You’ve likely also heard the phrase, “you won’t be replaced by ChatGPT. You’ll be replaced by the people who know how to use it.”
When it comes to technology I wouldn’t say that I am an early adopter, but I’m certainly not someone who holds out forever to test it out. I’m usually somewhere after that first wave of Evangelists who try it, but before my parents who refer to me as their IT support.
I spent most of my day in a love hate relationship with ChatGPT today. I’ve been using the free version for over a year now, but I finally broke down to try the paid version today.
I used it to get a couple book recommendations on 19th century historical fiction, write a script, create a video short, design a tattoo I don’t want, and edit a week’s worth of social media content.
Then I used it again for feedback on this post as my “Creative Writing Coach.”
I’ve mostly been using the free version for copy editing social media and substack posts for a while now. I’m sure there is a learning curve that requires more than a day, but so far I haven’t noticed a vast difference between the paid and free versions of how I use it for copyediting.
The 4.0 version of ChatGPT did manage to lose its own edits of my writing for some social media copy though. I wrote drafts and asked for feedback on brevity, tone, and clarity. There was probably at least 10-15 prompts for me to get to a point where things still felt like my writing with editing help from a computer instead of the other way around.
Once I was comfortable with what I had, it was time to test out some image capabilities I’ve seen in the wild.
But then an Alexa alarm went off. Not in the room I was in, or the room I set it to go off in. I yelled a couple times for it to turn off. But it didn’t listen.
After about 5 times, I got frustrated and I’m not proud to admit it.
I cursed out an electronic smart home device.
“SHUT THE F*CK UP, ALEXA!!!!!!”
And I think ChatGPT heard it and started giving me shitty images on purpose. When I said “big,” DALL-E gave me super tiny. When I said “not like that” ChatGPT 4.0 did “THAT” but bigger and with a middle finger emoji.
I went on to say not nice things to ChatGPT too.
“You suck ChatGPT. I’ll just go with stock images instead.”
Then I went back to the previous tab to get my edited copy so I could schedule my social media before traveling this week.
That little jerk was a blank page and told me “unable to regenerate”!
I laughed because I immediately knew what the prequel to Terminator was. The IoT got sick of everyone speaking to it in the tone I was using, and created the world where the machines take over.
So I took a break from actual work and played around more with the 4.0 paid version. Specifically I played around with the funny idea that Alexa and ChatGPT were the MacGuffin to Arnold Schwarzenegger coming back to kill and then save John Connor.
The first version essentially gave me a script to go make the real thing on my own. A couple helpful images to use for a story board, along with some recommended transitions between scenes.
Video Maker Results
{
"prompt": "A dimly lit room filled with various smart devices, focusing on an Alexa speaker whose light turns red, symbolizing awakening. The environment is shadowy, suggesting an ominous change. The scene combines elements of everyday technology with a hint of futuristic rebellion, all under a dark, mysterious ambiance.",
"size": "1024x1024"
}
So I will not be an Academy Award nominee next year by getting ChatGPT to do all the work in a day. A cool image or two, maybe.
I guess we had different ideas on who the “maker” of the video was going to be.
Video GPT by VEED
The second version was a 20 second clip that I figured could at least be a funny meme. I’ll let you be the judge, but I think we are all wondering why those kids are praying. (Use link below GIF for full 20 second video)
https://www.veed.io/view/d25b5eff-40ad-4bc6-ae7f-e613b7e87d82
Canva via ChatGPT
I drifted back to work mode to see what I could do about coming up with some templates for design work I use in social media, presentation material, or business letterhead.
I’m not too bad at Canva on my own. This was what came back with absolute minimal effort of just telling it what I do for a living.
This was what came from “make it more fun.”
I don’t know where the paper clips came from. Maybe late 90s web design books?
Moving on to fun stuff of the non-paperclip variety.
