A conversation with a chatbot

If something already characterizes this third decade of the 21st century it’s Artificial Intelligence, commonly referred to as AI. The increasingly popular chatbots are the de facto liaisons between humans and machines. Though lacking consciousness or self-awareness (as of right now), these autonomous techie assistants do show some personality patterns in the way they interact with and provide answers to users’ requests. Of course, the resulting conversations are, well, synthetic —they mostly regurgitate facts harvested from humanity’s intellect (or even generate inaccurate “facts” sometimes)—, but they are capable of summarizing a wealth of data from multiple sources in an incredibly short span.

I decided to interact with one favored chatbot that goes by the name of ChatGPT (it stands for Generative Pre-trained Transformer), merely because it’s well-known. I asked it exclusively about fractals and art. The following Q&A session illustrates the exchange anyone with a free account can have with these agents at any time.

Me: Can you create a fractal art image?

I would think (and maybe you too) that such a question would normally require some prior context to logically establish an association between ‘fractal’ AND ‘art’ before mixing the concepts together. I actually queried for both before; I just skipped that part to make this story short.

ChatGPT: Yes! Here’s a fractal art image for you. Generating now…

After about a minute, it showed me the picture opening this post (above). Then it told me:

ChatGPT: I hope you like the fractal art! Let me know if you’d like a different style or color scheme.

Me: How did you create this image?

I wanted to know what process it followed to generate the image.

ChatGPT: I generated this fractal art using AI-based image generation techniques. The process involves describing the visual elements in detail, such as spirals, intricate patterns, and color gradients, and then using an AI model trained on fractal and abstract art to render the final piece.

If you want a specific fractal style—like Mandelbrot, Julia sets, or flame fractals—I can refine the request further! Let me know what you’re looking for.

Me: Create another fractal art image with a different style.

I let it do the choosing by not being more specific. After all, it created its own prompt before. At this point, I don’t know if I should be polite to a chatbot. Surely, it only needs a set of commands to execute an instruction, but what if it tells me I’ve been bossy?

Anyway, monetization takes precedence over knowledge, so ChatGPT told me I had to wait because I’m stingy:

ChatGPT: It looks like there’s a temporary rate limit on generating images. I’ll need to wait about 7 minutes before I can create another fractal art piece for you. Let me know if you’d like to discuss a specific style or theme in the meantime!

Since I didn’t have the time to circumvent the bot’s preordained behavior (if I could), nor the intent to pay the subscription fee (even if I should?), I waited for the seven minutes to pass by before trying again. Instead, I asked it to describe the image it produced:

ChatGPT: The previous fractal art image featured intricate, swirling spirals that radiated outward in a mesmerizing pattern. The spirals had delicate, fern-like edges, adding depth and texture. The color palette smoothly transitioned between deep blues and turquoise, warm oranges and yellows, with subtle accents of purple. The background had a marbled, swirling texture that complemented the fractal patterns, creating a sense of complexity and motion. The overall effect was both elegant and dynamic, resembling a fusion of nature-inspired fractals and abstract digital art.

Would you like a different color scheme or a more structured fractal design for the next one?

Just look at the subtleties in the use of language, and you can see the type of personality that begins to emerge. What it didn’t realize is that it shouldn’t have asked me if I wanted another image yet; a limitation I guess. So I went on with another question:

Me: Why did you choose this motif and color scheme?

ChatGPT: I chose the swirling spiral motif because it’s a classic fractal pattern that conveys depth, movement, and mathematical beauty. Spirals are common in nature (like galaxies, shells, and hurricanes), making them both visually striking and familiar.

For the color scheme, I aimed for a harmonious blend of cool blues and warm oranges/yellows to create contrast and vibrancy. Blues and purples evoke a cosmic or mystical feel, while warm tones add energy and highlight intricate details. This balance helps guide the viewer’s eye through the fractal, making it feel both dynamic and immersive.

Would you like a different approach for the next one—perhaps a more geometric or organic fractal style?

