Is it safe to observe a total solar eclipse? It’s a question that will be asked a lot online in the coming months as the United States, Canada and Mexico countdown to a rare total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024.
This is, however, a potentially confusing event, both in terms of what can be experienced and whether or not it is safe to observe. While the entire country will see a partial solar eclipse – for which solar eclipse glasses are required at all times – those in the narrow path of totality will be able to remove their solar eclipse glasses at mid -path to the event, when it’s dark.
Unfortunately, artificial intelligence – and its associated chatbots and large language models – is woefully inadequate to explain the complexities to an audience that needs accurate, expert information.
Beware of AI-generated content
Take This item, titled “Why Shouldn’t We Go Out During the Eclipse?” » which appears to have been produced using AI. It states: “Looking directly at the sun during an eclipse, even for a short time, can cause serious eye damage or even permanent loss of vision. » This is true for a partial solar eclipse, but not for the entire period of a total solar eclipse.
In fact, removing your solar eclipse glasses to gaze with the naked eye at the sun and its majestic corona during totality is the whole point of the trip to be inside the 185-mile-wide path of totality on the 8th. april. To make matters worse, this misleading article cites NASA, the American Astronomical Society, and the Royal Astronomical Society, but only in its footnotes.
Dissemination of false information
Expect more misleading AI-produced articles like this to spread as interest in the total solar eclipse increases. “AI-generated articles often not only encourage misinformation, but also claim to cite reputable sources like the American Astronomical Society or NASA,” said Debra Ross, president of Rochester Task Force for the 2024 Eclipse and co-president, AAS Solar Eclipse Working Group, in an email. “As always, the public should be wary of clickbait headlines and sensationalist claims emanating from dubious media outlets.”
It is the responsibility of readers to only read eclipse articles from trusted titles that contain accurate information with links to original sources and that cite accredited experts in eclipse science and community planning.
Exception for the whole
The question at the heart of the problem is sadly familiar to experts on any subject: the Internet’s disappearance from the sum of all human knowledge to a den of misinformation. The big language models behind AI were trained on what they find on the internet, which is so often wrong. Almost every article about eye safety during a solar eclipse says, “Never look at the sun without eye protection.” » Very few say: “Except during the total phase of a total solar eclipse, never look at the sun without eye protection.” »
“All but the entire version of the warning is the correct version, but only a small minority of websites, the most authoritative ones, include the warning,” said Rick Fienberg of the American Astronomical Society. AAS Solar Eclipse Working Group. “So if an AI program sees hundreds of warnings with no warning and only a handful with it, it naturally ‘thinks’ that the former are correct and the latter incorrect.
Chatbots and eclipses
For example, ask Chat GPT “Is it safe to observe a total solar eclipse?” “” and he responds, “No, it is not safe to look directly at a total solar eclipse without proper eye protection.” » Continue with “and during the entirety?” ” and he then reveals the truth, stating that “during the brief period of totality, during a total solar eclipse, when the moon completely covers the sun, it is generally safe to look at the sun with the naked eye.”
So it ends up happening, but only after a few prompts, which may cause some confusion this spring.
I am an eclipse expert, the editor of WhenIsTheNextEclipse.com and author of The complete guide to the Great North American Eclipse of April 8, 2024. For the latest information on the total solar eclipse, including travel and accommodation options, please subscribe or check my main feed regularly for new articles.
I wish you clear skies and wide eyes.