The Future Of Writing
DescriptionAn article that explores the future of creativity and writing as AI advances.
MessageThis piece is part of the WRTN Day 2023 celebration.
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OpenAIIntroductionFor decades, humanity has dreamed—and feared—that computers would become capable of performing tasks once limited to human abilities. Now, that reality is here. Computers and their algorithms have advanced rapidly, taking over jobs traditionally performed by humans. One area long thought untouchable, however, was creativity: the uniquely human ability to generate original ideas. Yet, recent developments are challenging this assumption.
OpenAI, founded in 2015 by Sam Altman, Reid Hoffman, Jessica Livingston, Elon Musk, Ilya Sutskever, Peter Thiel, and others, has made significant strides in this field. Their latest breakthrough, ChatGPT, is a free-to-use chatbot powered by the GPT-3 language model. It synthesizes humanlike responses by analyzing vast amounts of data. This tool has achieved remarkable feats, passing law, medical, and other advanced exams. It has also revolutionized writing, with users employing it for homework, essays, and other tasks—often with results rivaling or exceeding their own efforts.
However, this innovation raises pressing questions: Who owns the content generated by AI? Is it the person who wrote the prompt, OpenAI, or the original creators whose works the AI draws from? And who is accountable for inaccuracies or offensive content? These are questions that have dominated discussions about AI writing, but what I have to say is not likely what you'd expect. So, join me in discussing the future of writing!
The Craving For Counterfeit CreativityThe demand for AI-generated writing has been growing for years. Many individuals and companies prefer AI-written content for its convenience and cost-effectiveness. This mirrors the automation seen in manufacturing, where robots and machines replaced human labor. ChatGPT’s rapid rise—becoming the fastest technology to reach 100 million users in just two months—underscores this demand. People are eager for "free," "accurate," and "humanlike" responses from advanced algorithms.
Despite concerns from artists and writers, there is undeniable excitement about this technology. After all, who wouldn’t appreciate doing less work? Microsoft’s $10 billion investment in OpenAI and the integration of GPT into products like Bing demonstrate the widespread belief in its potential to simplify life. Yet, the implications for the future of writing are complex.
The One Who WritesOne of the most significant debates surrounding AI-generated content is ownership. Can these responses be copyrighted? If so, by whom? Does OpenAI own the content, as ChatGPT itself suggests? Or does the prompt writer claim ownership for their "effort"? Alternatively, do the creators of the original works used to train the AI have a stake in this?
This issue is not unique to writing. AI-generated art has faced similar challenges, with tools like Stable Diffusion and MidJourney being sued by artists for using their works without permission. The U.S. Copyright Office has provided some clarity: AI-generated content cannot be copyrighted because copyright requires human authorship. This decision is likely to shape the future of AI writing.
What I ThinkTruly, this is not an open and shut case. By no means does AI not have a future in the sphere of general artistic endeavors. Most of those copyright suits had to do specifically AI-generated art, not writing, even though it is clear that the same ideas fall under it. Officially speaking, the one who owns all responses from ChatGPT is OpenAI, though the questions asked previously are still important.
To me, I think the technology behind it is truly fascinating, and even though it is clear that it seems almost like a direct attack on what I love most, I think there is a place in this world for AI. Let's just say I lean more on the optimistic side of things.
If it wasn't clear with the Elvis article, these programs can really do wonders, especially if you give it the right prompt (something I honestly didn't do). But do know, as WRTN promised before, that there will NEVER be any form of computer-created writing on this site again, and definitely without it being explicitly stated. Nor will we ever accept contributed works made in such a manner. Sure, WRTN is the home of everything written, but it is also a hub of art and true human creativity. This site is meant to be a place where people's love for writing is put out for all, and that is the commitment we plan to keep.
Ultimately, my thoughts on OpenAI, ChatGPT, and artificial intelligence, in general, are one of optimism, as I think the art of writing will continue on, regardless. And I also believe that it is CRITICAL that AI writing cannot be copyrighted, and, to me, that really destroys the point of it: to protect an artist's work. If there is anyone that should be able to own it, that would be the AI itself; not the company, not the prompt writer, not anyone. Though that's just my opinion, and trust me, you are welcome to see it differently. All of this is just the start, and unlike many of the buzzwords, trends, and general BS people spew, this is real; very real. So, take it that way.
