How can writing be trusted with AI on the rise?
Writing is an act of trust between writer and reader that AI may disrupt
AI tools, such as ChatGPT, are revolutionizing writing. They can understand your writing style and who you are writing to, making them an invaluable tool. However, the growing use of AI in writing raises concerns about trust. While AI can help generate ideas which make writing easier and more creative, it also blurs the line between human and AI-generated content. It is important to consider how we trust what we read in a world where AI will increasingly continue to play a role in the writing process.
How would you feel if I told you that the previous paragraph was generated by AI and edited by me? By asking ChatGPT a series of iterative prompts, I was able to generate a paragraph that was ~70% of the way there. Some elements were redundant, other elements were not in my ‘voice’, and overall I thought what ChatGPT generated was too long. However, what would have taken me 10 minutes to write, took me 5 to generate/edit. For transparency’s sake, I do not plan to use ChatGPT for writing my Substack and only used it here to make a point. If you are curious as to what prompts I used, the writing that ChatGPT gave, and how I modified the writing to create the final introduction paragraph they will be at the end of this Substack (spoiler alert: I did a lot of editing).
With this exercise, I wanted to demonstrate how it is increasingly difficult to distinguish if ChatGPT has been utilized to help with writing because it does such a good job writing like a human. A recent report from Microsoft and LinkedIn found that: “52% of people who use AI at work are reluctant to admit to using it for their most important tasks.” If people in their jobs are cautious to say they are using AI, then I would bet that number is much higher for content creators, writers, and other creatives who can often get stuck with writer’s block/idea generation which is something generative AI is supremely good at helping with. There is also no accountability amongst writers for reporting if AI is utilized.
Within my field of Medical Writing, discussions are ongoing regarding the place that AI may fit into our work one day because of the proprietary data we work with, concerns of the accuracy of AI when reporting clinical data, and the very real issue of AI being unable to provide references for claims that it makes (or to just provide fake references).
Within my personal life, I am trying to use AI more for some tasks to help me think beyond myself. I recently gave a keynote lecture and after creating the outline and talk track for my talk, I asked AI to provide me a structure/format for creating a keynote lecture. This allowed me to compare my outline and see if there was anything potentially missing that I should include. I also asked AI to generate 10 personas of graduate students and to ask these 10 students questions for the Q&A part of the keynote. I was able use this information and prepare some answers to potential questions that I had never thought of before.
As I am delving into the writing foray consistently and hope to one day write a book, I am intrigued by how the landscape of what we read will be shaped by the influx of AI usage. The same report I mentioned earlier, says that writers are in the top 20 professions that are taking courses on LinkedIn to learn AI and there are Substacks dedicated to help writers use AI for their writing (
). People consistently report that they would trust something written by an AI less, however, a recent study of Linguistics professors found they were unable to distinguish between something written by AI from something written by a human.Last year, there was a kerfuffle on X regarding a certain Christian book that a lot of Christians endorsed…without reading the book. When the book was discovered to have some questionable content all hell broke loose as these book endorsers tried to scramble and explain why they put their name to something that they did not read. This is a prime example of someone’s name and trust being now forever questioned due to their false attestation of reading a book.
wrote a great article about the overall issue of Christian book endorsements and said “These days, I decline most endorsement requests, because there’s not time to read them and conflicts of interest prevent me from assessing honestly.”Honesty is a valuable commodity and that can not be manufactured. It takes time, intentionality, and occurs organically. What does trusting the veracity of someone’s writing look like in a society where it is harder and harder to tell what is real? I obviously do not have the answer to this question, but I think an answer does begin with transparency. I believe people are more likely to be understanding of AI usage in writing when it is abundantly clear when and how it is used. This may not require the granularity of my prompts/responses below, but I think there should be an acknowledgement that a writer used AI for ideating, creating an outline, coming up with a clever title, etc. However, there is still an element of subjectivity inherent in this acknowledgement when the minute details of prompting are not being shared, as people define AI usage differently. That is where trust comes into play. Each writer’s audience is putting an inherent level of trust in the writer by subscribing to and reading their content.
My commitment to honesty and transparency to my readers is that if I ever use AI to help me ideate or generate content, it will be abundantly clear. However, I do not expect to use AI often because I value the moments of writing that are confusing and murky, but then all of a sudden result in words and ideas coming together in beautiful harmony. The craft of writing for me involves the struggle and while I believe AI could help me work through this struggle faster, there is a lot of value in persisting through something difficult.
For other Substackers/writers, how do you feel about the increasing use of AI and how are you incorporating it (or not) into your writing process?
