Burn baby burn.
You have certainly seen, by now, the viral AI video currently literally melting the internet. Hours ago, ChatGPT unleashed a clip featuring the most iconic moments of the 20th century done up in the iconic Studio Ghilbi style. The Japanese animation arthouse, best known for its critically-acclaimed films Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away, has long been adored by serious cartoon folk. As such, it was ripe ground for the Terminator-esque future to exploit.
Rolling out a new feature, ChatGPT included a collection of the last 100 years’ most compelling images in Studio Ghilbi vernacular. There were no surf snaps, not even Gabriel Medina walking on clouds, save a blink-and-miss-it photograph from a 2002 surf trip to Yemen featuring yours truly.
The picture has been doing the rounds on Reddit for years, I regularly get it sent to me, though the context is often lightly obscured. If you have read the best-selling-adjacent Reports from Hell, you would know that my two very best friends and I absconded to Yemen in the wake of 9/11 because I had learned Osama bin Laden was from there and its mainland coastline appeared potentially surf rich.
This was before the Google Maps days, but looking at physical maps, best friends and I figured it would have to catch waves. Plus, we all had deep interest in radical fundamentalism.
No surfer had ever explored before due difficulty and danger.
A three month run from tip to tail revealed truly epic nuggets. Also much Al-Qaeda and while we, best friends plus I, were always happy to run-and-gun, occasionally full police details would see us through particularly hot zones.
Thus this photo. We were in the Shabwah district, notoriously volatile, and had an escort through part of it. Before they peeled off, we sat on technical to celebrate moment with our Yemeni bros, wonderful photographer captured and off we went.
Now it is helping boil ChatGPT’s computers.
You’re welcome.
Insights from Surf Journalist Chas Smith
In the spirit of full disclosure, I must mention my friend, writer and surf journalist Chas Smith, who has a knack for stirring up conversations in the surf community.
JC Surfboards fuming
but what came first in the future, the GPT version or the original real,, only time will tell
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
You forgot to mention the reacharound to Chat
Chat GPT Chas looks more friendly than real Chas.
Welcome to BeachGrit…where relevance matters most!
You should repost your Yemen series. Rotund Yemeni whores in baggy sweats, the legend and lore to which can really only be depicted in polaroid photos
I think my fav of my books.
I’m truly grateful to have been here when you slow rolled that out. It has everything a reader wants and needs. Everything.
The opening with General Petraeus was all time.
Chas and his women owning mates!!
Reminds me of the Cole Houshmand with Tate Brothers photo. I am triggered. Send Kleenex and tampon.
You regale these gents with tales of your date night to the white party?
Nope! That came later.
Beach Gpt
The accompanying book is actually very very good.
Xox
Good on ya 👍🏼
I’ll make sure to read the book in my next reincarnation.
But I’ll read the Hawaii one in this life; some day or another.
Have you ever read a book? I doubt.
Your mama so slow it took her 9 months to make a mistake.