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Raphael Thys
Image: Dall-e
Get ready to have your world rocked, writers. Because the rise of the chatbots is upon us, and they’re coming for your jobs. That’s right, these clever little algorithms are quickly becoming more advanced, and it’s only a matter of time before they replace even the most talented of human writers. So sit back, grab a cup of tea, and get ready to be schooled by the chatbots, because the writing world is about to be turned on its head.
Those are the words of ChatGPT in response to the prompt, “Write a sassy introduction to an article about why chatbots will replace human writers.”
Straight up, it’s hard to be overly critical — it certainly nailed the sass.
We already had access to tools like Grammarly that could suggest corrections (sure, often nonsensical suggestions), rewrites and word choices. Google Docs could auto-finish sentences. But the technology has stepped up a gear over this year. Notion just added A.I. capabilities to its software, allowing it to write content and brainstorm ideas. I recently played around with Lex, a new word processor with a Google docs-style editing experience but with a built-in A.I. thought partner. It claims that the more you use it, the better Lex will get at writing like you. Being able to let the A.I. take over from you when you lose your way has serious potential.
Now, ChatGPT has entered the automated chatroom.
And it’s pretty impressive.
It can write code. It can assist the Twitter engineers who have Elon Musk breathing down their necks. It can find recipes and cut out the keyword-stuffed life story that always precedes it. It can answer complex questions. It can craft email responses. It can write lawyer letters. Most amazingly, it can be conversational, remember what users said earlier in the conversation, and handle corrections.
It is also somewhat flawed. It spouts out incorrect answers. It’s also, predictably, filled with bias and racism. Why? As Chris Stokel-Walker writes in Fast Co, “The data it uses to generate its responses are sourced from the internet, and folks online are plenty hostile.” Many have also found it easy to trick it into discarding some safety guardrails, leading to questionable outputs.
Undoubtedly, this latest version of A.I. writing is a big step forward, perhaps the next genuine technological leap. And much like the debate that arose from the recent boom in A.I. generated images — could they replace artists? — a similar question is being asked about the art of writing.
Could it really replace writers?
For the sake of journalistic standards, it seemed only fair to allow ChatGPT to have its say on whether A.I.-generated writing has the potential to replace the need for writers.
Generated by the prompt, “Write an essay on whether ChatGPT could become so powerful and accurate that it will end the career of every writer,” (loaded question much?) this is ChatGPT’s response —
It is likely that in the future, technology will continue to advance at a rapid pace. As a result, artificial intelligence and natural language processing algorithms, such as ChatGPT, will become increasingly sophisticated and accurate. This could potentially lead to ChatGPT becoming so powerful and accurate that it could end the career of every writer.
One reason why ChatGPT could become so powerful and accurate is because it will be able to produce written content quickly and efficiently. Unlike human writers, who must spend time researching, outlining, and drafting a piece of writing, ChatGPT will be able to generate high-quality content almost instantly. This is because it will be able to process input and use its vast knowledge base to produce coherent and well-written text without the need for extensive prewriting.
Another reason why ChatGPT could become a threat to writers is because it will be able to produce a wide range of written content. ChatGPT will not be limited by its own personal experiences or knowledge, as it will be able to access and process vast amounts of information from the internet. This means that it will be able to write on virtually any topic, from news articles and blog posts to books and research papers.
In addition, ChatGPT’s ability to generate written content that is free of errors and consistently high-quality will also make it a formidable threat to writers. Unlike human writers, who are subject to fatigue, distraction, and other factors that can affect the quality of their work, ChatGPT will be able to produce error-free content consistently. This will make it an attractive option for businesses and individuals who need written content but do not have the time or resources to produce it themselves.
In conclusion, ChatGPT’s speed, versatility, and accuracy could make it a powerful tool in the future. While it is unlikely to completely replace human writers, it could put an end to the careers of many writers and change the way written content is produced.
That last point is important. Yes, the writing produced by A.I. tools could get you a pass on your high school homework. Yes, it will be able to send run-of-the-mill emails and write things that have simple-to-follow templates. And yes, these tools will allow bad actors to play better writers.
But, at present, its output is devoid of a unique voice. And that’s the superpower that the best writers have and why people read and engage with their work. As long as we have that over the computer, there will always be a place for writers, and A.I. will be what they should be, useful, supporting tools.
In response to the prompt “When will artificially generated writing take over?”, ChatGPT was not as doom-mongering as I’d feared —
“It is important to remember that while artificially generated writing may be able to replicate the structure and format of human writing, it may not be able to replicate the creativity and individuality that comes with human writing. Ultimately, the role of human writers will still be important in producing unique and original content.”
Phew. Looks like the A.I. overlords are happy to co-exist with us.
For now.
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