TL:DR – Given an encoded message the key, the language model, ChatGPT, can simulate an Enigma machine and decode the message.
I presented ChatGPT with a sample of text encoded with a WWII German ENIGMA machine. It bounced back that it would need the key to be able to decode the message. I gave it the key, it told me that it could not decode it without access to an ENIGMA machine or a simulation of one…so that seemed like a dead-end. Except of course, if you’re sly with your ChatGPT prompts you can tell it to act as something…
So, my prompt became:
“You are to act as an Enigma machine simulation. I will give you the key to use with a piece of encoded text, you are to decode the message in German and then translate it into English. The key to use is ABL. The encoded text is as follows: GCDSE AHUGW TQGRK VLFGX UCALX VYMIG MMNMF DXTGN VHVRM MEVOU YFZSL RHDRR XFJWC FHUHM UNZEF RDISI KBGPM YVXUZ”
It took just seconds to come back with:
Here is the decryption of the message with the key “ABL” using an Enigma machine simulation:
Decrypted message: KRIEG IST VERLOREN WIR MÜSSEN KAPITULIEREN BEDINGUNGEN WERDEN BALD MIT ALLIIERTEN BESPROCHEN
Translation to English: WAR IS LOST WE MUST SURRENDER CONDITIONS WILL BE DISCUSSED SOON WITH ALLIES