Can AI be used responsibly? It seems that 'responsible use' is currently defined by the user of AI, until further notice anyway - but, as a former high school English literature teacher, I have mixed feelings about what might be considered responsible.
As a teacher, I would want my students to learn how to write and communicate clearly and effectively without any aids. As a parent, I also want my children to learn how to write with proper spelling and mechanics, and to use their own voice and creativity in their writing. I know that there are hundreds of tools at our fingertips to assist us with every detail of writing, but I think it is valuable to be able to edit your own work and find your own errors as well. As in math, just because a calculator is at our fingertips on our phone, is it not nice to be able to do quick math in our heads or on a scrap of paper if - goodness forbid - we are out of cell phone battery?
As an international student recruiter, I have been writing emails and texts via What's App in Spanish since about 2012. International students much prefer being assisted in their native language, so I have done my best to communicate with prospective students and agent partners in Spanish when possible. However, I have not actually taken a Spanish class since 2004 and while my Spanish has improved 'organically' since I moved to Mexico in 2010, I can't say that my written language is perfect. I sometimes mix up words or fail to use the correct verb tense and people never correct me, of course. With the exception of one friend, who kindly corrects my spoken Spanish in the nicest way, everyone lets my errors slip by and I mostly do the same when I notice mistakes in my spoken Spanish - in particular with my misuse of the masculine or feminine noun designations.
I occasionally read my writing in Spanish and wonder if what I write even makes sense. I used to ask my husband to check over my writing, but that got old quite quickly. Up until very recently I would just hit send and hope that I would be understood. However, in the past few weeks, I have been asking Chat-GPT to 'correct' my Spanish and it has been a great tool for me. For the most part, the vocabulary stays exactly the same and maybe one or two words are adjusted - usually the correction is related to the subjunctive verb tense which throws me off even after having lived in a Spanish-speaking country for over a decade - and I feel more confident sending my email. I, personally, feel that this is a responsible use for Chat-GPT, and I feel good about how I am using this tool as the writing is still my own and this tool is being used as a free editor. What's not to like?
Outside of using AI as an editor, I have played with Chat-GPT, prompting it to come up with all sorts of ideas, titles, and even book outlines, just to see its capability. I know that this technology could likely write circles around me, but there goes all the fun of creation. I also know that someone else could argue that the way in which Chat-GPT is prompted is creation, and that is fine, too. I disagree, but perhaps my opinion will change in a few years' time. I do believe that soon there will be markers to flag content produced by AI, and I think this would be ideal for everyone. In the meantime, I will take advantage of these tools if they feel like a fit for me and if I feel as if I am using these tools responsibly.
What are your thoughts on AI and its use in content creation? Can we use these tools responsibly, or do you think there is no place for them at all? Where do you think AI should and should not be used? I would love to hear what you think on this, so feel free to comment. Thanks!
*This piece of writing was written and edited by a human. :)