“Moon is banana!” “Moon is banana!” “Moon is banana,” repeated my 2-and-a-half-year-old for the 87th time. “Yes, baby, the moon is a banana. Now go to sleep,” I answered, defeated. “Monkey eat moon?” he persisted. “Um, yes, I guess, the monkey ate the moon. Go to sleep.”
“You have to understand, it’s been one grueling hour of me trying to lull this hyped-up ball of energy to sleep. And yes, I read him a book; and yes, I told him a story. And no, it did not work.
We also said goodnight to all the stuffed animals, the ceiling, the windows, and basically all the furniture in the room. However, it’s always the moon that captures his attention. Oddly, he imagines the moon in various food forms—sometimes as cheese, and once even as pizza. If you have a kid, you know one thing: toddlers are weird (and that’s a euphemism). Like, waking-up-in-the-middle-of-the-night-to-eat-an-avocado kind of weird.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled my child is diving into the world of imagination. But keeping up with these neverending bedtime stories just to get them to sleep? Easier said than done
Given my line of work as a writer and editor, I consider myself a fairly creative person. So, it came as a surprise when I realized that I drew a blank when it came to making up these unique bedtime stories. It was a letdown, really, because I had always thought my inner Roald Dahl would kick in. But alas, nothing, zilch. The rational side of my brain seemed to prevent me from crafting a nonsensical tale involving a banana moon and a ravenous monkey.
So, judge as you will, but as a last-ditch effort, I turned to ChatGPT.
Trying my toddler’s approach I typed, “The moon is a banana.” And I know it’s an AI bot and all but I felt like it judged me a bit and flatly responded “The statement ‘The moon is a banana’ is not factually accurate…”
You think? Try explaining that to an overtired toddler who keeps me and the neighborhood awake demanding an end to this banana moon conundrum.
Giving it another try, now as a desperate mom, I wrote: “Please, come up with a bedtime story that involves the moon in the form of a banana and a hungry monkey that wants to eat it.”
The result? A delightful surprise that even captured my interest.
Mind you, it’s not Dr. Seuss, but it had all the essential elements to engage a two-year-old.
Additionally, I asked another AI to illustrate this story. How’d it all turn out? Go ahead and judge for yourselves. I’m going to go take a nap.
The Monkey and the Banana Moon
Once upon a time, in a lush jungle filled with chattering animals and vibrant flora, lived a little monkey named Milo. Milo was unlike any other monkey in the jungle. He had an insatiable curiosity and an unquenchable thirst for adventure.
One night, as the sky turned dark and the stars began to twinkle, Milo looked up and saw something astonishing. The Moon had transformed into a gigantic, golden banana! It was ripe, luminous, and oh-so-tempting.
Milo was determined to eat the Banana Moon. He thought to himself, “I need to find a way to reach it. But how?” Just then, he remembered Old Owl, the wisest creature in the jungle.
Milo scampered up the tree where Old Owl lived and said, “I want to eat the Banana Moon. Can you help me?” Old Owl blinked his wise eyes and said, “The Moon may look like a banana, but it’s not really one. However, if you want to get closer, you must talk to Sky Turtle. She knows the secrets of the sky.”
Eager and excited, Milo thanked Old Owl and set off to find Sky Turtle. After a long journey, he found her on the highest mountaintop. “Sky Turtle, can you help me reach the Banana Moon?” Milo asked.
Sky Turtle chuckled and said, “I can give you wings made of clouds to take you up to the sky. But remember, the Moon is not what it seems.” With a flick of her magical shell, Sky Turtle granted Milo wings made of the fluffiest clouds.
Milo soared higher and higher, past the stars and planets, until he was close to the Banana Moon. But as he reached out to take a bite, his hand passed right through it!
Just then, he heard a voice, “Did you really think you could eat me?” It was the Moon, laughing gently. “I took the form of a banana just for fun, to see who in the world below would try to reach for the unattainable.”
Feeling a bit foolish but also relieved, Milo looked down and saw the entire jungle watching him, their eyes twinkling like stars. Sky Turtle’s magic brought him back safely to the ground, and from then on, he became a legend in his jungle, the adventurous monkey who reached for the Moon.
Old Owl was right, the Moon wasn’t really a banana, but the adventure had given Milo a story of a lifetime. And so, Milo learned the beauty of aspirations, even if they seem as unreachable as eating the Moon.
Back in the jungle, he fell asleep dreaming not of bananas, but of the endless sky filled with stars, knowing that some dreams are not meant to be eaten, but they sure can be fulfilling.
