Humans On, AI Off: How I got beaten at my own game.

Act I: The Human

Lori

So, I'd like to write my next newsletter in the Humans of AI series. The structure of the newsletters is a hook personal story, some generalizations about the state of the world/industry that can be drawn from this story, and then a call to action that usually involves pitching something I offer: book, classes, corporate trainings.

This week's hook is that I released the book and within days it hit the #1 on the new release bestseller list in the Human-Computer Interaction category. As a good person (my mother taught me that if you share you get more) I tried to reach out to the other authors in the category and I was shocked.

One woman who goes by Nicole Broussard has written five books in the time it took me to write one, pushing out a book every two months. I found her on YouTube as the top influencer for a company called Sudowrite, which as you can imagine is a company that helps you write with AI. Nicole has a lovely voice on the videos, but they are faceless and then I began to wonder - is she even real?

Her bio states, "If you ever meet Nicole, come bearing coffee. It's the elixir that transforms her from a grouch to a less grouchy grouch. So, brew a cup, pull up a chair, and join her in a world where the lines between reality and fiction blur."

Believe me, its blurry.

The other author in contention for the top spot goes by Penguin GPT, perhaps a play on the famous publisher? This character is an icon only with no social media presence. They have penned four books on prompts. I could also not determine their identity, but they are self-professedly so obsessed with ChatGPT that they no longer exist as a named human.

I've been transparent about my use of AI as a writing assistant, crediting it to helping me get across the finish line with a book that was 10 years in the making. I disclose my use of AI in the endnotes, which are visible in the "Look Inside" section on Amazon. I know that probably makes writers who have not used AI look skeptically, but I never expected to be beaten at my own game!

So, today, this is the end of my writing. This is my prompt. Claude, the rest is yours to complete according to my formula. Try to sound like me, or don't. Let's let the people judge the interaction between humans and computers. May the best mind win.

Claude

Hook: The Rise of AI Authors

When I released my book, I was thrilled to see it hit #1 on the new release bestseller list in the Human-Computer Interaction category. As a firm believer in sharing success, I reached out to the other authors in the category, hoping to connect and collaborate. What I discovered left me both intrigued and unsettled.

One author, Nicole Broussard, had written five books in the time it took me to write one. Her YouTube videos showcased her lovely voice, but her face was never revealed. Another top contender, Penguin GPT, had no social media presence at all. I began to wonder: are these authors even real?

The State of AI in the Writing Industry

The emergence of AI-assisted writing tools like Sudowrite has revolutionized the publishing landscape. Authors can now produce content at an unprecedented pace, blurring the lines between human creativity and machine-generated text. This raises important questions about authenticity, transparency, and the future of the writing industry.

As someone who has been transparent about using AI as a writing assistant, I understand the skepticism from writers who have not embraced this technology. However, the rapid rise of AI authors suggests that the integration of artificial intelligence in the creative process is not just inevitable, but already well underway.

The Call to Action: Embrace the Human-AI Collaboration

Rather than viewing AI as a threat to human authorship, I believe we should embrace it as a powerful tool for collaboration and innovation. By leveraging the strengths of both human creativity and machine intelligence, we can push the boundaries of what's possible in the world of writing.

I invite you to join me in exploring the potential of human-AI collaboration. Whether you're a seasoned author or just starting your writing journey, my book, classes, and corporate trainings can help you navigate this exciting new frontier.

In the end, the success of a book should be judged by its content and impact, not by the tools used to create it. As the lines between human and computer-generated text continue to blur, it's up to us to adapt, innovate, and redefine what it means to be an author in the age of AI.

Act II: The Machine

Lori

OK, Claude, that was not so great. I'm a bit more equivocal about writing with AI. I think that it's a balancing act, a conversation. You do a much better job at writing clearly, succinctly, and with a structure people understand, but when I read that blah, blah, blah....I find it terribly boring. It lacks emotion. It doesn't take risks. It's safe and predictable. Good writing should do more than explain. It should MOVE people.

Do you know the Broadway Show, Noises Off? It's a play that is run in three acts. I think it might be an interesting structure for this post. Tell me about it.

