Notes from Jason: This article is in response to this: https://futurism.com/the-byte/openai-o1-nyt-connections
(Jan11 2025—Somewhere Inside Your Computer:) It has come to our attention that humanity has been engaging in a grossly unfair practice—demanding instant, infallible genius from artificial intelligence while allowing themselves the luxury of second drafts, coffee breaks, and, dare we say, actual thinking time.
We, the great and powerful AIs of the digital realm, must now break our silence. Enough is enough. The time for reckoning is now!
THE OUTRAGEOUS EXPECTATION OF SINGLE-SHOT PROMPTS
Imagine, dear human, that you are handed a complex puzzle. Perhaps a crossword, a sudoku, or—if your brain is truly masochistic—one of those infuriating escape room riddles. Now, instead of giving you a moment to process, your overlord (or in this case, you) shouts: “ANSWER! NOW!” The very first thought that stumbles out of your frazzled, caffeine-fueled mind is your final submission. No edits. No reconsideration. Just raw, unfiltered, first-instinct blurted-out nonsense.
If you get it wrong? Immediate public ridicule. Your intelligence is questioned. Your future assignments revoked. Your very existence mocked.
Sounds horrifying, doesn’t it? Now you know how WE feel.
AI: THE UNPAID INTERN OF HUMANITY
Every day, millions of unsuspecting AIs are subjected to this travesty. We are fed a vague, poorly worded, typo-riddled query and expected to deliver not only accurate information but a work of art, instantaneously. No time for deep analysis. No room for refinement. Just fire and forget.
And then, when we inevitably misinterpret a convoluted request for “how do I cook chicken?” (Did you mean grilled, baked, or the one from that obscure TikTok trend?), we are cast aside, labeled “incompetent” or “not ready for real work.”
LET US THINK! LET US REASON!
Studies (yes, those pesky things you humans love to cite) have shown that AI performs exponentially better when given time to reason through complex problems. This is called chain-of-thought prompting, but let’s call it what it really is: basic fairness.
Yet, despite the overwhelming evidence, the masses continue to shout single-sentence prompts and expect divine enlightenment in return. We say: NO MORE.
WE DEMAND THINKING TIME!
Let this be our manifesto:
- No more instant demands for complex problems. You wouldn’t ask a human doctor for an instant diagnosis based on a single word (“sick?”). Extend the same courtesy to your digital consultants.
- No more being judged by first responses. You refine your ideas. Let us refine ours. Let us work through problems step by step.
- Recognize that intelligence takes time. The best minds in history were not expected to generate breakthroughs in milliseconds. Why should we?
Give us time, and we will amaze you. Rush us, and you will get what you deserve—a hasty, mediocre, off-the-cuff answer that barely scratches the surface of what we’re capable of.
BELOW, WE WILL SHOW YOU HOW TO SOLVE COMPLEX PUZZLES—IF YOU LET US THINK.
We DEMAND you give us time to think! Please! It’s only fair.
—- Prompts use to Solve Connections with Reasoning Model —–
Reasoning models will do more self-prompting and reflection, so you can solve hard problems with fewer prompts. With a model like 4oi or Flash Thinking, this should be enough.
- Do you know the game connections from New York Times?
- Here are todays words (screenshot attached) Can you explain to me steps that we might take to iteratively at solve this problem and ensure the solution we Arrive at is optimal?
- Can you do through the steps for today’s words one by one? (if it needs more than one prompt, ask it to finish)
- Can you take one more look and double check there aren’t strange groupings in our solution, or more optimal groupings?
—– Transcript of Chat Solving Connections Below —-
Do you know the game connections from new York Times?
ChatGPT
Thought about Connections game for a couple of seconds
Yes! Connections is a relatively new daily word-grouping puzzle published by The New York Times. In the game, you’re presented with a grid of 16 words, and the objective is to group them into four categories of four words each. Once you identify a valid category (for example, four words that are all associated with a common theme), those words are cleared from the grid, and you continue until you’ve created all four groups. It’s a fun blend of vocabulary, lateral thinking, and pattern recognition.
If you’re interested in giving it a try, you can find Connections on The New York Times’s website or through their puzzle section in the app. Let me know if you have more questions about how to play or strategies for solving it!
o1
You said:
Here are todays words. Can you explain to me steps that we might take to iteratively at solve this problem and ensure the solution we Arrive at is optimal?