The end.“
Right? Right? The Sky Turtle is amazing. I was absolutely amused and astonished.
As sundown approached the next night, I preempted the “Banana Conundrum” right from the start. I launched into the tale of Milo the Monkey, the wise Owl, the amazing Sky Turtle, and the golden Banana Moon. I did simplify the story to make it toddler friendly, but it worked like a charm. My son fell asleep before I even reached the conclusion.
That’s when I realized he didn’t need an ending; he simply wanted his bizarre toddler thoughts to be woven into a narrative.
So, needless to say, ChatGPT is my Mary Poppins now y’all. If you’re in a similar pickle, say your child believes an elephant is playing the trombone, ChatGPT might just be your saving grace. It certainly knows what to do.
This article was produced and syndicated by MediaFeed.
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We asked AI to reimagine happy endings to these sad movie endings, and they’re absolutely perfect
You know that moment, right? You’re watching a heart-wrenching movie, and when it ends on a tragic note, it straight up morphs you into an emotional crying wreck. It kinda feels like the universe just conspired to make your day a bit gloomier, doesn’t it?
But hey, we humans are a resilient bunch. We have this quirky habit of conjuring up happy alternate endings in our minds, because let’s face it, we’re suckers for a good happy ending. It’s almost like a reflex, this desire to see things wrap up nicely with a big joyful bow.
So, we thought, “Hey, since we humans sometimes struggle to craft those joyous finales, why not let an AI give it a whirl?” Because, why not, right? So here what it came up with
Note: No issues required here
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Original Ending: Jenny dies from an unspecified illness, presumably HIV/AIDS, leaving Forrest to raise their son alone.
Reimagined Ending: Jenny overcomes her illness, undergoing successful treatment which was funded by Forrest’s shrimp business fortune. They marry and raise their son together, nurturing him with equal amounts of love and wisdom from both parents. Jenny and Forrest open a community center together where they help many others find their way in life.
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Original Ending: Jack commits suicide by hanging, unable to bear the burden of his failing career and feeling he is dragging Ally’s career down with him.
Reimagined Ending: Jack decides to fight his demons, going to rehab and working hard to get his life back on track. He starts supporting Ally in her rising career, using his experience in the industry to guide her towards a successful and fulfilling career without losing herself in the fame game.
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Original Ending: Mia and Sebastian do not end up together, pursuing their respective dreams instead. They have a melancholy encounter at Sebastian’s jazz club years later.
Reimagined Ending: After pursuing their individual dreams, Mia and Sebastian realize what they have lost and decide to reunite. They find a way to balance their relationship with their careers, showing that it is indeed possible to “have it all”, with the right amount of love and compromise.
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Original Ending: Both Bruno and Shmuel die in the gas chamber, a horrifying and tragic culmination of a friendship formed in the most unlikely of places.
Reimagined Ending: Bruno helps Shmuel escape from the concentration camp, and they both flee to safety. They grow up as best friends in a tolerant and accepting community, becoming lifelong symbols of friendship transcending barriers of race, religion, and war.
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Original Ending: Jack dies of hypothermia in the freezing waters, and Rose survives, carrying his memory with her throughout her life.
Reimagined Ending: Jack finds a floating door big enough for both of them. They hold onto each other until rescue arrives. Miraculously rescued by the Carpathia, Jack and Rose start their life anew in America, free from the shackles of societal expectations. They marry and settle down in a humble but cozy home, where their love blossoms unfettered. Using their survival story as a beacon of hope and resilience, they become advocates for safety reforms in maritime voyages.
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Original Ending: The animated war film, which is considered one of the saddest movies ever made, tells the story of two siblings, Seita and Setsuko, trying to survive in Japan during World War II. Their tale is gut-wrenchingly tragic, as we witness them losing their home and their family, struggling immensely with poverty and starvation, which eventually leads to Setsuko’s death due to malnutrition. A broken Seita soon follows, dying alone in a train station.
Reimagined Ending: After the bombing which made them homeless, Seita and Setsuko are taken in by a compassionate village community. The villagers, though grappling with their own struggles, come together to support the stranded siblings, providing them with food, shelter, and affection.
Seita proves to be resourceful, helping the villagers with various tasks, while Setsuko’s innocent charm brings smiles and lightness in those heavy times. As they grow, their bond with the villagers blossoms into a beautiful extended family. With the community’s support, Seita and Setsuko go on to receive education, providing them with the tools to build a bright future.