Conversation with ChatGPT to generate the introduction paragraph
Prompt: Please write me a 1 paragraph summary of how AI is being increasingly used for writing
Response: AI is revolutionizing the writing landscape by providing tools and assistance that enhance creativity, productivity, and efficiency. From generating content for marketing campaigns to composing news articles and even assisting in novel writing, AI-powered writing tools are becoming indispensable for professionals across various industries. These tools leverage natural language processing algorithms to understand context, tone, and style, allowing them to generate coherent and engaging content. As AI continues to advance, it is increasingly becoming integrated into writing workflows, offering suggestions, automating repetitive tasks, and even aiding in content personalization, ultimately empowering writers to focus more on crafting meaningful narratives and less on logistical challenges.
Prompt: Please write this more conversationally like for a blog.
Response: Absolutely! Imagine sitting down at your desk, ready to tackle that daunting writing project, and having a trusty AI companion by your side, ready to lend a hand. AI is shaking up the writing world in the best possible way. From whipping up attention-grabbing marketing copy to churning out insightful news articles, AI-powered writing tools are the secret sauce behind some of today's most engaging content. These nifty tools don't just spit out words; they understand your style, tone, and even context, making them your ultimate writing wingman. With AI on your team, you can spend less time sweating the small stuff and more time weaving captivating narratives that resonate with your audience. So, if you haven't already welcomed AI into your writing arsenal, what are you waiting for? It's time to let the magic happen!
Prompt: Write it a little less conversational, like i am talking to a friend
Response: Picture this: as you sit down to tackle your latest writing project, you've got an AI assistant right there beside you, ready to lend a hand. AI is completely transforming the way we approach writing. From crafting compelling marketing copy to generating insightful news articles, AI-powered writing tools are behind some of today's most engaging content. These tools do more than just churn out words; they understand your unique style, tone, and even context, making them invaluable allies in the writing process. With AI in your corner, you can streamline your workflow and focus on crafting narratives that truly resonate with your audience. If you haven't already embraced AI as part of your writing toolkit, now's the time to give it a try and witness the magic firsthand!
Prompt: Simplify the paragraph
Response: Imagine having an AI assistant by your side as you write, transforming how you work. AI tools are revolutionizing writing, from creating marketing content to news articles. They understand your style and context, making them invaluable. With AI, you can focus on crafting compelling narratives that resonate with your audience. Give it a try and experience the difference!
My edits: Imagine having an AI assistant by your side as you write, transforming how you work. AI tools, such as ChatGPT, are revolutionizing writing, from creating marketing content to news articles. They can understand your writing style and context who you are writing to, making them an invaluable tool. With AI, you can focus on crafting compelling narratives that resonate with your audience. Give it a try and experience the difference!
Prompt: Please write me a 1 paragraph summary of how AI is being increasingly used for writing but how it brings up issues about if we can trust someone's writing
Response: AI's rising integration into writing processes raises pertinent questions about the trustworthiness of authored content. While AI tools facilitate efficiency and creativity, they also challenge the authenticity of human expression. As AI becomes adept at mimicking human writing styles, distinguishing between AI-generated and human-generated content becomes more complex. This blurring of lines underscores the importance of maintaining transparency and ethical standards in writing practices. Ultimately, the evolving role of AI in writing necessitates critical reflection on how trust is established and maintained in an increasingly automated landscape of content creation.
Prompt: Please simplify the previous paragraph
Response: The growing use of AI in writing raises concerns about trusting what's written. While AI helps make writing easier and more creative, it also blurs the line between human and AI-generated content. This highlights the need for clear rules and honesty in writing. We must think carefully about how we trust what we read in a world where AI plays a bigger role in creating content.
My edits: However, the growing use of AI in writing raises concerns about trust trusting what's written. While AI can help generate ideas which helps make writing easier and more creative, it also blurs the line between human and AI-generated content. This highlights the need for clear rules and honesty in writing. It is important to consider We must think carefully about how we trust what we read in a world where AI will increasingly continue to plays a bigger role in creating content.
Final edits from both prompts put together:
Imagine having an AI assistant by your side as you write, transforming how you work. AI tools, such as ChatGPT, are revolutionizing writing, from creating marketing content to news articles. They can understand your writing style and context who you are writing to, making them an invaluable tool. With AI, you can focus on crafting compelling narratives that resonate with your audience. Give it a try and experience the difference! However, the growing use of AI in writing raises concerns about trust trusting what's written. While AI can help generate ideas which helps make writing easier and more creative, it also blurs the line between human and AI-generated content. This highlights the need for clear rules and honesty in writing. It is important to consider We must think carefully about how we trust what we read in a world where AI will increasingly continue to plays a bigger role in creating content.
How do you feel about grammarly? The portion of it not where it writes for you but corrects grammar and structural issues. Is there an ethical dilemma there?