6 min read

ChatGPT Versus Professional Writers

ChatGPT Versus Professional Writers

The nuances of human communication are incredibly complex.

Can AI replicate it?

Not flawlessly but not awfully.

Anyway, we wanted to provide some kind of answer to the many requests of, “what do writers think about ChatGPT?” 

So we ran an exercise.

Here’s side by side (you can also see our graphic designer get in on the game in this grid image - MIdjourney bot versus Eisen).

(Note, the writers didn’t see ChatGPT’s content in advance.)

Why do people have pets? (In two sentences)

ChatGPT’s Answer:

People have pets for a variety of reasons, including companionship, entertainment, and emotional support. Pets can also provide physical benefits, such as increased physical activity and improved mental health.

Liz’s Answer:

Pets provide companionship without complaints. People are complicated.

Describe a team.

ChatGPT’s Answer:

A team is a group of individuals who come together to achieve a common goal or set of goals. Team members typically have different roles and responsibilities, but work cooperatively and collaboratively to complete tasks and accomplish their objectives. Effective teams often have strong communication, trust and positive dynamics among members.

Taylor’s Answer:

A collective of living beings formerly united by a shared purpose. A married couple makes up a team in the same way as eight sled dogs and their driver do. 

There is a key difference between goals and purpose in this context; passengers on a bus have a shared goal of commuting to a destination, but their purposes vary, so they are not a team. By contrast, bus drivers employed by the same city may all have different routes and goals. Some may never even meet each other, but their purpose at work is the same. And they rely on each other to achieve that purpose, which is what makes them a team.

What is it like to bake sourdough bread?

ChatGPT’s Answer:

Baking sourdough bread can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience. Sourdough bread is made using a natural starter culture, which is a mixture of flour and water that has been fermented by wild yeast and bacteria. 

The process of making sourdough bread typically involves mixing flour, water, and starter culture to create a dough, which is then left to ferment for several hours. 

The dough is then shaped and left to rise again before being baked in an oven. The final product is a crusty, flavorful loaf with a tangy taste and chewy texture. 

Baking sourdough bread can be time-consuming, as it requires patience and attention to detail, but the end result is well worth the effort.

Kaitlin’s Answer:

When I make sourdough bread, I’m very much aware of the fact that it isn’t just bread. 

While it’s baking, it is a warm smell that envelops my senses and banishes worry with each deep breath.

It’s the excited look in my children’s eyes as they crowd the oven and fog the glass with anticipation. 

It’s a vehicle for gathering together those I love the most. 

It’s nourishment for my family that comes from my hands and heart. 

Have you ever heard your child's tiny voice whisper something so adorable that it makes your heart melt? 

I have.

“Mama’s bread is ready!” 

Baking sourdough isn’t just water, flour, and starter. It’s pure bliss. 

Describe a sunset in two sentences.

ChatGPT’s Answer:

A sunset is a beautiful natural phenomenon that occurs when the sun dips below the horizon, casting a warm glow across the sky. The colors of the sunset can range from shades of orange, pink, purple, and red, creating a picturesque and peaceful scene.

Angela’s Answer:

When the afternoon turns to evening, the sun appears to move closer to the horizon, though in actuality the part of Earth where you stand is rotating away from sunlight. As the sky darkens, it can evolve through myriad colors, often shades of pink, purple, and orange. 

What does it feel like to be 37 years old?

ChatGPT’s Answer:

It's difficult for me to accurately describe what it feels like to be 37 years old, as I am an AI language model and do not have the ability to experience human emotions or physical sensations. 

However, 37 is considered as a middle age, and some people may feel a sense of responsibility and accomplishment, while others might feel a sense of pressure and stress. It depends on individual's life situation, physical and mental health, and the perspective they take on life.

Mark’s Answer:

At 37 restraint is forced upon you. Restraint in the things that you eat, because your blood sugar is on the rise and you are now carrying a few extra pounds. Restraint in your freedom, because you have responsibilities and a family that you love. Restraint in your feelings, because you know your time with your parents and loved ones is limited. In short, being 37 is an emotional rollercoaster, as you let go of your youth and embrace your future.

Why do politics matter?

ChatGPT’s Answer:

Politics matters because it shapes the way society is organized and governed. It determines how resources are distributed, how laws are made and enforced, and how public goods and services are provided. 

Political decisions can have a significant impact on people's lives and well-being, affecting issues such as healthcare, education, the economy, and the environment. 