As the war ends, the siblings dedicate themselves to rebuilding their country, turning the scars of war into symbols of hope and renewal. As adults, Seita becomes an advocate for peace and diplomacy, using his traumatic experiences to promote unity and understanding, while Setsuko becomes a teacher, nurturing young minds to build a world where the horrors of war are stories of the past, not the present. The movie ends with a serene scene of the rebuilt village, a testimony to human resilience and the power of community and unity.
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Original Ending: After becoming a quadriplegic, Maggie asks Frankie to help her die, which he does.
Reimagined Ending: In our revised ending, Maggie’s indomitable spirit pulls her through the devastating injury. With Frankie’s unwavering support, she transitions into a new chapter of her life. Instead of leaving the sport she loves, Maggie becomes a coach, sharing her knowledge, passion, and resilience with a new generation of aspiring boxers.
The movie portrays her journey towards healing, showcasing her spirit and resilience, which inspires everyone around her. Maggie uses her experience to advocate for fair play and safety in the sport, ensuring that what happened to her doesn’t happen to others. Her advocacy changes the landscape of the sport, making it safer and more inclusive.
Frankie and Maggie’s bond grows even stronger, as they become a legendary coaching duo, fostering talents and creating champions who are not only great at their sport but also embody the true spirit of resilience and sportsmanship. The film closes with Maggie, in her wheelchair, ringside, coaching a young and vibrant female boxer, proving that sometimes, life can throw punches, but it’s how we come back that defines us.
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Original Ending: In this emotionally charged narrative, John Coffey, a man with supernatural healing abilities but wrongly accused of child murder and rape, is executed in the electric chair. His tragic end leaves the viewers heartbroken, seeing the death of a gentle giant who possessed the rare ability to heal others.
Reimagined Ending: In our reimagined version, Paul Edgecomb, the head guard of the prison, realizes the extent of Coffey’s gifts and orchestrates a secret plan to prove his innocence. With the help of other guards, they uncover the real culprit behind the crimes. Coffey is exonerated, and with his newfound freedom, he starts a healing sanctuary, bringing hope and miracles to people from all walks of life, showcasing the beauty of humanity and redemption.
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Original Ending: The movie spirals down into a pit of despair as each character falls victim to addiction in various forms, leading them to face devastating consequences including incarceration, hospitalization, and personal ruin. The bleak ending leaves audiences in a state of shock and desolation.
Reimagined Ending: In our alternate universe, each character finds the strength to overcome their respective addictions before hitting rock bottom. Through sheer willpower and mutual support, they reclaim control over their lives, leading to a series of scenes depicting reconciliation, recovery, and hope. They form a support group in their community, assisting others in their battles against addiction, turning their lives around and helping others to find the light amidst the darkness.
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Original Ending: In the original ending, we witness the tragic death of Thomas J., a young boy who dies from an allergic reaction to bee stings, leaving his best friend Vada heartbroken and struggling to come to terms with death at such a tender age.
Reimagined Ending: As Thomas J. encounters the swarm of bees, a gust of wind miraculously sweeps through, scattering the bees and giving him a chance to escape. He manages to get away with only a few stings. Meanwhile, Vada, who has been worried sick, reaches the spot with help just in time to administer his medication, saving him from a severe allergic reaction.
Later on, we see a scene where the two friends, accompanied by Vada’s father and his new fiancée, plant new flowers in their favorite spot, signifying new beginnings and the blossoming of friendships and family bonds.
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Original Ending: In this heart-wrenching classic, the brave and loyal dog Old Yeller is infected with rabies while protecting his family from a rabid wolf. In the end, Travis, the young protagonist, has to make the gut-wrenching decision to shoot Old Yeller to prevent the spread of the disease and the potential threat to his family.
Reimagined Ending: After the battle with the rabid wolf, the family is desperate to find a way to save Old Yeller, who is initially showing signs of rabies. As a last attempt, Travis and his family consult a wandering veterinarian who has a serum that can cure rabies, a novel invention at that time.
After a tense few days, the serum shows signs of working, and Old Yeller begins to recover, much to the family’s relief. In this ending, the family and the community come together to celebrate the miraculous recovery of Old Yeller. The tale then spreads far and wide, and Old Yeller becomes a beacon of hope and a symbol of loyalty and resilience. The community bonds stronger, valuing the importance of looking out for each other, and Old Yeller gets to enjoy many more years as a beloved member of the family, embodying the spirit of love, protection, and loyalty.
This article was produced and syndicated by MediaFeed.
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Featured Image Credit: iStock/ tatyana_tomsickova.
