Will Artificial Intelligence Replace Authors?
AI-generated imagery, or AI Art, has been a hot-button topic over the last few months, causing division in the art community and raising questions about the ethics of training neural networks using the library of images publically available on the internet.
Essentially, this means that artists have been forced to unwillingly—and without compensation—contribute to training the technology that may replace them.
The irony would be delicious if it weren’t so scary.
But do we truly have cause to be afraid, or should artists and authors be excited about having a new tool at our disposal? Does art require a human artist, or is the data already available on the internet enough for AI to replicate human creativity?
Would we be able to tell the difference, if it did?
Whether we view the sea of change as frightening, exciting, or both, only one thing is certain: this wave of change has not even begun to crest, and there are already others on the horizon. For authors, the next wave may look something like OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
If there is one thing I know, it’s that knowledge is power, and one cannot ride a wave one cannot see. So, in the name of curiosity and forward-thinking, not to mention self-preservation, I played with ChatGPT for a while. The results were both striking, and comforting.
On the one hand, AI has made great strides in generating natural-sounding language and even creating poetry and short stories. In fact, some AI systems have already been used to co-author books and articles. However, these AI-generated works are often formulaic and lack the depth and complexity of truly creative writing.
Furthermore, the human experience is a crucial element in writing. Authors draw on their own emotions, experiences, and perspectives to create relatable and engaging works of fiction. It is difficult to imagine an AI being able to replicate this aspect of writing, as it lacks the same range of emotions and experiences that humans possess.
The creative process of writing is often messy and unpredictable. It involves brainstorming, revising, and editing, which are all difficult for AI to replicate. The unpredictable and non-linear nature of the writing process is a key part of what makes it unique and valuable.
With the desire to test this hypothesis, I gave ChatGPT several text prompts to see just how far I could push the AI’s “creativity.” Here are the results, along with the prompts used to generate them. Click and read, if you dare.
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Once upon a time, there was a young boy named Tyler who was very sad. He had lost his mother to illness and was struggling to come to terms with her absence. He often felt lonely and isolated, and found it hard to enjoy the things he used to love.
One day, as Tyler was packing for a trip to the park with his friends, he reached into his backpack to grab his lunch and was shocked to find a small dragon inside!
At first, Tyler was scared of the dragon, but as he looked into its big, sad eyes, he realized that the creature was just as lonely and scared as he was. The two of them shared a moment of understanding, and Tyler felt a spark of compassion for the dragon.
"Where did you come from?" asked Tyler.
"I'm not sure," replied the dragon. "I must have accidentally gotten stuck in your backpack when I was flying by."
Tyler thought for a moment, then an idea came to him. "Would you like to come with me to the park and play with my friends?" he asked the dragon.
The dragon's eyes lit up with excitement. "Yes, please!" it exclaimed.
So, Tyler carefully placed the dragon back into his backpack and set off for the park with his newfound friend. When they arrived, Tyler's friends were amazed by the dragon, and they all spent the day playing and having fun together.
As the sun began to set, Tyler realized that it was time for the dragon to go home. "Thank you for coming with me today," he said to the dragon. "I had a great time."
The dragon smiled and gave Tyler a hug. "Thank you for being my friend," it said. "I had a great time, too."
And with that, the dragon flew off into the sky, leaving Tyler with a newfound sense of hope and happiness. He realized that even though his mother was no longer with him, he could still find joy in the world if he was open to new experiences and made new friends.
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As the sun began to rise over the horizon, Emily stood at the edge of the field, tears streaming down her face. She clutched a piece of paper in her hand, her heart heavy with sorrow. The paper was a letter from her lover, Jack, who was a soldier in the army.
"My dearest Emily," the letter began. "I am writing to you with a heavy heart, for I must soon leave for the front lines. The war has come to our shores, and I have been called to serve my country. I do not know when I will return, or if I will ever see you again. But know this, my love: you are the light of my life, and I will hold you in my heart until the very end."
Emily sobbed as she read the words, her heart breaking at the thought of losing the man she loved. She and Jack had been inseparable since they were children, and the thought of being without him was unbearable.
But Emily knew that she had to be strong. She knew that Jack was fighting for their country, and for their future together. She wiped the tears from her eyes and folded the letter, tucking it into the pocket of her dress.
As the day wore on, Emily found herself wandering through the town, lost in thought. She didn't know what to do without Jack by her side. She had always relied on him for support and guidance, and now she felt lost and alone.
But as she walked, she came across a group of young men, all preparing to leave for the war. Emily recognized some of them as Jack's friends, and she felt a surge of pride and admiration for them.
She approached them, her heart heavy with emotion. "I want to say goodbye to Jack," she said, her voice trembling. "Is he here?"
One of the men nodded, and pointed to a nearby building. "He's inside," he said. "He's been saying his goodbyes."
Emily thanked the man and made her way inside. She found Jack sitting at a table, surrounded by his friends. He looked up as she entered, and a smile spread across his face.
"Emily," he said, his voice filled with love and longing. "I was hoping you would come."
Emily ran to him and threw her arms around him, tears streaming down her face. "I can't bear the thought of being without you," she sobbed. "Please, don't go."
