The biggest problem with LLMs as most currently use them is their inability to mull things over. To have multiple trains of thought and then try to intersect them and fork compilations of thought. When you ask a question it has exactly one chance to think up a response and no chance to review that thought or reconsider it. There are models that are allowed to do this but they’re generally behind pay walls because even the simplest of questions can lead into ridiculous tangents without proper guidelines on the prompt. Here the ‘Advanced resoning’ models response to the same question
Mammals known to build dams
#Mammal (scientific name)Dam-building habitKey reference1North American beaver (Castor canadensis)Constructs multi-year stick-and-mud dams on streams and ditches to flood an area deep enough for its lodge and food cache.2Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber)Same engineering instinct as its North-American cousin; creates extensive pond systems across Europe and parts of Asia.3Humans (Homo sapiens)From earthen farm ponds to megaprojects such as Hoover Dam, people build dams for water storage, flood control, power and more.
Why the list is so short
Beavers are unique. Despite a variety of lodge-building or burrowing rodents (muskrats, nutria, water voles, rakali, etc.), none of them actually dam a watercourse; they rely on natural water levels or on beaver-made ponds.
No other living mammal species has been documented creating intentional water-blocking structures. (The extinct giant beaver Castoroides probably did not dam rivers, according to paleontological evidence. )
So, when it comes to true dam-building in the mammal world, it’s essentially a two-species beaver monopoly—plus us.
Also note that this response took a considerable amount more time than a standard response because it keeps reviewing it’s responses. But it’s worthwhile watching it’s thought process as it builds your answers.
The biggest problem with LLMs as most currently use them is their inability to mull things over. To have multiple trains of thought and then try to intersect them and fork compilations of thought. When you ask a question it has exactly one chance to think up a response and no chance to review that thought or reconsider it. There are models that are allowed to do this but they’re generally behind pay walls because even the simplest of questions can lead into ridiculous tangents without proper guidelines on the prompt. Here the ‘Advanced resoning’ models response to the same question
Mammals known to build dams
#Mammal (scientific name)Dam-building habitKey reference1North American beaver (Castor canadensis)Constructs multi-year stick-and-mud dams on streams and ditches to flood an area deep enough for its lodge and food cache.2Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber)Same engineering instinct as its North-American cousin; creates extensive pond systems across Europe and parts of Asia.3Humans (Homo sapiens)From earthen farm ponds to megaprojects such as Hoover Dam, people build dams for water storage, flood control, power and more.
Why the list is so short
Beavers are unique. Despite a variety of lodge-building or burrowing rodents (muskrats, nutria, water voles, rakali, etc.), none of them actually dam a watercourse; they rely on natural water levels or on beaver-made ponds.
No other living mammal species has been documented creating intentional water-blocking structures. (The extinct giant beaver Castoroides probably did not dam rivers, according to paleontological evidence. )
So, when it comes to true dam-building in the mammal world, it’s essentially a two-species beaver monopoly—plus us.
https://chatgpt.com/share/683caddc-5944-8009-8e4a-d03bef5933a4
Also note that this response took a considerable amount more time than a standard response because it keeps reviewing it’s responses. But it’s worthwhile watching it’s thought process as it builds your answers.