Ministry of information technology with collaboration of virtual university, expert in online or distance education in Pakistan took initiative to promote digital literacy to recently passed out graduates in Pakistan during the pandemic. Digi skills was thus launched and they are still providing training facilities to different students in terms of freelancing, content writing, video editing and number of other job creation fields. Pakistan, at that moment, stood third in the world of freelancing.
It was beneficial business and a way to engage emerging talents and cover pressure on the corporate sector.
In November 2022, Sam Altman lived ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence platform developed by OpenAI, based in California (ChatGPT | OpenAI). As 21st century’s fascinating innovation with a huge wow factor, it quickly captured the world’s imagination, being call to as a revolutionary advancement similar to the invention and impact of steam engine on Industrial revolution. The implications of this invention are remarkably far-reaching, influencing creativity far and wide, particularly in relation to modern information-retrieval engines and search queries. For creative or content writers from underprivileged backgrounds in developing countries, this discovery has opened their eyes and like blind believers they spread arms, wide to new possibilities. It serves as a powerful tool revitalizing the content writing industry, soon passing through its naive transformative phase. As a result, a new generation of creative writers emerged, eager to embrace the challenges presented by the advent of modern technology. Sometimes, consequences are manifested as endless writings with useless information with baseless scientific validity.
The advent of artificial intelligence has proven to be a benefit game, enabling countless individuals to unlock and elevate their creative potential with the gentle support of artificial intelligence . This development has been particularly uplifting for aspiring writers who have longed to express themselves. I remember chatting with a friend about research writing when he suddenly asked, “Why don’t you write a book?” I looked towards him and was puzzled: what should I answer? I asked myself. His attention shifted for a while towards his phone and after few clicks on his phone landed on the webpage of amazon.com. Moments later, he proudly displayed his newly published book on the Indus Valley Civilization. I was taken aback, knowing that just recently he had been struggling to understand a sample research project. That day, it became clear how he transformed into an author in just a few hours—a remarkable achievement indeed!
A few days ago, someone reached out to me for assistance with his asylum case in Australia. As a civil engineer, he had typed into ChatGPT, asking it to so called craft for him a narrative for his asylum application based on human rights violations in Pakistan. While ChatGPT provided him with an outline to help organize his thoughts, he found it somewhat lacking, as he had hoped for something akin to the magic of Aladdin’s lamp. Chatgpt is still in developmental phase with number of shortcomings.
How good is chatgpt at writing creative content?. the art of creative writing and its potential for solving everyday challenges. To truly master creative writing, one must engage in extensive reading, which helps refine and present ideas effectively. Unfortunately, some writing can fall into the trap of becoming overly complex or academic jargon. I recall a professor who admitted in a scientific journal that he had read an abstract by a PhD student that was beautifully written yet completely baffling in its message. Chatgpt is true in its potiental as it can refine an essay writing for academic purpose but still the factor of mining for information for creative writing, the burden of which still lies on the sholders of an academic writer. That makes it a tricky business for naïve writers who thinks that creative content writing and particularly academic writing in its self is an easier job.
This is at the heart of the issue. Creative writing is built on a foundation of consistent reading and the ability to express your thoughts freely, whether through writing or typing. While you can certainly enhance your work with ChatGPT, which can refine and correct grammar, it’s essential to develop your own voice.
secondly, scientific writing and research journals are often locked behind paywalls, accessible primarily to individuals like professors in developed countries through subscriptions. In contrast, many in Asian countries have to navigate two main avenues: university subscriptions or resorting to illegal downloads through platforms like Sci-Hub. Additionally, ChatGPT can provide information on academic articles published from 2021 onward, but users should exercise caution, as relying solely on AI for research-oriented writing can lead to pitfalls. While ChatGPT can be a valuable tool, it should not replace thorough engagement with primary sources.
For instance, Bonyhady, writing for the Financial Review, notes that the usage of the word “delve” has surged by an astonishing 2,500 times in the academic year, suggesting that it may indicate AI-generated work (ChatGPT: The word ‘delve’ could be a giveaway that work was done by AI). While content writing has been acceptable for promotional materials and official communications, relying on it for academic writing is like cheating at the matriculation and intermediate examination levels.
Just yesterday, I spoke with a friend who admires ChatGPT and the new DeepSeek . I asked him how he maintains the authenticity of his writing. He expressed that the writings produced by ChatGPT possess a mechanical quality, resembling embalmed mummies that lie on the bed of creativity. While they might temporarily enhance one’s academic credentials, ultimately, one must have to login PubMed, download articles, and thoroughly read their contents through Adobe Acrobat. Although artificial intelligence can offer guidance and correct grammatical errors, it ultimately falls short in fostering true creativity, which can lead to its erosion.
Note: It is an extended opinion and will be published in multiple parts where I will try to cover plagiarism, emerging chatbots, the lack of human touch in the AI generated content, adequacy of AI intellegience in professional writings as well as counter measures imposed by publication houses.
Also read; Educational use of Social media and Parental Control: A Comprehensive Analysis
