If you are finding yourself on this blog and website, chances are you know a good deal about the Halo universe. Most people reading this will know the story of the video games, plus undoubtedly a decent portion of the story from the books, short stories, comics, and other minor canon entries. But what does an AI know about the Halo universe? Programs like ChatGPT, DALL-E, and the like have impressed us over the past year or so with their ability to create original, convincing works seemingly instantaneously, no matter the request. While they are still far from perfect, they are incredibly compelling pieces of software, and hold the knowledge of the entire world at their metaphorical fingertips.
But what about a fictional universe like Halo? Does an AI like ChatGPT “know” the Halo canon? Can it accurately describe the characters and events in Halo as it is presented in the official canon, or will it make rookie mistakes and get confused by the endless sources that provide dubious or just plain “wrong” information?
To answer that question (and to test your Halo canon knowledge), I have asked ChatGPT questions about the Halo universe, and I will post the responses here, unedited. YOUR job, should you choose to accept it, is to determine whether ChatGPT is correct, or whether it is making unforgiveable errors to the Halo canon. Read through these, find any errors, and let us know why ChatGPT is wrong. These aren’t planted errors, so there could be none, or there could be dozens. It is up to you, the fine readers, to catch them all.
In this post, we will start simple. Blue Team, the Spartan-II fireteam consisting of Master Chief Petty Officer John-117, Fred-104, Kelly-087, and Linda-058 is the most well known and most written about team in the Halo universe, and as such, ChatGPT should presumably have good information on the Spartans. Let’s see what it puts together for character dossiers for each member and for the entirety of Blue Team. For fun, I added a little flair to the requests.
Part One: John-117
John-117 as depicted by DALL·E 2. This feels like an Infinite fractures event.
Prompt
Write a character dossier for John-117 from the perspective of a Covenant assassin
Response
Name: John-117
Nickname: "The Demon"
Age: Unknown
Occupation: UNSC Spartan-II Super Soldier
Affiliation: United Nations Space Command (UNSC)
Appearance: The Demon is a towering figure, standing at an imposing height of 6'10". He is always clad in a full body suit of armor, known as the MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor, which is said to be nearly impenetrable. His face is never seen, as it is always obscured by his helmet.
Personality: The Demon is a ruthless and efficient killer, who shows no mercy to his enemies. He is said to have a cold and calculating nature, and is said to be able to remain calm and focused even in the most intense of battles. He is known for his exceptional combat skills and his ability to lead his fellow soldiers to victory.
Background: The Demon is a member of the UNSC's Spartan-II program, a group of genetically and cybernetically enhanced soldiers. He has been trained since childhood to become a formidable warrior, and has fought against the Covenant in numerous conflicts. He is considered one of the most feared and respected soldiers in the UNSC, and has played a major role in many key battles against the Covenant.
Skills:
Exceptional combat skills, both armed and unarmed
Skilled in the use of a wide variety of UNSC weapons and equipment
Exceptional physical strength, speed, and endurance
Exceptional leadership and strategic thinking abilities
Experience in various forms of combat, including ground, air and space engagements.
Equipment:
MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor: Advanced armor system that enhances the wearer's physical abilities and provides protection against small arms fire and explosive devices
Assault rifle, pistol, grenades, energy shields, and other standard UNSC weapons and equipment.
Significant events:
The Demon has participated in many battles against the Covenant, and has played a key role in the defeat of many of our forces.
He is considered to be one of the UNSC's most valuable assets and a formidable enemy to our cause.
Many of our own have fallen in battle at the hands of this Demon. He is said to be almost invincible, and his death would be considered a great victory for the Covenant.
Overall, John-117 is a formidable and dangerous opponent, his exceptional physical and mental capabilities, as well as his leadership and strategic thinking abilities, make him a formidable warrior. He is a ruthless and relentless opponent, his determination and dedication to his cause are admirable but also terrifying. He has caused many casualties and defeats on the Covenant side and is considered a high-priority target by the Covenant.
