Artificial Intelligence is rapidly integrating itself into human society, leaving many, including AI's creator to worry about the potential dangers... and it's too late. But rather than spend a whole blog talking about how AI robots are going to take over the universe, I decided to focus on the positive: it can't take my job... yet.
I'll admit it... ChatGPT can write... maybe even report. Though it is limited by lack of human interaction in the amount of information it can gather, one of my journalism classes just discussed some potential uses for AI in the newsroom. Here are three:
1. Interview Prep: Do you need to practice before an important interview? No problem, just ask ChatGPT to act as this important public figure. This way, you can try out your interview questions on a lifelike sports star, politician, or other public figure. ChatGPT can even provide good follow-up questions for you.
2. Idea Generator: Do you have a story due by the end of the day and no clue what to write about? Ask ChatGPT. It knows what types of stories are trending on the internet and can task you to cover events that you didn't even know were happening. ChatGPT can also help with your preliminary research.
3. Broadcast Translation: Do you broadcast in English, but wish you could broadcast in Spanish, too? New AI applications will analyze your voice and face and make it look and sound like you are speaking another language. (Why am I taking Spanish again?)
Reporters seem to already be sharing their job with the AI chatbot... how long before it takes over completely?
Truth is, I don't know. While it still gets some things wrong, ChatGPT (arguably, one of the more basic AI softwares) is pretty good at what it does. So, I put it to the test. Its mission? Write like me, a collegiate level reporter with over 200 published works.
After directing it to samples of my work and having it summarize my writing style, here's what I asked it:
Write a made-up headline of an article that Caleb might write and provide a snippet of the article in his tone
It responded:
TCU Musicians Unite for Student-Run Recital Highlighting New Compositions
Last night, the intimate Van Cliburn Concert Hall buzzed with creativity as TCU music students debuted original works in a student-organized recital. From intricate percussion arrangements to evocative string quartets, the performances showcased not only technical prowess but also the depth of storytelling through sound.
“It’s not just about performing,” said sophomore composer Emma Rodriguez. “It’s about connecting with the audience and sharing something personal.”
The recital reflected TCU’s commitment to fostering artistic expression, with students taking the reins in curating and performing the event. The audience, composed of faculty, peers, and community members, gave enthusiastic applause to each piece, proving that the next generation of composers is ready to make its mark.
Not bad, right? It has the necessary information, a good quote, and a newsworthy premise; however, there are a lot of problems with it. How do I know? Well, I'm not just a reporter. For the past two years, I've been working at TCU 360 as an editor. I pride myself on my knowledge of AP style and good journalistic principles many reporters miss. ChatGPT asked me to share my problems with its reporting. I did:
1. Headline needs to be in sentence case and should be shorter
2. Stop using flowery words like "intricate, evocative, etc"
3. Shorter paragraphs, specifically the first one... the lead should tell you everything you need to know in one concise sentence
4. The quote source should read "Emma Rodriguez, a sophomore composition major, said"
5. Don't make assumptions that TCU is committed to fostering artistic expression or that the next generations of composers is ready
It complied:
Students Showcase Original Music in TCU Recital
TCU students performed their original compositions at a recital organized entirely by students. The event featured new works for percussion and strings, highlighting their creativity and collaboration.
“Sharing something personal with the audience is what this is all about,” said Emma Rodriguez, a sophomore composition major.
The recital drew applause from peers and faculty, celebrating student-led music initiatives at TCU.
I noticed some things... The headline? Not in sentence case. The lead? Not one sentence. The quote source? It still has "said" before the name (a big journalism no no). Also, I don't really know where the end of that quote went...
This is why, as editors, we just change things for the reporters instead of asking them to do it. Even an artificial intelligence language model has the arrogance to refuse to change its first draft too much in some cases and change too much in others. But, I decided to give it another shot. Here's what I wrote:
The "said" should still come after the name
The headline is not in sentence case (in sentence case only the first word is capitalized)
The lead is not one sentence as it should be
It complied:
Students showcase original music in TCU recital
TCU students shared their original music in a recital organized entirely by peers. The event featured new works for percussion and strings.
“Sharing something personal with the audience is what this is all about,” Emma Rodriguez, a sophomore composition major, said.
The recital offered a platform for students to present their work and connect with the campus community.
Well, two out of three ain't bad, right? (Notice the lead still isn't one sentence). I actually regenerated the response twice more and only once did ChatGPT accomplish all three objectives. In the other flop, the AI failed to put "said" at the end of the attribution.
Research completed, I went to bed with a smile on my face. At least for the moment, even if AI can write, it has a long way to go before even it doesn't need an editor (and don't get me started on Grammarly... AP style is not its forte either).
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