Fair warning: what follows below employs ostentatiously ornate language and sesquipedalian verbiage. It's up to you to interpret how much of it has been done deliberately, for effect.I came across a
LinkedIn post by Clara Costa titled "
7 ways to spot ChatGPT copy." With tongue planted firmly in cheek, they facetiously pointed out hallmarks such as proper punctuation, starting sentences with capital letters, and even the correct use of "you're" vs. "your" as possible signs of AI authorship.
While humorous in tone, the post posits a provocative postulation: are we too quick to suspect AI at work in polished writing?
As someone who uses words like "albeit," "boon," and "behove" in everyday discourse, I've often wondered whether my penchant for elaborate vocabulary and verbose phrasing makes me sound more robotic than human. Although my use of abstruse words and recondite locution makes me sound ancient, more so than stilted.
In the very remote off-chance that it's still unclear at this point, I'm intentionally laying it on thick here. Just a smidge.
Combine that with my sporadic use of semi-colons and tendency to avoid contractions - I'll fight you on why "cannot" is the superior choice over "can't" in some situations - and I might unintentionally check quite a few of those AI markers.
I even question myself at times, though I'm always assured I'm not a robot whenever I play those little picture games that pop up sometimes.
My tedious proclivities aside, reality is nuanced. Yes, ChatGPT and similar tools are convenient. Yes, they are overused. Case in point, have you noticed how the word "elevate" has proliferated in marketing copy everywhere, whether it's within an epicurean context or on a billboard ad for plumbing services?
This is neither the fault of AI nor its users. Recall how not too long ago, people with an expansive vocabulary were often accused of relying too heavily on thesauruses. Rather, it reflects the exponential advancements in tools and technology and their increasing accessibility.
This holds true for many aspects of our lives, and when utilised for communication the phenomenon is amplified. Perhaps it could advocate for the judicious use of such tools.
I don't see this as a critique more than a call to appreciate the quirks and eccentricities that distinguish human writing, even if they sometimes align with "robotic" patterns. After all, isn't the charm of writing its ability to spark thought, conversation, or even just a quiet knowing smile to oneself?
And no, I won't conclude with a call to action or a pithy takeaway. Would ChatGPT end without some CTA or poignant conclusion?
Hah, I think not!
That, perhaps, is proof enough of humanity in my prose.
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Now go read a book!
* Dang it! * 🤦♂️
Stephen