Chat GPT
...and what will happen to writer's jobs
There has been a lot of chatter lately about A.I. and the changes it may bring to life as we know it. I won’t pretend to be an expert, but I have spent some time playing around with Chat GPT, and I’ll admit, I thought it was impressive what it could do. As a writer, of course, I wanted to see if I had anything to worry about. I’ve heard The Question bandied about: could A.I. put writers out of business? I don’t believe so--at least not for creative writing-- but I’m fascinated by the questions that arise from following the rabbit trails uncovered by the emergence of applications such as Chat GPT. The big questions rolling around in my mind as a result of this chatter have to do with humanity, creativity, and what it means to be made in the image of God.
When I asked Chat GPT what it means to be made in the image of God, here’s what it said:
“The concept of being made in the image of God refers to the belief in many monotheistic religions, such as Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, that humans are created by God in his image. This belief is based on a passage in the book of Genesis in the Bible, which states that "God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."
The exact meaning of being made in the image of God is open to interpretation and has been debated among theologians throughout history. Some understand this to mean that humans possess qualities that are reflective of God's character, such as morality, reason, and the capacity for love. Others believe it refers to the spiritual aspect of human nature, and that humans have a soul that is made in the image of God.
Regardless of the interpretation, the concept of being made in the image of God is considered significant in many religious traditions as it emphasizes the inherent worth and dignity of each individual, and highlights the unique and special relationship between humans and their creator.”
The computer-generated answer above is adequate for giving basic information, and there’s a place for this style of writing, but something is missing. It lacks personality or soul. Maybe my opinion shows bias. I hope not. Of course, I want to think humans are better at writing than machines, but objectively, I believe this is still the case.
Last night I finished reading a novel called The Brothers K by David James Duncan. It was one of the most beautifully written novels I have ever consumed. It will forever be a part of me because the story touched my soul and helped me connect more deeply with humanity. Some passages stopped me in my tracks. There were sentences where I found myself re-reading and getting misty-eyed.
Here’s one of my favorite quotes from The Brothers K:
“I'd trapped myself in a script.... But to be scripted at all is to be prepackaged, programmed, pinned to a page. Only the unwritten can truly live a life. So who I was, what I was, had to be unwritten.” ― David James Duncan, The Brothers K.
The author uses metaphor and connects with universal human experiences to create a fictional world that speaks to what unites us. He can do this because he is human and made in the image of God. Our need and ability to create and seek connection and beauty is a special gift. Writing is just one example of this, but the big idea is that our humanity is precious and unique.
A machine can curate and synthesize already existing information, but it can’t create or connect the same way humans do. My belief is that A.I. applications such as Chat GPI can--and will--raise the bar on what is considered “good” writing. Writers who want their work to stand apart from machine-generated content will have to dig deeper and speak to the heart. Good mechanics, proper language usage, and accurate information will become the baseline--the bare minimum. Readers will, undoubtedly, develop a greater sensitivity for voice and be able to distinguish more readily between A.I. and human writing. There will be a higher standard. I’m optimistic about this. My hope is that A.I. will be a wake-up call to help us all place a greater value on what makes us human and appreciate each other all the more. And that hope goes far beyond writing.
“My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.” — Desmond Tutu
***Some questions to ponder: Do you think you’ll ever read an A.I. written novel? Do you think you would know the difference?
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May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you: wherever he may send you; may he guide you through the wilderness: protect you through the storm; may he bring you home rejoicing: at the wonders, he has shown you: may he bring you home rejoicing: once again into our doors.
