The rise of ChatGPT (and AI) in writing

ChatGPT is here.

It’s not going away.

And it seems to be evolving in a 5-step linear progression, as follows:

​>> Step 1: It writes! We’re in this stage today.

Namely, ChatGPT can write as well as some human writers.

For copywriting, ChatGPT can write at C-level, often B-level, and at times… well, not quite A-level but pretty darn close.

​>> Step 2: The Illusion of intelligence.

​When ChatGPT writes or answers your query, the letters appear on the screen one after the other, as if someone on the other end is typing.

Mimics the appearance of a human writing, but there is no human intelligence creating the sentences. At least not yet.

​>> Step 3: A tool used by human operators.​

Robot surgeons actually don’t perform surgery yet.

Rather, robot surgery is done by human doctors aided by robot technology.

​Similarly, human operators are using “prompts” — questions and statements to guide ChatGPT in the writing.

Unbelievably to me, “prompt engineer” has become a real job paying in many cases six-figures.

N.B. That there are “prompt engineers” could be the beginning of the end of western civilization as we know it.

​>> Step 4: At some point, ChatGPT won’t need prompt engineers.

AI will generate truly good writing, as the user wants it, all on its own.

​>> Step 5: Sentience — the point at which ChatGPT, other AI software, and systems powered by AI software become self-aware.

​And at that point, willfully comes up with and implements its own ideas, plans, and activities, regardless of what the humans who created the AI want or think.

Science fiction writer Vernon Vinge and futurist Ray Kurzweil calls the birth of true artificial intelligence the “singularity.”

As to when the singularity will be born, no one knows for certain. It could be in the next few minutes. Or next year. Or next century.

What worries me is here’s what that may look like:​

​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOxE8EEBwjQ​

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Robert W. Bly is a freelance copywriter and marketing consultant with 3 decades of experience in business-to-business, high-tech, and direct marketing. He is the first AXIOMS EXPERT at Kallisti Publishing Inc.