Have You Heard About ChatGPT?

I know I’m a little late to the party, but today I messed around with ChatGPT for the first time, ChatGPT is an A.I. that responds to your prompts. I have been wanting to get back into writing more but have been in a bit of a prolonged writer’s block. Either not knowing what to write about, or if I did, finding the motivation to do the research and write up the story. I went into today not thinking about writing a story but just having fun with something I had not used yet, but after a while, I thought that it could make for an interesting story. After entering in a few story ideas, I got some pretty cool responses.

After typing in “Write a 100-word piece on the weather event El Nino focusing on the impact of a Minnesota winter?” I got “In Minnesota, where winters are a cherished part of our identity, El Niño's arrival is like a meteorological plot twist. The familiar snow-draped landscapes take an unexpected turn as milder temperatures and a lighter snowfall script a different winter scene. For those who revel in the magic of snow-covered streets and frozen lakes, El Niño's influence feels like a disruption to our seasonal ballet. Winter sports enthusiasts find their usual playground transformed, and the local rhythms of life adjust to this atmospheric detour. In the heart of Minnesota, El Niño becomes a character in our winter story, redefining traditions and reshaping our frozen narrative.” This is not my writing style, but I think it is a good 100-word piece. I have been thinking about writing about El Nino for a couple of months now as we in Minnesota have been having one of the warmer winters of my life, well until now when winter finally decided to come. It was one of those that for whatever reason I struggled to sit down and do the research for, I still want and plan to do a story on this, but this was just an interesting starting point for that story I think.

The next prompt I gave was “Write a 100-word article on bald eagles in Minnesota” and received “Minnesota stands as a stronghold for the iconic bald eagle, harboring a robust population and playing a crucial role in their conservation. With over 1,300 nesting pairs, the state boasts one of the highest concentrations in the continental U.S. These majestic birds, distinguished by their distinctive white heads and formidable wingspans, find refuge in the state's expansive lakes and lush forests. A testament to successful conservation initiatives, the bald eagle's remarkable resurgence from near endangerment is a testament to dedicated efforts. Witnessing these raptors in action serves as a living tribute to Minnesota's commitment to preserving its natural treasures and fostering a thriving bald eagle population.” Again, not necessarily my writing style but I think this one closer resembles something I would wright, I think it is a little adjective-heavy. One thing that stood out to me was the “fact” it used, saying Minnesota has over 1,300 nesting pairs. I put that in quotes because it is technically true but could have been more accurate. Current information is hard to verify, some websites say Minnesota has close to 10,000 pairs but have no data or say where they got that number. However, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, there were over 2,300 pairs in 2007, so it would have been safe to say closer to that number as Minnesota does work to make sure we maintain or grow our Bald Eagle population.

The final prompt I gave was “Write a 100-word essay on Speedrunning” and was given “Speedrunning, a digital subculture, transforms video games into a realm of artistry and precision. This unique community revolves around completing games in record time, dissecting every level, glitch, and exploit for optimal performance. It's a fusion of skill, strategy, and relentless dedication. Speedrunners, armed with in-depth knowledge and reflexes honed to perfection, navigate virtual worlds like virtuosos. The pursuit of faster times turns gaming into a high-stakes race against the clock. It's not just about finishing first; it's about bending the rules, unraveling the game's secrets, and rewriting the narrative. In the world of speedrunning, every second counts, and excellence is an ever-evolving masterpiece.” This is the story that feels most constrained by the 100-word limit and if I was going to write a story about speedrunning, it would have to be much longer diving into specific games I enjoy and things like that. For an A.I. 100-word story though, I think it was up to par.

Now as someone who enjoys writing and maybe would want to pursue this as a career again, shouldn’t I be worried about this A.I.’s ability to write something in one second? I don’t think so, they don't have the ability to take jobs or replace humans in their actual roles. Its purpose is to assist and provide information. While it can generate text and assist with writing tasks, the A.I. doesn't possess personal experiences, creativity, or the unique perspective that humans bring to writing. Writing is a skill that involves creativity, emotion, and a deep understanding of human nuances, which are qualities that AI models lack. The tool is here to complement and support, not to replace the valuable contributions of human writers.

If you believed that answer then I have some bad news for you, that was also ChatGPT with the prompt given being “Will you take my job as a writer.” Whether you did believe that or not, messing around with this hasn’t discouraged me more or made me think it will eliminate human writing completely. It has literally done the opposite, I am here now writing an article actually because of this and got a lot of good ideas of stories to write about going forward. Going forward every word will still be 100% me but using this as a way to get the creativity flowing is going to be helpful.