Darasite: I give ChatGPT a story idea & it exceeds my expectations

I’ve been doing a lot with ChatGPT, a text-generating artificial intelligence (AI) that produces writing similar to what a human might create.

What I’m finding works well for me at its (and my!) level of development is to think of it like a writing partner. What we eventually produce can be collaborative.

I’ll say right off, it can help as a research assistant…although it’s a lot more charming than it is competent in that area! It makes factual mistakes…a lot. Where I like it a lot better than, say, using Google for research, is that it understands connections and implications. If I ask Google something like “Give me a list of slang from 1890”, it will probably be pretty accurate in its sources (although perhaps with some entirely irrelevant listings). ChatGPT, on the other hand, told me that the Cockney rhyming slang “Barney Rubble” (for trouble) would be in use then, when the character was decades away from being created.

However, if I ask which movies were released in 1939 which might affect someone’s opinions on AI, giving me optimistic & pessimistic examples and explaining why, Google’s not going to be able to help me. That’s right in ChatGPT’s wheelhouse, though! It’s the connections & implications.

For stories, I find it can plot pretty well. I write dialog better, in my opinion. So, having it write “story beats” (it understands what that means) can help me get a skeleton of a plot, & then I would write the actual story.

Interestingly, that could be because I’m more of a “pantser” than a “plotter”. When I write, I don’t tend to plot out everything ahead of time…I just see what develops! It’s also super fast, taking just seconds to conceptualize a developed plot.

I read an article about a parasite modifying its hosts’ (wolves) behavior, causing them to be more “daring”. This could have negative consequences, but also meant the infected were far more likely to become pack leaders. That gave me an idea: a story about a parasite that makes humans more daring. It wasn’t developed, just a thought.

So, I asked ChatGPT to give me a plot.

In my embryonic concept, I was thinking other people wouldn’t know that the person was infected. ChatGPT suggested something much better, making it a societal issue.

Here’s my prompt and what it gave me (again, in seconds). ChatGPT’s contributions will be in italics to make it clearer to read.

Bufo: Hi! I just had an idea for a story & I’m interested to see what you can draft for it. The parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, has recently been found to make infected wolves more “daring”. While this can lead to their death, it also makes them far more likely to become a pack leader (which benefits the paraasite). Imagine a parasite (it could be a mutation of T. gondii) that does the same for humens. They become more daring. In the story, we see that fail for some people, causing their deaths. For others, though, the strategy succeeds: they rise to the top as, perhaps, a politician, an athlete, a singer, a businessperson… Another important part is that they get to reproduce more (which is what really benefits the parasite). You can do it as a story summary…I don’t need much dialog. I’m more interested in the story beats. Feel free to ask questions if you need any clarification…thanks!ChatGPT

ChatGPT: Title: The Daredevil Parasite

Story Summary:

In a world where a mutated strain of Toxoplasma gondii has begun to infect humans, society is turned upside down. The parasite, nicknamed “The Daredevil Parasite,” dramatically increases risk-taking behavior in its hosts, leading some to their demise while propelling others to unprecedented heights of success. This change in behavior ultimately benefits the parasite, as it increases the chances of successful reproduction for both itself and its host.

Story Beats:

1. The story begins with a news report highlighting a recent spike in risk-taking behavior, accidents, and deaths. Scientists have discovered a correlation between these incidents and a mutated strain of Toxoplasma gondii.
2. As the parasite spreads, society becomes more chaotic, and those infected by the parasite become more daring. Some individuals die from their reckless actions, but others see their lives transform for the better.
3. We follow the lives of several infected individuals:
   • a. A timid office worker, who, after becoming infected, takes charge in their workplace and quickly rises through the ranks of the company.
   • b. A struggling musician who finds newfound confidence and fearlessness on stage, propelling them to stardom.
   • c. An athlete who pushes themselves to the extreme, breaking records and gaining worldwide fame.
   • d. A once-meek politician who becomes known for their bold, unconventional ideas, ultimately winning a high-stakes election.
4. As these individuals rise to the top, they become more attractive to potential mates and reproduce more, increasing the spread of the parasite.
5. The government and the scientific community scramble to find a solution to this growing epidemic. The debate over whether the parasite is a curse or a blessing divides society.
6. As research into the Daredevil Parasite continues, scientists discover that the infected individuals’ success is not solely due to their increased risk-taking behavior. The parasite has also altered their brain chemistry to make them more charismatic, persuasive, and adaptable.
7. The story takes a dark turn when it’s revealed that the parasite has a sinister side effect: the hosts gradually become more aggressive, power-hungry, and morally compromised.
8. The lives of our main characters begin to unravel as their newfound success comes at a heavy price. Relationships crumble, careers are destroyed, and public opinion turns against them.
9. The government and scientists finally develop a cure for the Daredevil Parasite. However, its implementation is controversial, as some argue that the risks associated with the parasite are outweighed by the benefits it has brought to certain individuals and society as a whole.
10. The story concludes with the characters reflecting on their experiences, weighing the personal costs of their success against the broader implications of the Daredevil Parasite’s influence on society. Some choose to take the cure, while others decide to embrace the parasite and all its consequences. The world is left to grapple with the ethical and moral complexities of this new reality.

This story explores themes of ambition, power, morality, and the consequences of one’s actions in the face of an unpredictable force.

Bufo: Very intereting! I had thought of doing it where others didn’t realize that some people were infected, but I love how you’ve made it a societal issue…and option! Well done!

As you can see, it got to the heart of good storytelling: choices characters make and with which the audience can empathize.

I can see this working as a streaming series.

I even have an idea for a sequel or second season/series with another human modification which people don’t realize has happened right away, that brings up another whole host (so to speak) of societal issues.

Oh, and I did come up with the title “Darasite” myself. I wanted a slang term for the parasite, since “Daredevil Parasite” would probably be offputting to people. It’s a portmanteau of “dare” and “parasite”. It also gives me something unique (as far as I could tell).

Let me also talk briefly here about the copyright. I’m not an intellectual property lawyer, but I am an interested layperson who’s read and written about it. At this point, it looks like the Copyright Office (in the USA), is not going to give ChatGPT or other generative AI copyright. My prompt is just an idea…not enough to meet the copyright threshold. If I did write the story myself, based on ChatGPT’s outline, that would be copyrightable by me. I’m not likely to do that, by the way.

As always, I’m happy to hear what you think! The best place to reach me is probably on Twitter:

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Bufo’s Alexa Skills

This post by Bufo Calvin originally appeared in the The Measured Circle blog. To support this or other organizations, begin your Amazon shopping from a link on their sites: Amazon.com (Smile.Amazon.com)