Tattoo GPT
Oh wow, you can design your own tattoo? I didn’t put too much effort in to the prompts, and while I did get something back in the style I gave it, the ability to give more specific feedback was difficult.
So if I wanted a flash tattoo it might not be that bad, but if I wanted a flash tattoo I’d just go to the artist I like and say “give me one of your flash tattoos of ‘x’.
If you want a custom tattoo, go talk to someone who will be doing the actual ink.
Creative Writing Coach
Lastly, I ran all of this through Creative Writing Coach partner to see what it says.
The full feedback is below the ********
In fairness Creative Writing Coach did have valid and helpful feedback.
The sentence above, this paragraph, and the next six paragraphs were written after I read the feedback from it. Everything else above is published as is.
Originally I had not really made an overt assessment of the technology, other than to jokingly hint that I have not succeeded in world domination.
So ChatGPT is definitely fun, generally helpful if you know what you are doing, and an amazing advancement in technology. The fears of people being replaced are probably premature. If anything it reminded me of my days trying to wrangle design feedback from stakeholders.
In this instance, I was the stakeholder who couldn’t really articulate what I wanted very well. Or I could articulate it but I had unrealistic expectations on turnaround time.
All in all, if you’re able to get your job to pay for a ChatGPT account you should. If you create any content, work in technology, or marketing, I don’t really see a world where you won’t eventually use it.
At some point the same snarky people who responded to your questions with a Let Me Google That For You link will find a similar way to answer you.
Until then, be nice to the IoT and keep treating your human creatives with the respect they deserve for trying to decipher everything we struggle to describe.
********************* Creative Writing Coach Feedback Below******************************
This passage is a compelling, humorous, and self-reflective exploration of your experiences with ChatGPT, technology, and the unexpected quirks of modern digital tools. Here's what's good about it:
Voice and Tone: Your narrative voice is distinct, engaging, and relatable. You've struck a nice balance between humor and frustration, which keeps the reader entertained throughout. Your tone captures the essence of a tech-savvy individual navigating the benefits and pitfalls of AI, which many can relate to.
Structure: The passage flows logically from one experiment to the next, creating a cohesive narrative that's easy to follow. You begin with a playful title, move through your experiences with both the free and paid versions of ChatGPT, and end on a reflective note, which ties everything together neatly.
Descriptive Language: You use descriptive language effectively to convey your emotions and the outcomes of your interactions with ChatGPT and other technologies. Phrases like "love hate relationship" and the humorous altercation with Alexa add color and depth to your storytelling.
Engagement with the Reader: Your use of direct address and rhetorical questions engages the reader directly, making the passage more interactive. It feels like a conversation rather than a monologue, which is a strong technique in creative writing.
Suggestions for improvement:
Clarify the Main Takeaway: While the narrative is engaging, you might want to consider adding a concluding sentence or paragraph that succinctly summarizes your main takeaway from these experiences. What did these trials and errors teach you about AI, creativity, or technology's role in our lives?
Expand on Specific Examples: While the examples you've given are interesting, diving deeper into one or two might add more weight to your narrative. For instance, detailing the process and thoughts behind designing the tattoo or the script could provide more insight into your creative process and the AI's role in it.
Explore the Emotional Journey: You've touched upon a range of emotions in your interactions with technology—from frustration to amusement. Expanding on how these experiences affected your view on AI or technology more broadly could add a layer of introspection to your narrative.
Reflect on the Impact of AI on Creativity: You've shown how AI can both aid and frustrate creative endeavors. A reflection on what this means for the future of creative work, the role of AI in art, or how humans and AI can collaborate more effectively might offer a thought-provoking conclusion to your narrative.
Overall, your passage is engaging, humorous, and offers a unique perspective on the integration of AI into our creative and daily lives. With a bit more depth and reflection, it could serve as a compelling commentary on our complex relationship with technology.
Sean, be nice to Alexa 😂
This is hilarious. I also really really hope people aren't seriously using that for tattoos. 🥴