I just asked CHAT GPT to write my biography.
Many people claim that CHAT GPT is amazing, colossal, stupendous, Pretty Good. (thank you, Tex Avery, for the line.)
It’s the wave of the future, so I waved back.
I entered a simple query, one that any lazy researcher or student might do.
There are over 75 pages of information about me on the Web, including interviews, an IMDB credit list, various articles (Animated Characters) that I wrote about my career and background for the Animation World Network, and several articles in Animation Magazine dating back to the 1980s. I presume that the program cannot access my podcasts, of which there are many.
Version One reads like a dispatch from Planet Doofus. The publishing and teaching credits are accurate, but everything else is wrong, including my birthdate, birthplace, my alma mater, and especially my film credits.
When it started to mention my nonexistent awards, I think the bullshit detector overflowed. It stopped due to a ‘network error’.
I’d say that there were more than a few errors, HAL.
I've made digital animated films, but never 'innovated' in that field, whatever that means. I never worked on the films that I'm credited on. I certainly did not invent the 'smear' although I am good at them, at least in animation.
I have won precisely two animation awards and have not received a lifetime achievement for anything.
This ‘paper’ is reproduced without edits or corrections. I made a point of including the exclamation point at the beginning (was this a sign of a guilty conscience in this bizarre entity?) and the concluding 'network error.'
At least my name was spelled right even if my everything else was wrong.
____________________________________________________
“Write a paper about animator Nancy Beiman”
!
Nancy Beiman is a respected animator, educator, and author who has made significant contributions to the animation industry over the course of her career. Her work has been recognized with numerous awards and accolades, and her insights and expertise have helped to shape the field of animation as we know it today.
Early Life and Career
Nancy Beiman was born in 1952 in New York City. She grew up with a love for drawing and storytelling, and pursued her passion for animation by attending the prestigious School of Visual Arts in New York.
After graduation, Beiman began her career as an animator at Walt Disney Studios, where she worked on a variety of projects, including The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin. Her talent and dedication earned her a reputation as one of the top animators in the industry.
Innovations in Animation
Beiman's contributions to the field of animation are many, but one of her most significant achievements was her development of the "smear" technique. This technique involves stretching a character's features to create the illusion of motion and speed. The smear has become a standard animation technique and is used by animators all over the world.
Beiman also played a key role in the development of digital animation, working as a consultant for several major animation studios as they transitioned from traditional hand-drawn animation to computer animation. Her insights and expertise helped to shape the way that digital animation is created today.
Teaching and Writing
In addition to her work as an animator, Beiman is also a respected educator and author. She has taught animation at several universities, including Sheridan College in Canada, and has authored several books on animation, including "Prepare to Board! Creating Story and Characters for Animation Features and Shorts."
Her teaching and writing have had a significant impact on the animation industry, helping to train the next generation of animators and providing valuable insights and advice to professionals in the field.
Legacy
Nancy Beiman's contributions to the animation industry have had a lasting impact, and her legacy continues to inspire animators and artists today. She is widely regarded as a pioneer in the field of digital animation, and her innovations and techniques have helped to shape the way that animation is created today.
In recognition of her achievements, Beiman has been honored with several awards and accolades, including the Lifetime Achievement
network error
I decided to try again, since in the words of Oliver Norval Hardy in WRONG AGAIN (1929) there were a few “Slight Mistakes”. Here is the same question, with the new answer. Chat GPT charitably marked this as 2 out of 2, or should that be Strike Two?
The only accurate information in this version was that I did indeed teach animation, but they don't know where.
I don't know whose biography they stole for this, but it ain't mine, at least not in this dimension. I have descended from being a 'respected' animator to a 'well-known' one. (if not well known by Chat GPT) with an equally unknown amount of experience.
I have never, ever, not even once, worked as an assistant animator. I never worked at the Hanna-Barbera animation studio. I've been waiting for my Winsor McCay Award since 2018. Hello ASIFA Hollywood, is it stuck in Canadian Customs?
Once again, the piece is unedited, and appears with exclamation point and Network Error intact.
______________________
“Write a paper about animator Nancy Beiman”
!
2 / 2
Nancy Beiman is a well-known animator and professor who has made significant contributions to the animation industry. Her work in animation spans over several decades, and she is recognized for her skill, creativity, and passion for the craft.
