ChatGPT and the rise of Neo-Luddites
When I first heard about ChatGPT I was skeptical. I’m a long-time content writer and over the years I’ve tried every AI writer under the sun. They always fall short.
So my skepticism was justified.
But then I tried ChatGPT…WOW. I was impressed. So much so, in fact, it sent me into something like a defensive existential crisis.
“Well ChatGPT can whip out fine objective content but can it give opinions? Can it write artfully? Can it do this or that…”
I’ve played with ChatGPT a lot since then and the answer to most of those questions is yes, it can.
Don’t get me wrong, ChatGPT isn’t James Joyce — but how many human content writers are James Joyce?
And that’s the point: ChatGPT IS a disruptive technology, and it’s going to impact human content writers and other white-collar workers who either can’t or won’t adapt to the times.
I’m not putting an ethical spin on this. I’m not saying that this is good or bad — it simply IS. And trust me, you don’t want to be a Neo-Luddite.
By my definition, a Neo-Luddite is, yes, a modern Luddite. The original Luddites were British textile workers who were against the use of mechanized looms. This group was comprised of master weavers and artisans who spent years honing their craft, and THEN along came these machines able to do what they did for cheaper, faster.
Sound familiar? In retrospect, the Luddite's resistance was obviously futile. So let’s not repeat the same mistakes. I say this to any fellow content writers who are considering what ChatGPT means for their future.
I’m not sure about the ethics of ChatGPT. After my initial defensiveness dissolved I had to admit that there isn’t really anything inherently wrong with ChatGPT. In fact, it’s a really cool and useful tool. For my, it’s been an amplifier. But it DOES mean that we content writers can not get complacent. It’s time to up our games, to think about the future or search and how people will access information in the future.
I’ll give a few hints as to where I see things going:
First, objective question-and-answer type content writing is dead. If you’re a content writer who is specializing in straightforward answers to question-based Google searches, get on LinkedIn, because you’re jobs probably on the way out.
Second, for content writers committed to the craft and willing to elevate, start learning new ways to create incredibly high-quality content that blends the written word with video clips, human opinions, dynamic polls, and more…Remember, there is one thing that AIs can’t do — and that’s replicate human EXPERIENCE. Google knows this and will factor this into its search rankings. For instance, if you’re writing an article on how to fix a cracked drain pipe — take the time to get specific advice and quotes from an experienced plumber, and include that content in your article, then include a video clip of the advice in the article, then some pictures showing the process…It’s THIS type of very high-quality content that will continue to be the parlance of human writers for the foreseeable future. Use ChatGPT when are where it makes sense to use it, and add the human touch. Don’t get caught sleeping and become an embittered n=Neo-Luddite, that’s no way to live. This isn’t an ethical dilemma, not in my estimation, it’s a practical one, so act accordingly.
