Microsoft may move to embed wunderkind AI writing tool ChatGPT into its core communications apps Word, Outlook, Powerpoint and more.
The new AI writer — which has triggered a frenzy of interest across the writing world — is seen by many insiders as the next generation of AI writing.
Observes writer Tom Warren: “If Microsoft leans more towards building in functionality that’s present in ChatGPT — the conversational AI that made headlines last year — then Outlook could compose entire emails based on simple queries.
“Imagine Outlook writing an email to your colleagues explaining you’re unwell, based purely on a “write an email to my team explaining I’m out sick” query.”
Indeed, enhancing the core communication apps in Microsoft Office with ChatGPT could enable even the most decidedly ‘nonwriter’ user of those apps to come-off as a fairly accomplished wordsmith.
For an in-depth look at the impact of ChatGPT on editors and writers, check-out: “ChatGPT: Next Generation AI Writing Arrives,” by Joe Dysart.
In other AI-generated writing news:
*In-Depth Guide: Article Forge: As with many AI writers on the market today, Article Forge does a decent job of auto-generating long-form articles for you — as long as you’re willing to do a bit of post-editing
That’s the take from reviewer Jacob Maslow, who offers an in-depth look at Article Forge after taking the AI writer for a test-drive.
Observes Maslow: “Article Forge isn’t perfect. Writing content has traditionally been a human affair.
“While article content output is possible with Article Forge, those articles aren’t going to appear humanly written right out-of-the-gate with no editing.
“However, that doesn’t mean Article Forge content is bad, and that there’s no benefit to using this AI writer if you want a decent article generator.
“It’s not perfect, but if you need more articles and SEO content for less time and money, Article Forge still has a lot to offer.”
*Postly: AI-Automation for Social Media: Marketers looking for an all-in-one tool that automates much of the process of social media posting may want to check-out Postly.
The niche app uses AI to automate the creation of text and images for social media posts — and then goes on to schedule the publishing of those posts. Included in the social media content creation suite are an AI writer, AI art imaging module, video editor, link shortener and bulk uploader.
*Teachers Weigh-In on How They’re Wrangling ChatGPT: Educators fed-up with students using ChatGPT and similar AI writing programs to auto-generate homework essays and similar assignments are coming up with workarounds to thwart that cheating.
Observes Brett Bogelsinger, a ninth-grade English teacher in Pennsylvania: “Many teachers are planning more writing for the classroom and more writing by hand.”
Interestingly, others believe that students may be less liable to cheat if it’s clearly explained to them why original writing is so important to the development of individual thought.
Observes Gina Parnaby, a twelfth-grade English teacher in Atlanta. “The best solution I’ve come up with is talking explicitly with students about how writing is thinking made visible.
“Just like different translators will emphasize different things in their translations of the same work, or different mathematicians will work through problems differently, our unique voices and perspectives matter.”
That’s a compelling argument for some — until it’s midnight, you have an essay due the next morning and ChatGPT beckons, offering to spit-out out a nearly polished draft of your essay in a matter of seconds.
*New York City Schools Block ChatGPT: Unlike some of their more philosophical brethren, teachers throughout the New York City school system have banned the use of AI writer ChatGPT on its computer devices and networks.
The school system is also working on a method to identify students who are using ChatGPT for school work, according to Jenna Lyle, a spokesperson for New York City Schools.
Observes Lyle: “While the tool may be able to provide quick and easy answers to questions, it does not build critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, which are essential for academic and lifelong success.”
*ChatGPT: Making Lawyers Obsolete?: Andrew Perlman, a dean at Suffolk University Law School, says writing sensation ChatGPT may not pose a threat to lawyers right now.
But an enhanced version of the tech could be a disruptor in coming years, he adds.
In a phrase, the bot is not ready for use in law — but it also does not seem all that far off, according to Perlman.
*ChatGPT as Corporate Lobbyist: A new study from Stanford University finds that ChatGPT is well-suited for corporate lobbying.
John J. Nay, an AI researcher at the institution, foresees a time when AI writers will be used to automate the process of drafting legislation and lobbying lawmakers via email.
Long-term, Nay sees two primary benefits of AI writing, according to writer Chloe Xiang. “One is that it reduces the time it takes to perform rote tasks and allows people to focus on more high-level tasks.
“And the second is that it makes lobbying more democratic, because non-profit organizations and individual citizens can access ChatGPT’s function as an affordable lobbying tool.”
*Pastor: Why AI Will Never Write a Decent Sermon: While Pastor Mike Glenn is somewhat impressed with AI’s ability to mimic the writing style of his sermons, he has no worries that machines will replace spiritual leaders in the pulpit.
Observers Glenn: “Computers will be able to do a lot of things — a lot of things that I will be glad they do — but they will never be able to be human.
“AI will never be able to preach a decent sermon. Why? Because the gospel is more than words. It’s the evidence of a changed life.”
In a phrase, to pen a truly authentic sermon, “an encounter with Christ is required,” Glenn says.
*Microsoft Looking to Invest Additional $10 Billion in ChatGPT Maker: Already in for one billion in funding, Microsoft is mulling investing another $10 billion into OpenAI — the maker of ChatGPT.
Currently, ChatGPT and other AI writers designed by OpenAI run on a Microsoft supercomputer.
The investment could become part of an overall deal that would value OpenAI at $29 billion.
*AI Big Picture: The Smartest $1 Billion Ever Spent on AI: While Microsoft’s $1 billion investment in OpenAI in 2019 turned more than a few heads, the move could turn out to be one of the shrewdest bets in tech history, according to writer Hasan Chowdhury.
OpenAI has stunned the world with the relative writing precision of its new AI tool, ChatGPT.
And many believe the company will come out with an even more evolved AI writing tool sometime this year.
Observes Chowdhury: “If ChatGPT lives up to its potential, Microsoft may have future-proofed its cloud and browser business forever.”
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–Joe Dysart is editor of RobotWritersAI.com and a tech journalist with 20+ years experience. His work has appeared in 150+ publications, including The New York Times and the Financial Times of London.