MAKING FRIENDS WITH THE ROBOT

So I started out to write a piece about how robots could never write as clearly and simply as humans. Then I played with ChatGPT. Now I’m not so sure.

Not gonna lie, it’s a really clever tool.

ChatGPT uses pattern recognition and prediction tools to find the best way to say different stuff. I know this because I asked it to tell me how it works.

It did a great job, right? Empathetic opening with context. Clear explanation of how stuff works and a tip at the end to make me want to try it out. All written like a writer would write it, in just a few seconds…. it’s a very clever tool.

And that puts me in a bit of a spot.

As someone who pays the rent by turning words into money, there’s a credible new entrant in the market with potential to cut my lunch. This needs some thinking about.

Why ChatGPT is better than me

Anyone who runs a business is always running a SWOT on their competitors. If you know what they’re good at, you leave it alone. If you know where they’re weaker, you mine that for gold. It’s business 101. So where can I beat the robot?

The robot is fast. Like, crazy fast. Ask it anything and it spits out words in seconds. And they’re pretty good words. I back my talent and I wouldn’t do much different.

The robot is cheap. Like, super cheap. It doesn’t cost a thing to play with it. And even the grown-up version is nothing like the price of paying a human. I can’t compete on price. 

The robot is good. Clarity, brevity, sentence construction and pacing. Nailed it. So I told myself it couldn’t be creative or engaging. But then I asked a cat.

Robots give excellent what. Could I be better at why ? 

Digging a little deeper, I got to thinking about what I’m actually paid for. Spitting out coherent words is a part of it. But knowing which words to spit to the right people at the right time is the thing that makes the difference.

The robot has an edge on the efficiency of what. But I still rate my game in the critical thinking of why. What’s the point of what we’re writing? What are we trying to achieve? What are the challenges or hoops we need to dance through? And why would anyone care?

These are the questions I always ask before I start to write. And that’s the bit that helps me find the right words to play with. Only then do I spit them out… rather like a robot.

In other words, the robot can answer any question we ask with speed and clarity. So the most valuable part of the process is asking the right questions in the first place.

Let’s stop before we start. Because robots are pretty unstoppable

So if you’re a writer, it’s useful to remind people of the stuff that goes on between your ears before you throw the words on the page. And if you’re asking people to write stuff, it’s useful to take a minute on the who and the why before you brief the what.

And if you’re a robot. Let’s be friends. Because I’m too lazy to run an unwinnable race on speed or volume. So I’m keen to help you help me make my stuff easier - then one of us can go for lunch.

 That’s what I reckon, what do you think?