Exploring AI in Bricklyn's Chief Prognosticator Reports

Dec. 20, 2025

by Mark Tiler Richmond, Politics & Law Correspondent and Paul B. Macro, Business & Economics Reporter

In light of the Federal Council’s decision to request the advice of Bricklyn’s Chief Prognosticator on the wisdom of adopting a two-year moratorium on the approval of new data centers, The Bricklyn Eagle wanted to know the extent to which the Office of the Chief Prognosticator is currently using artificial intelligence programs, like ChatGPT.

Deputy Prognosticator Henry Wasserbrick told us that he could not respond to our question because “the Office of the Chief Prognosticator’s data collection and analysis methodologies have always been, and remain, confidential.”

Three Lego figures in a library setting, one wearing a wizard hat and reading a newspaper, with two others observing. Computer screens display data charts in the background. — Staff of the Office of the Chief Prognosticator. From left to right: Deputy Prognosticator Henry Wasserbrick; Chief Prognosticator David Bricks; and Assistant Prognosticator Andrew Tiler Sørensen. Credit: Bricklyn Eagle staff photographer Ann Tiler Anderson, with assistance from DALLE-3 AI.

As Wasserbrick noted: “The integrity of the Chief Prognosticator’s role is vital. Ever since the position of Chief Prognosticator was established it has relied on a data-driven, but intuitive and iterative processes known only to the Chief Prognosticator, the Deputy, and the Assistant to the Chief.”

“But it should be kept in mind,” Wasserbrick added, “that any report we provide to the Council will be just one of a number of pieces of information the Federal Council will have before them. I cannot stress enough that they are the decision makers, not the Chief Prognosticator.”

Was AI Used in the Chief Prognosticator’s Report on the Value of Mediation in Bricklyn?

Cover page of a report titled 'An Evaluation of the Value of Mediation to Resolve Disputes in Bricklyn', prepared by the Office of the Chief Prognosticator. The design features a blue background with computer graphics and the date 'August 11, 2025'.

The Bricklyn Eagle asked Miles Smartbrick, Associate Professor of Data Sciences at Bricklyn University, to examine the most recent report prepared by the Office of the Chief Prognosticator, titled An Evaluation of the Value of Mediation to Resolve Disputes in Bricklyn, to determine whether any of that report was generated using artificial intelligence.

As Professor Smartbrick told us, “I read the report and then analyzed its text using three well-reputed AI text detection programs. The programs respectively found that between two and four percent of the report may have been generated by AI. Those low percentages make it very likely, but not conclusive, that AI was NOT used in preparing the report on the value of mediation.”

A LEGO scene depicting two characters sitting at a desk in an office filled with books, discussing something with a microphone and documents in front of them. — Professor Miles Smartbrick (on left) and Bricklyn Eagle reporter Mark Tiler Richmond (on right) in Smartbrick’s Bricklyn University office. Credit: Eagle staff photographer Ann Tiler Anderson, with assistance of DallE-3 AI.

Smartbrick added two cautionary notes:

“Unfortunately, there appears to be a sort of ‘arms race’ in terms of detecting AI. I say that because there is now anti-detection software which ‘reprocesses’ AI-generated text to avoid detection of its origins as Ai. One writer has called this ‘AI fighting against Ai.’

“What’s more,” continued Smartbrick, “even if it is highly probable that the report was not AI-generated, this tells us next to nothing about whether the Office of the Chief Prognosticator used AI as a research tool or for general brainstorming on how they might focus their research into the value of mediation.”

“Finally, I need to add,” said Smartbrick, “I have no idea how the Office of the Chief Prognosticator melds data analysis with its own supposedly ‘intuitive’ insights. That’s why a number of us consider the Realm’s use of a prognosticator a form of ‘magical thinking’ that makes little scientific sense.”

Deputy Prognosticator Wasserbrick responded to Professor Smartbrick’s comments by indicating that he could not reveal the Chief Prognosticator’s methodology in preparing the report on the value of mediation, or any other report. Wasserbrick acknowledged that the Chief Prognosticator’s approach might seem to be “opaque,” but noted that this very opaqueness serves to shield the Office of the Chief Prognosticator from political influences and other outside pressure. As Wasserbrick explained:

“The Chief Prognosticator has a proven track record of providing useful advice to the Federal Council. Having said that, I must again stress that final decisions remain in the hands of the Council; we do not push for the adoption of any actions we might recommend, though, of course, we will explain to members of the Federal Council anything that is not clear from our written comments or reports.” ✥

Previously posted in The Bricklyn Eagle:

➤ 12.16.25: Data Center Moratorium Resolution Introduced. Hearing Scheduled
➤ 12.01.25: Does a Moratorium on Data Centers Make Sense for Bricklyn?
➤ 11.28.25: Federal Council Member Calls for Two-Year Moratorium on New Data Centers

Colorful illustration of a stylized eagle head made of building blocks, featuring a prominent beak and bright blue eyes, set against a blue background with colorful circular elements.

We welcome Letters to the Editor. Please email to: bricklynvt@gmail.com

A stylized cartoon character resembling a politician with gray hair and a confident smile, standing at a podium with a microphone in a government setting. — Saul Burntbrick. Credit: Eagle staff photographer Ann Tiler Anderson, with assistance from DALLE-3 AI.

To the Editor: We want to thank The Bricklyn Eagle for looking into the culture of secrecy that seems to pervade the Office of the Chief Prognosticator. As Director of ROB-PIRG (the Realm of Bricklyn Public Interest Research Group) I can plainly say that our members were taken aback in hearing that our Chief Prognosticator cannot even tell your reporter whether his Office makes use of AI such as ChatGPT.

Instead, he sends out his Deputy to tell us that the Office of the Chief Prognosticator sees being “opaque” in refusing to talk about its methodology as a virtue!

ROB-PIRG is asking the Federal Council to immediately withdraw its request for advice from the Chief Prognosticator on the data center moratorium resolution. Let the public speak on this important resolution, not the Office of the Chief Prognosticator which may well find itself the beneficiary of the rapid growth of AI and data centers. — Saul Burntbrick, Bricklyn Jct., VT.

Tom Brickorti of the Bricklyn Chamber of Commerce — Tom Brickorti. photo from The Bricklyn Eagle archives.

To the Editor: What a kerfuffle! While the business community has not always agreed with the advice the Chief Prognosticator has given the Federal Council, we have always found the Chief and his staff to be intelligent, perceptive individuals who put aside any bias they might personally have on any particular issue. Whether or not they use AI in their work is of no relevance to how they will assess the moratorium resolution.

Clearly we oppose this resolution (for a number of reasons that we will present to the Federal Council), but just as clearly we honor, not impugn, the decades of valued advice the Office of the Chief Prognosticator has provided our Realm. — Tom Brickorti, CEO of the Bricklyn Chamber of Commerce.