AI generated post – vs. hours of paranormal/ghost research – boom!

“Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!”

– Oh, the Places You’ll Go!, Dr. Seuss, Goodreads

*Heading photo details at the bottom of the post.

AI Rabbit Hole – 5.11.23

Today’s greeting. “Hello, this is Bing! I’m the new AI-powered chat mode of Microsoft Bing that can help you quickly get summarized answers and creative inspiration. 🙌Try clicking on some of these ideas below to find out why the new Bing is a smarter way to search. 😊“

Okee dokee, I’m game — let’s give it a whirl. Confirming my spelling – I make an accidental discovery = musical interlude link. Delightful. There are no accidents.

I opted for my own question. “What equipment do you suggest for GHOST hunting?”

Searching for: equipment for ghost hunting

Searching for: equipment for ghost hunting

Generating answers for you…https://sl.bing.net/eKO4MXDydA4

Ghost hunting is a fascinating hobby that requires some special equipment to detect and communicate with paranormal entities. According to some sources¹⁴, some of the essential ghost hunting equipment are:

• A notepad and a pen to record your observations and experiences.
• A flashlight to illuminate dark areas and signal your presence.
• A mobile phone to call for help in case of emergency and to record audio and video evidence.
• An EMF meter to measure electromagnetic fields that may indicate the presence of ghosts.
• A digital audio recorder to capture electronic voice phenomena (EVP) that may be inaudible to the human ear.
• A ghost box to scan radio frequencies and allow ghosts to communicate through them.
• A camera to take photos and videos of possible apparitions and anomalies.
• A thermometer to measure temperature changes that may be caused by ghosts.
• A trigger object to attract ghost activity by using something they may have an emotional attachment to, such as a toy or a music box.
• A case to store and transport your equipment safely and conveniently.

You can find some of these items online from specialized ghost hunting equipment stores²³ or make your own with some DIY skills. Happy hunting! 👻

Source: Conversation with Bing, 5/11/2023
(1) Complete Ghost Hunting Equipment List (Beginner to Expert). https://realparanormalexperiences.com/complete-ghost-hunting-equipment-list-beginner-to-expert/.
(2) Gear Guide: 10 items to bring on the ultimate ghost-hunting road trip …. https://roadtrippers.com/magazine/ghost-hunting-gear-guide/.
(3) Ghost Hunting Equipment – Paranormal Investigation Tools and Gear …. https://www.ghoststop.com/.
(4) Ghost Hunting Equipment – Vortex Ghost Gear. https://vortexghostgear.com/.
(5) GhostStop Ghost Hunting Equipment – Professional Ghost Hunting Kit. https://www.ghoststop.com/pro-ghost-hunting-kit/.

These websites were listed as resources. 1. realparanormalexperiences.com 2. roadtrippers.com 3. ghoststop.com 4. vortexghostgear.com 5. ghoststop.com

On a roll …

AI offered a prompt: “Show me some photos of real ghosts.”

I’m interested to see what shows up. So we continue.

Searching for: photos of real ghosts

Searching for: photos of real ghosts

Generating answers for you…https://sl.bing.net/ddnCv1GdQCi

There are many photos of real ghosts that have been taken over the years, some of which are very famous and well-known, while others are more obscure and controversial. Some of these photos are:

• The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall¹, a ghostly figure of a woman in a brown dress who is said to haunt an old mansion in England. She was captured on film in 1936 by two photographers from Country Life magazine.
• The Tulip Staircase Ghost¹, a hooded figure ascending a spiral staircase in the Queen’s House section of the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England. The photo was taken in 1966 by a retired clergyman who claimed there was no one else present at the time.
• The Amityville Ghost Boy¹, a child-like apparition peeking out of a doorway in the infamous Amityville house where a family was murdered in 1974. The photo was taken in 1976 by a paranormal investigator using an infrared camera.
• The Wem Town Hall Ghost¹, a little girl in old-fashioned clothes standing amid the flames of a burning building in Shropshire, England. The photo was taken in 1995 by a local resident who was watching the fire from across the street. The girl was believed to be the ghost of Jane Churm, who accidentally started a fire that destroyed many buildings in 1677.
• The Back Seat Ghost¹, an elderly woman sitting in the back seat of a car behind the driver. The photo was taken in 1959 by Mabel Chinnery, who had just visited the grave of her mother, whom she recognized as the ghost.
• The Specter of Newby Church¹, a tall figure wearing a hooded robe and having a distorted face standing near the altar of a church in North Yorkshire, England. The photo was taken in 1963 by Reverend K. F. Lord, who saw nothing unusual when he snapped the picture.
• The Girl on Fire², a young girl with long hair and a white dress engulfed in flames standing next to a wall. The photo was taken in 1988 by Tony O’Rahilly, who was photographing a fire at Wem Town Hall (the same location as the previous ghost photo). He later learned that there was no girl present at the scene and that she resembled Jane Churm, the alleged Wem Town Hall ghost.
• The Ghost of Boothill Cemetery², a man wearing a cowboy hat and a long coat standing behind a gravestone in Tombstone, Arizona. The photo was taken in 1996 by Terry Ike Clanton, an actor and descendant of one of the Clanton gang members who were involved in the gunfight at the O.K. Corral. He said he took the photo of his friend dressed as a cowboy, but did not see anyone else nearby.
• The Madonna of Bachelor’s Grove², a woman in a white dress sitting on a tombstone in a small cemetery near Chicago, Illinois. The photo was taken in 1991 by members of the Ghost Research Society, who were investigating reports of paranormal activity at the site. They used a high-speed infrared camera and saw nothing unusual when they took the picture.
• The Decebal Hotel Ghost², a semi-transparent figure of a woman leaning out of a window on the seventh floor of a hotel in Romania. The photo was taken in 2008 by Victoria Iovan, who was on vacation with her boyfriend. She said she did not notice anything strange until she looked at the photo later.

These are just some examples of real ghost photos that have been taken over the years. Some people believe they are genuine evidence of spirits, while others think they are hoaxes or optical illusions. What do you think? 👻

Images are from a general search and many are subject to copyright. Gettysburg Ghosts on Pinterest is a nice collection. Link.

Source: Conversation with Bing, 5/11/2023
(1) The Creepiest Real Ghost Photos Ever Taken – FixThePhoto.com. https://fixthephoto.com/real-ghost-photos.html.
(2) Best Real Ghost Pictures Ever Taken – LiveAbout. https://www.liveabout.com/best-ghost-pictures-ever-taken-4126828.
(3) 11 Real Ghost Pictures That Will Give You Chills | LoveToKnow. https://paranormal.lovetoknow.com/paranormal-slideshows/real-ghost-pictures.
(4) 10 REAL Ghost Photos That Have the Internet Spooked. https://slappedham.com/real-ghost-photos/.

Not done yet …

Yet another AI prompt. “Tell me how to take ghost photos.“

Okay, I’m curious.

Searching for: how to take ghost photos

Searching for: how to take ghost photos

Generating answers for you…

Taking ghost photos can be a thrilling and spooky experience, but it also requires some preparation and skill. Here are some tips on how to take ghost photos according to some sources¹²³⁴:

