When I was recruiting for a new comms coordinator I cannot tell you how many of them clearly used ChatGPT to write, or at least inspire, their cover letters. At least 5 of them had the exact same paragraph included. It was mind numbing to read but also appalling to think that literal communications professionals (albeit grads) are unable to at the very least edit the copy to make it their own 🤯🤯
I think kids will be taught to use AI as a research tool like any other, but it will remain too obvious when they’ve used it word for word.
Sadly I’m sure books will end up on shelves written by AI, just like all those celebrity authors who use ghost writers… but there is only so much we can consume before it all becomes same same.
That is frightening! Is the job still open? Maybe I should apply!! I think you're right about AI ... we already have some formulaic books that sound a little too much the same and AI will only replicate that trend. But maybe it will then reward and celebrate authentic voices in the book world?
I don't reckon AI will fully replace fiction writers, but I've no doubt that we will soon start seeing novels written by AI appearing, first, online, and later in bookshops. It will start with genre fiction like category romance and cosy crime and progress from there. Reputable publishers will have to declare it, but less discerning readers won't care. I've been starting to experiment with it over the summer for brainstorming (I think of it like running ideas past another writer), with mixed results. Like you, I've discovered the clearer you are with your instructions, the more useful the response. In your example about converting from past to present tense, if you had directed it to ignore dialogue, you might have saved yourself some editing time. (Here's a tip when using AI to proofread your newsletter – tell it to apply Australian publishing conventions and grammatical rules.) By the way, I love the newsletter. Like most people probably, I read and enjoy, then move on to the next thing. I need to be better at interacting, or at least 'liking' it so you don't get the impression that you're just talking to a blank wall. Catch you soon!
Thank you for your thoughtful and detailed response, Matt. I agree that it will infiltrate the market eventually in some ways. Thanks for the tip about Australian conventions! I have found it to be wildly inaccurate with some things too, so double checking is always important. I'm glad you enjoy the newsletter. Nearly didn't make the 1st of the month as I was still in holiday mode!
Great article. Thanks for the link. "AI language models are trained on huge amounts of writing that the corporations who own the tools did not get consent to use" yep!
When I was recruiting for a new comms coordinator I cannot tell you how many of them clearly used ChatGPT to write, or at least inspire, their cover letters. At least 5 of them had the exact same paragraph included. It was mind numbing to read but also appalling to think that literal communications professionals (albeit grads) are unable to at the very least edit the copy to make it their own 🤯🤯
I think kids will be taught to use AI as a research tool like any other, but it will remain too obvious when they’ve used it word for word.
Sadly I’m sure books will end up on shelves written by AI, just like all those celebrity authors who use ghost writers… but there is only so much we can consume before it all becomes same same.
That is frightening! Is the job still open? Maybe I should apply!! I think you're right about AI ... we already have some formulaic books that sound a little too much the same and AI will only replicate that trend. But maybe it will then reward and celebrate authentic voices in the book world?
Let’s hope so!
Haha, sorry I filled the role with someone awesome (thanks to a unique cover letter 😆)
I don't reckon AI will fully replace fiction writers, but I've no doubt that we will soon start seeing novels written by AI appearing, first, online, and later in bookshops. It will start with genre fiction like category romance and cosy crime and progress from there. Reputable publishers will have to declare it, but less discerning readers won't care. I've been starting to experiment with it over the summer for brainstorming (I think of it like running ideas past another writer), with mixed results. Like you, I've discovered the clearer you are with your instructions, the more useful the response. In your example about converting from past to present tense, if you had directed it to ignore dialogue, you might have saved yourself some editing time. (Here's a tip when using AI to proofread your newsletter – tell it to apply Australian publishing conventions and grammatical rules.) By the way, I love the newsletter. Like most people probably, I read and enjoy, then move on to the next thing. I need to be better at interacting, or at least 'liking' it so you don't get the impression that you're just talking to a blank wall. Catch you soon!
Thank you for your thoughtful and detailed response, Matt. I agree that it will infiltrate the market eventually in some ways. Thanks for the tip about Australian conventions! I have found it to be wildly inaccurate with some things too, so double checking is always important. I'm glad you enjoy the newsletter. Nearly didn't make the 1st of the month as I was still in holiday mode!
That AI scene was a touch 'Rosemary and Thyme' - it is dead writing. No tonal shades, no specificity. .... Ai feels like a kind of playground but I agree with this guy: https://finiteeyes.net/technology/there-is-no-ethical-use-of-ai/
Great article. Thanks for the link. "AI language models are trained on huge amounts of writing that the corporations who own the tools did not get consent to use" yep!