The Algorithmic Bridge

A newsletter dedicated to connecting algorithms with people. Read more about the AI that matters to you at The…

thealgorithmicbridge.substack.com

High Quality Output

Consider an example of GPT-3’s writing capabilities (there are many similar instances available online):

Credit: OpenAI

Now, honestly, would you recognize this excerpt as being generated by an AI tool? It's true that people often pick out the best examples, but it's remarkable that AI can produce text that closely resembles human writing.

You may think you can easily identify AI-generated content, but that's a common bias. You're only aware of what you know: you recognize pieces that have obvious AI traits, but what about those that blend seamlessly? As language models like GPT-4 advance, this distinction will become even blurrier.

One illustrative case is Berkeley alumnus Liam Porr, who launched a Substack blog using GPT-3 and got an article featured on Hacker News. While a few users were skeptical, most were completely unaware.

Here’s the opening paragraph from that article, showcasing raw GPT-3 output:

“To accomplish a task, perhaps we need to reduce our thinking. This may seem counterintuitive, but I believe that sometimes our thoughts hinder the creative process. We often perform better when we tune out external distractions and concentrate on what lies ahead.”

Versatility

Character.ai serves as a prime example here.

With a simple prompt, I can instruct “AI Socrates” to present a compelling argument (this can be applied to nearly any subject):

Credit: Character.ai

Moreover, I can prompt it to mimic Socrates’ unique style:

Credit: Character.ai

This is merely one instance from one application—there are hundreds available today.

User-Friendly Interface

Forget about the need for coding skills. You simply need to provide GPT-3 with a clear English prompt to guide it in the right direction. (In the near future, we can anticipate language models incorporating multiple languages. Companies like Meta and Google are already working on this, and existing models like BLOOM are built with that in mind.)

GPT-3 may sometimes stray from your prompt, but you can easily redirect it until you create an 800-word essay. Developers are highly motivated to make writing tools even more accessible, targeting individuals who are proficient in writing but not in coding.

Numerous AI writing applications exist (most powered by GPT-3): Jasper, Copy, Copysmith, Otherside AI, Moonbeam, ParagraphAI… all designed to be intuitive.

Recently, co-founder Nathan Baschez unveiled Lex, a tool that operates like Google Docs but with advanced features. This sparked a lively discussion on Twitter about these technologies, inspiring me to write this article.

Here’s writer Nat Eliason expressing his excitement about Lex:

Low Cost

I co-authored an article titled “AI Has an Invisible Misinformation Problem” using GPT-3, which took me just an hour and approximately 32 cents. While costs can increase with scale, it remains significantly cheaper than hiring a human writer for the same volume of content.

Editing Flexibility

As a bonus, even though these systems can be inconsistent, lack long-term memory, and occasionally generate nonsensical text, you always have the option to edit. While some may find it frustrating to adjust a piece they didn’t create, for others, it can spark ideas or help overcome writer's block.

This local surge of AI-driven creative tools is on the brink of becoming a global phenomenon. You can either be among the early adopters or risk falling behind.

Subscribe to The Algorithmic Bridge to stay informed. Bridging the gap between algorithms and individuals, this newsletter offers insights into the AI that impacts your life.

You can also support my work on Medium directly and gain unlimited access by becoming a member through my referral link here! :)