Our Thing Of The Month this time takes a look at something called Artificial Intelligence (AI), a type of computer technology that tries to mimic human intelligence. To give you a firsthand experience of what AI can do, I’ve used a form of AI to help write this post. I provided the main ideas and then used the AI, called ChatGPT, to fill in the details and make a rough draft. I then took what it wrote and polished it up to make sure everything made sense.

ChatGPT is a specific kind of AI that’s designed to write text that’s very similar to what a human might write. It’s been ‘trained’ by reading lots of different kinds of writing from the internet, although it doesn’t actually ‘know’ or remember any of the specific things it read. This helps it learn how to put sentences together and how to write things that make sense in different situations.

One of the special things about ChatGPT is how many different kinds of writing it can do. It can create anything from short responses to full-length essays. It can write informational articles, answer questions, and even do creative writing like poems and short stories. It’s kind of like having a virtual writer that can help with all sorts of writing tasks, from practical to creative.

To demonstrate, let’s explore a short story written by ChatGPT itself.
I asked the AI, “Write me a short story about a mouse and a frog.” It gave me this in reply.

Title: “The Mouse and The Frog: An Unlikely Friendship”

Once upon a time, in the heart of a vibrant forest, a tiny mouse named Nibbles lived in a cosy burrow underneath an old, sturdy oak tree. Not far away, in a peaceful pond surrounded by lush lily pads, a jovial frog named Hoppy made his home.

Nibbles was a curious and adventurous creature. She loved exploring her surroundings, always sniffing out new sights and sounds. However, her small size often made her feel vulnerable and sometimes quite lonely.

Hoppy, on the other hand, was lively and sociable. He loved to sing and dance, his deep, croaky voice echoing across the still water. Yet, Hoppy had always dreamt of exploring the land beyond his pond, a dream hindered by his inability to venture far from water.

One sunny day, as Nibbles was out exploring, she stumbled upon Hoppy’s pond. Curious, she ventured close, her tiny eyes widening at the sight of the lively frog.

“Hello there, little one,” Hoppy called out, his voice warm and inviting. Nibbles was initially startled but soon found herself drawn to Hoppy’s jovial nature.

In return, Hoppy was fascinated by Nibbles’s tales of the forest and her adventures. He listened with rapt attention as she spoke of towering trees, hidden burrows, and the thrill of exploration.

As the days turned into weeks, an unlikely friendship blossomed between the mouse and the frog. Nibbles, no longer feeling lonely, found joy in Hoppy’s lively stories and infectious laughter. Meanwhile, Hoppy, through Nibbles’ vivid accounts, experienced the world beyond his pond.

They helped each other, too. Hoppy taught Nibbles to swim, helping her overcome her fear of water. Nibbles, in turn, showed Hoppy how to navigate the land and find the juiciest bugs. Together, they discovered a world that was much bigger and beautiful than they had known.

Their tale spread throughout the forest, a heartening reminder that friendship knows no bounds, that differences can be the birthplace of the deepest connections. And so, the mouse and the frog remained the best of friends, their bond a testament to their shared adventures and mutual respect, illuminating the forest with their enduring friendship.

This charming tale, crafted entirely by AI, is a testament to the creative potential of models like ChatGPT. It’s clear that AI is far more than a tool for automation – it’s quickly becoming a powerful companion in our exploration of knowledge and creativity.

Yet, as impressive as AI may be, it’s crucial to remember that it’s not here to replace human writers. While it can generate engaging narratives, respond to prompts, and create informational content, AI fundamentally lacks the human touch – our unique perspectives, emotions, experiences, and intuition that shape our writing in subtle and profound ways.

Instead, think of AI as an advanced tool or assistant that can immensely help human writers. For us, it can take on tasks like drafting, brainstorming, or providing writing suggestions, thus freeing us to focus more on the creative, strategic, or complex aspects of our work. By working hand-in-hand with AI, we can enhance our writing processes and outputs, creating richer, more engaging content for readers to enjoy.

So as humanity embraces the potential of AI, let’s keep sight of the invaluable human element in writing. After all, it’s our own personal stories, quirky thoughts, and real feelings that truly connect us and make our written words resonate with others.