Prompt- Stochastic Parrots: Consider whether AI can be truly innovative or if it simply reproduces patterns from existing data. What are the implications of this for areas like journalism, creative writing, or decision-making systems?
When I plugged this prompt into ChatGPT, it immediately explained that AI technology is generated completely from reproduced patterns rather than genuine creativity and authenticity like the human mind. This new wave of AI learning can only lead to a lack of originality and critical thinking skills. I think AI can be helpful in building mathematical formulas or creating outlines, but I see no benefit in implementing AI into journalism and creative writing.
Dangers of AI in Creative Writing
If we allow AI to take over creative writing and literature, then the implications would be massive. I think the world knows this already, but the issue is we are taking baby steps to this outcome by opening the door to AI use in classrooms and in jobs. In my opinion AI is like a gateway drug, a little then leads to over reliance. Ai generated ideas take over the beauty of human experience and human experience cannot be captured by algorithms.
Dangers in Journalism
The joy of storytelling takes place in journalism, great journalists are “great” because they have the hands-on approach and are able to see emotion unfold on a personal level in their storytelling, with on scene witnesses or having personal experience themselves. Lacking personal experience is an understatement when using AI generated news articles, especially since they can generate them at supersonic speed. For example, it took milliseconds to answer this prompt when I entered it on ChatGPT. Perspective matters when telling a story and having computer generated accounts and narratives doesn’t create a good one.
References:
Through my research (unfortunately Chatgpt’s as well) the best article on this topic about stochastic parrots was by Emily Bender with the University of Washington.
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