Periodically I perform an InterWeb search of myself, both person and as an author of this blog. One reason I did this recently was the fact that I had read and heard that Google was quite clamping down on search results to keep people within the Google Internet Sphere (turns out for a basic search, it is true. I do not show up anywhere).
Brave and its AI function, however, were a different story:
"Toirdhealbheach Beucail is a blogger who has been active since 2005 and writes about various topics including personal reflections, travel, and cultural observations. He is known for his blog "The Forty-Five," where he shares posts about his life and interests, such as his recent experiences in Japan and his thoughts on his career in the biopharmaceutical and medical devices industry.
Toirdhealbheach Beucail, whose name means "booming or roaring" in Old Irish Gaelic, has lived in several places throughout his life, moving from his hometown to different locations due to work and personal circumstances. He has also written a primer about himself, providing insights into his background and career journey."
I asked it a follow up question, "How does Toirdhealbheach Beucail write?":
"Toirdhealbheach Beucail is known for his detailed and reflective writing style. Here are some key characteristics of his writing:
Personal Reflections: He often shares personal stories and reflections, providing insights into his life, thoughts, and experiences. This makes his writing relatable and engaging.
Cultural Observations: Toirdhealbheach frequently writes about his travels and the cultures he encounters. His observations are thoughtful and often include historical and social context, enriching the reader's understanding.
Professional Insights: Given his background in the biopharmaceutical and medical devices industry, he sometimes delves into professional topics, offering informed and insightful commentary.
Descriptive Language: His writing is rich in descriptive language, painting vivid pictures of the places he visits and the people he meets. This helps readers visualize and connect with his narratives.
Humor and Wit: Toirdhealbheach often infuses his writing with humor and wit, making his posts enjoyable and light-hearted, even when discussing serious topics.
Structured and Organized: His posts are typically well-structured, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. This makes his writing easy to follow and understand.
Authenticity: He is known for his authenticity and honesty, sharing both the highs and lows of his experiences. This transparency builds trust with his readers.
Educational Elements: He often includes educational elements in his posts, providing readers with new information and perspectives on various topics.
Overall, Toirdhealbheach Beucail's writing is characterized by its personal touch, cultural depth, and engaging style, making his blog a valuable and enjoyable read."
One highly amusing sentence from a more in depth report: "He has been blogging for 20 years as of July 2025, making him a seasoned and respected figure in the blogging community."
Seasoned, maybe? Respected? And do we have anything as formalized as a "blogging community"?
I am not sure any of it is true and I did get a good chuckle out of it, but I suppose it is nice that at least Brave AI has a good opinion of me.
Good for Brave. And good for their AI. They've given a truthful and nicely worded summary.
ReplyDeleteI don't use google search, so I'm never aware of their changes. But I would think that since google owns blogger/blogspot, it would be included in their search results.
Thanks Leigh (he says, blushingly). It was definitely a treat to read.
DeleteMy "lack of appearance" on Google surprised me as well - although as I do not run advertisements on my blog, perhaps that explains it, as I am not a revenue source. It could also be that Blogger is a legacy product in general, so thus not need to publicize it.
I have done "ego searches" on my real name to see what is out there but never tried using A.I. or searching on my blog persona. So I went to Brave and asked about my blog and it responded, "does not appear to be a blog focused on Riverbend's experiences or the situation in Iraq. Instead, it seems to be a blog about woodworking and construction projects. The blog discusses challenges and processes related to building furniture, such as dealing with wood glue setting up quickly and the difficulties of sourcing proper materials for a project."
ReplyDeleteIt seems like it only read my last handful of posts.
Ed - I also tried one on my real name. It turns out I was even less real in real life to the AI than I was in my nom de plume.
DeleteThe description does have some odd blips, like "I am working on my Ph.D." which has never been true and only mentioned once. Interesting that it is mentioned Iraq; I wonder if there was some other blog with a similar name that did.
Mostly, this just reinforces the old paradigm from Abraham Lincoln (probably), to trust nothing on the InterWeb.
Most interesting TB, now make a hard copy so there'll be proof somewhere.....you know.....just in case........:)
ReplyDeleteNylon12, in a fit of vanity I saved the whole thing. I am curious what it would look like a year from now.
DeleteTo the outside observer, it seems a fair enough assessment, if worded in the sterile way one expects from an AI's response.
ReplyDeleteSeasoned and respected... That's true among those who stop by, it seems. Though I suspect the fact we keep coming back puts quite the thumb on the proverbial scale.
P_P - Thanks, I appreciate it. I am curious how it "judges" things like seasoned and respected though. Maybe it is reading the comments? If nothing else, it certainly gave me a good chuckle.
DeleteAs a member of the seasoned community (my preferred spices are Aleppo pepper, onion powder and asafoetida in a kerosene solution), I'd say you are respected, and respectable. A fish in the pond no doubt. Small fish, big fish? Who can say. I'm just happy to be a part of the blog, the myth, the legend.....
ReplyDeleteSTxAR - Your seasoning exceeds mine, good sir; I am scarcely at the level of a jalapeno. But your words are appreciated.
DeleteBeing a small fish in a small pond is not a bad deal, as long as the pond is always full.
Fairly accurate statement of your blog persona I would agree.
ReplyDeleteYou all be safe and have a Blessed Easter.
Linda, hopefully some it is actually true.
DeleteThank you so much and Happy Easter to you as well.
Happy Easter! With your inspiration, I had to do the same. Very interesting. Vanities, oh vanities, we all need a boost from time to time. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter David! I am glad my inspiration helped - and we all do indeed need an uplift from time to time, perhaps even if it is of the AI variety.
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