This is how ChatGPT works. You go to your device, you sign in, it asks you to ask any question in the world, and you do it.
Then you shudder.
Because what spits right back is the answer to almost anything, in clear, basic language that sounds like someone is talking to you. Which is kind of the idea.
ChatGPT is the latest darling from the world of AI, which, depending on your level of fear, stands for artificial intelligence, allegedly innocent, or alien invasion.
ChatGPT has already caused great concern for teachers and professors, who discovered that students turned in papers written by the program and yet—and here’s the saddest part—were better than many done by real people.
ChatGPT has even been put through exams for medical and law schools, and passed both. You can just hear a proud grandparent cooing, “My computer, the doctor!”
There is even talk that ChatGPT could soon be used to write articles, books, even novels.
So, as a writer of all three, I decided to test ChatGPT with a few questions on topics I should know something about.
I started by asking about myself.
Tell me about… me?
“Describe the columns by Mitch Albom,” I wrote.
“His columns often focus on personal reflections, human interest stories and social commentary,” it answered. “He writes with a unique blend of wit, wisdom and emotion, and his columns are known for their ability to resonate with readers on a deep and personal level.”
Hmm. I was tempted to conclude that it was a brilliant machine and leave it at that. But flattery is an old trick. Similar to those horoscopes that tell you how great your future is. So I continued.
“Write a message to young people in the voice of Mitch Albom,” I asked.
“Dear young people: As you embark on your journey through life, always remember that your future is in your hands. You have the power to shape it, to shape it, to make it into something beautiful and meaningful. Believe in yourself and your abilities, and never give up on your dreams.”
Eh. Less impressive. That’s nice, but I could have said that. Barack Obama could have said that. Kid Rock could have said that.
I got more specific.
“Send a message from Mitch Albom to young people about the importance of writing,” I asked.
“Dear young writers,
“Writing is a powerful tool, it allows you to express yourself and share your thoughts, ideas and emotions with the world. It is a craft that takes practice and dedication to perfect, but the rewards are the worth it.
“As you begin your journey as a writer, remember to always write from the heart. Write about what you know and care about, and don’t be afraid to be vulnerable…
“Remember that writing is a journey, not a destination. It’s something you will continue to grow and improve on throughout your life. Don’t be discouraged by rejection or setbacks, it’s part of the process. Keep writing and keep keep learning, and you will find your voice.”
Not bad, I thought.
But not completely.
Some things are irreplaceable
So I asked it why a student should NOT use ChatGPT to write papers.
It answered with four main points. One, “plagiarism is a serious academic offense.” Two, by writing your own paper, you can develop “critical thinking and writing skills.” And three, writing your own paper demonstrates your “understanding of the material.”
What it left out was this. Joy. It is a joy to take the language you have learned and reassemble it to create your thoughts. Spark. There is a spark of imagination that comes when you put ideas together. Satisfaction. There is satisfaction when you read about something you created from scratch, something that only exists because you made it exist, something that took the impulse in your brain’s gray matter and sent it through your fingers and onto the page, where your eyes can read it and your heart can appreciate it.
And magic. The magic of creativity.
These are your real reasons, young people, to leave this program and do your own work.
I ended my session with ChatGPT with this question: “What would author Mitch Albom think of a computer-generated story?’
It partly answered, “as a professional writer and storyteller, he may feel that the use of computer-generated stories undermines the value of human creativity, imagination and the emotional connection that a human writer can create with the readers. Additionally, he may also feel that the computer-generated stories lack the unique voice, perspective, and emotional depth that a human writer can bring to a story.
Bingo. As Marvin and Tammi once sang, “Ain’t nothing like the real thing.”
By the way, when I asked ChatGPT “Who were Marvin and Tammi?” it blinked its pointer for 10 seconds and then said, “I’m sorry, I don’t have enough context to understand.”
Exactly.
Contact Mitch Albom: [email protected] Check out the latest updates on his charities, books and events at MitchAlbom.com. Follow him on Twitter @mithalbom.
