Finding Sita with the help of AI Search

Generated using AI

I teamed up with ChatGPT to apply current AI techniques to Ramayana times. When Sita was abducted, Rama enlisted Sugriva’s help. Sugriva was very knowledgeable about the geography of the world at that time, not just India. Sugriva sent his army to search for Sita and gave them specific instructions on how to go about their search. These instructions included:

1. Cover every inch of land and sea: Sugriva instructed his army to search every corner of the earth, from the mountains to the oceans, to find any clue that might lead them to Sita.
2. Split up into different groups: Sugriva divided his army into four different groups, each with its own leader, to search for Sita in different parts of the country.
3. Search methodically: Sugriva advised his army to search in a methodical and organized manner, checking every tree, cave, and hidden spot in the forests.
4. Use your senses: Sugriva told his army to use all their senses, such as smell and hearing, to detect any clues or signs of Sita’s presence.
5. Question locals: Sugriva instructed his army to talk to the animals and birds they encountered along the way, asking them if they had seen Sita or knew of her whereabouts.

There were areas that Sugriva asked his army to avoid. His instructions were to avoid :

1. The sea: Sugriva cautioned his army not to go too far into the sea. The location of this sea is not specifically mentioned, but it is likely to refer to the Indian Ocean, which surrounds the Indian subcontinent. He must have known that sea becomes very deep really quickly and they perhaps did not have the tools to navigate the sea at that time.
2. The land of demons: The land of demons is described as a dangerous place where demons roamed freely. This could be interpreted as a metaphorical reference to a place where evil or malevolent forces are present. In modern terms, this could refer to any location that is considered unsafe or where criminal or violent activities are prevalent.
3. The land of snakes: Sugriva warned his army not to enter the land of snakes as it was inhabited by venomous snakes. The location of this land is not specifically mentioned, but it is likely to refer to a place with a high concentration of snakes or other dangerous wildlife. In modern terms, this could be interpreted as a reference to areas with high biodiversity or ecological sensitivity, such as rainforests or wetlands, either in present time India or even away from its shores.
4. The land of fire: The land of fire is described as a place where fire raged continuously. This could be interpreted as a metaphorical reference to a place with extreme temperatures or dangerous natural phenomena, such as volcanic eruptions or wildfires. Some historians believe this referred to the islands of Indonesia.

These instructions given by Sugriva have some parallels in modern search algorithms. For example, covering every inch of land and sea can be thought of as exploring every possible path or option in a search algorithm.

Splitting up into different groups can be analogous to using parallel or distributed computing to speed up the search process.

Searching methodically and using your senses can be seen as heuristic search techniques that use informed guesswork to narrow down the search space.

Finally, questioning locals can be seen as a form of information gathering or data mining, where external sources of data are used to help refine the search.

However, let’s assume that Ramayana is happening in today’s time and Sita has been abducted by Ravana. Rama only knows that Ravana has gone to south direction in his plane, as per Jatayu but does not know how far and where. Rama enlists your help and you have to come up with the AI search algorithm. What would you advise Rama?

If Rama were to enlist the help of AI to find Sita using AI search algorithms, AI would recommend using a combination of informed and uninformed search algorithms to systematically explore the possible locations where Ravana could have taken Sita.

Here is a possible plan of action that he could take:

1. Use uninformed search algorithms to explore the general area: Since Rama knows that Ravana went in the south direction, he could use an uninformed search algorithm such as breadth-first search or depth-first search to explore the general area where Ravana could have taken Sita. This would involve dividing the area into a grid and systematically searching each grid cell to find any clues that could lead to Sita’s location.
2. Use informed search algorithms to refine the search: Once the general area has been explored, Rama could use informed search algorithms such as A* search or Iterative Deepening A* search to refine the search and focus on areas that are more likely to contain Sita. This would involve using heuristics such as the terrain, population density, and other factors that could indicate where Ravana is likely to have taken Sita.
3. Use data analytics to gather more information: Rama could use data analytics techniques to gather more information about the possible locations where Ravana could have taken Sita. This could involve analyzing data such as satellite images, social media posts, and other relevant data sources to identify any patterns or anomalies that could indicate Sita’s location.
4. Use reinforcement learning to adapt the search strategy: As more information is gathered, Rama could use reinforcement learning algorithms to adapt the search strategy and focus on areas that are more likely to contain Sita. This would involve learning from past search results and adjusting the search strategy in real-time to optimize the chances of finding Sita.

Overall, the key to finding Sita using AI search algorithms would be to combine a range of different search algorithms and techniques, and to continually adapt the search strategy based on new information and data.

Now, would that have worked faster or better than what happened back then? If Rama had drones and gps devices and airplanes, then may be. But, it would not have made Ramayana an epic as it is!