Artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere these days. You can't turn on the news without seeing the latest developments.

The potential for AI is boundless - but right now, it's good for entertainment too.

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We asked the chatbot ChatGPT to help us rename twelve Michigan cities - and the results, shall we say, were interesting.

Let's take a look.

Detroit = Novation

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Novation, Michigan. Perhaps a nod to "innovation"? Detroit has been known to innovate from time to time, what with the automotive industry and Motown just to name a couple. Is Novation a fitting name for the biggest city in Michigan? Might take some getting used to.

Grand Rapids = River City

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River City instead of Grand Rapids? It actually might make more sense nowadays. Since dams changed the flow of the river, there haven't been "rapids" on the Grand for a very long time. It's cool to continue to honor the river and all it means to the city though. Chalk one up for AI. River City's not a bad suggestion.

Lansing = Cedar City

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Again, not too bad. Lansing takes its name from Lansing, New York. That's just boring. Cedar City, Michigan? At least AI tries to tip its hat to the area's geography.

Flint = Aqua Vista

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Aqua Vista, Michigan? Aqua Vista? Too soon, AI, too soon. We're not ready to rename Flint "Water View".

Kalamazoo = Mapleview

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We're starting to sense a pattern here, AI. You're getting on a very geographical kick. However, it would be easier to teach out-of-staters how to say Mapleview, Michigan, instead of Kalamazoo.

Jackson = Jackstown

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Jackstown instead of Jackson? It's starting to feel like you're not even trying, AI.

Saginaw = Baywood

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Could we get used to referring to Saginaw as Baywood, Michigan? Bay City may not be happy about it - but since Saginaw has more people than Bay City (or nearby Midland, for that matter), we say Saginaw gets dibs on taking the Baywood moniker or not.

Ann Arbor = Tree Town

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Tree Town, Michigan - home of the Michigan Wolverines! Nothing would garner more national respect than a nice, wholesome city name like Tree Town. Chalk this one up as an AI fail.

Traverse City = Cherryville

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Cherryville, Michigan? We don't hate it. Traverse City is rightfully known as the Cherry Capital of the World - why not call it Cherryville? Has a certain charm to it.

Mackinac Island = Enchantica

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We know Mackinac Island isn't technically a city... we just wanted to see what AI would do with it. And we found out. It would suggest something that sounds like a Disney movie waiting to happen. Enchantica. Nah, well keep Mackinac. Thanks anyway, AI.

Sault Ste. Marie = Soo City

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Soo City instead of Sault Ste. Marie? I think we can get behind this suggestion, AI. The Soo Locks are right there... and Soo will get mispronounced way less than Sault.

Marquette = Lakestone

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Lakestone, Michigan instead of Marquette? It's not terrible, but it sort of sounds more like a subdivision than it does a city.

There you have it. Artificial intelligence is still in its infancy. We'll give it a few years and try again.

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