ConclusionThe future of human creativity may be uncertain, but it is far from over. True artists will continue to thrive, as people will always seek genuine, human experiences beyond the synthesized walls of AI-generated content. Without a doubt, the world is changing, but instead of resisting it like so many have before, we need to take its hand and follow the journey. You're only left behind if you refuse to go; you'll never move forward if you're scared of what's in front of you. So take that hand, face that fear, because I know I will. Will you?
OpenAI, founded in 2015 by Sam Altman, Reid Hoffman, Jessica Livingston, Elon Musk, Ilya Sutskever, Peter Thiel, and others, has made significant strides in this field. Their latest breakthrough, ChatGPT, is a free-to-use chatbot powered by the GPT-3 language model. It synthesizes humanlike responses by analyzing vast amounts of data. This tool has achieved remarkable feats, passing law, medical, and other advanced exams. It has also revolutionized writing, with users employing it for homework, essays, and other tasks—often with results rivaling or exceeding their own efforts.
However, this innovation raises pressing questions: Who owns the content generated by AI? Is it the person who wrote the prompt, OpenAI, or the original creators whose works the AI draws from? And who is accountable for inaccuracies or offensive content? These are questions that have dominated discussions about AI writing, but what I have to say is not likely what you'd expect. So, join me in discussing the future of writing!
The Craving For Counterfeit CreativityThe demand for AI-generated writing has been growing for years. Many individuals and companies prefer AI-written content for its convenience and cost-effectiveness. This mirrors the automation seen in manufacturing, where robots and machines replaced human labor. ChatGPT’s rapid rise—becoming the fastest technology to reach 100 million users in just two months—underscores this demand. People are eager for "free," "accurate," and "humanlike" responses from advanced algorithms.
Despite concerns from artists and writers, there is undeniable excitement about this technology. After all, who wouldn’t appreciate doing less work? Microsoft’s $10 billion investment in OpenAI and the integration of GPT into products like Bing demonstrate the widespread belief in its potential to simplify life. Yet, the implications for the future of writing are complex.
The One Who WritesOne of the most significant debates surrounding AI-generated content is ownership. Can these responses be copyrighted? If so, by whom? Does OpenAI own the content, as ChatGPT itself suggests? Or does the prompt writer claim ownership for their "effort"? Alternatively, do the creators of the original works used to train the AI have a stake in this?
This issue is not unique to writing. AI-generated art has faced similar challenges, with tools like Stable Diffusion and MidJourney being sued by artists for using their works without permission. The U.S. Copyright Office has provided some clarity: AI-generated content cannot be copyrighted because copyright requires human authorship. This decision is likely to shape the future of AI writing.
What I ThinkTruly, this is not an open and shut case. By no means does AI not have a future in the sphere of general artistic endeavors. Most of those copyright suits had to do specifically AI-generated art, not writing, even though it is clear that the same ideas fall under it. Officially speaking, the one who owns all responses from ChatGPT is OpenAI, though the questions asked previously are still important.
To me, I think the technology behind it is truly fascinating, and even though it is clear that it seems almost like a direct attack on what I love most, I think there is a place in this world for AI. Let's just say I lean more on the optimistic side of things.
If it wasn't clear with the Elvis article, these programs can really do wonders, especially if you give it the right prompt (something I honestly didn't do). But do know, as WRTN promised before, that there will NEVER be any form of computer-created writing on this site again, and definitely without it being explicitly stated. Nor will we ever accept contributed works made in such a manner. Sure, WRTN is the home of everything written, but it is also a hub of art and true human creativity. This site is meant to be a place where people's love for writing is put out for all, and that is the commitment we plan to keep.
Ultimately, my thoughts on OpenAI, ChatGPT, and artificial intelligence, in general, are one of optimism, as I think the art of writing will continue on, regardless. And I also believe that it is CRITICAL that AI writing cannot be copyrighted, and, to me, that really destroys the point of it: to protect an artist's work. If there is anyone that should be able to own it, that would be the AI itself; not the company, not the prompt writer, not anyone. Though that's just my opinion, and trust me, you are welcome to see it differently. All of this is just the start, and unlike many of the buzzwords, trends, and general BS people spew, this is real; very real. So, take it that way.
ConclusionThe future of human creativity may be uncertain, but it is far from over. True artists will continue to thrive, as people will always seek genuine, human experiences beyond the synthesized walls of AI-generated content. Without a doubt, the world is changing, but instead of resisting it like so many have before, we need to take its hand and follow the journey. You're only left behind if you refuse to go; you'll never move forward if you're scared of what's in front of you. So take that hand, face that fear, because I know I will. Will you?
