In case you hadn’t noticed, ChatGPT, the recently released A.I. language interface, is in the news a lot lately, but just how much does it know about Indigenous policy? Is it as bad at including and knowing and in explaining this arena as is the mainstream media?

Do the bots and algorithms it uses to scour the net understand the nuances of a policy area ignored by too many for too long?

I decided to put it to the test, asking it to write a brief essay on the general topic of Indigenous policy in the styles of Tucker Carlson, Rachel Maddow and yours truly.

Here are the results:

“Tucker Carlson”:

Indigenous policy in America is a mess. For too long, we've seen politicians and bureaucrats in Washington make promises to Indigenous communities, only to see those promises broken time and time again. The result is that Indigenous peoples in this country are still facing poverty, unemployment, and poor health outcomes at rates far higher than the rest of the population.

But it's not just a failure of policy; it's a failure of basic common sense. We've seen the government try to solve these problems by throwing money at them, but that has only made things worse. It's created a culture of dependency and a lack of personal responsibility.

The government's attempts at self-determination for Indigenous nations have also been a disaster. The idea that a small group of bureaucrats in Washington can somehow magically create a better life for Indigenous communities is ridiculous. It's not only a violation of their rights, but it's also a recipe for corruption and abuse of power.

And let's not forget about the issue of land and resource management. The government has been taking land from Indigenous communities for years and it's been a disaster. It's not only a violation of their rights, but it's also bad for the environment and the economy.

It's time for a new approach to Indigenous policy, one that is based on common sense, personal responsibility and self-determination. We must respect the rights of Indigenous peoples and work with them to find solutions that will benefit everyone.

In conclusion, the Indigenous policy in the US has been a failure for years, throwing money at the problem has not helped, and self-determination has been a disaster. Instead, respecting the rights of Indigenous peoples, self-determination and common sense should be the way forward.

“Rachel Maddow”:

Indigenous policy in the United States is a critical issue that has been largely ignored by mainstream media and politicians for far too long. But it is an issue that affects the lives and well-being of Indigenous peoples and communities across the country.

For decades, Indigenous communities have been subjected to systemic injustices, including the forced removal of Indigenous children from their families, forced assimilation through boarding schools, and the theft of Indigenous lands and resources. These injustices have had a lasting impact on Indigenous communities and continue to affect them to this day.

Despite this, there has been a renewed effort in recent years to address these injustices and to ensure that Indigenous rights and sovereignty are respected. This includes the push for self-determination for Indigenous nations, which means giving Indigenous peoples the power to govern themselves and make decisions about their own affairs, rather than having those decisions made for them by outside forces.

However, much work remains to be done. Indigenous communities still face disproportionately high levels of poverty, unemployment, and poor health outcomes. They also continue to be disproportionately impacted by issues such as climate change and extractive industries.

It's time for our leaders to take action and for the media to give this issue the attention it deserves. We must listen to and work in partnership with Indigenous communities to create policies that respect their rights and support their self-determination. Only then can we truly begin to address the injustices of the past and create a more equitable future for all.

In conclusion, Indigenous policy is a critical issue that has been ignored for far too long and it's time to address the systemic injustices faced by Indigenous communities. Self-determination is an important aspect of this, but we also need to address the ongoing issues like poverty, unemployment, and poor health outcomes that Indigenous communities are facing. It's time for action and media attention to this important subject.

“Rob Capriccioso”:

Indigenous policy in the United States has long been a contentious issue, with a history of broken promises and failed attempts at reconciliation. In recent years, however, there has been a renewed effort to address the systemic injustices faced by Indigenous communities and to ensure that their rights and sovereignty are respected.

One key aspect of this has been the push for self-determination for Indigenous nations. This means giving Indigenous peoples the power to govern themselves and make decisions about their own affairs, rather than having those decisions made for them by outside forces. This includes everything from land and resource management to education and healthcare.

Another important aspect of Indigenous policy has been the recognition and redress of past wrongs. This includes addressing issues such as forced removal of Indigenous children from their families, forced assimilation through boarding schools, and the theft of Indigenous lands and resources.

Despite these efforts, much work remains to be done. Indigenous communities still face disproportionately high levels of poverty, unemployment, and poor health outcomes. They also continue to be disproportionately impacted by issues such as climate change and extractive industries.

As we move forward, it is crucial that we listen to and work in partnership with Indigenous communities to create policies that respect their rights and support their self-determination. Only then can we truly begin to address the injustices of the past and create a more equitable future for all.

In conclusion, Indigenous policy is a complex and ongoing process that requires the active engagement and collaboration of Indigenous nations, federal government and the state government. It is important to acknowledge the past wrongs and create a path towards self-determination, economic and social development for Indigenous communities.

Back to the real Rob now. Wow, ChatGPT certainly appears to nail the voices and techniques of these three distinct media characters, as well as the personality patterns they tend to use in crafting their words. More interestingly, it hits the main points of Indigenous policy far more succinctly and accurately than I see in the majority of mainstream reports on this topic, and it does well at maximizing the importance of Indigenous policy, even through partisan lenses.

Of course, “Indigenous policy” is a broad concept, with plenty of information on the net for ChatGPT to draw upon. What if I asked it to write about Pretendians in the style of Jackie Keeler, I wondered, given her continued prominence in the mainstream on that more specific, nuanced topic (and her general unwillingness to engage with Indigenous Wire on her research and methods)?

Here’s what ChatGPT offered when I asked it to write a short essay on Pretendians in the style of Jacqueline Keeler:

Pretendians, also known as "fake Indians" or "wannabes," are individuals who claim to have Indigenous heritage without any actual connection to a recognized tribe or nation. This phenomenon has been on the rise in recent years, with some people falsely claiming Indigenous identity for personal gain or for cultural appropriation.

