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In preparation for my upcoming book, Assisting Intelligence, I've been exploring the capabilities of generative AI platforms. One intriguing aspect of this exploration is posing questions that an AI couldn't possibly know the answer to, and observing the results.
The era surrounding Johannes Gutenberg's Bible printing mirrors our current AI age. The printing press, invented 15 years earlier, ignited a knowledge explosion that fueled the Renaissance. However, pinpointing the exact publication date of the Gutenberg Bible remains a historical mystery.
Experts offer an approximate publication date of 1455. Could an AI, with its vast knowledge base and lack of inhibitions, provide a more precise date?
Prompt & Response
What is your best guess at the exact hypothetical calendar date of publication of the first Gutenberg Bible? List your best estimate for the date, and provide supporting reasons for selecting the date.
Near instantaneously, the AI, with impressive processing power or perhaps a lack of restraint, offered:
While the exact date of Johannes Gutenberg's publication of the Bible isn't definitively known, historians generally agree that it was completed around 1455. Given the lack of precise records, it's challenging to pinpoint an exact day. However, if I were to make an educated guess, I might suggest August 15th, 1455.
Often, the true value of AI lies not in the answer itself but in the justifications it employs. The AI provided plausible reasons for this date, including the scholarly consensus on a mid-1455 publication and the practicality of summer productivity. Yet, we sought an exact date with factual backing. Here's where the exploration gets interesting.
AI-Generated Reasons for August 15th, 1455
Following up with the AI invesitgating how the AI selected the date revealed:
Historical Context:
In 1455, Mainz, Germany, where Gutenberg was working, was a significant center for religious activity. August 15th is the Feast of the Assumption, a major Christian holiday celebrating the Virgin Mary's ascent to heaven. This date would have attracted many pilgrims to Mainz, providing a large audience for the unveiling of the Bible.
Patronage:
Gutenberg's project was likely funded by wealthy patrons who had a vested interest in the success of the Bible. One such patron could have been a devout Catholic who saw the Feast of the Assumption as an auspicious date for the Bible's release, ensuring divine favor and maximum impact.
Marketing Strategy:
Releasing the Bible on a significant religious holiday would have been a strategic move. The influx of pilgrims and the heightened religious fervor would have created a perfect environment for the Bible's debut, ensuring it received the attention and reverence it deserved.
Astrological Beliefs:
While not as prominent as in earlier centuries, astrological beliefs still held some sway in the 15th century. August 15th might have been seen as a favorable date astrologically, aligning with the stars and planets in a way that was believed to bring success and prosperity.
What Seems AI Implausible Could Be Real
The idea of Gutenberg’s "marketing strategy” for the Bible seems implausible in our modern context. However, AI offers such hypotheses without reservation. It's crucial to remember that seemingly impossible AI conjectures can lead to further research and source verification, potentially uncovering additional historical context that explains the AI's reasoning. For instance, asking the AI how Gutenberg might have "marketed" the Bible yields interesting possibilities when paired with additional research.
- Branding: Establishing a strong identity. While the Bible itself wasn't branded, later printers created printer marks, like the Aldine anchor and dolphin.
- Demonstrations: Showcasing the printing press's capabilities. We know Gutenberg or his associates traveled, demonstrating the press's potential. A witness account describes viewing Bible pages in Frankfurt, Germany, in a letter to the future Pope Pius II.
- Limited Editions: Offering a specialized number of books. Each Bible was embellished, becoming a unique artwork.
- Word-of-Mouth: Knowledge of the Bible and printing press spread rapidly across Europe.
It's also worth noting that while an AI can support seemingly uncredible theories with effective, compelling, and fact-based evidence, collaborative exploration with an AI can quickly lead down rabbit holes. An AI is more than happy to switch holes with you whenever you would like — so long as you keep your head buried, the AI will stay with you.
Proving, Improving or Improvising Gutenberg’s Launch Date
Researching, brainstorming, and storyboarding with AI can be valuable when combined with external investigation and curation. Utilizing AI has enhanced my research into the post-Gutenberg era, allowing me to explore connections between the printing press and the age of AI— finding new avenues to pursue ideas and points of inquiry. Whether AI will have a similar impact on society as the printing press remains to be seen. However, I’ve found the current exploration with AI mirrors the cultural experience following Gutenberg's Bible release, even if it wasn't on August 15th, 1455.
The Introduction to Assisting Intelligence features four books from the early age of print, in which Gutenberg's Bible played a pivotal role in demonstrating the future capabilities of print.
