever piece that could so easily be scaled-up across the city, although I suspect it is something the council would never sanction.

7004. Sparke Evans Park (131)

Hire, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, June 2025
Hire, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, June 2025

2025 has been a dry year so far, and we have had an unusually sunny time of it, and although this is in part driven by a changing climate, it still feels good after the rather wet years we have had in the last decade or so. I mention this, because in these sunny conditions, photographing certain walls in Bristol has been a bit of a nightmare and this one was particularly challenging.

Hire, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, June 2025
Hire, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, June 2025

Despite the difficulties (you can just make out my arm in the top left trying to block out the glare), It was well worth the effort to capture this beauty from Hire. This piece is like some of his earlier spiky pieces, but with slightly softer edges. Some great autumnal colours and fabulous highlights surrounding the HIRE letters instead of a drop shadow give this piece a distinctive look that is a hallmark of the artist. A very nice piece of graffiti writing.

Pelmo

A gallery of outstanding oversized character pieces by Bristol artist Pelmo.

Instagram: @pelmos_world

All photographs by Scooj

Pelmo, Cheltenham Paint Festival, Cheltenham, July 2022
Pelmo, Cheltenham Paint Festival, Cheltenham, July 2022

Pelmo, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2022
Pelmo, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2022

Pelmo, New Stadium Road, Bristol, June 2022
Pelmo, New Stadium Road, Bristol, June 2022

Pelmo, New Stadium Road, Bristol, June 2022
Pelmo, New Stadium Road, Bristol, June 2022

Pelmo, New Stadium Road, Bristol, June 2022
Pelmo, New Stadium Road, Bristol, June 2022

Pelmo, Lucky Lane, Bristol, April 2022
Pelmo, Lucky Lane, Bristol, April 2022

Pelmo, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2022
Pelmo, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2022

Pelmo, Lucky Lane, Bristol, August 2019
Pelmo, Lucky Lane, Bristol, August 2019

Pelmo, Tobacco Factory, Bristol, June 2019
Pelmo, Tobacco Factory, Bristol, June 2019

Pelmo, Tobacco Factory, Bristol, May 2019
Pelmo, Tobacco Factory, Bristol, May 2019

Pelmo, Upfest shop yard, Bristol, July 2018
Pelmo, Upfest shop yard, Bristol, July 2018

Pelmo, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Pelmo, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

Pelmo, West Street, Bristol, April 2018
Pelmo, West Street, Bristol, April 2018

Pelmo, West Street, Bristol, April 2018
Pelmo, West Street, Bristol, April 2018

Pelmo, West Street, Bristol, April 2018
Pelmo, West Street, Bristol, April 2018

Pelmo, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

Pelmo, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017