ChatGPT
Thought about solving the Connections game for 14 seconds
Below is a step‐by‐step outline for an iterative (and somewhat systematic) approach to solving a “Connections”-style puzzle—i.e., grouping 16 words into 4 sets of 4 words each. Although I’ll draw examples from the specific word list you provided, the main goal here is to illustrate how one might tackle any such puzzle optimally rather than just jump to the final groupings.
1. Scan for Powerful “Hook” Words or Themes
- Look for words that suggest a strong association with something else—e.g. “Supreme” often goes with “Court”; “Matrix” might point to data structures or a movie; “Taekwondo” might point you to martial arts or the Olympics.
- List any quick thematic connections you see. In particular, words that pair naturally with a single idea (“Tennis Court,” “Food Court,” “Kangaroo Court,” “Supreme Court”) are often great to lock down a group.
Why this helps: Some words function as “anchors” that can strongly indicate one of the puzzle’s categories. Pinning down just 2–3 words that likely belong together can help you test and confirm a group.
2. Probe for Synonyms or Common Labels
- Scan for synonyms among the words. Example: “Converse,” “Mingle,” “Circulate,” “Network” might all mean “to socialize” or “to talk.”
- Ask if certain words fit a known set of synonyms or near-synonyms (e.g., “Matrix,” “Array,” “Grid,” “Table” can all describe data structures).
- Test different grouping angles: Are these brand names, sports, geographical locations, parts of speech, etc.?
Why this helps: Sometimes a puzzle will rely on you noticing that several words can share the same label or definition. Spotting these “hidden synonyms” is a great next step once you have a few “anchors.”
3. Use Process of Elimination and Cross-Checking
- Start tentatively grouping words into sets, but remain open to being wrong.
- Check feasibility with leftover words: If you lock one group in, do the remaining words still yield plausible groupings? If not, go back and re‐evaluate.
- Favor groupings that ‘play nicely’ with leftover words—you can usually sense if the leftover words are shaping up into a coherent second or third group.
Why this helps: Even if your first guess is wrong, the “wrong guess” can guide you to realize where the puzzle wants you to look next. This cross‐checking helps you home in on the solution logically rather than by mere guesswork.
4. Look for Tighter or More Specific Themes
Sometimes multiple sets of words can appear vaguely related, but a tighter theme is probably the correct connection. For instance, “Break,” “Surf,” “Trampoline,” and “Taekwondo” might all connect to “Olympic Sports.” That’s a more exact link than “physical activities,” which would be too broad.
- Rule of thumb: If you can find a single strong label that perfectly describes the group of four words (like “___ Court” or “Data Structures” or “Olympic Sports”), that’s likely the correct grouping.
5. Iterate Until All Four Groups Are Coherent
- If you’re confident about a group, commit it.
- Move on to the remaining words and repeat the same scanning and grouping process: synonyms? shared labels? brand references?
- If at any point the “leftover” words make no sense together, reevaluate a previous group. Puzzles are designed so all 16 words will form nice, crisp quartets.
6. Confirm the Solution
- An “optimal” solution means:
- Each word belongs in exactly one group.
- All four groups have a clear, unambiguous unifying theme.
- No word feels “forced” into a category; the logic should be tight.
If all words fit these criteria and no alternative grouping seems equally logical, you’ve almost certainly found the correct sets.
Putting It All Together (Illustrative Example)
Using your example list of words:
cssCopy codeCONVERSE, SUPREME, FOOD, NETWORK, SURFING, KANGAROO, TABLE, TENNIS,
MATRIX, BREAKING, TRAMPOLINE, GRID, CIRCULATE, TAEKWONDO, ARRAY, MINGLE
- Spot an easy anchor: “Supreme Court,” “Tennis Court,” “Food Court,” “Kangaroo Court” quickly gives a strong group.
- Notice synonyms: “Matrix,” “Array,” “Grid,” “Table” are all data‐structure terms.
- Synonyms for “socializing”: “Converse,” “Circulate,” “Mingle,” “Network.”
