Hey, new here but I'll save my intro for another post. I've been using ChatGPT to gather data and discover new sites to explore and was wondering if its something others were doing too. If the cutoff date for its database wasn't nov 2021 I think it would be the ultimate urbex research tool. Just wanted to share and see if anyone else was doing this, thoughts and tips appreciated

I've got a few friends who've played around with it. It can be a good tool, but it also has a habit of fabricating entirely fictional locations based on other similar locations- for example, fabricating entire news articles and historical documents on tunnel networks that never actually existed, based on real tunnel networks in other cities. So sorting the wheat from the chaff can be tricky.

Yeah it definitely fabricates locations but usually you can tell its authenticity from the name, or ask it any follow up questions about the spot and it usually catches itself. I'd say about half the locations it gives are erroneous but it can also find some very obscure spots. Its a bit of a gamble but it can really pay off

The best sites are gonna be precisely those that aren't visible to AIs, search engines, social media, etc. That's kinda the point of the hobby for me: to get outside that matrix and find places it hasn't yet assimilated (and probably ruined). To me this seems like a non-issue; just a trendy topic for the hive-minded.

Using AI seems as lame as asking people for a list of locations without having done any actual research or putting in actual physical work. Idk chatting with AI has always seemed lame to me though

I use it as a tool for research mostly. It's turned up a few sites that aren't commonly known, but it's mostly a great way to figure out more information about places I already know a little about. I don't love talking to AI either but it is useful in augmenting my existing research

For shits and giggles, I asked ChatGPT for locations, and it suggested I get a safer hobby and gave me a list of tourist sites.

I've had some luck asking it to dig up info on very specific "types" of locations. In general I've found the quality of locations it produces varies pretty wildly depending on what type of spot you are asking it for, not sure why. For some stuff it just scans all the generic "listicle" type abandoned in your state articles and regurgitates those, but if you throw it the right prompts it can be an effective tool.

I don't think there's anything wrong with using it as a tool, either, so long as you mostly keep what it feeds you to yourself.

I asked ChatGPT to tell me about Delamar NV. This is the results:

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Delamar is a ghost town located in Lincoln County, Nevada, United States. It was once a thriving mining town during the late 19th century and early 20th century, named after the famous prospector Joseph Raphael De Lamar. The town was established in 1894 after the discovery of rich silver deposits in the area.

During its peak, the town had a population of around 1500 people and was home to many businesses, including hotels, saloons, restaurants, and several stores. It had a post office, a school, and a newspaper, the Delamar Lode. The town also had its own electric power plant and water system.

The silver deposits in Delamar began to decline in the early 1900s, and the town slowly began to decline along with it. In 1909, a fire destroyed much of the town, including the school and the Delamar Lode newspaper building. The post office closed in 1914, and the town was abandoned shortly after.

Today, Delamar is a ghost town and a popular destination for history buffs and tourists. Visitors can explore the remains of the town's buildings, including the foundations of the old school and the post office. The town's cemetery is also a popular attraction, where many of the former residents of Delamar are buried.

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This is factually incorrect on a number of points. Delamar was a GOLD mine, not a silver mine. Also, Jospeh DeLamar was never a prospector. He was a mine owner that bought up many of the claims that ultimately became the Delamar Mine.

AI simply aggregates information about a topic, then blends it together into an answer. If it gathers information that is incorrect, then it will preset that information as fact. I would suggest separate follow-up verification of the information you pull from the AI.

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It might be worthwhile to invest in chatGPT 4 or get a plugin that gives chatGPT up-to-date information.

It would probably take a bit of time to shift through the responses, but probably not any longer than using google or smth.

ChatGPT seems like a narc.

can you recommend sites to go urban exploring in New York? ChatGPT As an AI language model, I can't endorse or recommend any particular activity that might put people at risk of harm or legal consequences. Urban exploring can be a dangerous activity and is often associated with trespassing and other illegal activities. It's important to be aware of the risks and legal implications of this activity. Instead, I would encourage you to explore the many legal and safe options for sightseeing and exploring in New York City. There are many wonderful places to visit and experience in the city, from iconic landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and Central Park to lesser-known gems like the High Line park and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. You can also check out museums, art galleries, and other cultural attractions. If you are interested in adventure and outdoor activities, there are many great options in and around the city, such as hiking, biking, and kayaking. You can also explore nearby areas like the Hudson Valley or the Catskills for even more outdoor adventure. Remember to always prioritize your safety and follow any laws and regulations to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.

The data stream flows both ways.

Gathering intel for UE is likely giving intel to law enforcement.

When you're logged in to chatGPT, at the very minimum it's got your IP info and can match it to your queries.

Are the Open AI people going to demand warrants or just start forking over data to any police agency that asks for it like Amazon did with their doorbell cameras?

https://arstechnic...hout-user-consent/

Posted by Radio2600 The data stream flows both ways. Gathering intel for UE is likely giving intel to law enforcement. When you're logged in to chatGPT, at the very minimum it's got your IP info and can match it to your queries. Are the Open AI people going to demand warrants or just start forking over data to any police agency that asks for it like Amazon did with their doorbell cameras? https://arstechnic...hout-user-consent/

Very good point. I try to treat it like an advanced encyclopedia. I certainly wouldn't ask it how to build a hydrogen bomb in my basement. LOL. I would assume that ChatGPT has word or phrase triggers that notify them of 'dangerous' queries.

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Posted by Radio2600 The data stream flows both ways. Gathering intel for UE is likely giving intel to law enforcement. When you're logged in to chatGPT, at the very minimum it's got your IP info and can match it to your queries. Are the Open AI people going to demand warrants or just start forking over data to any police agency that asks for it like Amazon did with their doorbell cameras? https://arstechnic...hout-user-consent/

Any website you use likely collects IP information (and MUCH more), and with the volume of utilization that ChatGPT is seeing I strongly doubt that they are forwarding every inquiry about abandoned buildings to the police. Hell I don't see any scenario without the feds involved that would result in the situation your describing unless you were asking it dumb shit like 'hOw cAn I bReAk iN aNd sTriP tHe CoPpEr hUrR DurR?'

Paranoia is good in healthy quantities but I think your overstating things here. Any other website you use for research could easily meet your same privacy issue criteria. Google Maps must be terrifying for you, that shit reports your exact location and essentially data mines the shit out of your phone (installed apps, search queries etc)

Just use a VPN and don't do any dumb shit and like 99.999% of people, you'll be fine. AI isn't coming for your urbex

Posted by Flav0rtown Just use a VPN

If you think that law enforcement is not hip to the VPN shtick, you're sadly mistaken.

Posted by Radio2600 If you think that law enforcement is not hip to the VPN shtick, you're sadly mistaken.

+1