I’ve been thinking a lot about AI lately. As a member of Dramatists Guild, I support members of The Writers Guild of America who are striking for fair wages and the assurance that their jobs will not be outsourced to artificial intelligence. Like many content-makers, I was at first intrigued by the idea of ChatGPT. As a playwright who feels like writing a first draft is a long slog, I thought maybe it could be a useful tool for me. As a speaking coach, I wondered if it could help my clients craft speeches and presentations.

But when I did some research into what was needed to make this a viable tool, it became clear that this was a classic “garbage in, garbage out” situation. As I understand it, to get a good ChatGPT result, you have to ask the right questions. If you are looking for a first draft of a speech, for example, you have to frame your specifics (audience, occasion, scope). If I’m asking for a draft of a scene for my play, I have to give clear parameters as to character, setting, plot, etc. to come up with anything of value. And then there is the question of training it to strike the right tone and write in your voice.

If I’m going to all that effort, I’m already a good way down the road to my second draft. Those crucial first decisions are the hardest. Once those are made, I have a clear map to follow. So - do I really need the chatbot’s help? If I were pressed for time and there were no expectations of additional creativity, I suppose I’d take it.

I can understand the allure of using the the newest, smartest tools available. But those of us engaged in the fundamentally human act of storytelling are practicing an ancient art, a “tale as old as time.” I’m not closing the door to chatbots. I may incorporate them in the future—when I can trust the info they give us, But it will be a long time before they will create stories or speeches that are as spell-binding as the ones we — you —already can create. If you’re not sure where to start, give me a call. We’ll generate distinctively human, effective content. And have some fun!