Additionally, politics plays a crucial role in shaping a country's foreign relations and its role in the global community. Participating in the political process, whether through voting, volunteering, or running for office, can help ensure that the government represents the needs and interests of its citizens.

Joy’s Answer:

Politics = polarity. Big giant primary colored lines drawn in the sand. Red. Blue.

The truth is, humans always pendulum swing between ideologies. What is believed and formed and retracted during a given political era isn’t really the point. All of this wearing stickers and screaming in megaphones is done to tell the world, “this is who I am!” and to find the people we belong with.

Our singular identity needs touchpoints and references and affirmation. It is explained to the other humans in terms of our beliefs. Shared beliefs are the foundation for belonging. And nothing is more primal than the need to belong.

We don’t vote to change the world. We don’t lobby to save the rainforests. 

We do it to re-assert our very existence.

What is a husband?

ChatGPT’s Answer:

A husband is a male partner in a marriage. In most societies, a husband is expected to provide for and protect his wife and family and to make decisions jointly with his wife. A husband is also referred to as a spouse, partner, and a significant other in a marriage. 

Traditionally, a husband is considered the head of the household and the primary breadwinner, however, modern societies have evolved and this role may not always be the case. The roles and responsibilities of a husband can vary from culture to culture and from individual to individual.

Amy’s Answer:

A husband is a companion, provider, and protector all wrapped up in one giant bear hug. He has the strength to tell you when you’re wrong, and the courage to fiercely defend you when you’re right. 

Some husbands provide financially. Others provide warmth, comfort, and a warm cup of coffee in the morning while the world falls around you. A husband will die at the hands of another if that’s what it takes to protect you. But more often, he will die to himself to provide a safe place for your heart to rest. 

Why do people have children?

ChatGPT’s Answer:

People have children for a variety of reasons, some common reasons include:

  • To create a family and continue the family line
  • To experience the joys and challenges of parenthood
  • To raise and nurture a new generation
  • To leave a legacy
  • To have someone to care for them in old age
  • As a personal or religious belief that having children is important
  • Personal fulfillment or a sense of purpose

It's worth noting that many people have children for a combination of reasons, and that people's reasons for having children can change over time. Additionally, not everyone is able or wants to have children, and that is also a valid choice.

Lindsey’s Answer:

People have children for all sorts of reasons which range from the most complex, unwanted decision to the most confident choice involving careful planning. Many don’t think about it at all and yet go through with the option once it presents itself. 

For many, having kids is part of being human. Like other mammals, we are biologically driven to mate and reproduce in hopes of passing on our genes to encourage long-term species survival. Aside from the biological factor, people experience varying levels of desire for childrearing due to cultural expectations, family traditions, considerations about the future, genuine attitudes toward babies and young people, and capabilities to provide for someone other than oneself.

Having children weaves new potential into the world, strung by our previously unbroken thread of human existence. Circumstances always change, but the undercurrent stays the same: we don’t want to go extinct; we don’t want to be forgotten. We strive to not only survive but to make more life. Maybe one day, we sense, the species can thrive. So we collaborate and create. Give and nurture. Collect knowledge and share it. Inspire new capacities for discovery — even beyond our inevitable individual death. 

What does it feel like to miss someone? (In one sentence)

ChatGPT’s Answer:

Missing someone can feel like an ache or emptiness in one's heart, accompanied by feelings of longing and sadness.

Liz’s Answer:

I’m inside out.

How do businesses succeed?

ChatGPT’s Answer:

Businesses succeed by providing products or services that meet the needs and wants of their customers, while effectively managing their finances, operations, and marketing. This includes identifying and targeting the right market, building a strong brand, providing excellent customer service, continuously improving products and services, and adapting to changes in the market or industry. Additionally, good leadership, strategic planning, and a strong team that work efficiently and effectively together also play a crucial role in the success of a business.

Ross’s Answer:

Generally, businesses succeed in one of three ways: by selling more stuff, selling more profitable stuff, or spending less selling that stuff. 

You can use any number of fancy words to describe business strategies. Choose your buzzword: synergies, leverage, disruption – they’re all flavors of the same thing. 

But if you’re honest with yourself, you’ll see that one of those three strategies is driving your business’s success. 

Want to be super successful? Combine them: if your business can sell more product, at a higher margin, without increasing costs, you’ll be a billionaire relaxing on the beach in no time. 

Writers vs. ChatGPT

Final word?

We don’t care. It’s not a competition.

Of course you should Hire a Writer.

But do you.

‍Want to see me (Joy) go live head to head with ChatGPT? Check it out:

 

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