In the last few weeks I have been experimenting with ChatGPT to explore its capabilities in terms of using tools, searching a knowledge base and the internet. In this way, it could help pilgrims with any doubts they may have about the Camino de Santiago as a first point of contact for information.
What is custom ChatGPT?
This is known as OpenAI Custom GPT. It is based on ChatGPT whose behavior is adapted to follow a series of specific indicators of a theme, it is given tools such as access to external APIs, web browsing, code generation or image generation.
In this case, information has been included to help pilgrims in the search for information in a complementary way to the interaction with other pilgrims, the search in forums or in official pages. It has also included access to the API of daily, monthly and annual arrivals that I have been collecting based on data from the Pilgrim’s Office of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. These are the same data that you can consult on the daily pilgrim arrivals and statistics page.
Access
Here is the link to the Assistant.
In order to access you need a ChatGPT account which you can get here. If you already have an account, perfect, if not, think about it because it’s $20 a month and you have to be sure that you will be able to use the rest of the capabilities.
What can it do?
Statistical information
If we ask it, it answers this:
I can provide various types of up-to-date and detailed statistics on pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago, based on data collected since 2003. Here are some examples of the information I can offer:
- Total number of pilgrims per day, month or year: I can tell you how many pilgrims arrived in Santiago de Compostela on a specific date or during a specific period.
- Pilgrims by country of origin: This statistic shows the number of pilgrims coming from different countries on a specific day, month or year.
- Pilgrims by specific camino: I can inform you about the number of pilgrims who have traveled each of the different routes of the Camino de Santiago on a specific date.
- Aggregate data by month and year: This includes details on the total number of pilgrims, broken down by route and country of origin for a specific month and year.
These statistics can be especially useful for understanding pilgrimage trends and patterns, helping you to better plan your trip or to understand the popularity of different routes and times to do the Camino de Santiago.
Planning
Here is a summary of how it can help you plan and enjoy your trip along the Camino de Santiago:
- Route Planning: It can provide you with detailed information about the different routes of the Camino de Santiago, such as the French Way, the Northern Way, the Portuguese Way, among others. It will help you choose the route that best suits your needs and preferences.
- Stage Descriptions: Provides descriptions of the stages of each route, including the distance between points, available hostels, and points of historical and cultural interest. This will help you prepare adequately for each day of your pilgrimage.
- Distance Calculation: You can accurately calculate the distances between the different points of the Camino de Santiago. This information is essential to plan your days and make sure you can manage the daily distances according to your physical condition.
- Internet Information Search: Has the ability to search the Internet for updated information to answer specific questions or provide recent data you may need during your trip.
- Cultural and Historical Information: In addition to the practical guides, I can enrich your trip with information about the history and culture of the places the Camino crosses. This includes details about monuments, traditions and curiosities that might interest you.
- Updates and Tips: As the status of services and facilities may change, I am here to provide you with the most up-to-date information possible, ensuring that your experience is as smooth and enriching as possible.
At all times, the goal is to provide you with an inspiring and enriching experience, making sure you have all the information and support you need to make the Camino de Santiago a memorable and transformative experience.
Multi-lingual
Of course, taking advantage of ChatGPT’s core capabilities, interaction can be done in any language, even with external APIs. Take a look at the video to see how it interacts in Japanese.
Limitations
Although in general it is a very capable assistant since it uses GPT4-Turbo, keep in mind that it is a Generative AI system so there is always a small risk of it “hallucinating” or making things up. You always have to check the results well.
Conclusion
It is only intended to be a complementary tool to those we already have with forums, guides and specialized portals, but in my experience it can be interesting especially for the conversational aspect.
What do you think? Do you think it would help you in your planning or just to learn more about the Camino de Santiago?
Leave me your comments so I can improve it with your suggestions.