Recently, I had a conversation with my wife about the use of ChatGPT in historical karate research. We discussed both the opportunities and the challenges that this technology presents.
Our conclusion was that, at present, ChatGPT should be approached with caution when it comes to serious historical research. One key reason is its limited access to up-to-date academic sources and archives – especially publications released after 2019 are often not included in its database. Yet it is precisely these more recent findings that offer valuable insights.
In addition, ChatGPT’s automatic translations are not yet entirely reliable. They may contain inaccuracies or omissions, and Okinawan names are frequently transcribed incorrectly.
Therefore, it’s important not to rely solely on AI-generated information. Instead, such tools should be seen – if used at all – as supplementary aids that must be accompanied by careful source criticism and sound expert knowledge to avoid misunderstandings or unintended misinformation.
Karate Kenkyū Shitsu 