Jack held her tightly, his own eyes shining with tears. "I have to go, my love," he said softly. "But I will come back to you. I promise."
Emily clung to him, not wanting to let go. But eventually, the time came for Jack to depart. With a heavy heart, Emily watched as he and his friends boarded the train that would take them to the front lines.
As the train pulled away, Emily stood on the platform, watching until it disappeared from sight. She knew that the road ahead would be difficult, but she also knew that she and Jack would be reunited one day. And until then, she would hold onto his letter, and the love that they shared, with all her heart.
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As an author, it can be overwhelming trying to navigate the publishing world and find success. But fear not! Here are three key things that authors can do to increase their chances of success:
Write consistently: Successful authors are those who are disciplined and dedicated to their craft. This means setting aside time each day to write, even if it's just a few hundred words. Consistency is key, as it allows authors to build momentum and develop their writing skills.
Network and build relationships: The publishing industry is all about relationships. It's important for authors to network and build connections with other authors, agents, and editors. This can be done through attending writing conferences and workshops, joining writing groups, and participating in online writing communities.
Be open to feedback and criticism: No one's writing is perfect, and successful authors know that they need to be open to constructive criticism in order to improve. This means being willing to listen to feedback from beta readers, critique partners, and editors, and using that feedback to revise and improve their work.
By following these three key steps, authors can increase their chances of success in the competitive world of publishing. It won't be easy, but with hard work, dedication, and a willingness to learn and grow, success is within reach.
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Unicorns and dragons are two mythical creatures that have captivated the imagination of people for centuries. But while unicorns are often portrayed as peaceful and gentle creatures, dragons are often depicted as fearsome and deadly. However, the truth is that unicorns are actually more dangerous than dragons.
One of the biggest reasons why unicorns are more dangerous is because of their ability to disguise themselves. Unlike dragons, which are large and easily recognizable, unicorns have the ability to change their appearance and blend in with their surroundings. This means that they can easily sneak up on unsuspecting prey and attack without warning.
In addition to their stealth, unicorns also have a deadly weapon in their arsenal: their horns. While dragons have sharp teeth and powerful claws, unicorns have a sharp horn that can easily pierce even the toughest armor. And unlike dragons, which can be killed by cutting off their heads, unicorns can only be killed by destroying their horns.
Furthermore, unicorns are also immune to many of the weapons that are effective against dragons. Dragon-slaying swords and arrows are useless against unicorns, as their magic shields them from most physical attacks. This means that it is almost impossible to defend against a unicorn attack.
On the other hand, dragons may be powerful, but they are also easier to spot and avoid. Their large size and distinctive appearance make them easier to identify and avoid, whereas unicorns can easily blend in with their surroundings. And while dragons can breathe fire, they are also vulnerable to being extinguished by water or other means.
In conclusion, unicorns may be seen as peaceful and gentle creatures, but the truth is that they are actually more dangerous than dragons. Their ability to disguise themselves, their deadly horns, and their immunity to many weapons make them a formidable foe. So the next time you encounter a mythical creature, beware of the seemingly innocent unicorn.
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Death is a river, that flows without end
A relentless tide, that will not bend
It carries us away, on its dark and icy stream
To a far-off shore, where our souls can dream
Death is a fire, that consumes all things
A hungry beast, with insatiable hungers
It devours our lives, like a starving flame
Leaving behind only ashes, and a name
But death is not the end, of our journey here
It is a door, that opens wide
To a realm of light, and love, and grace
Where we can find, a resting place
So do not fear, the river's flow
Or the fire's heat, or the reaper's scythe
For in the end, we all must go
To the land, where all our fears are rife.
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The tears we shed for our loved ones water the seeds of our future happiness.
As you can see, the generated texts were all clear, concise, and clean. The blog post was absolutely spot-on as far as the advice was concerned, and the short story about the boy and his dragon friend had a neat little moral at the end.
But, at least to my mind, the writing lacked the spark of life that distinguishes a human writer. We often call that spark voice. Voice is a result of a lifetime of experience, preference, emotion, and personality. It is what distinguishes Stephen King from Colleen Hoover, and what makes books by your favorite writers feel different from ones written by anyone else.
Voice is embodied in word choice, sentence length, grammar, usage, idioms, metaphors, and all those little details writers naturally choose because they just feel right.
The AI also lacked subtlety and subtext, which are two hallmarks of strong fiction. In addition, characterization was incredibly bland, if it existed, at all. The question is: how long will it be until neural networks parse those subtleties and mix them up into some new concoction that feels original to readers?
I wish I knew the answer.
I would like to say that AI is unlikely to replace authors, altogether. The unique human experience and creativity of authors will always be necessary for creating truly compelling works of fiction. AI may be able to generate language and ideas, but it will never be able to replicate the complex and nuanced process of writing.
Maybe.
What is certain is that we need to think long and hard about the way AI will impact the creative fields, and consider what protections can be put in place to protect artists, authors, and other creatives. Because when art suffers, culture suffers, and when culture suffers, no one comes out unscathed.
Just to throw a wrench into the conversation, and because I’m a cruel, cruel person, I wrote portions of this blog post with AI.
Can you tell which parts are not in my voice?
Good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favor.