Title: My Journey into Woodworking with the Help of ChatGPT: Lessons Learned
Embarking on a woodworking project with minimal experience can be both exciting and challenging. That’s precisely what I discovered when I decided to delve into the world of woodworking with the assistance of ChatGPT, an AI chatbot developed by OpenAI. Little did I know that what began as a simple experiment would lead me into a hands-on experience fraught with difficulties and even potential dangers.
Being a novice woodworker, I felt a sense of pride in my meticulous crosscutting skills when I successfully achieved four perfectly square, 7-inch faces for a wooden box. However, my triumph was short-lived as I encountered a predicament when attempting to cut 45-degree miters along each edge of the box. The sides of the box were too tall to fit against the saw’s fence securely, jeopardizing the accuracy and safety of the cuts. It became evident that my initial design had flaws, and I should have planned for a smaller box from the start. Now the question remained: Should I take the risk and attempt the cuts, potentially sending wooden debris flying chaotically in the woodshop, or should I reconsider my design?
The darling of artificial intelligence chatbots, ChatGPT, was the catalyst that led me to this predicament. However, when I turned to it for advice in my moment of desperation, the disembodied computer brain left me hanging without a solution.
ChatGPT, officially known as Generative Pre-Training Transformer, is the brainchild of OpenAI, a research lab based in San Francisco. OpenAI’s mission is to ensure that artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity. This innovative chatbot is trained on vast amounts of publicly available text using a neural network, allowing it to comprehend and respond to human language patterns. It can provide answers that seem logical but lacks the context, authority, and expertise that a human expert possesses.
Taking ChatGPT’s instructions, as well as its suggested materials and tools lists, at face value, I began my woodworking journey. However, I soon realized that AI can only provide so much information, which can sometimes be misleading or even dangerous. Step No. 1 seemed straightforward enough: cutting a 1×8 piece of pine board into four pieces using a table saw. Yet, I encountered challenges such as the lack of guidance on using the table saw and uncertainty about the correct length for each piece. Since a 1×8 board does not necessarily measure 1 by 8 inches, precise measuring was required. With the dimensions of the board slightly off, I adjusted the plans and decided on four 7-inch square faces for the box, necessitating me to rip the wood lengthwise along the grain.
With the gracious guidance of Roy Berendsohn, Pop Mech’s senior test editor and woodworking expert, I learned the essential techniques that ChatGPT omitted. Roy patiently taught me how to safely use a portable table saw at our office in Easton, Pennsylvania, where I successfully ripped the pine to a 7-inch width. To continue cutting the sides of the box, we opted for a cordless miter saw and proceeded with caution, emphasizing safety and accuracy. Roy supervised my every move as I made the crosscuts.
At this point, I anticipated that Step No. 2 would require some adjustments. The chatbot had suggested using the same saw to cut precise 45-degree mitered edges that would fit snugly together. However, this was no beginner’s task as miter joints demand precision; otherwise, the box would never come together properly. In an ideal scenario, we would have deviated from ChatGPT’s instructions and opted for simpler butt joints. However, to remain faithful to the experiment, we soldiered on and found ourselves facing a significant impasse when cutting the miters. To mitigate the challenges, we introduced a stop block for precise cutting. Unfortunately, it resembled a chaotic war zone, with wooden fragments flying around the shop with each cut. Unsurprisingly, the miters were far from perfect, resulting in tiny gaps where light seeped through when the sides were glued together.
Realizing the limitations of the project, I decided to conclude my woodworking journey there. Thanks to Roy’s invaluable lessons and his assistance in deciphering ChatGPT’s incomplete instructions, I gained valuable insights into safety, accuracy, and basic woodworking principles. Armed with this newfound knowledge, my next attempt would be a 4-inch square box featuring simpler butt joints.
Unlike a human instructor, ChatGPT lacks the ability to gauge a student’s skill level and adapt its guidance accordingly, showcasing the superficial intelligence of current AI technology. Nevertheless, I am grateful for the starting point it provided and the opportunity to further explore this challenging yet rewarding craft.
Looking forward, perhaps future iterations of chatbots like ChatGPT will possess the capability to visually analyze and interpret a user’s skill level, enabling them to provide more tailored guidance and becoming true teachers in their own right. Until that day arrives, you will find me in the woodshop, seeking out Roy’s expertise and bombarding him with endless questions as I continue my woodworking journey.
