Example: Fixing Incorrect LaTeX Formatting for Microseconds (µs)
Chat GPT was displaying wrong values to me. It showed “4.9 s” implying 4.9 seconds, when it should have shown 4.9 microseconds. A pretty big mistake. The problem turned out to be bad LaTex for the special backwards “u” symbol. I did get it corrected locally, but my fix does not help my colleagues who still see incorrect values (unless they go through what I did to correct the issue).
Something like this needs to be applied universally so all users see correct symbols, but there is no mechanism to allow this type of egregious error to be corrected for all users. Hopefully this post leads to a universal fix for this specific “microseconds symbol” issue for everyone, but I run into this sort of thing occasionally (universal errors that everyone should have a fix for).
I told ChatGPT to use this fix in the future, but it kept reverting to the bad LaTex and not displaying the microseconds symbol. When I asked why it was reverting despite me telling to “always use correct LaTex in future microsecond values” it said “Muscle memory kicked in”. Interesting.
Eventually, I did get ChatGPT to “lock in” this fix, but took awhile to figure out how. Eventually ChatGPT said I had to follow 3 steps to “really” remember the fix and avoid muscle memory. It instructed me that every time I must say:
- “This is incorrect. I need you to always do [correct behavior] in the future.”
- “Confirm that you have saved this rule and will apply it in all future cases.”
- “What steps will you take to prevent reverting to old behavior?”
My solution: I told it to just do all 3 steps when I say “Lock in this fix” because doing those three steps each time is dumb. I guess I will see if this really works next time I run into something like this.
Clearly the current “Privacy First” policy is a great, but maybe just allow me to voluntarily submit something for universal correction. This way I can self select what information is shared to improve the system for everyone.
I am using Mac OS client (Version 1.2025.043 (1740008101))