Early Life and Career
Nancy Beiman was born in Pennsylvania in 1952. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1974 with a degree in Fine Arts. After graduation, she worked in several different fields, including graphic design and illustration.
In the late 1970s, Beiman was offered a job at Hanna-Barbera Studios, where she began her career in animation. She worked as an assistant animator on various projects, including The Smurfs, Scooby-Doo, and Yogi Bear.
Innovations in Animation
Beiman quickly made a name for herself in the animation industry for her creative talent and dedication to the craft. She is recognized for her contributions to the development of new techniques and technology in animation. One of her most significant innovations was the development of a technique that allowed animators to create more realistic and expressive facial expressions for characters.
In addition to her work in animation, Beiman has also contributed to the development of computer graphics and digital animation. She was one of the first animators to embrace the use of computer technology in animation, and her work has helped to shape the field of digital animation.
Legacy
Beiman's contributions to the animation industry have had a significant impact on the field. She has worked on some of the most iconic animated series and films of the last few decades, including The Simpsons, Rugrats, and Monsters, Inc. She has also been recognized for her work as a professor of animation, where she has taught and mentored aspiring animators for many years.
In recognition of her achievements, Beiman has received numerous awards and honors, including the Winsor McCay Award from the International Animated Film Society in 2018. She continues to be a respected and influential figure in the animation industry, and her work
network error
Was this response better or worse?
Better
Worse
Same
I left Chat GPT’s pathetic request for validation unanswered (I’m the one asking the questions, am I not?) and went for a third try.
This time, CHAT GPT choked up on the 'publications' which, along with 'character designer' is the only accurate information in Strike 3.
It gave up guessing my age or deciding where I was born. It may be ‘onto’ me by now.
I have never, not even once, worked for an animation studio in Canada.
P.S. This is not a raccoon.
Musical Break —Do the Raccoon! I’m playing the tuba on this recording, if AI says so.
End of short subject. Start of feature presentation…
___________________________________
“Write a paper about animator Nancy Beiman”
!
3 / 3
Nancy Beiman is a well-known animator who has made significant contributions to the animation industry. With a career spanning more than three decades, Beiman has worked on a variety of projects, from commercials and television shows to feature films. Her work has garnered critical acclaim and has helped to shape the industry in numerous ways.
Early Life and Career
Nancy Beiman was born in Canada and grew up in a family of artists. She attended the Ontario College of Art, where she honed her skills as an illustrator and animator. After completing her studies, Beiman began her career as an animator in the early 1980s, working for studios in Canada and the United States.
One of Beiman's first jobs in the industry was working on the animated television series "The Raccoons." She served as a layout artist and background painter on the show, which was a huge success and ran for several seasons. This experience helped Beiman to develop her skills as an animator and set her on a path towards a successful career in the industry.
Contributions to the Animation Industry
Over the course of her career, Beiman has made numerous contributions to the animation industry. One of her most notable achievements is her work as a character designer. She has designed characters for a wide range of projects, including television shows, commercials, and feature films. Her designs are known for their intricate details and unique personalities, which help to bring the characters to life on screen.
In addition to her work as a character designer, Beiman has also been involved in other aspects of animation production, including storyboarding, layout, and animation. Her expertise in these areas has made her a valuable member of many animation teams, and she has worked on a wide range of projects, from children's television shows to feature films.
Beiman is also an accomplished author, having written several books on animation and character design. Her books, which include "Animated Performance" and "Prepare to Board! Creating Story and Characters for Animation,"
network error
I think I will use “Network Error” as my new nickname. Or maybe ‘network error’ really is the story of my life?
If at first, or second, or third you don’t succeed…
On the fourth try I found out that I won the OSCAR for Animated Short Film in 2018.
I must have left the statue in my other purse. Glen Keane would be most surprised to hear that I beat his DEAR BASKETBALL with A SHORT HISTORY OF INDIANS IN CANADA, but then again, you never see us photographed together.
The last version also stated that I began teaching at Sheridan College in 1996 and continued there for over 25 years. Pay up, beeyotches.
It’s easy to laugh at the absurdity of this program but if a lazy person used it to research someone like Walt Disney or Chuck Jones…would it print accurate information, or vomit up similar absurdities?
There is one good thing to say about this experiment. I think I can read all three pieces, one after the other, as a comic monologue at an open mike event at Second City. It doesn’t matter if the audience doesn’t know who I am.
AI will learn ‘em good.