ChatGPT has the ability to make use of third-party plugins which give it access to external sources of information. This is useful because it enables to AI to apply its impressive language capabilities to information that was not in its training data and, unlike the training data which is now two years old, that information can be current.
ScholarAI is a ChatGPT plugin “designed to provide users with access to a database of peer-reviewed articles and academic research“. In this conversation with ChatGPT, I explore a little of what the AI can do when the ScholarAI plugin has been installed. I found that it was able to search for papers, on a given subject, summarise the content of a paper, and answer questions about that content. I have not yet investigated the quality of the answers provided.
Plugins can also provide ChatGPT with additional functionality. In an earlier post, I mentioned the prospect of the AI interfacing with Wolfram Alpha. The Wolfram Alpha plugin is one instance of that, and it enables ChatGPT to give correct answers to prompts that require computation. See below for an example. We can be confident that answers obtained from Wolfram Alpha are of high quality.
There are many plugins to choose from. Websites such as whatplugin.ai can help us to find the ones we need.
Question
How long would it take to fly from London to Sydney in a aircraft that could travel at 1000 miles per hour?
ChatGPT Response
Used Wolfram
The distance between London, United Kingdom and Sydney, Australia is approximately 10,55710,557 miles or 16,98916,989 kilometres.
Calculating Flight Time
To calculate the time it would take to fly this distance in an aircraft capable of travelling at 1,0001,000 miles per hour, we can use the formula:
Time=DistanceSpeedTime=SpeedDistance
Substituting the given values:
Time=10,557 miles1,000 mph=10.557 hoursTime=1,000 mph10,557 miles=10.557 hours
So, it would take approximately 10.55710.557 hours or roughly 1010 hours and 3333 minutes to fly from London to Sydney in an aircraft travelling at 1,0001,000 miles per hour.
Would you like to know more about the factors that could affect this travel time, such as layovers or air currents?
Question
What are the most important factors affecting travel time?
ChatGPT Response
Certainly, there are several factors that can significantly affect the travel time for a flight. Here are some of the most important ones:
1. Wind Speed and Direction
- Tailwinds can significantly reduce travel time, while headwinds can increase it. Jet streams, which are fast-flowing air currents, can also have a substantial impact.
2. Air Traffic Control
- Delays in takeoff and landing slots, as well as en-route air traffic, can add to the travel time.
3. Route and Airspace Restrictions
- Political or military restrictions can necessitate detours, increasing the distance travelled and thus the time.
4. Aircraft Speed
- The cruising speed of the aircraft is a direct factor. However, this can be affected by the aircraft’s weight, altitude, and other aerodynamic factors.
5. Layovers and Stopovers
- Non-direct flights will have additional time spent on the ground for refuelling, passenger changes, etc.
6. Weather Conditions
- Storms, turbulence, or other adverse weather conditions can slow down a flight or even necessitate rerouting.
7. Technical Issues
- Mechanical problems can cause delays in departure or necessitate an unscheduled landing.
8. Human Factors
- Pilot decisions, crew changes, and even passenger behaviour can affect the duration of the flight.
9. Airport Efficiency
- The efficiency of the airport’s ground operations, including baggage handling and refuelling, can also impact the total travel time.
10. Regulatory Requirements
- Time may be added for compliance with regulations such as mandatory rest periods for the crew.
Understanding these factors can provide a more nuanced view of what affects travel time beyond the simple calculation of distance divided by speed. Would you like to delve deeper into any of these factors?