State of the Union - AI Speech Prediction

We fed GPT Joe Biden's speeches for the last six months and asked it to generate its best guess as to his 2023 State of the Union.
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Joe Biden drawn as a cartoon robot in the style of Matt Groening and The Simpsons. Source: Midjourney.

As part of the work to generate this State of the Union package, we fed our AI 254 State of the Union messages, covering 44 Presidents (William Henry Harrison and James A. Garfield didn't live long enough to deliver one) and 2,079,303 words. In addition, our models have been crunching Joe Biden's speeches from the Factba.se database.

One of the tools we use is GPT, from OpenAI, which excels at both imitating styles and extrapolating information from large blocks of text. For fun, we thought we'd ask it to take a stab at Joe Biden's 2023 State of the Union speech.

One key limitation: it is not necessarily verbose and, unlike other computer programs, you can't quite tell it exactly how to approach a task. It's more like negotiating with an occasionally-petulant college sophomore. So we had to "chain" our prompts: essentially, ask it follow up questions.

The below is the best guess, as it extrapolated from all speeches and remarks delivered by Joe Biden since July 1, 2022 through the end of January. We note in the HTML where we've stitched it together to have it expand on a particular topic. The bot arrived at the topics and the language on its own. It's almost certainly much shorter, but we're curious to see how it did. It already failed on "Madam Speaker." It's a bot. Cut it some slack.

The AI-generated speech is formatted as follows:

Human Prompt: Where we prompted it, it will appear in this font with a border.

Followed by the speech prediction, which will appear as regular text.


Update: February 8, 2023

You can read the full transcript here . Like, the speech the actual, human Joe Biden delivered. Not our AI Biden.

Our own unbiased analysis: the AI gets an 'F'. It got the language style right, but completely failed in the content and tone. Vinay Reddy: you're safe for now, but watch out in 2024. The AI will only get better and our training more refined .


With that said, we present the AI's prediction of Joe Biden's 2023 State of the Union.


Human Prompt: Based on your knowledge of Joe Biden and the speeches in your model from the last half of 2022 and 2023, please write an approximation as to his State of the Union speech will be for 2023. Please write this speech in the style, grammar, structure and voice of Joe Biden, based on your knowledge of previous State of the Union addresses and transcripts of his speeches. Please structure this, including the introduction, to mirror previous state of the union addresses by presidents of the United States to Congress.

Madam Speaker, Vice President, Members of Congress, distinguished guests, and my fellow Americans:

It is my honor to stand before you today to deliver my third State of the Union address. Over the past two years, we have come together as a nation to overcome the challenges posed by the pandemic, revive our economy, and build a stronger and more equitable future for all Americans.

Tonight, I want to report on the progress we have made and outline the steps we must take to continue moving forward.

First and foremost, let me address the state of our economy. We inherited an economy that was in shambles, but through our American Rescue Plan, we were able to provide immediate relief to millions of families and small businesses. As a result, we have seen record job growth and a reduction in inflation. But we cannot rest on our laurels. We must continue to invest in infrastructure improvements, from upgrading our roads and bridges to expanding access to high-speed broadband, so that every American has the tools they need to succeed in the 21st century.

Human Prompt: Can you please expand on the section about the economy?

The state of our economy is a top priority for my administration. We inherited an economy that was facing a once-in-a-generation crisis, but through the American Rescue Plan, we were able to provide immediate relief to millions of families and small businesses. The result has been remarkable - we have seen record job growth and a reduction in inflation.

However, we know that the road to recovery is not complete. That's why we are now focusing on building a strong, inclusive, and sustainable economy that benefits all Americans. We must continue to invest in infrastructure improvements, from upgrading our roads and bridges to expanding access to high-speed broadband. This will not only create jobs in the short-term, but it will also lay the foundation for long-term economic growth and competitiveness.

We must also ensure that all Americans have the skills and training they need to succeed in the 21st century economy. That's why we are investing in education and job training programs, particularly for those in communities that have been left behind in the past.

Furthermore, we must address the root causes of economic inequality. This includes raising the minimum wage, strengthening workers' rights, and ensuring that everyone, regardless of their race or gender, has an equal shot at success.

