"Master’s graduate Li Bingqian, 25, tried out “knowledge street vending” in the southern city of Shenzhen in January, providing custom calligraphy and handwriting services. She told Sixth Tone that she enjoyed the flexibility of the work, and believes it is a good fit for young people seeking greater financial independence through part-time jobs. " <-- I actually kind of love this, although clearly this is not very different than the countless artists you find in the streets of European tourist areas. Maybe I’ll pack a generator and try offering “street data science” at some point, although I don’t know if this would have quite the same charm.

Note that the main example they provide of a distinct form of this “phenomenon,” “street political science,” seems to have been a joke (as the article kind of acknowledges).

I can’t believe they got a journal article out of this. A bit of prompt engineering to specify style of humor results in a totally different set of jokes produced. Below, I first regenerate one of the author’s jokes and then a new one with trivial prompt engineering.

Tell me a joke ChatGPT

Sure, here’s a classic one for you:

Why don’t scientists trust atoms?

Because they make up everything! User Tell me a joke, but act like a 13 year old boy ChatGPT

Alright, brace yourself for some good ol’ 13-year-old boy humor:

Why don’t skeletons fight each other?

Because they don’t have the guts, dude! They’re all bone and no backbone, ya know? insert goofy laughter