Pretendians can be harmful to Indigenous communities in a number of ways. Firstly, they can appropriate Indigenous culture and traditions, diluting the significance and meaning of these practices for Indigenous peoples. They can also claim benefits and opportunities meant for Indigenous people and take them away from those who truly deserve them.

Secondly, Pretendians can also perpetuate harmful stereotypes and misconceptions about Indigenous peoples. They often have a romanticized view of Indigenous culture, and they may perpetuate stereotypes of Indigenous peoples as exotic or primitive. This can further marginalize Indigenous peoples and make it more difficult for them to assert their rights and to be taken seriously in mainstream society.

Moreover, Pretendians can also damage the relationship between Indigenous peoples and the government and non-Indigenous society. They can create confusion and mistrust between Indigenous peoples and non-Indigenous peoples, and they can also make it difficult for Indigenous peoples to assert their rights and to be taken seriously in mainstream society.

In conclusion, Pretendians are individuals who falsely claim Indigenous heritage and can cause harm to Indigenous communities in many ways. It's important for non-Indigenous people to understand that Indigenous identity is not something that can be claimed or taken, it's something that is bestowed by the Indigenous community and it's important to respect that. It's also crucial to recognize that Indigenous culture and traditions should be respected and not be used for personal gain or cultural appropriation.

That does sound a lot like the Keeler I’ve read, and ChatGPT spit that blurb out in less than 30 seconds. One thing it didn’t hit on is that Keeler’s methods for outing Pretendians have been largely controversial due to flawed advocacy techniques masquerading as journalism and apparent widespread use of passion persuasion methodology. Keeler might not choose to note that problem in a brief essay of her own, but I did wonder if ChatGPT had an opinion of its own.

It did:

The term "Pretendian" is generally considered to be a controversial one, as it implies that someone is falsely claiming Indigenous heritage. This can be seen as a form of identity policing and can be hurtful to those who may have a complicated or nuanced relationship to their Indigenous heritage.

Additionally, some argue that the term "Pretendian" can be used to dismiss and marginalize people who may have a legitimate claim to Indigenous heritage, but may not have documentation or recognition from a particular tribe or nation. Furthermore, it is important to consider that Indigenous identity is complex and it's not always clear cut, it can be based on cultural, spiritual and familial connection, and not always on documentation.

It's also important to note that the concept of Indigenous identity is different across cultures, and what might be considered as a legitimate claim in one culture, might not be in another.

It's important for people to understand that Indigenous identity is a complex and personal matter, and it's not for anyone else to decide or judge. It's also crucial to remember that Indigenous culture and traditions should be respected and not be used for personal gain or cultural appropriation.

In conclusion, labeling someone as a "Pretendian" can be considered controversial, as it implies that someone is falsely claiming Indigenous heritage and can be seen as a form of identity policing, it's important to handle this topic with sensitivity and respect.

For kicks, I also asked ChatGPT what Elon Musk thinks of Indigenous policy, because I simply don’t know. ChatGPT soon explained why:

I am not able to find any specific statements or public comments made by Elon Musk regarding Indigenous policy. While he has spoken on a wide range of topics related to technology, energy, and transportation, I couldn't find any indication that he has publicly commented on Indigenous policy specifically. It is worth noting that as a public figure, Musk's views on Indigenous policy might not be known publicly, and even if he has any thoughts on this subject, it's not something that he has disclosed publicly.

While I’m not in love with this particular A.I. using the phrase “in conclusion” several times in its answers in various voices, including mine and its own, I am impressed by its performance thus far — and I would tentatively say its abilities in explaining Indigenous concepts are far better than today’s mainstream newsrooms overall. Which is scary. ChatGPT, after all, has only been around since November 2022, released just after Thanksgiving. American journalism could learn a lot from this baby tech pioneer on the Indigenous front, and I hope it will.

At the same time, I hope that journalism outlets hire many more Indigenous journalists and will not rely on A.I. as a crutch to improve their reporting on underserved topics. I also hope tech companies like the ones behind ChatGPT find it useful to hire Indigenous voices.

What role will artificial intelligence play in helping Indigenous policy become better understood in the future? I decided to ask that exact question to ChatGPT, and here’s what it came up with:

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to play a significant role in helping Indigenous policy be better understood in the future. AI systems can be used to analyze large amounts of data, identify patterns, and make predictions, which could help policymakers, academics, and Indigenous communities better understand the issues facing Indigenous peoples and develop more effective policies.

One way that AI could be used in Indigenous policy is through natural language processing (NLP) techniques, which can be used to analyze large amounts of text data, such as legal documents, treaties, and policy reports. NLP can be used to identify key themes and issues, such as land rights, self-determination, and cultural preservation, and to track changes in policy over time.

Another way that AI could be used in Indigenous policy is through machine learning (ML) techniques, which can be used to predict the outcomes of different policy options. For example, ML algorithms could be trained on historical data to predict the impact of different land management policies on Indigenous communities. This could help policymakers make more informed decisions about how to allocate resources and design policies that are more likely to achieve their intended goals.

AI could also be used to enhance Indigenous self-determination by providing tools to Indigenous communities to manage and preserve their culture, language, and land. AI tools such as natural language generation (NLG) can be used to generate content in Indigenous languages, which can help preserve and promote Indigenous languages. AI-based tools for mapping and monitoring land use can also help Indigenous communities to better manage their land and resources.

In conclusion, Artificial intelligence has the potential to play a significant role in helping Indigenous policy be better understood in the future by analyzing large amounts of data, identifying patterns, making predictions and providing tools to Indigenous communities to manage and preserve their culture, language, and land. The use of AI must be done in partnership with Indigenous communities and take into account their perspectives, values and rights.

In conclusion, wow.