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One of my favorite daily routines consists of reading the New York Times. I subscribed sometime last year, and I honestly think this is one of the best of my subscription investments.
I was scrolling through the New York Times page when I stumbled upon an article “ Did a fourth grader write this? Or the new chatbot”. The title personally picked my interest, so I clicked on the link and got comfortable reading.
I have confessed previously that I have a certain “lacune” when it comes to technology, I understand its impact on the world we live in nonetheless for some reason I will never be in the mix of the latest trends or know about the newer discovery. (Late 1980s baby here) all that to explain that it was my first time learning about Chatbot.
As I was going through the article, I was shocked, and some type of fear started building because I can recollect that my love for writing and reading started around that age. Back then in Haiti, everything was recorded with a pencil and paper and one of the best gifts you could receive from a relative or parent was a blank journal. (I still have all my letters and journal archives).
The article is actually a study in which the subtitle in black and white says and I quote “Don’t be surprised if you can’t always tell. Neither could a fourth grader teacher – or Judy Blume “
Furthermore, the article describes how basically a machine imitates a fourth grader given an essay, and scientists and teachers from the field of education could differentiate between a child and a bot.
I proceed to take the test myself and fell miserably, I was so disturbed by not being able to determine clearly who was a real little kid pouring their heart out from a computer-fabricated essay.
My concern is if we are already discouraging the little ones to write because a computer can do the same as their creativity, what is left for writing?
I haven’t met a blogger, writer, or creative whose talent and amour de l’ écriture for art not developed from their childhood, also combine from a bond relationship to pursue interest from their own creativity from school encouraged by a favorite teacher, family, peers or their entourage.
As much as one can be astonished by A. I capacity to imitate the human brain, but this one does not feel quite right to me, I will continue to research and maybe have a more objective opinion of this subject.
As of now, I realize that once again, I was late on the newest ripple effect of technology, I texted my husband to ask if he was aware of Chatbot and he responded yes. I went through a long conversation on how this new technology will affect my future and the generation of writers to come.
I proceed to read more and more as I discovered in other articles that thousands of teachers have also attached the new technology as an anomaly for the education system.
This quote is a summary of my opinion on this post. Are we at the point of “ l’excès en tout nuit” when it comes to technology? Maybe yes and what can I do? It is too late. Will writing become a fad? What’s next?
“Over-promising the scope of change created by technology and the possibilities of business and finance to a new generation will lead only to disaffection as these promises falter.”
By Mihir A. Desai
Mr. Desai is a professor at Harvard Business School and Harvard Law School.
Do you also think we are at a turning point for writing? Would you use this technology? If yes why? If negative is also the reason, do you think we have reached too far, or is it just the next step?
Let me know your opinion in the comments
Thank you for reading
