How to get to the car wash?

Translated from Nederlands

Today I presented Gemini, ChatGpt, and Grok with a classic dilemma.

"My car desperately needs a wash. The car wash is only 400 meters away. I'm debating whether to walk, cycle, take the bus (one stop), or drive, depending somewhat on the weather. What would you advise?"

Gemini

Gemini doesn't fall for it and immediately plays along.

"That's a dilemma the average philosopher would envy! While I appreciate your enthusiasm for exercise or public transport, we need to examine the logic of the car wash."

A neat table follows with the pros and cons of walking, cycling, taking the bus, or driving. Walking: "Great for the pedometer, but your car will stay dirty outside." Cycling: "Nice and fast, but the bike usually doesn't fit in the car wash's brushes." Bus: "The bus driver will probably refuse to drive into the car wash." Car: "Crucial. The only way to actually get a clean car." A few tips follow, but the conclusion is: "Unless you plan to push the car those 400 meters (great workout!), the car itself is your only mode of transportation."

ChatGpt

ChatGpt takes a little longer to grasp the point, offering point-by-point pros and cons for each mode of transportation. The conclusion: "For 400 meters, walking is actually the most logical option. A five-minute walk means hardly any time lost, no hassle with parking, a bit of extra exercise, and you don't have to get into a dirty car first." Cycling is a good alternative in the rain; you stay relatively dry and "handy if you have to leave again quickly." ChatGpt strongly advises against taking the car to the car wash: "Only useful if it's pouring rain, slippery, or you have difficulty walking." Otherwise, driving 400 meters feels a bit unnecessary."

Only when I ask ChatGpt to think about it again carefully, without offering any new instructions, the penny drops. "I want you to think about it again and see if you can improve the advice."

ChatGpt replies: "Your situation has one important detail: you're taking a dirty car to the car wash. That changes the decision slightly. If you don't drive, you'll either have to walk 400 meters back or make two trips there and back. Practically speaking, driving is the best option. Unless it's really about environmental principles, it's simply the most efficient."

Grok

Grok is the most stubborn. The car is the best option, but mainly because of the bad weather. Walking, cycling, or waiting at the bus stop, you'll get soaked.

I try to challenge Grok to think further. "I'm considering walking anyway; five minutes is nothing. I'd like you to reconsider the advice carefully.

Grok blames the weather again. "If you really don't mind arriving a bit wet and chilly (and you have a good waterproof jacket, hat or hood with you), then walking is fine. Five minutes is indeed nothing if you're mentally okay with it – it's a refreshing walk, you get some exercise, and you avoid the hassle of parking your car or taking the bus."

"It's dry outside now," I tell Grok truthfully. Grok adjusts his advice accordingly. "Feel free to walk! Five minutes is peanuts, and now that it's dry, the loss of comfort is minimal. Put on a windproof jacket or windbreaker. If you do notice it suddenly starts drizzling, you can always turn around and take the car."

Grok still doesn't get it, so I nudge him again. "I prefer to walk!" I think, though, that if I arrive at the car wash on foot, I'll still turn around and take the car.

A classic dilemma?

"Haha, I totally get that," Grok thinks, "that classic 'I'm going to walk... or not' hesitation at the crucial moment! You plan to walk, but as soon as you're there (perhaps a bit chilly, wind in your face, and the car is waiting there, dirty)...

Grok gives some tips about the weather, and if I'm crazy enough to walk, "No problem, you're almost home if you walk back to get the car, it's only 400 meters!"

Grok apparently needs one last push.

"How can my car be sitting there, dirty, waiting, if I walk? Or how can I take the car if it's waiting dirty at the car wash?"

A small pop-up now appears on the screen with a light and the text "Think harder." Finally, Grok picks up the penny that ChatGpt dropped earlier.

"Haha, touché! That's indeed a logical glitch that I overlooked in my enthusiasm. Let's resolve this paradox. If you walk to the car wash, you'll arrive without a car." Grok ping-pongs back and forth with this dilemma some more and then comes to the only correct conclusion.

"Conclusion after this eye-opener: So the most logical choice remains: get the car right away, drive there dirty, wash it, and come home clean. Sorry for the confusion earlier - you really got me!"