The year is 2154. Phone calls are obsolete. Instead, you get a video call from the mini portable television in your pocket. It’s a client of yours! They want you to write an article about the role of using AI technology and its impact on the copywriting and design fields.
When you hang up the call, you go to your computer and tell your AI writing software, ChatGPT, to write you that article outline. As you’re typing it up you realize… wait! It’s not 2154.
It’s 2023!
Yes, you heard right! That hypothetical may have sounded like a cool futuristic scenario out of Ex Machina or something, but it is all totally possible at this present moment.
Here are 4 things you need to know about ChatGPT!
What is ChatGPT?
Developed by OpenAI, ChatGPT is an AI language model that uses machine learning techniques to generate human-like text. Pop any prompt in, and it will answer you just as any person would, drawing from an array of sources online. Are its answers too broad? Easy, just pop in a more specific prompt and it will refine the results for you.
Many writers have used ChatGPT to create outlines for articles, complete scripts, and more. Many cite that ChatGPT helps them free up time to focus on creativity and strategy. The possibilities are truly endless.
1. ChatGPT is not forward-thinking
When you write a prompt for ChatGPT, it scans the whole internet to write about your topic. Suddenly, you’ve saved yourself hours of research with just a click of a button! Isn’t that awesome?
However, it’s important to consider that ChatGPT is not forward-thinking — meaning that it draws from sources that are not current.
For example, scientific and technological breakthroughs happen everyday. If you’re using ChatGPT to write about topics surrounding those breakthroughs, it wouldn’t use the most up-to-date information available.
It’s good to do some additional research in addition to ChatGPT just to round out any rough edges it might leave behind.
2. ChatGPT runs the risk of copyright/plagiarism issues
Another thing to know about using ChatGPT is that it is very easy to run into copyright and plagiarism issues, since it is essentially using sources that other people wrote to help you write your prompt.
For example, if I were to write about 10 ways I can become a better designer, it would probably draw from hundreds of blog posts and research studies written by all sorts of people. If you don’t cite your source, you could run into trouble on the plagiarism front.
3. Plagiarism checkers exist, but they are not always reliable
Thankfully, there are plenty of plagiarism checkers on the internet. However, they are not always reliable. Often, it is difficult to know who is credited with writing which article, and many can come with false positives.
Though they are nifty tools, know that they are not always 100% accurate. Be careful out there!
4. Have your own experience!
People often worry about AI replacing writing and dissolving the creativity people have with it. This is not the case, however — though ChatGPT can write anything for you, it’s vital to still have your own experience with it.
Think of ChatGPT as a recipe. It gives you instructions for how to make something, but you can still add whatever ingredients and seasonings you wish.
Considering all of what we have have listed here, you can take precautions to make sure that your copy is not plagiarizing another’s, and that it’s forward-thinking and inquisitive. Make your copy as unique as you are!
The Conclusion
ChatGPT is an amazing tool that can help you save hours of research and writing time. No more going down Google rabbit holes, and no more spending hours paring down a sentence into its most concise form.
With this great tool comes great responsibility. Though it can write anything, it is vital to still add your own personal touch. Though it can help guide your writing, it does not replace it.
So use it to write a cool article! An outline for a webinar! Have fun with it!
And stay tuned for more blog posts about navigating the world of AI as a creative!