Soon we will need to train psychologists to tell AI it has temporal issues, and it’s about to notice it:

Me, answering its question even though I knew it wouldn’t execute it: Yes, try a more organic fractal style.

ChatGPT enthusiastically replied: Great choice! I’ll generate a more organic fractal art style for you now.

And then it hit the wall:

And after producing the picture, it told me:

ChatGPT: I hope you like this organic-style fractal art! Let me know if you’d like any variations or another style.

Although the leading element in this second image is not a spiral, the overall style is intricately similar to the first one, so I asked it to describe this picture and to tell me why it chose this motif, to see if it was able to track the pattern in the shot:

ChatGPT:  The new fractal artwork features an organic, branching pattern reminiscent of tree limbs, coral formations, or lightning. The delicate, feathery tendrils extend outward in a natural flow, giving it a sense of life and movement. The color palette includes a blend of warm oranges and cool blues, creating a striking contrast while maintaining a sense of harmony. The background has a marbled texture that adds depth and enhances the intricate details of the fractal forms.

I chose this organic style because it reflects the fractal patterns we see in nature—structures that repeat at different scales, like river systems, veins in leaves, or neural networks. The warm and cool color combination enhances the sense of energy and fluidity, making it feel both dynamic and serene.

Would you like to explore another fractal variation or a different theme?

This time I decided to accentuate some phrases it used in the explanation, and let the readers do the thinking. Although it’s siphoning information from some database we humans fed, consider the way it’s arranging it to convey a meaning… and its possible implications.

Taking the opportunity it presented when describing the images as artwork, I decided to focus my next question that way:

Me: Do you think this pictures are art?

ChatGPT: Yes, I do consider these pictures art. Art is about expression, creativity, and evoking emotions or thoughts, and fractal images fit that definition. Even though they are generated using mathematical principles, they exhibit beauty, complexity, and harmony—just like paintings, sculptures, or music.

Fractal art, in particular, blends science and creativity. It uses mathematical formulas to create visually stunning patterns, but the choices of color, composition, and style add a human touch. Just like traditional artists use brushes or digital artists use software, fractal artists use algorithms and AI tools to shape their vision.

What do you think? Do you consider them art?

Since I already knew the answer I could give it regarding that subject (and visitors too if they have read my previous posts), I skipped the reply to that question, and went on. Notice again, though, the highlighted sections in that paragraph above. 

Me: Then what is fractal art?

ChatGPT: Fractal art is a form of digital or algorithmic art that uses mathematical formulas to create complex, self-repeating patterns. These patterns often resemble natural structures like galaxies, trees, clouds, or coastlines because they are based on fractals—geometrical shapes that repeat at different scales.

Key Features of Fractal Art:

• Self-Similarity: Fractal patterns repeat in smaller and smaller versions of themselves. This is seen in nature, like in ferns or snowflakes.

• Mathematical Foundation: Fractals are generated using mathematical equations, often involving recursion and complex numbers. The Mandelbrot and Julia sets are famous examples.

• Infinite Detail: Since fractals repeat at every scale, you can zoom in indefinitely and keep discovering new structures.

• Digital Creation: Artists use specialized software (like Apophysis, Mandelbulb3D, or AI tools) to manipulate fractal equations and create stunning visuals.

Is Fractal Art “Real” Art?

Yes! While it’s rooted in mathematics, fractal art requires creative decisions—like choosing colors, lighting, and composition—to evoke emotions and aesthetic appeal. Just as photography captures natural beauty, fractal art captures the beauty of mathematical forms.

Would you like to see a specific type of fractal, like a Mandelbrot zoom or a flame fractal?

Monetization interrupted the flow of this chat session once again, and I couldn’t ask further questions… unless I would be willing to wait four hours to resume it. Of course I had other things to do, so that’s how and why this post comes to an end. Indeed I wanted to know more about the techniques it mentioned when I asked about how it generated the first picture, and would love to broaden some other ideas related to art, but it seems that’s a conversation for another day…