Hey ChatGTP, tell me about Columbia, SC

Q+A with ChatGPT about Columbia, SC

Passionate about parks, planning, or public art? There’s likely a board for that. | Photo by @sodacityaerials

ChatGPT from OpenAI is taking the internet by storm, and new users are getting creative testing out the new tool’s capabilities.

Earlier this year, we introduced you to Craiyon, an AI bot that we asked to draw six of Cola’s most iconic landmarks. While those were a bit underwhelming, CHATGPT is impressive in its initial capacity.

How does it work?

The tool allows users to ask questions using their natural language and it responds in a conversational language. It also remembers your dialog to help inform its next responses.

With over one million new users trying it out within days of its launch, we decided to have a little conversation and see what it knows about the Soda City.

🤖 COLAtoday: Good Morning, ChatGPT, can you tell me how Columbia, South Carolina was founded?

🤖 ChatGPT: Columbia, South Carolina was founded in 1786 as the new state capital of South Carolina. The city was named for Christopher Columbus, and it was planned and designed by surveyor Charles Gabriel. The city was laid out in a grid pattern, with a central square that was intended to be the center of government, commerce, and culture. Columbia grew quickly after its founding, becoming an important regional center for trade and industry. Today, Columbia is the largest city in South Carolina and the state’s capital.

Our take

Impressive, right? A bit scary even. This answer took just seconds to populate in front of our eyes.

Potential problems

The mission of OpenAI is to develop a “safe and beneficial” artificial general intelligence system and to help others. Still, ChatGPT can be wrong, and it can’t offer you any real-time info. Those are just a few of the flaws users have found so far.

The answers are immediate and seem fairly accurate, but where is the AI chat pulling this information? The answers don’t come with any sources, so we decided to ask.

SEE THE SOURCES

Affinity Healthcare dba Palmetto Primary Care

Click here to have your event featured.

Monday, Dec. 12

12 Days of Christmas at Gardener’s Outpost! | Monday, Dec. 12-Saturday, Dec. 24 | 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | Gardener’s Outpost, 1211 Franklin St. & 709 Woodrow St., Columbia | Get some last-minute shopping done and choose from different items discounted each day leading up to Christmas.

Tuesday, Dec. 13

Baby Shark Live!: The Christmas Show | Tuesday, Dec. 13 | 6 p.m. | The Township Auditorium, 1703 Taylor St., Columbia | $25-$65 | Splash along with Baby Shark and Pinkfong as they journey into the sea for the Holidays to sing and dance through some of your favorite songs.

Wednesday, Dec. 14

Paper Lantern Workshop | Wednesday, Dec. 14 | 6-8:30 p.m. | Columbia Art Center, 1227 Taylor St., Columbia | $10 | Once completed, march with your lanterns in the Winter Solstice Parade on Wednesday, Dec. 21.

Thursday, Dec. 15

Jump, Little Children | Thursday, Dec. 15 | 8 p.m. | The Senate, 1022 Senate St., Columbia | $33 | Charleston alternative rock band Jump, Little Children bids farewell to Columbia on their final tour as they also celebrate the release of their new album “Foundering.”
Women in Philanthropy’s Annual Leadership Breakfast | Thursday, Dec. 15 | 7:30-10 a.m. | Palmetto Club, 1231 Sumter St., Columbia | $30-$50 | This event helps raise funds for community partners serving women and children in the Midlands.*

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Weather

59º | Partly cloudy | 11% chance of rain

Open

Smoke It Up Food Truck — a popular Midlands barbecue truck that serves chopped brisket and racks of ribs — opened a new takeout location in the Hunter Village shopping center at 10071 Broad River Rd., Irmo. An added bonus to stopping in, there’s a new mural from local artist Ija Charles inside. 🐖

Environment

The recently closed Constan Carwash on Gervais Street could become a detention pond to prevent flooding in the Five Points area. Consultant ESP Associates is conducting a study in the area and is expected to provide a list of solutions for the city to choose from within the next six months. 🌊 (The Post and Courier)

Concert

New music venue The Living Room, sponsored by Jubilee! Circle interfaith church, is opening an 80-person capacity space at 6729 Two Notch Rd. The venue aims to have a comfortable “listening room” environment and is hosting local folk musician Danielle Howle for its first show on Friday, Dec. 16. 🎵

Community

The Law Office of Kenneth E. Berger (5205 Forest Dr.) is hosting a holiday celebration on Saturday, Dec. 17. It’s giving away 100 helmets to promote bicycle safety and emphasize the importance of wearing a properly-fitted helmet. The law firm is also giving away two free bicycles that you can register to win here. 🚲

Travel

Traveling for the holidays? Pro tip: Don’t forget to pre-book your parking at Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE). In addition to parking with ease, most passengers will see savings on the daily rate for extended stays. 🚗 *
Where do you plan on traveling in 2023? Prep for authentic exploration with Babbel, the No. 1 language app in the world. Choose from 14 languages and learn through bite-sized, 10-minute sessions that focus on everyday phrases + relevant topics. Snag 55% off your subscription today. 🌏 *

Health

Open enrollment for individual and family health insurance is now. An enrollment event is happening this week at Simplesurance at 4326 Ft. Jackson Blvd. in Columbia on Wed., Dec. 14 from 12 p.m.-7 p.m. You must enroll by Dec. 15 for Jan. 1 coverage.*

Seasonal

Even if you have your very own Cousin Eddie on your hands, Lowes Foods makes it easy to get everything you need to have a stress-free holiday gathering. Here’s how. 👀 *

Featured Deal

Looking for unique stocking stuffers? Consider CBD products. Indigo Ridge Hemp is offering 25% off your cart total when you purchase two or more items with code HOHOHO now through Saturday, Dec. 31. Snag the deal.*

Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

Meet this marsupial 🐨

The newest bear to town

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A new joey makes an appearance at Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, SC. | Image via Riverbanks Zoo

There’s a new resident in the Koala Knockabout at Riverbanks Zoo. A new joey peeped out of its mother’s pouch and will soon have its first check-up.

Riverbank’s Koala Knockabout is one of the zoo’s popular attractions, founded in 2001 when the governments of South Carolina and Queensland in Australia forged a sister-state relationship.

Stop in to greet Cola’s new addition at Riverbanks Lights at the Zoo happening through Friday, Dec. 30. While some of the animals might be out and about, remember that most of the zoo’s residents may be off display and sleeping.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by David.

Editor’s pick: South Carolina to the moon. Thank you to COLAtoday reader Annette for letting us know about the return of NASA’s Artemis 1 mission. Read more in GVLtoday about the two Clemson University graduates and how they are working as part of a series of missions that “will enable human exploration to the Moon and Mars.”

Missed Friday’s newsletter? Read about the latest development in the Innovista Master Plan, here.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Samantha Robertson, David Stringer, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Emily Shea| Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Lindsey Rhinesmith| Advertise with us.

Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.

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