4 ms·

perhaps the core idea of the story can still come from you but ChatGPT can help flesh out the details in write it in a compelling manner.

by sanp 4y ago

nemo44x 4y ago
That's how I see it. IT could still involve a lot of novel thought and work to get the AI to generate text you want. You nudge it in whatever direction you want it to go.
- the_af 4y ago
  What actual problem about writing would this solve? This is like coming up with a plot idea and having some hired writer write it. This already existed before computers. So you're essentially using GPT as a ghostwriter, only (unlike human ghostwriters) it has no way to come with something innovative, it just regurgitates whatever it's already in its data in some way or another. "But," I can guess you'll object, "human (ghost)writers are already writing derivative crap, what's the difference?". Exactly. We already know how to hire humans to write derivative crap, and the truly good stuff is out of the question for GPT. So what is this solving? But what about children's bedtime stories? Well, there are tons of really good bedtime stories, lovingly crafted by good authors. Do we need automated ones written by ChatGPT?
  - corysama 4y ago
    Do we need another song about love? Do we need another library for formatting text? Do we need another bedtime story? No, we probably don’t. Won’t and shouldn’t stop people from making more :)
    - the_af 4y ago
      Excellent point. The world doesn't need another love song [1]. But the human composing it might need it, as a form of expression, even if the result is garbage or trite. Humans enjoy creating stuff, even if nobody wants that stuff. Writers write, or their minds will explode. The creation process is its own goal. This is not the case for ChatGPT; a LLM has no motivations. [1] https://youtu.be/jJHbJukQi8k?t=42 https://youtu.be/jJHbJukQi8k?t=42
      - nemo44x 4y ago
        Go ahead and create, no technology is stopping anyone from doing that. But I don't see why you can't create while using a technology like ChatGPT. Coming up with the proper prompts, rewriting some of its output, using its output as an input, etc. There's a lot of things you can do to combine your own novel thoughts with the text generated by a machine. That's a way to create things that has never really been possible. Imagine being an OK writer and now you potentially have an editor. Imagine asking it to come up with a few ideas regarding something you're working on and you can use one as inspiration. There's just unlimited ways people will work with and integrate these new tools that you or I can't even possibly dream up. As for asking if we need more bedtime stories - why not? Maybe it would be cool if me and my kid could use some experience we had together to create a story that features him and his friends in the mold of a classic story.
        the_af 4y ago
        > Go ahead and create, no technology is stopping anyone from doing that Yeah, but where did I say that? That's not my point at all. Here are my thoughts, rephrased: - We, mankind, don't need AI to "improve" writing. This is a problem nobody has. There's a plethora of writing, both for children and for adults. - People enjoy writing, so this isn't an activity we want to "optimize". There's no need for ChatGPT here. - When computers take over creating everything, what is left for us humans? If/when books are being written and published by AI, sure you can go on writing for your mom & friends I guess, but something fundamental will be lost. - When most "content" (I hate that word) is created like this, some sort of extreme Netflixization of movies and books taken to its logical consequence, we will become consumers. Isn't that depressing? > As for asking if we need more bedtime stories - why not? Maybe it would be cool if me and my kid could use some experience we had together [...] I do this every night with my daughter, without AI. It's called "parenting". You don't need gadgets or computers for this. ChatGPT isn't solving an actual problem in this case either. "Computer, tell my kid a funny story about that time something fun happened to us; I think it was yesterday, it's in my mobile logs anyway."
        nemo44x 4y ago

perhaps the core idea of the story can still come from you but ChatGPT can help flesh out the details in write it in a compelling manner.

by sanp 4y ago

perhaps the core idea of the story can still come from you but ChatGPT can help flesh out the details in write it in a compelling manner.

nemo44x 4y ago

That's how I see it. IT could still involve a lot of novel thought and work to get the AI to generate text you want. You nudge it in whatever direction you want it to go.

the_af 4y ago
What actual problem about writing would this solve? This is like coming up with a plot idea and having some hired writer write it. This already existed before computers. So you're essentially using GPT as a ghostwriter, only (unlike human ghostwriters) it has no way to come with something innovative, it just regurgitates whatever it's already in its data in some way or another. "But," I can guess you'll object, "human (ghost)writers are already writing derivative crap, what's the difference?". Exactly. We already know how to hire humans to write derivative crap, and the truly good stuff is out of the question for GPT. So what is this solving? But what about children's bedtime stories? Well, there are tons of really good bedtime stories, lovingly crafted by good authors. Do we need automated ones written by ChatGPT?
- corysama 4y ago
  Do we need another song about love? Do we need another library for formatting text? Do we need another bedtime story? No, we probably don’t. Won’t and shouldn’t stop people from making more :)
  - the_af 4y ago
    Excellent point. The world doesn't need another love song [1]. But the human composing it might need it, as a form of expression, even if the result is garbage or trite. Humans enjoy creating stuff, even if nobody wants that stuff. Writers write, or their minds will explode. The creation process is its own goal. This is not the case for ChatGPT; a LLM has no motivations. [1] https://youtu.be/jJHbJukQi8k?t=42 https://youtu.be/jJHbJukQi8k?t=42
    - nemo44x 4y ago
      Go ahead and create, no technology is stopping anyone from doing that. But I don't see why you can't create while using a technology like ChatGPT. Coming up with the proper prompts, rewriting some of its output, using its output as an input, etc. There's a lot of things you can do to combine your own novel thoughts with the text generated by a machine. That's a way to create things that has never really been possible. Imagine being an OK writer and now you potentially have an editor. Imagine asking it to come up with a few ideas regarding something you're working on and you can use one as inspiration. There's just unlimited ways people will work with and integrate these new tools that you or I can't even possibly dream up. As for asking if we need more bedtime stories - why not? Maybe it would be cool if me and my kid could use some experience we had together to create a story that features him and his friends in the mold of a classic story.
      - the_af 4y ago
        > Go ahead and create, no technology is stopping anyone from doing that Yeah, but where did I say that? That's not my point at all. Here are my thoughts, rephrased: - We, mankind, don't need AI to "improve" writing. This is a problem nobody has. There's a plethora of writing, both for children and for adults. - People enjoy writing, so this isn't an activity we want to "optimize". There's no need for ChatGPT here. - When computers take over creating everything, what is left for us humans? If/when books are being written and published by AI, sure you can go on writing for your mom & friends I guess, but something fundamental will be lost. - When most "content" (I hate that word) is created like this, some sort of extreme Netflixization of movies and books taken to its logical consequence, we will become consumers. Isn't that depressing? > As for asking if we need more bedtime stories - why not? Maybe it would be cool if me and my kid could use some experience we had together [...] I do this every night with my daughter, without AI. It's called "parenting". You don't need gadgets or computers for this. ChatGPT isn't solving an actual problem in this case either. "Computer, tell my kid a funny story about that time something fun happened to us; I think it was yesterday, it's in my mobile logs anyway."
        nemo44x 4y ago