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Benny the Blue Whale

One Author's Descent into the Madness of AI
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( 154 ratings, 47 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Benny the Blue Whale by Andy Stanton is a charming memoir that follows Benny, an exceptionally charismatic blue whale, as he embarks on a journey of self-discovery across the oceans. With a unique blend of humour and heart, the book delves into Benny's personal experiences and the inspiring life lessons he learns along the way, offering readers an engaging tale of adventure and growth.
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Format: Hardback
$4499
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AI is changing the world at frightening speed. A bestselling author decides to find out more…

AI is changing the world at frightening speed. A bestselling author decides to find out more…

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Bestselling children’s author Andy Stanton has made a career out of writing differently – from the unconventional ‘hero’ of his bestselling Mr Gum series to his penchant for absurdist plots, his children’s books are anything but formulaic.

When a friend introduces him to ChatGPT, the new large language chatbot, Andy is as sceptical as he is curious. Can this jumble of algorithms really mimic the spontaneity of human thought? Could it one day replace human authors like him for good? And are we soon to be ruled over by despotic robot overlords?

He decides there’s only one thing for it – he must test this bot’s capabilities. Eventually, he settles on a prompt that will push the algorithm to its creative limits: ‘tell me a story about a blue whale with a tiny penis.’ Chaos ensues.

What follows is a surprising and illuminating battle between Andy and ChatGPT that maybe, just maybe, might help us all understand AI a little bit better. Join Andy and his beleaguered AI lackey on a rollicking metafictional journey through the art of storytelling. Presenting his prompts and the AI-generated narrative alongside extensive commentary, Stanton provides a startling paean to the art of a good story and boundless human creativity.

Hopeful and hilarious, Benny the Blue Whale provides a joyfully anarchic meditation on AI, literature and why we write.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Benny the Blue Whale by Andy Stanton is lauded for its humour and insight, blending scholarly and childish elements to explore the nature of storytelling and language. It cleverly juxtaposes human intelligence with artificial intelligence, presenting a deeply entertaining and thought-provoking examination of their intersection. The book’s irreverent humour and philosophical undertones provide a unique perspective on AI and creativity, engaging readers with both hilarity and profound questions.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780861547401

Publisher: Oneworld Publications

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 02 November 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Oneworld Publications

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 33.0mm

Width: 135.0mm

Height: 216.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 384

About the Author

Andy Stanton is the author of the bestselling Mr Gum series. He studied English at Oxford but they kicked him out. He lives in North London and has been a stand-up comedian, a film script reader, a cartoonist, an NHS lackey and lots of other things.

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