We asked ChatGPT about the worst things in Southampton – this is what we found
ChatGPT is an AI chatbot that is widely used nowadays. We decided to ask the AI to list the worst things about Southampton to see if it has any truth in its answers.
Worst things about Southampton, UK
- Poor public transport – Southampton has limited public transport options, with limited bus and train services.
- Lack of job opportunities – With a population of just over 250,000, Southampton has relatively few job opportunities compared to other cities in the UK.
- High crime rate – With a high crime rate, Southampton is not the safest place to live.
- High cost of living – Despite the low wages, the cost of living in Southampton is quite high.
- Lack of nightlife – Southampton's nightlife is not as vibrant as in other cities in the UK.
According to ChatGPT, the city has limited options, especially when it comes to bus and train services. This deduction did ring true last year when bus operator City Red announced its departure from Southampton. The shocking news left the city’s bus industry shrouded in uncertainty, until fellow operator Bluestar stepped in to replace all services. Despite this, Department for Transport figures revealed the number of bus journeys undertaken in Southampton has fallen by a fifth over the last decade.
It is important to note that with most AI produced content, there’s no way of knowing how or why this information was obtained. This applies to this category – how can job opportunities be measured by AI? The legacy of the City of Culture bid is said to bring more opportunities and jobs to the city. Although Southampton lost out on the title to Bradford last year, city bosses are ‘focused’ on growing the economy. Speaking on the Southampton Culture Trust recruiting a £200k-a-year team, leader of the council, Cllr Satvir Kaur said: “Locally we’re focused on growing our local economy, which includes creating a destination place so more people want to visit and spend their money here as well as ensuring there are more jobs and opportunities for local people."
This example is a bit more difficult to dispute. A recent investigation by the Echo revealed that in January alone, a total of 1,226 crimes of a violent or sexual nature in the city were reported to Hampshire Constabulary. These include stalking offences, assaults, rape, and more. And in the year up to September 2022, the force logged a record high number of sexual offences in Southampton. Office for National Statistics figures show Hampshire Constabulary recorded 1,395 sexual offences in Southampton in the year to September – up from 1,090 during the previous 12 months and the highest since equivalent records began in the year to September 2007.
Several people are feeling the pinch amid the current cost-of-living crisis. A campaign was held in Bitterne Precinct over the weekend calling for free school meals for all to support struggling parents. Mum-of-six Dawn Strutt attended the demonstration. She said: “The poorest in our city suffer the most while the rich are twiddling their thumbs. This situation is not fair.” But residents faced difficult circumstances prior to the cost-of-living crisis. Office for Health, Improvement and Disparities figures show 23 per cent of Southampton residents (57,692 people) suffered from food insecurity in 2021.
Although Southampton's nightlife is not as vibrant as in other cities in the UK, there are still plenty of bars and clubs in the city. Head to the dancefloor at Switch or Trilogy or enjoy food and drink at Orange Rooms. Popworld and Café Parfait are also popular choices, as is Heartbreakers.
Overall, Southampton has its drawbacks like any city, but with a thriving economy and a range of things to do, the city is still a great place to live.
