Read AI’s take on the risks of using
AI to create something for you to read
Simply relying on technology to do the work
in totality is tempting—very tempting. That extends
beyond the art of writing to mundane tasks in humanity’s daily life.
By Michael Wayne
Throughout my life, I have faced the harsh reality that I tend to be a laggard. This has been true in everything from adopting new technologies to potential career choices. Long have I lived in a fantasy realm, apparently, thinking that things should be built to last. From refrigerators to computers, I have a notion that their lifespans should be more than six years.
Career-wise, there have been aspects of the world that I have been interested in pursuing, only to learn that technology was about to make related professions obsolete or, at the very least, not worth the pursuit financially.
I enjoy writing, but I’m not sure it’s something that I would want to do full-time. Recently, reporting revealed that Sports Illustrated had been publishing entire stories that AI had written. For those who did not grow up in the late ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s of the previous century, this may be difficult to understand, but there was a time when Sports Illustrated was the go-to institution in the world of fields and courts. To see how far it has fallen is astonishing.
The outlet’s publisher fired its CEO over this revelation. That’s a bit reassuring, but the number of AI tools for writing (and everything else) are growing. Those tools even extend to the world of voiceover work.
It’s getting to a point where it feels like nothing we read, see, or hear will be “real.”
Undoubtedly, our industry has been, by and large, in the laggard camp when it comes to technology. There are leading-edge colleagues out there, I know, and their use of AI is becoming more prevalent with each passing day.
In the spirit of jumping on board the AI train, I asked ChatGPT the following question: “What are the top 5 risks of using ChatGPT to write an article about insurance?” Full disclosure, this is the first time that I’ve used ChatGPT.
According to ChatGPT, here are the Top 5 risks of using ChatGPT to Write an Article About Insurance, word for word (in italics), followed by human commentary:
Inaccuracies and unreliable information: ChatGPT generates content based on patterns learned from diverse sources on the internet, but it may not always provide accurate or up-to-date information. It doesn’t have real-time awareness and might not be aware of recent developments.
Lack of critical thinking and context understanding. ChatGPT lacks the ability to critically evaluate information or understand context as deeply as a human. It might generate plausible-sounding content without a true understanding of the subject matter or the ability to discern the reliability of sources.
Bias in training data. The model is trained on a diverse range of internet text, which may include biased or prejudiced content. As a result, ChatGPT might inadvertently generate biased or inappropriate content. It’s important to review and edit the output for potential bias.
Security and privacy concerns: When using ChatGPT, there is a risk of inadvertently including sensitive or private information in the input or output. Users should be cautious about sharing confidential details, as the model doesn’t have the ability to keep information confidential.
Loss of originality and creativity. Relying solely on ChatGPT to write an article may result in content that lacks a unique human touch. While it can assist with generating ideas and initial drafts, it’s essential for writers to add their creativity, insights, and personal touch to make the content more engaging and authentic.
“Not a bot” commentary
Simply relying on technology to do the work in totality is tempting—very tempting. That extends beyond the art of writing to mundane tasks in humanity’s daily life. Those of us in the world of insurance are constantly bombarded with content—that which we are spammed with and that which we have sought out. We are exposed to webcasts and podcasts, flooded with white papers, and have the challenge of composing proposals and other collateral for clients and prospects.
For an agency or a team, of any size, the desire to keep up with the Joneses presents the perfect excuse to give in, worry a little less about deadlines, type in a prompt, and have what you desire instantaneously.
In high school, some 30-plus years ago now, a teacher of mine bemoaned the “Talk to the Clown World,” as he called it, in which we were already living. He was referring to the drive-thru, fast-food, immediacy mentality that many had already developed.
The clown has only continued to grow, and the voice emanating from the box seems even more garbled than ever before.
July and August 1969 respectively provided the world with two iconic events: the first moon landing and the Woodstock Music Festival. Spanning those hallmarks on the radio was the number one hit “In the Year 2525,” by Zager and Evans. More than four million copies were sold by 1970; it reached number one in both America and the U.K.; and the duo never had a song chart again on either side of the pond.
For those who know the tune, you understand where this commentary is headed.
A portion of the lyrics proclaim, “In the year 3535/Ain’t gonna need to tell the truth, tell no lies/Everything you think, do, and say/Is in the pill you took today… In the year 4545/Ain’t gonna need your teeth; won’t need your eyes/You won’t find a thing to chew/Nobody’s gonna look at you… In the year 5555/Your arms are hanging limp at your sides/Your legs got nothing to do/Some machine’s doing that for you.”
Fear of an AI overthrow of man in literature goes back at least to William Grove’s novel, The Wreck of the World, published in 1889. Individual and group fears of technology supplantation extend before recorded history. The ability of individuals and groups to tame the technology that came along to gain an advantage does as well.
In the words of ChatGPT regarding itself, “verify information independently, fact-check, and ensure that the generated content aligns with ethical standards and your specific requirements.”
Sage advice for seemingly all situations.
The author
Michael Wayne is a freelance insurance writer.
