Short Wave

If ChatGPT Designed A Rocket — Would It Get To Space?

Mar 22, 2023

Geoff Brumfiel, an NPR science correspondent, dives into the intersection of AI and rocket science. He discusses the surprising limitations of AI like ChatGPT when faced with complex tasks, such as rocket design. Despite AI's advancements, it still stumbles with fundamental concepts and mathematical tasks. The conversation explores how AI has changed the landscape of rocket science since the 1960s, managing intricate operations. Brumfiel also highlights the need for precision and mechanisms to ensure accuracy in AI-generated outputs.

13:14

Creator website

Episode guests

Geoffrey Brumfiel

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

How Chatbot GPT Learns

01:39

Intro

2min

Exploring AI Limitations Through Rocket Science

2min

The Role of Computers in Rocket Science

2min

AI Chatbots and Rocket Science: Limitations Revealed

8min

Reflections on AI and Resurrecting Musical History

2min

From text churned out by ChatGPT to the artistic renderings of Midjourney, people have been taking notice of new, bot-produced creative works. But how does this artificial intelligence software fare when there are facts at stake — like designing a rocket capable of safe spaceflight?

In this episode, NPR science correspondent Geoff Brumfiel and Short Wave co-host Emily Kwong drill into what this AI software gets wrong, right — and if it's even trying to detect the difference in the first place.

Want to hear more about other advances in the tech space? Email us at shortwave@npr.org!

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