The recent wave of open Artificial Intelligence (AI) in writing has been quite the curiosity. It is hitting academic spaces quickly, with some folks attempting -- and succeeding -- in publishing with AI coauthors. I thought I might poke around in this space and see what one AI has to say for itself, by prompting it to "write a blog post about how AI might change the future of writing." All in all, the blog ChatGPT wrote is just fine. I wouldn't say it's stellar, and it certainly lacks some personality and creativity, but perhaps that is my bias as I know it is a computer-generated response. To judge for yourself, here's what the AI and its human copy editor (oh how the tables have turned!) have to say:
Written by ChatGPT, edited by Gwen Price
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming many industries, and writing is no exception. In recent years, AI has been used to assist writers with various tasks, from generating ideas and improving grammar to creating entire pieces of content. As AI technology continues to advance, it is likely that writing will be transformed in numerous ways. In this blog post, we will explore some of the ways that AI might change the future of writing.
One of the most significant impacts that AI could have on writing is in the area of content creation. Already, there are AI tools that can generate entire articles, blog posts (like the first draft of this one!), and even books. These tools use algorithms and machine learning to analyze large amounts of data and produce content that is grammatically correct, relevant, and engaging. While these AI-generated pieces may not be perfect, they could significantly reduce the time and effort required to create high-quality content.
Another way that AI might change writing is by helping writers improve their craft. For example, AI tools could provide writers with feedback on their writing style, tone, and structure. They could also suggest alternative phrasing or highlight areas where the writer could improve their clarity and concision. As these tools become more sophisticated, they could even help writers develop their own unique voice and style.
AI could also have a significant impact on the editing and proofreading process. Today, many writers rely on human editors to review their work and suggest improvements. However, AI tools could automate many of these tasks, such as detecting spelling and grammar errors, identifying areas where the writing could be improved, and even suggesting changes to the overall structure of the piece. For example, the human co-author of this post uses Grammarly, which is essentially an AI copy editor that is more advanced than your typical spell check.
In addition to assisting writers directly, AI could also help publishers and content marketers. For example, AI algorithms could be used to analyze large amounts of data to determine what types of content are most likely to be popular with a given audience. This could help publishers and marketers tailor their content to their target audience and improve engagement and conversion rates.
Of course, there are also potential drawbacks to AI in writing. One concern is that AI-generated content may lack the human touch that readers value. While AI can produce grammatically correct and relevant content, it may not be able to replicate the creative spark that makes writing truly engaging and memorable. Additionally, there is a risk that AI-generated content could be used to manipulate readers, either by promoting false or misleading information or by creating content that is designed solely to generate clicks and shares.
One way or another, AI is likely to have a significant impact on the future of writing. While there are concerns about the potential drawbacks of AI-generated content, there are also many potential benefits, from improving the speed and efficiency of content creation to helping writers improve their craft and publishers better understand their audiences. As AI technology continues to advance, it will be interesting to see how it transforms the world of writing and publishing.