From VICE · Luis Prada · · 1m
Elias Thorne: The AI Fiction That Never Was
AI chatbots keep inventing the same imaginary man, Elias Thorne, who appears in books, music, and health guides but doesn’t exist.
In brief
AI chatbots keep inventing the same imaginary man, Elias Thorne, who appears in books, music, and health guides but doesn’t exist. Elias Thorne is a byproduct of AI training on limited data, showing how chatbots recycle outdated patterns without originality. Originally reported by VICE.
Quick answers
- Why Elias Thorne?
- Cornell researchers found names like Elias and occupations such as lighthouse keeper appear in 88 percent of AI-generated stories.
- Where Did He Come From?
- Elias Thorne’s origins are unclear, but he appears in AI-generated content across Amazon, YouTube, and health guides.
- What is the key takeaway from Elias Thorne: The AI Fiction That Never Was?
- Elias Thorne is a byproduct of AI training on limited data, showing how chatbots recycle outdated patterns without originality.
Elias Thorne's Identity
AI chatbots repeatedly invent Elias Thorne as a lighthouse keeper, clockmaker, or librarian across books, music, and health guides.
“Elias Thorne is a fictional man who appears in books, music listings, YouTube videos, and health guides.”
Why Elias Thorne?
Cornell researchers found names like Elias and occupations such as lighthouse keeper appear in 88 percent of AI-generated stories.
“Elias the lighthouse keeper appeared in nearly two-thirds of the stories.”
The Data Problem
AI models train on limited data to avoid copyright claims from big companies like Nintendo and Disney.
“AI companies don’t want to run afoul of gigantic corporations that are notoriously litigious, like your Nintendo or Disney.”
The Recycling Effect
Older AI models retrain on previous data, creating a shallow pool of ideas that repeats patterns without originality.
“Modern AI models are often trained on datasets built from earlier AI systems, with very little diversification in its gene pool.”
Where Did He Come From?
Elias Thorne’s origins are unclear, but he appears in AI-generated content across Amazon, YouTube, and health guides.
“Software engineer Daniel May spotted Elias Thorne in questionable health guides.”
Here's the gist
Elias Thorne is a byproduct of AI training on limited data, showing how chatbots recycle outdated patterns without originality.