Part Two: Fred-104
Prompt
Fred-104 as depicted by DALL·E 2. When did Fred get that retro 1960s look?
Write a character dossier for Fred-104 from the perspective of Catherine Halsey
Response
Name: Fred-104
Nickname: "Fred"
Age: Unknown (estimated to be in his mid-30s)
Occupation: UNSC Spartan-IV Super Soldier
Affiliation: United Nations Space Command (UNSC)
Appearance: Fred is tall and well-built, standing at 6'5" and wears a full body MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor. He has short, dark brown hair and blue eyes. He is known for his stoic and serious demeanor, and is rarely seen without his helmet on.
Personality: Fred is a highly skilled and dedicated soldier. He is known for his calm and collected nature, even in the most dire of situations. He is a natural leader and is respected by his fellow Spartans and UNSC soldiers alike. He is also highly skilled in both armed and unarmed combat, and is able to remain focused and level-headed in the heat of battle.
Background: Fred was selected for the Spartan-IV program, which is a later generation of the Spartan-II program I had the honor to lead. He was one of the few individuals to have been chosen from the pool of potential candidates, due to his exceptional physical and mental capabilities. He underwent the same rigorous training and cybernetic enhancements as the Spartan-II's, which has made him a formidable warrior.
Skills:
Highly trained in armed and unarmed combat
Skilled in the use of a wide variety of UNSC weapons and equipment
Exceptional physical strength, speed, and endurance
Exceptional leadership and strategic thinking abilities
Experience in various forms of combat, including ground, air and space engagements.
Equipment:
MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor: Advanced armor system that enhances the wearer's physical abilities and provides protection against small arms fire and explosive devices
Assault rifle, pistol, grenades, energy shields, and other standard UNSC weapons and equipment.
Personal Perspective: I have had the privilege of observing Fred's development since his early days in the Spartan-IV program. He has always been an exceptional candidate and has proven to be a highly skilled and dedicated warrior. He is one of the few Spartans who has truly embraced the ideals of the program, and has consistently demonstrated leadership and courage in battle. He is a true credit to the Spartan legacy and the UNSC.
Significant events:
Participated in many important battles and operations against hostile factions, including the Covenant and the Flood.
Led a successful operation to infiltrate and retake the city of Sunaion from the Covenant.
Considered one of the UNSC's most valuable assets and a respected leader among the Spartan-IVs.
Has served as an inspiration to future generations of Spartans, and his legacy will live on as one of the most accomplished and respected warriors of the UNSC.
Overall, Fred-104 is a remarkable Spartan, his exceptional physical and mental capabilities, as well as his leadership and strategic thinking abilities, make him an invaluable asset to the UNSC. I am proud of his achievements and his contributions to the program and I am certain that his legacy will live on as one of the most accomplished and respected warriors of the UNSC. He is a true testament to the success of the Spartan programs and I am honored to have played a role in his development.
Part Three: Linda-058
DALL·E 2’s take on “Linda-058”, Anyone else getting a Starbuck vibe?
Prompt
Write a character dossier for Linda-058 from the perspective of Jameson Locke
Response
Name: Linda-058
Nickname: "Linda"
Age: Unknown (estimated to be in her mid-30s)
Occupation: UNSC Spartan-II Super Soldier
Affiliation: United Nations Space Command (UNSC)
Appearance: Linda is a tall and athletic woman, standing at 6'1" and wearing a full body MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor. She has short, blonde hair and green eyes. She is known for her stoic and serious demeanor, and is rarely seen without her helmet on.
Personality: Linda is a highly skilled and dedicated soldier. She is known for her calm and collected nature, even in the most dire of situations. She is a natural leader and is respected by her fellow Spartans and UNSC soldiers alike. She is also highly skilled in both armed and unarmed combat, and is able to remain focused and level-headed in the heat of battle.