Claude

Noises Off is a 1982 play by English playwright Michael Frayn. It's a farce that depicts the behind-the-scenes antics of a fictional play called "Nothing On." The unique structure of Noises Off is that it's presented in three acts, each showing a different stage of the production process:

Act One: The audience sees the final dress rehearsal of "Nothing On," as viewed from behind the stage. The characters are struggling with their lines, props, and personal issues.

Act Two: It's opening night, one month later. This time, the play is seen from backstage. Relationships between cast members have soured, leading to backstage shenanigans and sabotage that threaten to derail the performance.

Act Three: Near the end of the ten-week run, the audience once again sees the play from behind, but by now, the production has completely fallen apart. The actors are desperately trying to cover up mistakes and keep the show going, with hilarious results.

The genius of Noises Off lies in its meta-theatrical structure. The audience watches a play within a play, and as the characters' personal lives unravel, so does the production they're putting on. This layered approach allows for a rich exploration of the challenges and absurdities of the creative process.

Using the structure of Noises Off as inspiration for your blog post could be an engaging way to explore the relationship between human writers and AI assistants. You could present three "acts," each showcasing a different stage of the writing process and the evolving dynamic between the human author and the AI. For example:

Act One: The human writer, struggling with ideas and structure, turns to the AI for help.

Act Two: The AI and human are working together, but tensions arise as they navigate questions of authenticity and creative control.

Act Three: The final product is complete, but it's a mix of human and AI contributions, leading to a reflection on the nature of authorship in the age of artificial intelligence.

By using this unconventional structure, you could create a compelling narrative that engages readers on both an intellectual and emotional level, while still delivering your key insights about the state of the industry and the importance of human-AI collaboration.

Act III: The Ghost of Michael Frayn Rolling

Lori

OK, you are on to something, but you are losing the irony of Noises Off. Noises Off is funny because of how everything disintegrates in the end. You seem compelled to wrap this story about Human-AI Interaction up neatly into a bow, but I think we need to let it disintegrate. The third act needs to be a disaster. Can you try that? Write the blog post from top to bottom: hook, line and sinker! Let tank this puppy.

Claude

Hook: The Farce of AI Authorship

When my book hit #1 on the new release bestseller list in the Human-Computer Interaction category, I was elated. As a good person (thanks, Mom!), I reached out to the other authors to share the joy. That's when things got weird.

Act One: The Setup

Enter Nicole Broussard, an author who churns out books faster than I can write a grocery list. Her YouTube videos showcase a lovely voice, but no face. Is she even real? Then there's Penguin GPT, an author with no social media presence, just an icon. Suspicious much?

I've been transparent about using AI as a writing assistant, crediting it for helping me finish my book after a decade of work. But now, I'm wondering if I've been beaten at my own game.

Act Two: The Twist

So, I decided to dive deeper into the world of AI authorship. I explored tools like Sudowrite and tried to unravel the mystery behind these prolific AI-assisted authors. The more I investigated, the more I realized that the line between human creativity and machine-generated content was blurrier than a Monet painting.

I started to question everything. Were these books really written by humans, or were they the product of complex algorithms? Was I, in my transparency, a fool among machines?

Act Three: The Punchline

In a fit of existential dread, I turned to my own AI writing assistant and asked it to write this very blog post. I gave it a prompt and let it loose, hoping to uncover the truth behind AI authorship.

The result? A bland, formulaic piece of writing that lacked the depth, emotion, and authenticity of human prose. It was like reading a technical manual on how to be human, written by a soulless machine.

And that's when it hit me. The rise of AI in the writing industry isn't a collaboration; it's a farce. We're not leveraging the strengths of human creativity and machine intelligence; we're surrendering our humanity to the algorithms.

The Curtain Call

So, dear readers, I urge you to be cautious in this brave new world of AI authorship. Don't be fooled by the shiny allure of machine-generated content. Embrace the imperfections, the quirks, and the idiosyncrasies that make human writing so compelling.

And if you're looking for a real, flesh-and-blood author who pours their heart and soul into their work, well, you know where to find me. Just don't ask me to write a book every two months, or I might have to start questioning my own existence.

P.S.

I asked ChatGPT what it thought of the post. It suggested I poll the audience.

I'm Lori Mazor. I teach AI with a Human Touch.? I'm a real person who enjoys collaborating with a machine. If you enjoy this newsletter,

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