If you haven’t heard of ChatGPT let me introduce you. It’s an Artificial Intelligence chatbot that creates responses to questions and most unbelievably, creates written, human-like content – ahem- just like me. Oh dear.

Ordinarily I celebrate new technology. But in this case, it’s more personal. I have concerns about ChatGPT replacing writers. To try it out, I simply entered a few keywords: 300 words, 1st person essay, slice of life. And here’s the impressive, syntactically correct, almost instant response based on this input.

As I walked down the street, I couldn’t help but feel the crisp spring air on my skin. The sun was shining, and the birds were chirping, creating a perfect symphony of sound. I took a deep breath in, feeling the fresh air fill my lungs.

As I continued on my walk, I passed by a small coffee shop. The smell of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air, and I couldn’t resist the temptation to go inside. I walked in and ordered a latte, taking a seat near the window. I watched as people passed by outside, some walking their dogs, others jogging or riding their bikes. It was a beautiful day, and everyone seemed to be enjoying it.

As I sipped my latte, I pulled out my notebook and started to write. Writing has always been my passion, and I find that it’s the perfect way to capture moments like this. I wrote about the sunshine, the chirping birds, and the smell of coffee. I also wrote about the people passing by, trying to imagine what their lives were like.

After a while, I packed up my things and headed back outside. I continued my walk, feeling inspired and content. I smiled at strangers, feeling a sense of connection with them even though we were all just passing by.

As I turned onto my street, I saw my neighbor out in her garden, tending to her flowers. I waved and she waved back, a small gesture that made me feel even more connected to the world around me.

I finally arrived back at my apartment, feeling grateful for the beautiful day and the little moments that made it special. I knew that I would always cherish this slice-of-life, and I couldn’t wait to capture more moments like it in my writing.

My reaction was that this initial, impressive response could be unusual. So, I entered another request: 300 words, how an act of kindness by a stranger changed my life. Read the ChatGPT response here.

It was just another ordinary day in my life, or so I thought. I was on my way to an important meeting, running late and already feeling stressed. I was rushing down the street when I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my ankle. I stumbled and fell to the ground, my ankle throbbing with pain.

As I tried to get back up, a stranger appeared out of nowhere and offered to help me up. He introduced himself as Tom and asked me if I was okay. I explained what had happened, and he offered to walk me to my meeting, which was just a few blocks away.

As we walked, Tom asked me about my life and listened attentively as I told him about my struggles. He shared his own experiences and offered words of encouragement and support. By the time we arrived at my meeting, I felt like I had made a new friend.

Tom’s act of kindness didn’t just change my day; it changed my life. His willingness to help a stranger in need and his genuine concern for my well-being made me realize that there are still good people in the world. His kindness inspired me to be a better person and to pay it forward by helping others whenever I can.

I began volunteering at a local soup kitchen, and I started looking for ways to help those in need. I started to see the world in a different light, focusing on the positive instead of the negative. I even started a blog where I shared stories of kindness and compassion, hoping to inspire others to do the same.

Looking back, I realize that Tom’s act of kindness was a turning point in my life. It opened my eyes to the power of compassion and the importance of helping others. Tom may have been a stranger, but he will always hold a special place in my heart for the profound impact he had on my life.

Try it for yourself: Introducing ChatGPT

This additional, excellent response was surprising because it changed the way I understood AI’s capabilities. Formerly, it was my belief that creative writing about human experiences could never be simulated by AI. Well, that was wrong, at least from these examples.

But here’s what I’ve discovered it cannot do. It can’t live my experiences and write from my perspective. If sharing personal experiences is important for the writer and of interest to the reader, ChatGPT won’t be replacing writers like me anytime soon. Reassuring for now. Additionally, ChatGPT is frequently factually incorrect, piecing together misinformation from the web.

As with anything new, from fire to rockets, ChapGPT can be employed for the common good or not. I’m hoping this tech development has healthy lessons ahead as we discover helpful ways to incorporate it into our lives.

I’m guessing students will be writing more in-class essays instead of writing essays at home. And they, along with the public, will hopefully learn tools to evaluate information and compare and differentiate what is true from what is not. Maybe this development will also encourage and hone discussion skills for all of us.

Meanwhile, I’ll happily continue writing this column to share lived experiences with you from one human to another. That’s something AI can’t do.

Future shock,

Jane