AI built from 1800s texts surprises creator by mentioning real 1834 London protests

An amateur developer creating AI language models inspired by Victorian English received a surprising educational moment this week. His latest creation, which he affectionately calls TimeCapsuleLLM, referenced actual protests that took place in London in 1834—events the developer was unaware of until he researched them online. Hayk Grigorian, a computer science student at Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania, has been working on this project for about a month. His aim is to craft an authentic Victorian voice within the AI's outputs using texts exclusively from the period of 1800 to 1875. As a result, TimeCapsuleLLM generates language rich in biblical allusions and period-specific rhetorical flair. Grigorian's initiative is part of a broader trend in the research community, where scholars are experimenting with what are termed "Historical Large Language Models" (HLLMs). These models, including notable projects like MonadGPT and XunziALLM, allow researchers to engage with the linguistic patterns and conceptual frameworks of earlier times. Recently, Grigorian put TimeCapsuleLLM to the test with a simple prompt: "It was the year of our Lord 1834." The AI responded with a vivid depiction of London filled with protests, stating, "It was the year of our Lord 1834 and the streets of London were filled with protest and petition..." This unexpected output led Grigorian to conduct some fact-checking, where he discovered that the mention of Lord Palmerston and the protests were indeed rooted in historical fact, furthering his fascination with the project.