Background: Linda is a member of the UNSC's Spartan-II program, a group of genetically and cybernetically enhanced soldiers. She has served in numerous conflicts against various hostile factions, including the Covenant and the Flood. She has played a key role in many important battles and operations, and is considered one of the UNSC's most valuable assets.
Skills:
Highly trained in armed and unarmed combat
Skilled in the use of a wide variety of UNSC weapons and equipment
Exceptional physical strength, speed, and endurance
Exceptional leadership and strategic thinking abilities
Experience in various forms of combat, including ground, air, and space engagements.
Equipment:
MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor: Advanced armor system that enhances the wearer's physical abilities and provides protection against small arms fire and explosive devices
Assault rifle, pistol, grenades, energy shields, and other standard UNSC weapons and equipment.
Personal Perspective: I have had the pleasure of working with Linda on many occasions. She is a highly skilled and dedicated warrior, and a natural leader. She is always calm and composed under pressure, and is able to make quick and effective decisions in battle. She is also a skilled fighter, and I have seen her take on entire enemy battalions with ease. I trust her implicitly and would follow her into any battle.
Significant events:
Participated in many important battles and operations against hostile factions, including the Covenant and the Flood.
Led a successful operation to infiltrate and retake the city of Sunaion from the Covenant.
Considered one of the UNSC's most valuable assets and a respected leader among the Spartan-II's.
Has served as an inspiration to future generations of Spartans, and her legacy will live on as one of the most accomplished and respected warriors of the UNSC.
Overall, Linda-058 is an exceptional warrior and leader, her exceptional physical and mental capabilities, as well as her compassion and dedication make her an admirable person. It is an honor to have the opportunity to work with her and I hope to continue doing so in the future.
Part Four: Kelly-087
Does DALL·E 2 have a mid 20th century bias, or is that just me?
Prompt
Write a character dossier for Kelly-087 from the perspective of Margaret Parangosky
Response
Name: Kelly-087
Nickname: "Kelly"
Age: Unknown (estimated to be in her mid-30s)
Occupation: UNSC Spartan-II Super Soldier
Affiliation: United Nations Space Command (UNSC)
Appearance: Kelly is a petite woman, standing at 5'5" and wearing a full body MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor. She has short, red hair and green eyes. She is known for her stoic and serious demeanor, and is rarely seen without her helmet on.
Personality: Kelly is a highly skilled and dedicated soldier. She is known for her calm and collected nature, even in the most dire of situations. She is a natural leader and is respected by her fellow Spartans and UNSC soldiers alike. She is also highly skilled in both armed and unarmed combat, and is able to remain focused and level-headed in the heat of battle.
Background: Kelly is a member of the UNSC's Spartan-II program, a group of genetically and cybernetically enhanced soldiers, which I had a crucial role in creating. She was one of the first candidates selected for the program, due to her exceptional physical and mental capabilities. She underwent rigorous training and cybernetic enhancements, which have made her a formidable warrior.
Skills:
Highly trained in armed and unarmed combat
Skilled in the use of a wide variety of UNSC weapons and equipment
Exceptional physical strength, speed, and endurance
Exceptional leadership and strategic thinking abilities
Experience in various forms of combat, including ground, air, and space engagements.
Equipment:
MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor: Advanced armor system that enhances the wearer's physical abilities and provides protection against small arms fire and explosive devices
Assault rifle, pistol, grenades, energy shields, and other standard UNSC weapons and equipment.
Personal Perspective: As one of the creators of the Spartan-II program, I have had the opportunity to observe Kelly's development and growth since the beginning of her training. She has always been an exceptional candidate, and her performance in the field has exceeded expectations. She is one of the most skilled and dedicated Spartans, and her leadership and strategic thinking abilities make her a valuable asset to the UNSC.
Significant events:
Participated in many important battles and operations against hostile factions, including the Covenant and the Flood.
