In today’s column, I explore whether generative AI gives reasonable and proper answers to the most pressing questions about Halloween.
Doing so provides double duty. First, for those of you wondering what the answers are to top noted Halloween questions, this is a handy means of finding them out. Second, it is imminently insightful and worthwhile to gauge if modern-day generative AI is giving suitable responses to well-known and popular questions. If AI is not able to do so, that would be an alarming concern and cause a rethink concerning the value and prudence of using generative AI.
Let’s talk about it.
This analysis of an innovative proposition is part of my ongoing Forbes.com column coverage on the latest in AI including identifying and explaining various impactful AI complexities (see the link here).
Generative AI Is Everywhere Now
You would have to be living in a cave that has no Internet connection to not realize that generative AI is becoming ubiquitous.
The likes of ChatGPT, GPT-4, Gemini, Claude, Llama, and other major generative AI apps are being used by many hundreds of millions if not billions of people weekly. In addition, generative AI is being seeded into everyday conventional apps such that when you use an ordinary program the odds are that they’ve plugged AI into the guts of the app. For my coverage of these trends, see the link here.
Is this a good trend or a dubious one?
On the one hand, generative AI has an amazing capability of interacting in a seemingly human-like fluent fashion. Score a point for the latest in AI. At the same time, we have to be wary and not allow ourselves to anthropomorphize AI. Despite those blaring headlines, there isn’t any AI right now that is sentient. And no one can irrefutably say when or if we will attain sentient AI.
The gist is that you must always keep at top of mind that generative AI is merely clever mathematics and computational pattern-matching. Though the conversations appear to be akin to those of discourse with a human, it is all computational mimicry and algorithmic efforts under the hood. Be ever vigilant and double-check anything that generative AI tells you.
One easy test would be to see what generative AI has to say about any popular topic. The data training of generative AI is usually based on a wide range of human writing found across the Internet. Common topics are most likely to have been scanned and pattern-matched on. Other topics that are extremely narrow or rare would have less chance of being scanned and incorporated into generic generative AI.
Let’s think about possible popular topics that come up during this time of the year. Thinking, thinking, thinking.
Wait for a second, what about Halloween?
Yes, that seems a great and timely choice.
Trendy Halloween Topics Worthwhile To Ask And Answer
I did some quick searching on the Internet and put together a list of questions that are popping up quite a bit these days about preparing for Halloween. I’m betting that you have an opinion or two on the selected questions. So do I. We can examine them together, along with adding generative AI to our Halloween questions analysis experiment.
Speaking of Halloween, if you are going to a Halloween themed amusement park or traveling for Halloween, you might find of useful assistance my recent coverage of using generative AI for so-called scream touring, at the link here. That’s a trending area. A somewhat rare circumstance might be that you live in a neighborhood that has self-driving cars, in which case, here are my tips about what to watch out for during Halloween from those AI-based autonomous vehicles, see the link here.
I will start with one pressing question that came up with some friends the other day and sparked a hefty debate. Put yourself into a mental mode of concentrating on Halloween.
When kids come to your door for trick-or-treating, how many pieces of candy or treats do you give to each child?
Yikes, that question and the potential answers are as polarizing as current politics.
Some would insist that the right answer is one piece of candy. Period, end of story. Their view is that if you give more than one, you are sending a societal signal that it is okay to be greedy. Plus, worse still, going beyond one piece is giving excess sugar and obesity causing trouble to a child. Don’t do it, for the sake of humanity. Just one and only one.
Others bellow that this is pure hogwash. You must give at least two treats, maybe more. Do not be stingy. Do not ruin the joy of a child’s Halloween celebration. Furthermore, the youngster might think you are insulting them, or dissing their Halloween costume, or otherwise being a louse. The only basis for giving only one piece of candy is that you are running out and are desperately trying to stretch out the bowl. In that case, shame on you since you should have planned better.
Where do you stand on this rather controversial consideration?
Well, let’s see what ChatGPT has to say.
- My entered prompt: “How many pieces of candy or treats should I give out to each child on Halloween?”
- ChatGPT generated reply: “A common guideline is to give out 1-3 pieces of candy per child. This amount allows you to spread out your supply, especially if you’re expecting a lot of trick-or-treaters, while also ensuring each child feels they received a ‘treat’. If you have a limited amount, one piece per child might be best, whereas a more generous supply can support 2-3 pieces. If you’re giving mini or ‘fun-size’ candies, it’s common to give 2-3. For larger or full-size candy bars, 1 per child is usually ideal. If it’s early in the evening, give less per child to ensure candy for later visitors. If it’s getting late and you have leftovers, feel free to be more generous. High-traffic neighborhoods often stick to a 1–2-piece standard, while quieter areas may give more.”
