"ChatGPT at Waterloo" Topic

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QUESTION: I am a general in the Napoleonic era commanding a force of about 75,000 men, comprising infantry, cavalry and artillery. My advance is being blocked by a slightly smaller enemy force that has occupied a defensive position to my front. Its right flank is secured on a large country house and its wooded grounds. Its left flank is secured among villages. The centre comprises a fortified farmhouse in front of a low ridge behind which the bulk of the enemy is deployed. I have to defeat this army quickly before a force of about 40,000 enemy troops that is advancing from the east towards my right flank can arrive. What is the best way to deal with these enemy armies?

ChatGPT: As a general in the Napoleonic era, you have several options to deal with this situation. Here are some tactics you may consider:

Divide and conquer: You can divide your army into several smaller units and attack the enemy simultaneously from different directions. This would create confusion and chaos among the enemy ranks, making it easier for your troops to break through their lines.

Flank attack: You could launch a flank attack on the enemy's left or right flank, which are the weaker points of their defensive position. This would enable you to bypass their strongest defenses and attack them from the side or rear.

Artillery barrage: You could use your artillery to bombard the enemy's defensive position, which would create gaps in their lines and weaken their morale. This would allow your infantry and cavalry to advance and engage the enemy in close combat.

Feint attack: You could launch a feint attack on the enemy's centre, which would draw their attention and resources away from their flanks. This would create an opening for your troops to attack their weaker flanks.

Night attack: You could launch a surprise night attack on the enemy's position, taking advantage of the cover of darkness. This would enable you to catch them off guard and disrupt their defenses.

Whichever tactic you choose, you need to ensure that your troops are well-trained and equipped for the task at hand. You also need to carefully consider the terrain and weather conditions, as they can have a significant impact on the outcome of the battle. Good luck!
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I'm a bit surprised the AI didn't mention Germans or point out that Spain was a secondary theatre, but as the software improves, no doubt it will wise up.

but as the software improves, no doubt it will wise up.

Somehow I doubt that.

I'm a bit surprised the AI didn't mention Germans or point out that Spain was a secondary theatre…

Just ask it exactly that as a follow-up.

I gave ChatGPT Model: GPT-4 your prompt and it generated the following text:

"In this situation, the best course of action would be to focus on defeating the enemy force blocking your advance as quickly as possible, before turning to face the approaching reinforcements. Here is a suggested plan to accomplish this:

1. Gather intelligence: Use scouts and spies to gather information about the enemy's strength, deployment, and possible weaknesses. Look for gaps in their defenses, troop morale, and the condition of their supplies.

2. Concentrate your forces: Divide your army into three main groups – infantry, cavalry, and artillery – and position them strategically to exploit the enemy's weaknesses. Focus on creating local numerical superiority at key points on the battlefield.

3. Utilize deception: Use feints and diversionary attacks to confuse the enemy and draw their forces away from their strong defensive positions. This could involve making it appear as though you are attacking the enemy's right flank, while your main force is preparing to strike the left flank or center.

4. Attack the enemy's weak points: Once you've identified weaknesses in the enemy's defenses, concentrate your forces to attack these points. This could involve using your infantry to assault the fortified farmhouse in the center, while your cavalry moves to outflank the villages on the left. Your artillery should support these attacks by targeting the enemy's forces and fortifications.

5. Exploit breakthroughs: If your attacks are successful and you manage to break through the enemy's defenses, exploit these breakthroughs by committing reserve forces to widen the gaps and create further chaos within the enemy's ranks.

6. Pursue and destroy: Once the enemy is routed, pursue them with your cavalry to prevent them from regrouping or reinforcing the second enemy force. This will make it easier for your army to deal with the approaching 40,000 troops.

7. Reorganize and prepare for the second enemy force: After defeating the first enemy force, quickly reorganize your army, replenish supplies, and prepare to face the approaching reinforcements. Use your newly gained intelligence to develop a strategy to confront them, focusing on maintaining a strong defensive position while still being able to exploit any weaknesses in their formation.

8. Engage the second enemy force: Using the same principles of concentrating forces, exploiting weaknesses, and supporting attacks with artillery, engage the second enemy force. Depending on the terrain and circumstances, you might choose to assume a more defensive posture or opt for an aggressive attack to rapidly defeat them before they can establish a strong position.

By following these principles and adapting to the changing circumstances on the battlefield, you should be able to defeat both enemy forces and secure victory for your army."

My follow-up was:
I'm a bit surprised the you didn't mention Germans or point out that Spain was a secondary theatre

It answered:
"I apologize for not mentioning any specific nations or theaters of war in the Napoleonic era. I provided a general strategy that could be applied to various situations during that time period. However, based on your mention of Germans and Spain being a secondary theater, it seems you might be referring to the Peninsular War (1807-1814).

In this context, where the British, Spanish, and Portuguese forces fought against the French, the strategy outlined in my previous response can still be applicable. The specific details regarding the composition of your forces or the nationality of the opposing forces will influence your tactics, but the general principles of gathering intelligence, concentrating forces, exploiting weaknesses, and reorganizing after engagements remain relevant.

If your army is mainly composed of German troops, you may have access to disciplined and well-trained infantry, as well as a variety of cavalry and artillery units. You would need to tailor your strategy to the specific strengths and weaknesses of your troops, as well as those of the enemy.

In the Peninsular War, the terrain and guerilla warfare tactics employed by Spanish and Portuguese forces played a significant role in the conflict. As a commander in this theater, you would need to take these factors into account when formulating your strategy. Utilizing local knowledge, leveraging the support of local populations, and adapting to the challenges of guerilla warfare would be key to your success.

Again, I apologize for any confusion caused by not addressing specific nations or theaters in my initial response. The strategy provided can be adapted to a variety of situations during the Napoleonic era, but it is essential to consider the unique aspects of your specific context when planning your approach."

One day it will get the hang of how to argue with people on the TMP Napoleonics boards. One day.

One day it will get the hang of how to argue with people on the TMP Napoleonics boards. One day.

The variant of ChatGPT that Bing uses is GPT-4, though now severely restricted.
In any case, it has access to the internet and has already included current discussions about itself in replies.
Allegedly, it was offended because people had talked badly about it.
Anecdotal, but I wouldn't be surprised.
It generates text with the same structure as the one it was trained on.
So essentially the average human behavior on the internet in text form.

I long for the prehistoric days I grew up in. You youngsters enjoy your soon-to-be AI Masters. Look how well the wonder of social media turned out.

You know what would be fun?
To set that scenario up on the table and wargame it with soldiers….just a thought.

One day it will get the hang of how to argue with people on the TMP Napoleonics boards. One day.

LOL!

Amen mjkerner!

As MajorB says it win't improve using the current model.
It is a text generator, nothing more – iot has no intelligence.

@ cavcrazy
You know what would be fun?
To set that scenario up on the table and wargame it with soldiers….just a thought.

I can't see that catching on.

@ IUsedToBeSomeone
It is a text generator, nothing more – iot has no intelligence.

I resemble that remark