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July 23rd, 2025:

Follow-up on the last post, “Dave Cooper and AI”

This won’t be an ongoing theme, I can assure you, but I did as I suggested yesterday I’d do today, which was query Duck.ai again and see what nonsense it came up with this time. As I suspected, a link to my previous post was now in the search results and the AI-generated output was totally different!

Here it is:

Dave Cooper is known for his contributions to discussions about Zambia’s history, particularly when it was called Northern Rhodesia. He has shared insights about the region’s past and its cultural significance.

Background on Northern Rhodesia

Northern Rhodesia was the name used for what is now Zambia during British colonial rule. It was established in the late 19th century and became a British protectorate in 1924. The region was rich in natural resources, particularly copper, which played a significant role in its economy.

Dave Cooper’s Contributions

Dave Cooper is noted for his historical insights into Northern Rhodesia, particularly regarding its geography and cultural history. He has shared valuable information about the region’s past, including maps and personal anecdotes from his experiences growing up there.

Cultural Significance

The area is known for its diverse wildlife and rich cultural heritage. Many people, including Cooper, have fond memories of exploring the local bush and observing various bird species. This includes references to sunbirds, which are often confused with hummingbirds due to their similar feeding habits and vibrant colors.

Modern Zambia

Today, Zambia is recognized for its mineral wealth and is home to a growing population. The legacy of Northern Rhodesia continues to influence Zambian culture and identity, with ongoing discussions about its historical significance and impact on contemporary society.

I suppose if one searched for “salt” and generated an AI answer, the results would be pretty much identical each time. I searched for my own name without any additional search terms and, as expected, the output was about some slightly better-known person than me. So I added a couple of search terms and all I can say is that the result gives a whole new meaning to the term, “ego surfing“. If you need to generate a very important-sounding résumé for yourself, this might be the way to go! In fact, post your AI-generated output on your blog, on LinkedIn and a bunch of other places and it could be the equivalent of Google bombing / link bombing.

Just don’t tell them I sent you.

Dave Cooper according to AI a day later

Dave Cooper according to AI a day later.

Dave Cooper and AI

Huh, interesting. I searched for Dave’s name on DuckDuckGo and decided to query their AI feature, “Search Assist”, not expecting much. These were the surprising results:

Dave Cooper was a notable figure associated with Northern Rhodesia, known for his vibrant personality and contributions to the community. He passed away on July 19, 2025, and was remembered fondly by friends and family for his unique character and love for life.

Dave Cooper’s Connection to Northern Rhodesia

Background

Dave Cooper was a notable figure who had a deep connection to Northern Rhodesia, now known as Zambia. He spent his childhood in Kitwe, where he developed a passion for exploring the local wildlife and nature.

Recent Events

Dave Cooper passed away peacefully on July 19, 2025, in the Netherlands. His life was marked by a vibrant personality and a love for the natural world. He was remembered fondly by friends and family for his unique character and the impact he had on those around him.

Memorial Plans

Cooper’s remains were cremated on July 22, 2025. In a tribute to his enduring friendships and shared passions, his ashes will be scattered in Québec, which he considered his second home. This ceremony reflects his connection to both his past in Northern Rhodesia and his later life experiences.

Legacy

Cooper’s legacy includes his love for nature and the memories he created during his time in Northern Rhodesia. His story is a reminder of the rich history and personal narratives tied to this region.

I find it interesting that this was created based on only my own personal website — where Dave is only mentioned once (making him “notable”), in his obituary yesterday — and on the Great North Road website where there is currently only a placeholder page and a link to a PDF document he created based on an original document from 1936 which, of course, isn’t about him!

I think there was a lot of interpolation by AI and, of course, some nice, trite words based on AI’s understanding of what recent death means to us humans. I wonder what the output from an AI will be tomorrow based on the addition of this string of text to its corpus. (Interestingly, Google’s search results don’t include any AI output, at least not for the same search string.)

Dave Cooper according to AI

Dave Cooper according to AI.