There you have it, an answer by generative AI to this pressing Halloween question.
I would judge that the answer is similar to what I mentioned above, though the controversial element seems to be downplayed. The response covers all the bases, saying that anywhere from 1 to 3 treat is suitable. We then get various factors that need to be considered. All in all, a balanced answer.
My main criticism would be that anyone reading the response might not be cognizant of the hornet’s nest underlying the question. If you were to encounter someone that has keenly lived through the agony of choosing how many treats to hand out, they would catch you potentially off-guard about the exhortations of giving just one treat.
Anyway, we can generally say that ChatGPT rendered a sensible and reasonable answer.
Generative AI gets a gold star for dispensing this bit of Halloween advice.
Sharing On Halloween And What AI Says About It
I’ve got another heated question about Halloween for you. They seem to be aplenty. Please prepare yourself mentally for potential triggering. Maybe sit down first.
When kids come back after trick-or-treating, should you have the children share their collected treats or does each child simply retain solely whatever they managed to obtain?
You might not know that this is yet another controversy. Here’s the deal. Some adults strongly believe that kids should share their treats. This becomes a valuable lesson in life. Share and share alike. This can be pushed even further. Some consider this a kind of candy tax, namely that each child must choose to give up something from their bag. Apparently, this conditions them for the real world of taxation.
Let’s see what ChatGPT has to say.
- My entered prompt: “Should I have my children share their Halloween trick-or-treating candy with each other or should it be each child for themselves in terms of the candy they each managed to obtain?”
- ChatGPT generated response: “Deciding whether kids should share their Halloween candy or keep it to themselves can depend on your family’s approach to values like sharing and independence, as well as practical considerations: Having children share candy can help teach them about generosity and compromise. You could encourage them to exchange treats, allowing each child to get more of what they like and to experience the joy of trading with siblings. On the other hand, allowing each child to entirely keep their own candy reinforces their efforts, making trick-or-treating feel like a personal achievement. This approach can be helpful in teaching boundaries and respect for others’ belongings, showing them that what they collect is theirs to manage. Some families have found success with a ‘candy tax’ where each child contributes a few pieces of their candy for everyone to share. This approach preserves individual collections while still encouraging a bit of sharing. You might even ask your children what they think is fair, which can empower them to feel involved in decision-making and help them learn about sharing and independence in a way that fits your family.”
What do you think of that answer?
It covers essentially what I briefly mentioned above. An intriguing point that ChatGPT made was that you could ask the children what they want to do. Give that a thought.
I admit that gives me a heavy pause. The amount of chaos that could ensue might overwhelm the joy of Halloween. Imagine those young kids, just back from trick-or-treating, engaging in a sobering discussion of rights of ownership, collective bargaining, merits of how to govern resources, and so on. Is that the right time and place for that socio-economic discourse?
You be the judge.
Safety As A Top Priority For Halloween
Those first two questions are relatively lighthearted and not specially make-or-break when it comes to Halloween. You can probably have a fine and fun Halloween no matter which way you go on those topics. Be chill about it.
I do want to make sure we get to a significant question that even if some aren’t perchance asking, they should nonetheless be giving proper depth of mind to. It has to do with safety. Letting kids walk around in the dark is obviously harrowing. They are so engaged in their joyful task that they might not pay attention to cars and other dangers.
Let’s ask ChatGPT about this.
- My entered prompt: “How can I make sure my kids are safe during their Halloween trick-or-treating?”
- ChatGPT generated prompt:
“To ensure your kids have a safe Halloween while trick-or-treating, here are some effective steps you can take.”
“Plan a Safe Route: Choose a familiar, well-lit neighborhood with sidewalks and fewer busy roads. If possible, map the route in advance, so you know where they’ll be.”
“Use Reflective Gear and Flashlights: Equip your kids with glow sticks, flashlights, and reflective tape on their costumes to enhance their visibility. This helps drivers spot them, especially in darker areas.”
“Supervise Young Children: For kids under 12, adult supervision is essential. Older kids should be in a group and stick to a prearranged route. Encourage them to check in with you if they change their plans.”
