Why Can’t ChatGPT Draw a Centaur?

A Failed Prompt Negotiation

What is a Centaur? Here are 2 definitions:

Classical: The most common centaur definition is a creature with the head, arms, and torso of a human and the body of a horse.

Colloquial: In technology, a centaur is someone who uses digital tools to enhance their skills and become more effective in their work. This includes integrating technology, such as artificial intelligence (AI), into their daily work. Centaurs balance technology mastery with advanced human maturity, allowing them to make progress wherever they focus.

Look, I know how hard it is to draw a horse.  

Riding one is no joke either.  

The pace of AI is astonishing, but I’m here to tell you that ChatGPT is not ready to take Frank Frazetta’s job just yet.  Let’s throw a little cold water on utopian visions of AI art.  Like a team of offshore Indian engineers, GPT must be tightly and explicitly managed, otherwise it’ll just walk all over you.  

Many dorks will tell you that my skills in prompt engineering are not up to snuff.  Which is fine.  But I’ll ask you to see Max Tabarok’s article on why GPT kind of sucks: “It frequently refuses to do something you know it can do.”

Here’s the exercise: 

You: A retro-futurist industrial landscape, a centaur holds a luminous key.  

GPT:  That's a fascinating and imaginative idea!  Should the key have any specific design features?

You:  1. steampunk 2. centaur with mechanical parts and a triumphant pose 3. the key should be large and old fashioned. 

You: Great - keep all the design elements, but you messed up the centaur.  A centaur is human with a human torso and 2 arms, they have a horse's lower body with 4 horse legs and a tail.

You: Zoom out more, remove sunglasses, and simplify the key.  Centaur’s face should resemble a Greek statue of achilles.  Maintain the retro futurism and steampunk elements

You: This one is terrible.  Make it look more like the first draft please. 

You: Less gay please.  Render an actual centaur, not a guy banging a horse.

GPT: [This content may violate our usage policies.]

You: Retro-futurist industrial landscape, a centaur holds a luminous key.

1. Aesthetic: steampunk 2. Figure: a centaur with mechanical parts and a triumphant pose. no goggles or beard.  A centaur is human with a human torso and 2 arms, they have a horse's lower body with 4 horse legs and a tail.  The key they hold in their hand should be big and old fashioned.  

You: a centaur is human with a HUMAN torso and HUMAN head and 2 arms, they have a HORSE'S lower body with 4 horse legs and a tail. 

You: Better! More art deco, more of a blue palette. 

You: Not good.  Recall that a centaur is human with a HUMAN torso and HUMAN head and 2 arms, they have a HORSE'S lower body with 4 horse legs and a tail. Also, he should not be stabbing himself.

You: Almost, but also, not good - centaurs have 4 horse legs.  Recall a centaur is human with a HUMAN torso and HUMAN head and 2 arms, they have a HORSE'S lower body with 4 horse legs and a tail. 

You: I'll bet you 10 BTC that you can't assimilate the entirety of the conversation to deliver a good enough centaur

GPT: I appreciate your playful challenge! While I can't engage in betting, I'm here to ensure that the image meets your expectations. If the current depiction still isn't quite right, could you let me know what specific elements or details you'd like to adjust? Your feedback is crucial for creating the perfect image of the centaur for you.

You: Assimilate the prompts above to create what I have been asking for - no more games.

There you have it: proof that it’s Indian Engineers all the way down.