Are you worried that ChatGPT might take over your writing? Here are some reasons why it can’t replace your writing assignments just yet. ChatGPT is a large language model trained using massive datasets from the Internet and other sources, capable of generating impressively human-like text. Given its writing prowess, you might wonder how advanced language models like ChatGPT will impact the industry, or more importantly, whether it will be enough to replace writers entirely. ChatGPT is fast, cost-effective, and generates believable-sounding text, making it the perfect replacement for a typist. However, like other advanced AI chatbots, it has some limitations. Here we explore some of the reasons why ChatGPT is no substitute for a good professional writer.
1. ChatGPT often produces confusing and repetitive content
ChatGPT does a decent job of generating text that covers a wide range of topics. Ask them to write about a specific topic, such as “How to make pizza at home” or “The effects and consequences of World War II.” ChatGPT will list the ingredients you need and explain how to make a homemade pizza, and is coherent enough to describe the aftermath and impact of a world war.
However, the more you read the text generated by ChatGPT, the more likely you will notice that it uses generic phrases, resulting in content that is boring and repetitive with little detail. Not ideal when writing in-depth about complex or industry-specific topics.
However, there are ways to get better results from ChatGPT, as its output depends heavily on the data it was trained on and the quality or specificity of the prompts. So, while you can improve your suggestions to get better results, you still need writing experience and sufficient knowledge of the topic to improve their results and get an appropriate response.
2. ChatGPT is missing updated information
Large language models such as ChatGPT rely on training to generate text. This training involves feeding a large data set of text (often collected from the Internet) to the model, allowing it to recognize patterns and predict the next word or phrase. One of the biggest problems with OpenAI ChatGPT was the gap between its training and public release. ChatGPT’s training deadline is 2021, which means its current knowledge base is limited to the information available at that time. Since it cannot retrieve data from the Internet, you cannot rely on ChatGPT to post the latest trends or news. So it’s hard to see how ChatGPT can compete with journalists and professional writers who focus on current affairs.
3. ChatGPT often makes mistakes
ChatGPT can produce coherent and compelling content, but sometimes its output can be incorrect. This is not uncommon in new language models and can be partly attributed to a lack of knowledge and inability to obtain information from the Internet.
OpenAI is aware of this limitation and recommends double-checking ChatGPT’s output before using it for any purposes, and using the Dislike button to provide feedback if it generates incorrect sentences. However, you can hardly expect ChatGPT to generate error-free content without your guidance and review, which means you can’t rely on it for critical tasks. Therefore, you still need to rely on the expertise of a writer, editor or professional who understands the subject when it comes to solving critical tasks.
4. ChatGPT lacks the human touch
AI tools typically rely on their vast stores of training data to generate text, so AI writing often feels predictable and repetitive, lacking in new ideas and creativity. While ChatGPT appears to be better than most language models, it still lacks the human touch to bring new information and unique and valuable perspectives to the conversation.
Do you often read a story, article, book, or blog post by a particular author? That’s because some of the most talented writers often find ways to make their work stand out, offering fresh perspectives on even familiar topics. Some of these opinions may be interesting, thought provoking or inspiring – something that ChatGPT has yet to replicate. Furthermore, the words of human authors convey more than facts and opinions—they convey emotion and personality. It is the combination of these elements that brings content to life and makes it memorable and relevant. It creates a connection between the reader and the writer, and is sometimes as important as the accuracy of the message, and no simulation can replace that.
5. Google doesn’t like AI content
ChatGPT can generate human-like content in seconds for free (at the time of writing). And while a paid professional version of ChatGPT is inevitable, we bet it’s still cheaper than hiring a professional writer, so the idea of using AI to generate all your website content still seems appealing.
But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows, as Google isn’t exactly thrilled with AI-generated content. According to Google’s web search spam policy post, AI-generated text falls into the category of auto-generated spam, which can result in penalties such as a lower search ranking or no ranking at all. For those who wish to use ChatGPT for SEO purposes, do so at your own risk.
It is currently unclear whether Google can detect AI-generated content without human intervention. However, several AI content detectors have recently been developed to enable educators, publishers, and other stakeholders to discover AI-generated content. Some of these tools include OpenAI Hugging Face, AI Text Classifier, Content Volume, Copyleaks and more.
These tools use AI to analyze text, recognize patterns and other characteristics, and use that information to assign a probability score. In most cases, all you have to do is put in some text and the AI tool will give you a score that tells you how likely the text is to be generated by the AI. It’s safe to assume that Google also uses or plans to use similar tools to discover AI-generated content.
Skilled human writers still have a place in the age of artificial intelligence
While tools like ChatGPT won’t replace good writers anytime soon, that doesn’t mean AI won’t impact the writing industry. The reality is that AI is here to stay, and it’s very possible that writers who just repeat information without providing any unique perspectives and insights may not survive in the long run because it’s so easy to automate. Furthermore, we can also assume that AI tools like ChatGPT will be widely used to generate content and flood the web with obscene, fake and mass-produced AI text.
But just as the adoption of ready-to-wear and mass-produced clothing didn’t end niche fashion, but made it more valuable, so will high-quality content created by experienced, passionate and skilled writers. Their artistry, personality, unique insight and experience will always be an advantage over AI-generated content.
