I avoided it for a long time. Longer than most, I’d say. But eventually I started looking at ChatGPT. In case you’ve been avoiding tech news for the last six months, ChatGPT is disrupting the entire world of information gathering. It’s an artificial intelligence that’s very good at going out and getting answers to whatever question you have, and then putting them all back together. It can write computer code, song lyrics, and even have pretty convincing conversations.
I’ll admit to being a little threatened by the idea of an AI that could potentially put a blogger like me out of business. I’ve seen some of the things it writes and they’re pretty convincing. I mean, not totally convincing, but still. When I read the stuff ChatGPT writes, I’m reminded of the kind of person who always sounds like they know what they’re talking about. This sort of person rarely has a true understanding of anything, but they can talk about almost anything. For example, the Cliff Claven character from Cheers. (I know I’m dating myself with that reference, but so be it.)
I decided to ask ChatGPT to write an article about satellite television. It did… ok. I’m going to publish it here, and I’m going to put my comments in between paragraphs as blue boxes.
My comments will look like this.
Ready? Here goes nothin.
What is satellite television? by ChatGPT
Satellite television is a method of delivering television programming to viewers by relaying it from a communications satellite orbiting the Earth directly to the viewer’s location. The signals are received via an outdoor parabolic antenna commonly referred to as a satellite dish and a low-noise block downconverter.
This is surprisingly accurate. The article doesn’t explain words like “parabolic” or “downconverter” but I bet if I asked ChatGPT what those were, it could explain them.
Satellite television was first suggested by Arthur C. Clarke, a British science fiction author, in 1945. However, it wasn’t until the 1960s that the necessary technology was developed to make it a reality. In 1975, the first satellite television service, called Home Satellite Television, was launched in the United States.
This is true, but it doesn’t paint the real picture. Satellites were used to send TV signals from point to point as early as 1964. It also doesn’t explain the difference between those early systems and the current ones. Older satellite systems needed a lot of tech expertise to operate and weren’t at all like the ones we use today.
One of the main advantages of satellite television is that it can reach viewers in remote or hard-to-reach areas where cable and terrestrial television are not available. It also offers a wider variety of programming options, as satellite television providers can transmit a larger number of channels than cable or terrestrial providers.
This is essentially true, but when you say “one of the main advantages” you really imply that there’s more than one advantage. That’s just bad writing.
Satellite television is also known for providing high-definition programming, which offers a more vivid and clear picture than traditional standard definition television. Additionally, satellite television providers often offer interactive features such as digital video recording and pay-per-view options.
This is totally irrelevant. Antennas, streaming, and cable TV have HD programming. This would be a great selling point if this were 2007, but it’s not.
To receive satellite television, viewers must have a satellite dish and a set-top box or a satellite-enabled television. The dish is typically installed on the roof or exterior of the viewer’s home and is pointed at the location of the communications satellite in the sky. The set-top box or satellite-enabled television is then connected to the dish and is used to decode the signals from the satellite and display the programming on the viewer’s television.
Here, ChatGPT is just flat out wrong. There is no such thing as a satellite-enabled television. Such a thing doesn’t exist. It could, but it doesn’t.
There are two main types of satellite television services: direct-to-home (DTH) and direct broadcast satellite (DBS). DTH services are provided to individual households, while DBS services are provided to businesses such as hotels, hospitals, and dormitories. DBS services typically offer more specialized programming than DTH services.
Again, the wrong answer. These terms are really not in use anymore. When DBS was a common term, it meant essentially the same as DTH, while the broadcasts for institutional use were generally referred to simply as private or encrypted programming.
Satellite television providers typically offer a variety of programming packages at different price points. These packages can include a basic package with a limited number of channels, as well as more expensive packages with a wider variety of channels and additional features such as premium movie channels and sports packages.
This is true but it really doesn’t say anything about why you would prefer satellite TV over other forms of pay-TV which offer similar programming packages. DIRECTV and DISH have more channels and generally better picture quality than cable, but ChatGPT didn’t mention that.
While satellite television has many advantages, it also has some disadvantages. One of the main drawbacks is that the signals can be affected by weather conditions such as heavy rain or snow, which can cause disruptions in service. Additionally, because the signals are transmitted via a satellite, there is a slight delay in the programming, which can be noticeable when watching live events.
Rain fade is a known thing, but even with rain fade, satellite TV is roughly 10 times more reliable than cable. Stating the existence of rain fade without giving the necessary context creates a false impression that satellite TV is less reliable.
Also, all forms of TV have a delay compared to over-the-air broadcast. Satellite TV generally has less of a delay than streaming. Again by giving only some of the facts, ChatGPT created a false impression.
Overall, satellite television is a popular and reliable method of delivering television programming to viewers, particularly those in remote or hard-to-reach areas. With a wide variety of programming options, high-definition programming, and interactive features, it offers a high-quality viewing experience. However, it is important to be aware of the potential limitations such as weather disruptions and slight delay in programming.
This is a fine overview, but I feel like this was already said and there’s just some algorithm that tells the AI to sum everything up at the end. That’s not always necessary.
The verdict
OK, maybe I’m biased. Maybe I went into this article hoping that the AI would fail. But let’s be honest, even though it turned out a very reasonable chunk of text that seems to answer the question, it is still a fail for me.
I think for a tech blog like this one, the reader wants more than just a top-level discussion of what something is. They want some context. They want to know the real meat and potatoes of something, not just what you’d get from a Wikipedia article. (Don’t get me wrong, Wikipedia is amazing. But it’s specifically not set up to let you draw deep conclusions.)
Another thing to mention is that ChatGPT wrote in a way that isn’t considered SEO-friendly, a must for blogs today.
I’m a little less worried about whether or not an AI will take my job, at least right now. But I can see that there’s amazing potential from this sort of thing and I look forward to seeing what it’s capable of.
In the meantime, if you want real context and good advice, read this blog or call the experts at Solid Signal. The number is 888-233-7563, or just fill out the form below.