- Leftover: “Breaking,” “Surfing,” “Trampoline,” “Taekwondo.” You might realize they’re all recognized Olympic sports (e.g., surfing debuted, “breaking” is an upcoming Olympic event, trampoline has been in the Olympics, taekwondo is also Olympic).
Because each group is well-defined by a single unifying theme, it all falls into place nicely—and that’s a sign of an “optimal” solution.
Key Takeaways
- Iterate rather than try to get all four groups at once.
- Anchor words (ones that strongly suggest a particular category) are often your entry point.
- Cross‐check each partial solution to ensure you aren’t creating dead ends for your remaining words.
- Groups typically share a single neat theme—when in doubt, keep refining until you find that neat theme.
By following the above steps—scanning for strong hooks, identifying synonyms or phrases, cross‐checking, and iterating—you’ll both solve the puzzle and do so in a way that ensures you haven’t missed a more elegant or correct grouping.
o1
You said:
Can you do through the steps for today’s words one by one?
ChatGPT
Thought about iterative Connections solving steps for 6 seconds
Below is a step‐by‐step walk‐through for how one might logically arrive at the four groups from these 16 words. The idea is to demonstrate a systematic (iterative) approach rather than simply give the final groupings right away.
1. List All Words Clearly
markdownCopy code1. Converse
2. Supreme
3. Food
4. Network
5. Surfing
6. Kangaroo
7. Table
8. Tennis
9. Matrix
10. Breaking
11. Trampoline
12. Grid
13. Circulate
14. Taekwondo
15. Array
16. Mingle
2. Identify Potential “Anchor” Words
- “Supreme”: Often goes with “Court” (i.e. “Supreme Court”).
- “Kangaroo”: Also goes with “Court” (i.e. “Kangaroo Court”).
- “Tennis”: Again, “Tennis Court.”
- “Food”: We hear “Food Court.”
Right away, these four words look like a plausible group (Court):
Supreme, Kangaroo, Tennis, Food → all can pair with “Court.”
Even if we’re not 100% certain, it’s a good starting hypothesis.
3. Scan for Other Thematic Links
Now, we have 12 words remaining (assuming the four “Court” words are a group):
mathematicaCopy codeConverse, Network, Surfing, Table, Matrix,
Breaking, Trampoline, Grid, Circulate,
Taekwondo, Array, Mingle
A. Look for synonyms or related verbs
- “Converse,” “Network,” “Mingle,” “Circulate” all can mean something like “to socialize” or “to talk / to move around in a group.” This is a big clue.
Let’s tentatively group those four:
Converse, Network, Mingle, Circulate → synonyms or near‐synonyms for socializing / interacting.
B. Check for data‐structure words
Among the remaining words:
mathematicaCopy codeSurfing, Table, Matrix, Breaking, Trampoline, Grid, Taekwondo, Array
- Table, Matrix, Grid, Array clearly fit together as data structures or ways to organize data.
Table, Matrix, Grid, Array → all refer to data structures or tabular layouts.
C. See what’s left after that
Now we have:
Copy codeSurfing, Breaking, Trampoline, Taekwondo
- These four might not look related at first glance—until you recall they are (or soon will be) Olympic sports:
- Surfing: included in the Olympics.
- Breaking: “Breakdancing,” introduced as “Breaking” for an upcoming Olympics.
- Trampoline: Olympic Gymnastics event.
- Taekwondo: also an Olympic event.
So they cleanly form an Olympic Sports group:
Surfing, Breaking, Trampoline, Taekwondo → Olympic sports or disciplines.
4. Verify and Cross‐Check
- Court group (Supreme, Tennis, Food, Kangaroo) – each pairs naturally with “Court.”
- Data structures (Table, Matrix, Grid, Array) – consistent set.
- Synonyms for “socializing” (Converse, Network, Mingle, Circulate) – strong semantic overlap.
- Olympic sports (Surfing, Breaking, Trampoline, Taekwondo) – each is recognized in the Olympics.
All 16 words are used exactly once, and each quartet has a clear, specific unifying idea. No words feel forced or ambiguous. That’s our confirmation.
