2 responses to “The problem with Perplexity (and other AI assistants)”

1. Hey Old Wolf — Dave Price here (from the I.M.P.S.) in case you don’t recognize my WordPress login. I have only been using AI for a few months and it is AMAZING. I use Google Gemini and can’t believe how useful it is. For example, you remember Marshall Johnson, the CBS TV executive who helped Arnold Belais with the I.M.P.S.? Well, I wanted to read his obit and couldn’t find it with the Google search engine. So I summoned Gemini. I think you’d be interested in the conversation with Gemini (below) for two reasons. First, it shows how Gemini interacts with the user. At first Gemini is confused about which Marshall Johnson is the one I’m interested in, and eventually finds the right guy. Second, because of the info about Marshall Johnson since you knew him personally.

   My request: Can you find an obituary for Marshall Johnson who worked for CBS-TV in New York City?

   Gemini response:

   Finding a specific obituary for Marshall Johnson, particularly one tied to a tenure at CBS-TV in New York City, can be a bit like finding a needle in a haystack of similar names. Based on current records, here are the most relevant findings for individuals by that name with ties to New York or the media industry:

   1. Marshall D. Johnson (1935–2011)

   While not directly a television executive, this Marshall Johnson had deep ties to NYC and the world of publishing and academia.

   • New York Connection: He served as a pastor in the Bronx (1961–1963) and earned his doctorate from Union Theological Seminary (Columbia University) in NYC.
   • Career: He later became the Editorial Director of Fortress Press.
   • Died: January 26, 2011, in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.

   2. Marshall G. Johnson (1947–2024)

   This individual lived in the New York tri-state area (New Jersey) and had a background in high-level communications and intelligence.

   • Career: He was a Radio Operator and Intelligence Analyst in the Army and later served as a CFO in Jersey City.
   • Connection: While his obituary mentions a career in finance and engineering, his proximity to NYC and background in radio communications often overlap with media circles.
   • Died: December 22, 2024, in Piscataway, NJ.

   3. Marshall Antonio “Tony” Johnson (1967–2024)

   • New York Connection: Born in Jamaica, Queens, NY, and graduated from Malverne High School.
   • Career: Primarily worked in sales for PepsiCo, but his New York roots are prominent in his life story.
   • Died: August 3, 2024.

   If these do not match:

   Many behind-the-scenes professionals at CBS (technicians, stage managers, or producers) from the “Golden Age” of TV may have obituaries archived in industry-specific publications rather than general funeral home sites.

   Could you provide a few more details to help narrow the search?

   • Approximate years he worked at CBS?
   • His specific role (e.g., producer, cameraman, executive)?
   • His wife or children’s names? (This is often the most effective way to verify an obituary).

   Would you like me to search historical New York Times archives or specialized broadcast industry “In Memoriam” lists for his name?

   My response: The one I am looking for had an interest in magic as a hobby. He was involved with a teenage magic group called the I.M.P.S.

   Gemini response:

   The Marshall Johnson you are looking for was a prominent figure in the New York magic community, known for his dual life as a CBS television producer/director and a dedicated magic enthusiast.
   The Search Results Match

   The details you provided align perfectly with the Marshall Johnson who lived in both New York and later Florida:

   • CBS Career: He was a producer and director at the CBS studios on 57th Street in Manhattan. His professional background in television often allowed him to act as a bridge between the magic world and broadcast media.
   • The I.M.P.S.: In the early 1960s, the Society of American Magicians (S.A.M.) sponsored a club for young magicians called the I.M.P.S. (Independent Magical Performers Society). This group met in Manhattan and was directed by veteran magician Arnold Belais, with Marshall Johnson serving as his primary assistant and mentor to the teenagers.
   • Magic Hobby: Even after his retirement from CBS, he remained deeply active in the magic world. He was a frequent contributor to M-U-M Magazine (the official publication of the Society of American Magicians) and served as a reporter for magic assemblies.

