Do we have to worry about artificial intelligence replacing writers?
ABC News featured a story tonight about artificial intelligence and Chat GPT4, specifically.
Naturally, the piece was infused with warnings about AI and its potentially negative effects on humanity (e.g. job elimination). Alarming stories get more eyeballs and ultimately sell more ads.
But do we need to be concerned?
As a writer, of course I’m paying attention to the ever-growing number of AI tools available to use for creating written content. I’ve used Jasper for several years with a mix of results. LIke all tools, anything built with artificial intelligence is only as good as its user.
Chat GPT is certainly getting the lion’s share of buzz these days, including here on my blog. If you've been following me for a while, you have seen my posts about AI apps.
The more I learn about AI and its uses, the more I've become fascinated by the advancements and real-world applications of AI and believe they offer more benefits than challenges.
Do Writers Need to Worry about AI?
I decided to use artificial intelligence to explore this question. Before I share the answer it gave me, let me go on the record and say that I don't think writers need to worry about AI replacing us. I have several reasons for believing this, and it turns out that Chat GPT agrees with me.
Here's what I got from the app, word for word:
There are several reasons why we don't have to be worried about artificial intelligence (AI) replacing writers.
Creativity and imagination: While AI can generate text, it lacks the creativity and imagination of human writers. AI can only generate content based on the data it has been trained on, whereas human writers can draw from their own experiences, emotions, and observations to create original and unique content.
Emotional intelligence: Writing is not just about putting words together, it's also about conveying emotions and experiences in a way that connects with readers. AI lacks emotional intelligence, which is a crucial aspect of writing. Humans are better at understanding the nuances of language and tone and can adapt their writing to evoke different emotions and responses.
Context and perspective: Writing often involves understanding context and perspective, which is another area where AI falls short. Humans have a deeper understanding of the world and can put things into context based on their own experiences and knowledge. AI can only generate text based on the data it has been trained on and lacks the ability to understand and interpret complex concepts.
Audience engagement: Successful writing involves engaging with an audience and building a connection with them. This requires empathy, social skills, and the ability to understand what resonates with people. AI lacks these qualities and can only generate text based on statistical models.
Overall, while AI can be a useful tool for generating content, it is unlikely to replace human writers entirely. Writing is a complex process that involves creativity, emotional intelligence, context, and audience engagement, all of which are areas where AI falls short. Instead, AI can be used to assist and enhance human writing, freeing up time for writers to focus on more creative and strategic tasks.
Change Is Inevitable, Personal Growth Is a Choice
We can always count on change.
It's as inevitable as the sun rising and setting each day.
The advent of artificial intelligence is no different than when Steve Jobs rolled out the personal computer or when calculators became common in classrooms.
Some people celebrated. Others booed.
AI and the writer is a topic many people will be talking about for quite some time.
This writer decided a while ago to get on board with the changes and learn how to use tools like Chat GPT to my advantage.
So far, I'm loving what I'm discovering and see a bright future ahead for me, my clients, and anyone anywhere who uses writing professionally.
We are just getting started with artificial intelligence.
It's exciting to think about where it will take us.