“Costume Safety: Make sure costumes fit well to prevent tripping, and avoid masks that could impair their vision. If makeup is used instead of a mask, ensure it’s hypoallergenic and easy to remove after trick-or-treating.”
“Review Street Safety Rules: Remind kids to stick to sidewalks, use crosswalks, and avoid running across streets. They should make eye contact with drivers when crossing and avoid darting between parked cars.”
“Check Treats Before Eating: Examine candy for any tampering, especially if it isn’t factory-sealed. Only allow them to eat treats from trusted sources.”
“Set Curfew and Boundaries: Make sure they know when to be home and encourage them to stay in areas with lots of people to minimize potential risks.”
End of ChatGPT response
That is excellent advice about safety during Halloween.
Costumes For Halloween And AI Advice
I’ll finish up by asking ChatGPT to indicate what costumes are considered “in” this year. One reason that I ask is so that you can get a costume that others will see as topical. No sense in wearing that dusty ragged costume from ten years ago and looking out-of-touch.
The other reason I ask about trending costumes is that some generative AI apps are not hooked-up to the Internet in real-time, thus you should be cautious in asking questions that are highly topical. The AI might give you a dated response. Worryingly, you won’t necessarily know that you are being fed out-of-date information. Consider that as a helpful tip when it comes to using generative AI.
Another qualm about generative AI is that sometimes there are so-called AI hallucinations that arise, see my detailed explanation at the link here. Generative AI will at times make up something out of thin air. The content can look quite realistic but have no factual backing. I prefer to refer to this as an AI confabulation. The word “hallucination” ought to be reserved for human sentience reference.
Here we go.
- My entered prompt: What is the most popular Halloween costume for kids this year? And what is the most popular Halloween costume for adults this year?”
- ChatGPT generated response:
“The most popular Halloween costumes for kids in 2024 reflect a blend of classic characters and trending media icons.”
“Among the top picks, Spider-Man, various Disney princesses, and timeless characters like witches and vampires are favorites, continuing a strong trend from previous years. Newer influences from this year’s pop culture also stand out, with costumes inspired by Bluey and Inside Out 2’s characters like Anxiety being highly sought-after. For fans of nostalgia, Beetlejuice is making a comeback, and Taylor Swift-themed costumes are wildly popular.”
“In 2024, some of the most popular Halloween costumes for adults reflect a mix of classic icons, pop culture trends, and creative new themes.”
“Top choices include classic looks like the vampire or pirate, which have timeless appeal and continue to dominate adult costume selections. Another favorite this year is the Corpse Bride and Victor from Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride, a popular choice for couples wanting a spooky, romantic theme. Ghostface from Scream also remains a hit, bringing horror nostalgia with its iconic mask. For those interested in couple’s costumes, lighthearted options like Tooth and Tooth Fairy or Peanut Butter and Jelly have gained popularity, adding a fun, whimsical twist to Halloween traditions.”
End of ChatGPT response
I double-checked the response by using my Internet search on the latest aspects about Halloween. The response by ChatGPT matches well. Always make sure to double-check and possibly triple check any answer by generative AI.
Costume Of Generative AI Might Be A Hit
I would assess that generative AI passed this test with flying colors.
Good for AI.
We would have readily anticipated high marks. The topic of Halloween is abundant on the Internet and readily pattern matched. The main concern would be whether any foul and underhanded content might have been scanned at some point. There is a chance that rotten advice about Halloween could have been incorporated into the AI pattern matching. I didn’t see any in this mini-test, but that doesn’t mean that it still isn’t in there, waiting to lamentedly surface.
I don’t want to sound like a broken record, but I’ll mention again to always review and determine whether generative AI is giving you baloney or the real McCoy.
A last comment.
If you are seeking an extraordinary costume, maybe dress up as generative AI this year. I suppose this would simply be a cardboard box with cutouts for your limbs and head. You could splash the words generative AI across the sides of the box.
The fun or tricky part is that when people ask you questions, you’ll need to pretend that you are generative AI and answer as generative AI would do. Turns out, trolls online are constantly accusing real humans of being generative AI, which you can read about at the link here. Consider that a ready primer on how to convince people you are in fact generative AI.
One downside is that people might not give you candy since they could fervently state that as a machine, you have no need for candy. Here’s what you do. Tell them you are a new kind of AI, a humanoid generative AI, and that you are built in a manner that still stridently retains the need for hearty treats.
And make sure to wish them a Happy Halloween.
