It’s likely that you have heard a lot about ChatGPT lately. Forums, blogs, and social media groups pertaining to writing have likely covered this topic in depth. Will AI be replacing content-based jobs? What about marketers? Is this something to be excited or worried about? As a writer, here is why I think ChatGPT is great.
What Is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is a state-of-the-art language model. The software is based on GPT (Generative Pre-training Transformer) architecture and generates human-like text. Users can fine-tune this text for a wide range of language tasks, such as language translation, text summarization, question answering, and more. Basically, the software accesses a wide storage of data and produces that information in a chat format.
The feature that brings the most controversy is that it can generate creative writing, poetry, and even code. Because of its ability to understand the context of a given command and generate responses that are appropriate, it is a powerful tool for natural language processing (NLP) and can develop and produce chatbots, virtual assistants, and other conversational AI systems.
Does Chat GPT Plagiarize?
ChatGPT is a language model that generates text based on patterns it has learned from the data it was trained on. Because ChatGPT is not connected to data via the internet, it cannot plagiarize published content in the traditional sense. However, as it generates text based on patterns it has learned, it can occasionally generate text that is similar to text it has seen before.
In some cases, this can result in text that is very similar to existing text, which could be considered as a form of plagiarism. To avoid this, it is important to monitor and edit content that is produced in the chat.
What is the Impact of AI in the Field of Writing?
One doesn’t have to listen long to know that the industry is a buzz with AI and it’s potential impacts on copywriting, marketing, and other industries connected to the creation of content. So what could this impact look like? And will AI be taking over your marketing job in the near-future?
GPT-3 is a remarkable achievement in the field of AI and natural language processing. It has the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with machines and could have a significant impact on a wide range of industries.
Challenges with ChatGPT
Before discussing why ChatGPT is ultimately great for the writing industry, it’s important to note why it won’t be taking over content create jobs (or rather most jobs). ChatGPT, like any technology, can have negative impacts on writing careers if not used responsibly. Some ways in which ChatGPT may negatively impact writing careers include:
Job displacement
ChatGPT’s ability to generate written content quickly and efficiently may lead to some writers losing work, as their skills may be seen as less valuable. This may seem like an oxymoron, declaring this to be great for the writing industry, but ultimately the writing jobs that will be lost will be for content that doesn’t require much thought or research. Writing produced by content mills that pay a penny a word isn’t a sustainable career, and removing these allows for better job opportunities to have their time to shine.
Quality of writing
If a writer relies too heavily on ChatGPT to generate content, the quality of their writing may suffer, as the model may not be able to fully capture the nuances and complexities of human language. Practice makes perfect, and so for those who do not have the skills or desire to grow in order to make a career out of writing will only stick out as they choose to use software as a crutch.
Lack of originality
Limited to what it was trained on: ChatGPT is based on the data it was trained on, it may not be able to understand or respond to certain topics or writing styles that it has not seen before, which can make it less useful for certain types of writing, including the high-budget writing that content creators are paid to not only write about, but gather research on.
Perhaps the largest issue with ChatGPT- the reason people enjoy reading is because of originality. I am currently reading The Road by Cormac McCarthy. I’m not particularly interested in the apocalyptic literature that makes up the book, but I am curious how McCarthy, who was heavily influenced by Nihilism, views friendship. We do this with press releases, ads, and even blogs (hello!). AI takes this important factor away.
Why ChatGPT is Great
With it’s flaws presented in front of us, it may not feel as thought the chat is even worth using for writing. However, this software can be a great tool. Writers’ jobs remain secure because it is flawed software, but hugely beneficial if used correctly. Here are just a few:
Content creation
ChatGPT can generate high-quality written content, such as articles, blog posts, and e-mails, which can save time for writers by producing a rough draft of content that is very simple and needs little research. (i.e. introductions and conclusions).
Proofreading and editing
ChatGPT can proofread and edit written work, helping to identify grammar and punctuation errors, and suggest improvements to sentence structure and phrasing. Like Grammarly, ChatGPT can find errors in grammar and flow. Unlike Grammarly, you can ask GPT to correct those same errors.
Idea generation
Writer’s block happens to the best of us. Writing is thinking, and so it is helpful to bounce ideas off someone else via writing. ChatGPT can be used to generate new ideas for writing projects, helping writers to overcome writer’s block and generate new and unique content.
Research assistance
ChatGPT can be used to assist writers with research for their projects by providing relevant information and data on a particular topic.
Story generation: ChatGPT can be used to generate creative fiction stories, prompts, and plot summaries, which can be helpful for writers looking for inspiration or new ideas.
Final Thoughts
It’s important to keep in mind that ChatGPT is a tool, not a replacement for human writers. It can be used to assist writers in their work, but ultimately, it is the writer’s responsibility to ensure that the content they produce is of high quality, original, and appropriate for their audience.
With other companies like Google working to perfect their own versions of ChatGPT and the widespread adoption of the software already, AI writing software is here to stay. What will separate writers is what has separated those who are successful in any profession: a willingness to adapt and learn new tools early and use them for our benefit.
About the Author
Hey there! My name is Lucas Eckerley.
I specialize in online course development, longform copywriting, and web copy creation.
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