A SIP written by ChatGPT, is it better than the real thing?

This week we are having a classic "man vs. machine" battle royale. The first half of this week's SIP is written by me, the second half by ChatGPT.

• Let the best "person" win.

We start with the "Man of Steel" and a man of insight. Back in 2019, I discovered the writings and videos of an Irishman turned business school professor: Conor Neill

A number of future SIPs will feature Conor's perceptive take on things, but today's is about storytelling.

Conor posits that you need two things to tell a good story:

1. A character - who wants something
2. A conflict - something in the way, an obstacle

He then examines this guy: Superman in the early days (the 1950s)

If you watch the early episodes of Superman, he has fantastic powers, such as superhuman strength and the ability to fly.

• He always seems to solve the crime or rescue the damsel in distress just in the nick of time.
• After a while, the episodes became shallow, predictable and the "B word" (boring).

What made Superman interesting again?

• The writers introduced some vulnerability and nuance to his character.
• He soon had an Achilles heel (Kryptonite), a nemesis (Lex Luther) and a love interest (Lois Lane).

No longer could he fight crime at the drop of a hat and solve any and all challenge with his superior powers. We'll talk more about storytelling in some future SIPs, but for now, focus on the ingredients of your stories.

Make sure you have...

a character +

a degree of tension / conflict to overcome +

a resolution to the challenge.

Stories about all-powerful protagonists who win each and every battle are, yawn, not all that interesting or impactful.

• Bring some texture to your presentations, by ensuring that vulnerability and authentic actions are on display.

What's your Kryptonite? And how have you overpowered it with resilience?

Now on to ChatGPT's take on the topic : )

In the early stories of the TV show "Adventures of Superman," which aired from 1952 to 1958, Superman possessed the following powers:

1. Super Strength: Superman had incredible physical strength, enabling him to lift heavy objects, punch through walls, and perform other feats of great strength.
2. Super Speed: Superman could move at incredible speeds, allowing him to travel faster than a speeding bullet.
3. Invulnerability: Superman was nearly invulnerable to harm, including bullets, explosions, and other physical attacks. He could withstand extreme temperatures and pressures without injury.
4. Flight: Superman could defy gravity and fly through the air at will.
5. Heat Vision: Superman could emit beams of intense heat from his eyes, which he often used to cut through objects or incapacitate enemies.
6. X-Ray Vision: Superman had the ability to see through solid objects, allowing him to observe hidden or concealed items or individuals.
7. Super Hearing: Superman possessed highly sensitive hearing, allowing him to hear sounds from great distances or through barriers.

These powers formed the core abilities of Superman in the early TV show and were consistent with his portrayal in the comics of the time. Over the years, Superman's powers have evolved and expanded in various adaptations and retellings of the character's stories.

Yes, Superman was indeed made more interesting in the 1950s when vulnerabilities and distractions were introduced to his character. Prior to this era, Superman was often depicted as nearly invincible, with few weaknesses or challenges that could truly threaten him. However, as storytelling evolved, writers recognized the need to introduce elements of vulnerability and personal struggles to make Superman's character more relatable and engaging to audiences.

During the 1950s, various vulnerabilities and distractions were introduced to Superman's character, adding depth and complexity to his stories. Some of these included:

1. Kryptonite: Perhaps the most famous weakness of Superman introduced during this era, Kryptonite is a radioactive mineral from Superman's home planet, Krypton. Exposure to Kryptonite weakens and can even kill Superman, providing villains with a potent weapon against him.
2. Magic: While Superman is incredibly powerful, he is not invulnerable to magical attacks. This introduced an additional challenge for Superman, as magical adversaries could pose a threat that his physical strength alone couldn't overcome.
3. Emotional Vulnerabilities: Superman's emotions and personal relationships were explored more deeply in the 1950s, highlighting his struggles with balancing his heroic responsibilities with his desire for a normal life as Clark Kent. This added a layer of relatability to the character as he navigated the complexities of human emotions and relationships.
4. Secret Identity Concerns: Maintaining his secret identity as Clark Kent became a source of tension and vulnerability for Superman, as he had to constantly juggle the demands of his dual identities while keeping his loved ones safe.

These vulnerabilities and distractions added depth to Superman's character and provided writers with new avenues for storytelling. By giving Superman weaknesses and challenges to overcome, his victories became more satisfying and his character more nuanced, ultimately contributing to his enduring popularity over the decades.

So there you have it...man vs. machine. Is the SIP long for this world or is ChatGPT your new coffee buddy every Monday and Thursday morning?

• For the record, I don't think it owns an Elvis jumpsuit either.