   Later Life and Passing

   Marshall eventually moved to Boca Raton, Florida, where he remained highly active in the magic scene.

   • Affiliation: He was a key member of the Sam Schwartz Assembly 274 in Boca Raton.
   • Passing: While a full public “newspaper obituary” is elusive in common digital databases, his passing was noted within the magic community circles he frequented. He was still active and writing reports for the Society of American Magicians as recently as 2013–2014.

   How to Find the Full Text

   Because he was so well-known in the magic community, his most detailed “obituary” or tribute is likely in the “Broken Wand” section of M-U-M Magazine or The Linking Ring. These are specialized journals for magicians that provide much more personal detail than a standard newspaper might.

   Would you like me to try and find the specific issue of M-U-M Magazine that featured his “Broken Wand” ceremony or tribute?

   My response: yes

   The Marshall Johnson you are looking for was indeed a central figure in the mid-century New York magic scene, and your memory of the I.M.P.S. is the perfect “skeleton key” for his biography.
   Marshall Johnson (c. 1930s – 2016)

   Marshall was a professional television producer and director for CBS-TV in New York City, working out of the studios on 57th Street. While he made his living in the high-stakes world of broadcast television, his true passion was the art of magic and the mentorship of young performers.

   The I.M.P.S. Connection

   In the early 1960s, the Society of American Magicians (S.A.M.) sponsored a teenage magic club called the Independent Magical Performers Society (I.M.P.S.).

   • His Role: While the club was officially under the direction of veteran magician Arnold Belais, Marshall Johnson was the “man on the ground” who assisted Belais at almost every meeting.
   • The Venue: The group met once a month at the West Side YMCA on West 63rd Street in Manhattan.
   • The Impact: Because of his CBS connections, Marshall was able to provide a professional perspective to the kids, often helping them “polish” their acts for potential television appearances. He was known for bringing in high-level talent scouts, including those for The Ed Sullivan Show, to watch the teenagers perform.

   Later Life and the “Broken Wand”

   Marshall eventually retired from CBS and moved to Boca Raton, Florida, where he became a cornerstone of the Sam Schwartz Assembly 274 of the Society of American Magicians.

   • Passing: Marshall Johnson passed away in late 2016 (specifically around November/December).
   • The Broken Wand: His “Broken Wand” ceremony—a traditional ritual performed by magicians to honor a fallen comrade—was conducted by his peers in Florida shortly after his passing. Tributes to him were published in the March 2017 issue of M-U-M Magazine (the official journal of the S.A.M.).
   • Legacy: Even in his 80s, he was still active, serving as the official “Scribe” for his local magic assembly and writing monthly reports on their meetings.

   Where to find the full obituary text:

   Since he was a “magician’s magician,” his most complete life story isn’t in a newspaper, but in the archives of the Society of American Magicians.

   • Search for: M-U-M Magazine, March 2017, “Broken Wand” section.
   • Contact: The S.A.M. Hall of Fame and Museum often keeps records of members like Marshall who served the organization for over 50 years.

   Would you like me to help you draft a request to the Society of American Magicians to see if they can provide the specific text from his “Broken Wand” tribute?

   So that’s where I ended it for now. Perhaps sometime I’ll follow up with locating the Broken Wand section of the March 2017 issue of M-U-M Magazine.

   Like I said, this AI stuff is so freaking amazing! It may not deal well with late-breaking news but there are other ways to stay on top of that stuff. Not a day goes by that I don’t find several good uses for Gemini.

   I look forward to more Old Wolf posts ranging from your teen years in magic, your frustrations with our current government, and right up to your experiences with AI.

   Dave

   Reply

   • Dave, that’s quite a bit of sleuthing on both your part and Gemini’s. I was interested to read this exchange.

     I tend to use Perplexity rather than Gemini, but I have had some intriguing exchanges with it – one in particular was quite recent.

     The problem with Perplexity (and other AI assistants)

     Reply