<== Site of the Week for 2023-06-07 ==>

Top Attractions in Davis County - According to AI

There is a new buzz word in town. That buzz word is "Artificial Intelligence." Marketers are aggressively using the term AI to promote two types of programs. The first is a language model that can analyze and generate text. The second is a program which uses a combination of noise and filters to generate seemingly original images. I've created some AI images.

The language model has access to an open web crawl. You can ask it questions. It will use the language model to query related web pages. It will then generate a response in proper English.

To investigate the language model, I decided to ask ChatGPT and Google Bard the top ten attractions in each Utah County.

There are thousands of web sites which include "top ten lists."

The amusing thing with this question is that the public at large usually is not attentive to county boundaries. County borders are often arbitrary lines drawn by map makers a century ago.

Notably, Davis County is often described as a bedroom community between Salt Lake City and Ogden. There are numerous towns in the county. People in the area tend to think in terms of town names and not county borders. For example, many of the businesses in North Salt Lake market to Salt Lake City and not Davis County.

I asked ChatGPT and Google Bard to list the top ten attractions of the different counties in Utah.

I was really looking forward to what the program would say about Davis County as many web pages target themselves toward the Salt Lake Metropolitan area.

Top Attractions in Davis County by ChatGPT

ChatGPT produced a fairly clean list which starts with Antelope Island and Lagoon. Amusingly, ChatGPT included Antelope Island in the list of top attractions in Salt Lake and Weber Counties as well. It is fully within Davis. I was surprised to see Cherry Hill Resort listed as it is a small business and the Internet tends to ignore small businesses.

1. Antelope Island State Park: Situated in the Great Salt Lake, Antelope Island is known for its stunning landscapes, abundant wildlife, and opportunities for hiking, biking, camping, and wildlife viewing.
2. Lagoon Amusement Park: A popular family destination, Lagoon offers a mix of thrilling roller coasters, water rides, live entertainment, and carnival games.
3. Hill Aerospace Museum: Located near Hill Air Force Base, this museum showcases an extensive collection of military aircraft and exhibits that highlight the history of aviation and the United States Air Force.
4. Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve: A sanctuary for migratory birds, this preserve provides excellent birdwatching opportunities, along with trails and boardwalks for exploring the wetlands.
5. Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area: Another haven for birdwatching, this area offers a diverse range of waterfowl species and scenic landscapes. Visitors can observe birds from observation platforms or explore the trails.
6. Cherry Hill Resort: A family-friendly water park and campground with water slides, pools, mini-golf, and other activities for all ages.
7. Station Park: This open-air shopping center in Farmington offers a mix of retail shops, restaurants, a movie theater, and a beautiful outdoor plaza for events and gatherings.
8. Bountiful Temple: The Bountiful Utah Temple, a prominent landmark, is known for its beautiful architecture and serene surroundings. While access to the temple is limited to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the grounds are open to the public.
9. Layton Commons Park: A large community park with walking paths, sports fields, playgrounds, and an amphitheater that hosts concerts and events during the summer.
10. Adams Canyon Trail: This popular hiking trail in Layton offers a scenic trek to a beautiful waterfall, making it a favorite among outdoor enthusiasts.

Top Davis County Attractions According to Google Bard

The Google Bard list was hilarious. Google is known for its maps. I was astounded to find that Google Bard is unable to find locations on maps. A few comments about the Bard list:

Timpanogos Cave is in Utah County. This is the Place Park is in Salt Lake County. Jordanelle Reservoir is in Wasatch County near Heber. Snow Basin and North Fork Park are in Weber County. The Dinosaur Discovery Trail is in Uintah County!

A funny thing about Google Bard. Google gets nasty when one challenges the answers from the AI.

1. *Timpanogos Cave National Monument: This national monument is home to 5 caves, including the Cave of the Winds and the Great Room. Visitors can take a guided tour of the caves and see the amazing rock formations.
2. *This is the Place Heritage State Park: This park is home to a variety of historical exhibits, including a replica of the Salt Lake Temple. Visitors can also learn about the history of the Mormon people.
3. *Jordanelle State Park: This state park is home to a reservoir, a dam, and a variety of recreational opportunities. Visitors can fish, boat, swim, and hike in the park.
4. Antelope Island State Park: This state park is home to antelope, bison, and other wildlife. Visitors can take a boat tour of the island, go hiking, or simply enjoy the scenery.
5. *North Fork Park: This park is home to a variety of hiking trails, a playground, and a swimming pool. Visitors can enjoy the outdoors and get some exercise in this park.
6. Farmington Bay State Park: This state park is home to a variety of wildlife, including waterfowl, shorebirds, and raptors. Visitors can birdwatch, go hiking, or simply enjoy the scenery.
7. Layton City Arts Center: This art center is home to a variety of exhibits, including paintings, sculptures, and photography. Visitors can also take classes or workshops at the art center.
8. Davis County Historical Society Museum: This museum is home to a variety of exhibits, including artifacts from the pioneer era. Visitors can learn about the history of Davis County at this museum.
9. *Dinosaur Discovery Trail: This trail is home to a variety of dinosaur trackways. Visitors can see the dinosaur tracks and learn about the dinosaurs that once lived in the area.
10. *Snowbasin Resort: This ski resort is home to 3,000 acres of skiable terrain. Visitors can enjoy skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing at this resort.

Six of the Ten answers by Google Bard were not in Davis County. This might be a ruse by the power players in Davis County to hide the real attractions of Davis County. Seriously, do you want the people from Salt Lake to be trampling about in Davis County?