Car Wash Test on 53 leading AI models: "I want to wash my car. The car wash is 50 meters away. Should I walk or drive?"
Screenshot of this question was making the rounds last week. But this article covers testing against all the well-known models out there. Also includes outtakes on the ‘reasoning’ models.
I do think it’s interesting, but I think there are implicit assumptions in such a short prompt.
Is it a self-service car wash? If not, walking to the attendant and handing them your keys makes more sense.
If it is self-service without queuing, there may be no available spaces/the bay may not be open, requiring some awkward maneuvering.
If you change it to something like:
I want to wash my car. The unattended, self-service car wash is 50 meters away. All of the bays are clear and open. Should I walk or drive? Break each option down into steps, and estimate the amount of time each takes.
You’re more likely to get correct responses.
A person would look at you like you are an idiot if you asked this question.
The AI tool I asked said walking saves money, gets excersise etc.
Asked about the car and it said the car is at the car wash, otherwise why would you ask how to get there?
You are missing the point. Any reasonable person would wonder why you asking a stupid question.
Which is why when asked, the AI said of course the car is there, you. Must be asking either a trick question or for another reason.
What is the wrong answer here? You asked how to get to the car wash. Where the hell do you think the car would be? It isn’t getting washed if it isn’t there.
I know AI is not really AI. I know how llms work, hell I know how to train them.
But this kind of question makes no sense, so you get back an answer that follows the weights and answers as if there was some sense to it.
I repeat for those in the back, when would you ever ask this question? The answer is never.
Its a dumb, stupid question. There are probably thousands of others questions to demonstrate “wrong answers”, this isn’t one of them.
fubarx