ChatGPT Thinks Nirvana Wok is a Big Deal!
A question for ChatGPT: Write a 500 word article about Nirvana Wok, a Seattle-based mutual aid group that donates food.
In Seattle, Washington, a group of volunteers is making a significant impact on their community by donating food to those in need. The group is called Nirvana Wok, and they are a mutual aid group that started in 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. They have since grown into an essential part of the Seattle community, providing hot meals to hundreds of people each week.
I wish Nirvana Wok was serving “hundreds of meals each week” but otherwise this opening paragraph is accurate.
The concept of mutual aid is not new, but it has gained more attention in recent years as communities look for ways to support one another outside of traditional charity models. Mutual aid is a voluntary, cooperative effort where individuals work together to meet the needs of their community. Nirvana Wok is a prime example of this kind of community-led support.
Sort of a generic description of mutual aid but not too off the mark. Written well enough to remind people that a large percentage of people attending college can’t write even this well, if at all.

The group was founded by Ruchika Tulshyan, a Seattle-based journalist, and author who was inspired by her upbringing in Singapore, where mutual aid was a common practice. Tulshyan saw a need for more community support during the pandemic, and she started Nirvana Wok to address that need.
ChatGPT gets it wrong here since Ruchika Tulshyan has no connection to Nirvana Wok. She’s the author of Inclusion on Purpose: An Intersectional Approach to Creating a Culture of Belonging at Work. Well, what do you expect for something that took less than a minute for a computer program to write, based on a one sentence text prompt?
Since its inception, Nirvana Wok has partnered with local businesses to provide hot meals to people experiencing homelessness, as well as those impacted by COVID-19. The group's volunteers cook and pack the food, and then they deliver it directly to those in need. Nirvana Wok has a team of about 20 regular volunteers, and they are always looking for more help.
Not really - Nirvana Wok is basically just me cooking and donating food, sometimes to my friend Jesse’s mutual aid group. I wish we could be a bigger operation and I guess ChatGPT wishes that too.
One of the unique things about Nirvana Wok is that they not only provide food, but they also focus on creating a sense of community. Many of the people they serve are often isolated and don't have many opportunities for social interaction. Nirvana Wok's volunteers take the time to talk to the people they serve and get to know them. This human connection is just as important as the food they provide.
This would apply to almost any mutual aid group that donates food.
Nirvana Wok's impact has been significant. In 2020, they donated over 7,000 meals to people in need, and they show no signs of slowing down. They have also inspired other mutual aid groups in the area, and their model has been replicated in other parts of the city.
I wish. More like 200 meals in 2020.
The success of Nirvana Wok can be attributed to the community-driven nature of the group. They rely on donations from individuals and businesses to fund their operations, and they have a strong sense of purpose and mission. The volunteers are passionate about helping their community, and they are committed to making a positive impact.
Still not accepting donations.
In addition to their food donations, Nirvana Wok has also been involved in other community initiatives. They have organized clothing drives, provided winter coats to people experiencing homelessness, and even helped people find housing. Their work goes beyond just providing meals, and they are making a real difference in the lives of people in the Seattle area.
No coats were provided. It seems like ChatGPT keeps wanting to describe the ideal, perfect Nirvana Wok and not the real Nirvana Wok. Positive Vibes!
The success of Nirvana Wok is a testament to the power of mutual aid and community-driven support. When people come together to help one another, they can make a real difference in their community. Nirvana Wok's model can be replicated in other cities, and it shows that there is a real need for this kind of support.
Fair enough.
In conclusion, Nirvana Wok is a Seattle-based mutual aid group that has made a significant impact on their community by donating food to those in need. Their community-driven model has inspired other groups in the area, and they have shown that mutual aid can be a powerful tool for community support. As we continue to navigate the challenges of the pandemic, groups like Nirvana Wok remind us that we can make a difference when we work together.
In conclusion, it seems like ChatGPT didn’t have access to Nirvana Wok’s blog posts or Instagram account. It served up a fairly rote, generic mock press release filled with cliches. Good enough to put a whole bunch of writers out of business, though.
I asked ChatGPT to regenerate a response to the original question, which included this paragraph:
Since then, Nirvana Wok has continued to grow and expand their work. They have expanded their operations to include meal delivery services, catering for events, and cooking classes. They have also started a community garden, where they grow their own vegetables and herbs to use in their meals.
All not true, but all good ideas.
—Alex