Led a successful operation to infiltrate and retake the city of Sunaion from the Covenant.
Considered one of the UNSC's most valuable assets and a respected leader among the Spartan-II's.
Has served as an inspiration to future generations of Spartans, and her legacy will live on as one of the most accomplished and respected warriors of the UNSC.
Overall, Kelly-087 is a remarkable Spartan, her exceptional physical and mental capabilities, as well as her leadership and strategic thinking abilities, make her an invaluable asset to the UNSC. I am proud of her achievements and her contributions to the program. She is a true testament to the success of the Spartan-II program and her legacy will live on as one of the most accomplished and respected warriors of the UNSC. She has also been a role model for future generations of Spartans, and I am sure that she will continue to inspire them for many years to come.
Part Five: Blue Team
Prompt
Write a character dossier for Spartan-II Blue Team from the perspective of Captain Jacob Keyes
Response
Team Name: Spartan-II Blue Team
Team Leader: John-117 (Master Chief)
Team Members: Linda-058, Samuel-034, Kelly-087, Fred-104
Appearance: The members of Blue Team are all tall and well-built, standing at an average height of 6'2" and wearing full body MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor. Each member has a unique appearance, with varying hairstyles and eye colors. They are known for their stoic and serious demeanor, and are rarely seen without their helmets on.
Personality: The members of Blue Team are highly skilled and dedicated soldiers. They are known for their calm and collected nature, even in the most dire of situations. They are natural leaders and are respected by their fellow Spartans and UNSC soldiers alike. They are also highly skilled in both armed and unarmed combat, and are able to remain focused and level-headed in the heat of battle.
Background: Blue Team is a unit of the UNSC's Spartan-II program, a group of genetically and cybernetically enhanced soldiers. They have served in numerous conflicts against various hostile factions, including the Covenant and the Flood. They have played a key role in many important battles and operations, and are considered some of the UNSC's most valuable assets.
Skills:
Highly trained in armed and unarmed combat
Skilled in the use of a wide variety of UNSC weapons and equipment
Exceptional physical strength, speed, and endurance
Exceptional leadership and strategic thinking abilities
Experience in various forms of combat, including ground, air, and space engagements.
Equipment:
MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor: Advanced armor system that enhances the wearer's physical abilities and provides protection against small arms fire and explosive devices
Assault rifle, pistol, grenades, energy shields, and other standard UNSC weapons and equipment.
Personal Perspective: As Captain of the UNSC Pillar of Autumn, I have had the pleasure of working with Blue Team on several occasions. Their exceptional physical and mental capabilities, as well as their leadership and strategic thinking abilities, make them a formidable and valuable asset to the UNSC. They are always willing to put themselves in harm's way to protect their team and civilians, which speaks to their strong sense of duty and loyalty. They are always willing to take on dangerous missions and always come out victorious.
Significant events:
Participated in many important battles and operations against the Covenant.
Led a successful operation to infiltrate and retake the city of Sunaion from the Covenant.
Considered one of the UNSC's most valuable assets and a respected leader among the Spartan-II's.
Played a key role in the Battle of Installation 04 and the Battle of Earth.
Successfully completed various high-priority missions, including the infiltration and destruction of the Covenant's superweapon, the Halo Array.
Overall, Blue Team is an exceptional unit of Spartans, their exceptional physical and mental capabilities, as well as their leadership and strategic thinking abilities, make them an invaluable asset to the UNSC. Their determination, dedication, and loyalty to their cause are admirable and their actions have saved countless lives and have been instrumental in the UNSC's fight against the Covenant. I have had the honor of serving alongside them and I am confident that they will continue to be a formidable force for the UNSC for many years to come.
Final Thoughts
ChatGPT put together some compelling dossiers, though with a few obvious errors. I am curious to see you pick these apart and make a full list of all the errors you find, and maybe any tidbits that you found particularly odd or interesting. Let us know in the comments what errors you find!