• Use the camera you know. The best camera to use for paranormal photography is the one you are familiar with and can operate easily. You don’t want to miss a ghostly moment because you were fumbling with the settings or buttons.
• Research where to capture ghosts on camera. Some places are more likely to have ghost activity than others, such as haunted houses, cemeteries, battlefields, or historic sites. You can also use a ghost detector app or an EMF meter to find hotspots of paranormal energy.
• Clean your lens and equipment. Dust, dirt, moisture, or fingerprints on your lens or equipment can cause unwanted reflections, glare, or spots that can ruin your photos or be mistaken for ghosts. Make sure you wipe your lens and equipment before and during your ghost hunt.
• Prepare for the shooting conditions. Depending on where and when you are taking ghost photos, you may need to adjust your camera settings accordingly. For example, if you are shooting in low-light conditions, you may need to use a higher ISO, a wider aperture, or a slower shutter speed. You may also need a tripod to stabilize your camera and avoid camera shake.
• Understand a few photography basics. To take good ghost photos, you need to know how to compose your shots, focus your camera, and expose your images properly. You also need to know how to use different modes and features of your camera, such as manual mode, shutter priority mode, flash, or remote release.
• Know where the light is coming from. Light can be your friend or enemy when taking ghost photos. You need enough light to see your subject and capture details, but not too much light that washes out the image or creates lens flare. You also need to be aware of the direction and angle of the light source, whether it is natural or artificial, and how it affects the mood and atmosphere of your photo.
• Avoid the flash. Flash can create harsh shadows, overexpose your image, or reflect off surfaces that can obscure or fake ghostly phenomena. It can also scare away or annoy the ghosts you are trying to photograph. Unless you are using flash creatively or intentionally, it is better to turn it off and use other sources of light instead.
• Carefully bring in some light if you need it. If you are shooting in complete darkness or very dim conditions, you may need some additional light to illuminate your scene or subject. You can use a flashlight, a lantern, a candle, or an infrared light to create some ambient light or highlight certain areas of interest. However, be careful not to overdo it or create unwanted effects such as motion blur or double exposure.
• Use a long exposure. A long exposure is a technique where you keep the shutter open for a longer period of time than usual, allowing more light and movement to enter the image. This can create interesting effects such as light trails, star trails, or ghost trails. A long exposure can also capture ghosts that are invisible to the naked eye but appear on the camera sensor. To use a long exposure, you need to set your camera on a tripod and use a remote release or a timer to avoid camera shake. You also need to adjust your aperture and ISO accordingly to avoid overexposing or underexposing your image.
• Use a ghost box. A ghost box is a device that scans radio frequencies and allows ghosts to communicate through them. You can use a ghost box to ask questions to the ghosts and listen for their responses. You can also use a digital audio recorder to record the sounds and voices that come from the ghost box. You can then use these recordings as clues or evidence for where and when to take ghost photos.
• Use a trigger object. A trigger object is something that attracts ghost activity by using something they may have an emotional attachment to, such as a toy, a music box, a personal item, or a historical artifact. You can place a trigger object near your camera and wait for the ghosts to interact with it. You can also use a motion sensor or a temperature sensor to detect any changes in the environment caused by the ghosts.
• Be respectful and patient. Ghosts are not circus animals that perform on command. They are spirits of people who once lived and died.

Source: Conversation with Bing, 5/11/2023
(1) How to Catch Ghosts on Camera: 13 Tips for Success. https://paranormal.lovetoknow.com/How_to_Catch_Ghosts_on_Camera.
(2) Ghost Photography Tutorial – YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-vbZ60eg0o.
(3) Photographing Phantoms: How to Capture Ghosts and Spirits in Night …. https://www.nationalparksatnight.com/blog/2019/10/31/photographing-phantoms-how-to-capture-ghosts-and-spirits-in-night-images.
(4) Phasmophobia – How to Take Pictures of Ghosts and What to Take Pictures …. https://attackofthefanboy.com/guides/phasmophobia-how-to-take-pictures-of-ghosts-and-what-to-take-pictures-of/.

Bingo! Ghost Photo Tutorial

Why not?

In Summary

After trying out multiple sessions with various forms of AI Chat programs, I have seen hours, days, weeks of research condensed to seconds and/or minutes. Content, sources, images, delivered as finished product.

With an AI assist, built of the bones of all previous internet users, known and unknown, anyone can easily engage blogging research hyper-drive. There is no doubt a learning curve with this tech.

Con: One example of questionable sources in this interaction? Photos provided as proof of ‘real’ ghosts are a hodge-podge compilation – selected by title – without the ability to substantiate the content.

Pro: Written information with sources attached works very well.

Onward and upward. Interactive AI programs continue to evolve.

Your turn?

How to use AI Chat for free. Link.

ChatGPT – AI Chat Online

I tested Bard awhile back. For this post, I used Bing

Open skies …

“Kid, you’ll move mountains.” – Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

*About the photo featured in the post heading – yes indeed, neatly boxed, everything you need to be a ghostbuster, includes personalized t-shirts. From a previous host. Courtesy of Vice. Details.