In short, my administration is committed to building an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top. By investing in infrastructure, education, and workers, we will lay the foundation for a more prosperous future for all Americans.

Original Human Prompt continues.

Second, I want to address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the continued aggression by Russia. The United States will continue to stand with the Ukrainian people and support their sovereignty and territorial integrity. We will also work with our allies and partners to hold Russia accountable for its actions and ensure that it respects the rules-based international order.

Human Prompt: Can you expand on the Russia/Ukraine section?

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the continued aggression by Russia is a matter of grave concern for the United States and the international community. The United States will always stand with the Ukrainian people and support their sovereignty and territorial integrity. We condemn Russia's annexation of Crimea and its ongoing support for separatist forces in eastern Ukraine. We are committed to working with our allies and partners to hold Russia accountable for its actions and ensure that it respects the rules-based international order. This includes imposing sanctions on those who violate international law and supporting Ukraine's efforts to defend itself and reform its government and economy. At the same time, we will continue to engage in diplomatic efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in Ukraine. We believe that a negotiated settlement that respects Ukraine's territorial integrity and the rights of all Ukrainians is the best path forward. It is in the interest of all nations to uphold the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the rule of law. The United States will continue to work with our allies and partners to promote stability and security in Europe and around the world.

Original Human Prompt continues.

Third, I want to talk about China. We must address the challenges posed by China's economic and military power, but we must also engage in a positive and productive relationship where our interests align. We will continue to work with China on issues such as climate change and global health, but we will also take strong action to protect American workers and businesses and defend our national security interests.

Human Prompt: Can you expand on the section on China?

China is one of the most important and complex relationships that the United States faces in the 21st century. China's economic and military power presents both challenges and opportunities for the United States and the international community.

As President, I am committed to engaging in a positive and productive relationship with China where our interests align. This includes working together on global challenges such as climate change and global health, and promoting a level playing field in trade and investment.

At the same time, we will take strong action to protect American workers and businesses and defend our national security interests. This includes cracking down on the theft of American intellectual property, ensuring that Chinese companies compete on a fair and level playing field, and strengthening our supply chains to reduce our dependence on China.

We also have concerns about human rights in China, including the treatment of ethnic and religious minorities, restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly, and the use of forced labor. The United States will continue to raise these concerns and advocate for the respect of human rights in China and around the world.

In short, my administration is committed to a comprehensive and strategic approach to China that advances our interests and values, and ensures that the benefits of our relationship are widely shared.

Original Human Prompt continues.

Finally, I want to address the regulation of the technology sector. The rapid growth of technology has brought enormous benefits to our society, but it has also raised important questions about privacy, competition, and the appropriate role of government. As president, I am committed to ensuring that the benefits of technology are widely shared and that the rules of the road are clear and fair for everyone.

Human Prompt: Can you expand on the section on technology?

The rapid growth of technology has brought enormous benefits to our society, but it has also raised important questions about privacy, competition, and the appropriate role of government.

As President, I am committed to ensuring that the benefits of technology are widely shared and that the rules of the road are clear and fair for everyone. This includes ensuring that all Americans have access to the tools and resources they need to participate in the digital economy, and that their personal information is protected.

We must also address the concentration of power in the technology sector and ensure that competition is fair and open. This includes enforcing our antitrust laws and ensuring that dominant tech companies do not use their power to stifle competition or harm consumers.

Furthermore, we must address the role of technology in our democracy. This includes taking steps to protect the integrity of our elections and prevent the spread of disinformation, as well as ensuring that all voices are heard and that our political discourse is respectful and inclusive.

In short, my administration is committed to a balanced approach to technology regulation that advances our interests and values, and ensures that the benefits of technology are widely shared. We will work with Congress, industry, and other stakeholders to develop policies that promote innovation, protect privacy and security, and ensure that the digital economy works for everyone.

Original Human Prompt continues.

In conclusion, my fellow Americans, we have come a long way, but there is still much work to be done. We must come together as a nation to build a stronger, more prosperous, and more equitable future for all Americans.

Thank you, and may God bless the United States of America.