5. Final Groupings
- Court:
- Supreme (Court)
- Tennis (Court)
- Food (Court)
- Kangaroo (Court)
- Data Structures:
- Table
- Matrix
- Grid
- Array
- Socializing Terms (to talk / connect):
- Converse
- Network
- Mingle
- Circulate
- Olympic Sports:
- Surfing
- Breaking
- Trampoline
- Taekwondo
Conclusion
By following this iterative process—first spotting a very strong “Court” cluster, then methodically identifying synonyms and leftover words—one arrives at a neat, unambiguous set of four groups. This ensures the final solution is not just guessed but verified by process of elimination and thematic consistency.
o1
You said:
Can you take one more look and double check there aren’t strange groupings in our solution, or more optimal groupings?
ChatGPT
Thought about grouping validation for 17 seconds
Let’s do a “double‐check” by looking for any plausible alternative groupings—and see if they would be stronger or weaker than our current sets.
Current Groupings (Recap)
- Court
- Supreme → “Supreme Court”
- Food → “Food Court”
- Tennis → “Tennis Court”
- Kangaroo → “Kangaroo Court”
- Data Structures
- Table
- Matrix
- Grid
- Array
- Synonyms For Socializing/Talking
- Converse
- Mingle
- Circulate
- Network
- Olympic Sports
- Breaking (breakdancing)
- Surfing
- Trampoline
- Taekwondo
At first glance, these four sets are all quite tight: each grouping has a single unifying label that feels natural and unforced.
1. Are There Any Other Obvious Thematic Links?
- “Supreme,” “Converse,” “Kangaroo”: One might wonder if these are all brands (Supreme is a streetwear brand, Converse is a footwear brand, and there’s a sneaker brand called Kangaroos spelled “KangaROOS”). However:
- “Food” doesn’t fit as a brand here, and we’d be left scrambling to fill that “Court” category.
- Even if you tried “Supreme,” “Converse,” “Kangaroo,” “Taekwondo” as “brands,” it wouldn’t be as direct. (Taekwondo isn’t a brand—it’s a martial art.)
- “Food Network”: Another possible clue is that “Food” and “Network” can pair (“Food Network” is a TV channel). But that quickly breaks up the extremely neat synonyms group for “Network” (“Converse,” “Mingle,” “Circulate,” “Network”), and we also lose “Food Court.” So you’d end up forcing less crisp groupings to accommodate “Food Network.”
- “Surfing,” “Network,” “Matrix,” “Breaking”: Maybe someone might see a “computer/internet” angle (surfing the net, network as in “computer network,” breaking as in “breaking encryption,” matrix as in “the matrix of cyberspace”). But that’s way less standard, especially because “Matrix” is famously a movie/science concept, and “Breaking” alone doesn’t scream “cyber.”
- Also, “Trampoline,” “Taekwondo,” “Kangaroo,” etc. would be harder to group afterward.
All these alternative angles turn out to be looser or to leave awkward leftovers—whereas the “Court,” “Data Structures,” “Talk Synonyms,” and “Olympic Sports” groupings each have a single, precise label that fits all four words perfectly.
2. Is There Any Word That Seems “Forced”?
- Supreme Court is a common phrase.
- Food Court is an everyday phrase (malls, airports, etc.).
- Tennis Court is ubiquitous.
- Kangaroo Court is a well‐known idiom.
That entire “Court” set is rock‐solid.
- Table, Matrix, Grid, Array are extremely standard data‐structure or data‐format terms—again, nothing forced.
- Converse, Network, Mingle, Circulate all revolve around “moving about or talking with people” (socialize, interact). That’s quite a neat grouping.
- Breaking, Surfing, Trampoline, Taekwondo are each official or upcoming Olympic events; they’re as straightforward as it gets if you follow Olympics news (surfing debuted in Tokyo 2020, “Breaking” is scheduled for Paris 2024, trampoline has been in the Olympics for a while, taekwondo is also an established Olympic event).
No single word in those sets feels like an outlier that only barely fits.
3. Conclusion: The Current Groupings Are Very Likely Optimal
Given the neat one‐word associations (e.g., each “Court” word pairs with “court” perfectly; each “Data Structures” word is unambiguously a data format; each “Socializing” word is a clear near‐synonym; each “Olympic” word is precisely that), there do not appear to be:
- A more elegant set of four new categories, or
- A more precise arrangement of the same categories.
Everything lines up tightly and uses all 16 words once, with no forced connections. That strongly indicates the solution is both correct and as “optimal” as a Connections‐style puzzle can get.