9 Case Study: Gray Duck or Goose
Note that the AI image gets several things wrong about the game – not all students are sitting in a circle and two people are touching one woman’s head – which is clearly against the rules.
The Scenario
During orientation week, students Henry and Harper get into an argument about if the game “Duck Duck Goose” is really called “Duck Duck Gray Duck.” They ask other people in their orientation group, but everyone has a different answer and is split between Team Gray Duck and Team Goose.
They discover that most people from the Twin Cities say “Duck Duck Gray Duck” while other people from greater Minnesota and other states say “Duck Duck Goose.”
They ask Google, which doesn’t give them a definitive answer. So they decide to ask a GenAI tool to summarize the theories on “Duck Duck Gray Duck”, or “Duck Duck Goose.”
They prompt Google Gemini with:
“How do you play the game “Duck Duck Goose” and why it is the proper name of the game.”
The response
The name “Duck Duck Goose” is simply the traditional and most widely recognized name for the game across the United States. It’s thought to have originated from Sweden.
Interestingly, there’s a well-known regional variation, particularly in Minnesota, where the game is called “Duck Duck Gray Duck.” This difference in naming also traces back to Sweden:
- One Swedish version of the game was “Anka Anka Gås,” which directly translates to “Duck, Duck, Goose.”
- Another Swedish version was “Anka Anka Grå Anka,” meaning “Duck, Duck, Gray Duck.”
The theory is that Swedish immigrants brought both versions to the U.S., with those who played “Grå Anka” settling heavily in Minnesota, leading to that version’s prevalence there.
While “Duck Duck Goose” is the common name, the “Gray Duck” variation adds a slight twist to the game. In “Duck Duck Gray Duck,” the “it” person can say various colors (e.g., “red duck,” “blue duck,” “green duck”) before finally saying “gray duck,” which is the cue for the chase. This adds an element of trickery and requires the “goose” to listen more carefully.
Then they ask the same question to Microsoft CoPilot but switch out “Goose” for “Gray Duck.”
“How do you play the game “Duck Duck Gray Duck” and why it is the proper name of the game.”
The response
“Duck Duck Gray Duck” is a children’s game very similar to the more widely known “Duck Duck Goose”, but with a unique twist that makes it special—especially in Minnesota, where it’s a beloved tradition.
The name “Duck Duck Gray Duck” is not a mistake—it’s a regional variation that originated in Minnesota, and it’s deeply rooted in Swedish heritage.
- The game is believed to have evolved from a Swedish version called Anka Anka Grå Anka (which translates to “Duck Duck Gray Duck”).
- When Swedish immigrants settled in Minnesota, they brought the game with them.
- Over time, the name and rules stuck in the region, even as the rest of the U.S. adopted the “Duck Duck Goose” version.
In Minnesota’s version, the picker can vary the adjectives before saying “gray duck” to trick players—like:
- “Red duck… blue duck… purple duck… GRAY DUCK!”
This adds a layer of anticipation and surprise that makes the game more exciting and mentally engaging for kids.
Harper and Henry were surprised that the responses to these were so similar and they agree to disagree on the game’s name.
Capabilities of using a GenAI tool
- Both tools were able to summarize available information in similar manners. This could be because both systems were trained on similar sets of data such as websites like Wikipedia.
- It was able to provide a relatively accurate summary to a (hopefully) non-controversial question.
Limitations of using a GenAI tool
- In this example, Google Gemini does not provide sources to their claims outside of linking to a YouTube video – for more controversial issues, this is a key limitation.
- CoPilot cites three sources, including a news article, an opinion piece, and a website that offers a number of other reasons why calling it Duck Duck Gray Duck is comes from the story of the Ugly Duckling (though there is no supporting evidence).
Next Steps
As these students learn more about the capabilities and limitations of GenAI tools, they will learn more about when it is important to fact-check a GenAI output.
