#105 A.I and a chat with ChatGPT

#105 AI and a chat with ChatGPT

Hello friend,

I am so sorry to have been out of touch. I've been out of action lately. I won't go into many details, but I've been under the weather (nothing serious), and I'm only just getting back my mental clarity and desire to write.

The worst thing about feeling unwell is how it stops you from thinking clearly. I did try to write something when I was between fever dreams and shivering, but it literally made no sense, and I found myself floundering with only specks of my usual ability to communicate coherently.

It hasn't helped me to be struggling with my imposter syndrome and general symptoms of burnout. Part of me wants to stop writing, delete social media, and live on a desert island.

But another part of me, the more vain part of me, thinks these words are important to myself and others.

I recently had a play around with AI and, in particular, with ChatGPT after that cheeky bugger of my son used it to write an essay for school without saying anything. I knew something was up as soon as I read it. After making him rewrite it in his own words, I took a closer look at the app.

At first, I was impressed, and I can see it might be a great teaching tool to help students structure a piece of writing, take the information and write something complete and grammatically correct.

Unfortunately, there is more to writing well than good grammar and structure. Something of the author's voice and process shapes a piece of writing that is absent with ChatGPT.

Taking a closer look at what AI produces, it is much less impressive. Even with things like spelling, grammar and tone checking, if you aren't careful, the suggested changes can change your meaning completely and turn average prose into nonsense instead of improving it.

Writing is about taking that first draft, that spark of an idea, and gradually redrafting it into a better idea until it can stand alone as a polished piece.

At most, ChatGPT is like another type of search engine; it can help generate ideas, answer questions, point in a new direction or, at best, give us a structure to start.

I don't see AI saving me any work as a writer, as it's crafting a piece where the real reward is the redrafting, which gives the words my voice or a particular kind of individuality.

A good writer will have a particular style, turn of phrase, or panache that AI can never imitate. Our personality, souls and experiences are what ultimately shape the words.

It sure would help to have a writing assistant while I churn out blog posts to develop new ideas, but ChatGPT or AI is still no substitute for me, the writer. I still have to put in the work. So, I'm pretty sure writers and creatives aren't going to lose their jobs any time soon.

I even asked ChatGPT, and it agreed with me:

Question: Do you think in the future, people will stop learning to write and use only AI whenever they need to write something?

Answer from ChatGPT: While it's impossible to predict the future with certainty, it's unlikely that people will completely stop learning to write altogether. Writing is a fundamental skill that serves numerous purposes beyond simply conveying information. It fosters critical thinking, creativity, and self-expression, and it plays a crucial role in personal and professional communication.

However, it's conceivable that advancements in artificial intelligence could lead to changes in how writing is taught and practiced. AI tools may become more integrated into the writing process, offering assistance with tasks such as grammar and spelling correction, content generation, and editing. This could streamline the writing process and make it more accessible to individuals who may struggle with traditional writing skills.

Ultimately, while AI technology may enhance and augment the writing process, it's unlikely to replace the need for human writers altogether. Writing is a deeply human endeavor that reflects our thoughts, emotions, and experiences, and it's unlikely that AI will be able to replicate the richness and complexity of human expression entirely. As such, learning to write will likely remain an essential skill for individuals across various fields and disciplines.

What do you think? I kinda agree with ChatGPT.