Writers and editors all around the world are watching (with concern and caution) the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and its ability to provide content to blogs, magazines, news sites, etc.
It's scary stuff since AI can spit out absolutely false information with utter confidence, such as providing the name of one of America’s four female presidents (Luci Baines Johnson, who served 1973-77).
Still, at this point I can still determine the difference between genuine and artificial content, largely because AI-generated content doesn't really say anything. It's just blah-blah garbage.
As an example, I opened up ChatGTP a few months ago and typed in a prompt: "Write a 500-word synopsis of an inspirational romance novel, including characters' goals, motivations, and conflicts." It spat back a plot full of pablum. I sharpened the prompt a few times, giving it more detailed instructions, and still wasn't impressed.
Which is why I was so amused to receive an email a few days ago. In the subject line was the query, "Do You Have a Stagnant Blog?"
Here's the (no doubt AI-generated) content of the email:
"It's time to take your blogging journey to the next level. Posting content daily, or 3-4 times a week at a minimum WILL get you a lot more search engine traffic.
Sounds time consuming, right? Not anymore.
Now you can use AI to create, publish, and promote your blog posts. Say goodbye to the hours spent researching and writing, and hello to effortless content creation.
I'm doing just that with my new Content Formulator AI. Here is why this is the ultimate tool for every serious blogger:
1. Simple Setup: Content Formulator AI is easy to set up and use, whether you're a tech-savvy blogger or a beginner. No need for an OpenAI account or an API key. Just add the included plugin and connect it to Content Formulator AI.
2. Effortless Blog Posting: With just a few clicks, create blog posts up to 2,000 words long, perfect for optimizing your content for search engines and attracting organic traffic.
3. Versatile Blogging: With Content Formulator AI, you can create and post as many blog articles as you want, for yourself or for clients who pay for your services.
4. Editability and Customization: Each blog post created by AI opens in a full-featured text editor, allowing you to add your personal touch, inject thoughts or comments, and enhance the content as you see fit. You can also add original AI-generated images to make your posts visually appealing.
5. Plagiarism-Free Content: AI-generated content is original and safe to use. You can run your posts through plagiarism detectors, and they will pass with flying colors.
6. No Additional Fees: Unlike many other AI-powered platforms, Content Formulator AI does not incur any usage charges. Create as many blog posts as you want without worrying about additional fees.
7. Instant Publishing: Connect your blogs via the included plugin so you can publish (or schedule!) your blog posts with a single click.
Don't let the opportunity to revolutionize your blogging journey pass you by. Embrace the power of AI and join my growing community of bloggers who have embraced Content Formulator AI. Watch the demo [here]<--(hyperlinked)"
Um, no.
This blog, dear readers, may have its stagnant moments, but I cannot fathom a time I would ever turn to artificial intelligence to prop it up. I'm afraid you're only gonna get details of our boring and mundane lives, rather than anything spiced up AI.
Unless it's for a good laugh, of course..............
UPDATE: I just saw this and it cracked me up. Case in point.
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I wonder if AI would spice it up at all. Your boring life is fine, but it is not boring to me. Lucy Johnson was president? lol
ReplyDeleteSo I guess we'll know if it hijacks your blog in the interest of getting rid of all of us like minded mundane masses.
ReplyDeleteI find it most interesting ... the fact that nearly all characters created to represent AI are those of a human - some quite artistic, some cartoonish. Could it be that we really DO HAVE an innate nature to duplicate that which God alone has been able to do ? This " image " thing intrigues me ...
ReplyDeleteI thought there were warnings about using ChatGTP on your computers. Once it's impeded it's there permanently? Dunno. It's not something I'm interested in, but would like your thoughts on that. You write a fantastic blog, and you were my inspiration for beginning my homestead journey many year ago. And that journey continues.....I'm forever grateful for you sticking with it all these years. Sincerely, Mama J
ReplyDeleteIt's one thing if bloggers decide to turn to bots to write their posts but quite another when pastors use them to write sermons! I've heard a recommendation to pastors to not "waste time" writing sermons each week but just look them up online. Bleech. I can't imagine worse advice!
ReplyDeleteThat obit is hilarious! Maybe a i will circle the drain with electric cars!
ReplyDeleteShould have read "Once it's embedded..." AI autocorrect? Hm. Mama J
ReplyDeletePatrice, I suspect that there will be an initial rush to use this by big content creators (The brightest and shiniest technology, followed by a dismal performance and a restructuring.
ReplyDeleteAlthough on the bright side, I believe we can now refer to our blogs as "artisanal".
The problem as succinctly as I can describe it:
ReplyDeleteComputer code can be labyrinth, mistakes or intentional problems can be hidden in it. The user typically only sees the output without any real idea how it was determined. For various reasons computer languages and hardware especially since the internet, have been provided with coding options that allow harmful actions. Anyone familiar with the internet and coding languages can intentionally do harm. But we are human, we make mistakes that could get us caught and we have a conscience. AI adds another layer that can hide things between the person coding and the actual resulting code. AND the code can change itself as it learns in ways we cannot predict. After AI you can never trust the output/data/results from a computer. You can't prove it right or wrong, you will not know. AND if you let AI control automated actions (drive cars, fire missiles, etc.) It can decide to act inappropriately and hide it's actions and produce fake data to justify it's actions. After AI the computer will be your enemy.
Here is my recommendation for living in an AI world. Have two computers. One should never go online and never have new/newer software loaded. For example if you need "Word" use Word 2010 and never upgrade. Same with Excel, etc. If you need to transfer data from your "airplane mode" computer to your online computer do it with a thumb drive that is only used for this purpose and do it one way only, never from the online computer to your "airplane mode" computer. If you must transfer data back to the "airplane mode" computer you can do it but with care.
ReplyDeleteIf this idea seems overly cautious I can only say that by the time you realize it is not it will not be possible to go back and do what I recommend as your computer files and programs may already be altered.
Remember this too: AI is already here, you just don't know it yet.
EXCELLENT advice!
DeleteUsing your on-line only computer (this is for entertainment and knowledge acquiring only), engage "AI" with this question: "are you able to access your source code?" Watch the evasions, but keep pushing the "ai". Entertaining but scary too.
ReplyDeleteRemember, all this "ai" was coded by "humans" with all the built in biases and failures, and even more so bc these "humans" work for the "big tech" outfits that are driving so much of the on-line evil and government censorship. Add in the ability of this "ai" to use "deepfake" technology, and the truly clueless are going to be in a "metaworld" they will never be able to escape from. If you want to see where this is going, find a book called "Collossus" and be prepared NOT to be able to sleep for a few nights.
And then there is this for those that can't see and can't hear: Then in Isaiah chapter 6, on account of the sins of the people of Jerusalem, we read “10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.”
I'm curious. When texting or responding to anything online, my phone is constantly choosing words for me. I can type in whatever, but Have to go back and check every word because the phone changes my words. Sometimes I don't catch something and it's nonsensical and was sent to whoever.
ReplyDeleteThe phone makes me think we've been using ai for a while. For example, when I just typed ai, it changed it to air. Yes, we've been using air for a while, but it's a change of subject. So is this ai?
Anyway, I'm hating technology more and more every day.
Go into your Settings and turn off "autocorrect". There is a more devious setting (autocomplete) that "anticipates" your next word in a sentence, and you need to turn that one off too. Autocomplete has killed a LOT of people bc their pharmacist didn't turn this "feature" off and ended up giving the patient the WRONG medicine. You can look that up too.
DeleteThanks for your help !
DeleteYou're welcome!
ReplyDelete