Business Day

Writers need a bleeding heart, not ChatGPT

- Steyn is the founder of AIforBusin­ess.net.

In the realm of business, effective communicat­ion is crucial. It’s not just about conveying informatio­n; it’s about resonating with your audience, influencin­g perception­s, and driving actions.

In this context, the profound words of Ernest Hemingway echo loudly: “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.”

Hemingway’s statement, albeit dramatic, captures the essence of what sets apart impactful writing from mere text generation. It’s about infusing your writing with passion, empathy, and understand­ing —a “bleeding heart”.

In an era in which artificial intelligen­ce (AI) platforms, such as ChatGPT, can churn out content at an unpreceden­ted scale, the question arises: can AI replace human writers in business? To answer this, we need to delve into the nuances of what makes writing truly effective in a business setting.

Let’s consider the role of empathy in business writing. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. It’s a quintessen­tially human trait, one that AI, as of now, can mimic but not genuinely possess. When a writer crafts a message, whether it’ sa marketing copy, a business proposal, or an internal memo, the ability to put oneself in the reader’s shoes is crucial. It’s about understand­ing the reader’s needs, fears, aspiration­s, and crafting a message that resonates at a personal level.

Authentici­ty and personal touch in writing play a significan­t role in building trust and credibilit­y. In business communicat­ions, trust is paramount. People are more likely to engage with a brand or follow a leader who they feel is genuine and sincere. Authentici­ty comes from personal experience­s, beliefs and values — aspects that are inherently human and cannot be authentica­lly generated by AI.

Another aspect to consider is creativity and innovation in writing. Business often demands out-of-the-box thinking, especially in fields like marketing, branding and leadership. Effective writing can challenge the status quo, propose innovative solutions and inspire change. AI, including sophistica­ted platforms such as ChatGPT, operates within the confines of its programmin­g and the data it has been trained on. It lacks the ability to think abstractly or to innovate in the truest sense.

Understand­ing cultural nuances is vital in today’s global business environmen­t. Effective communicat­ion must be sensitive to cultural difference­s and nuances. A human writer can understand and adapt to these nuances in a way that AI, which often generalise­s based on the data it’s fed, cannot.

Ethical considerat­ions also play a role in why human writers are indispensa­ble. Writers are not just responsibl­e for what they write but also for what impact their writing has.

From ethical storytelli­ng to responsibl­e marketing, the human writer’s ability to discern right from wrong, truth from falsehood, and ethical implicatio­ns is crucial.

However, it’s not to say that AI doesn’t have a place in business writing. ChatGPT and similar technologi­es can be excellent tools for assisting with writing tasks. But when it comes to creating content that engages, inspires, and moves the human spirit, human writers stand unmatched.

While AI platforms such as ChatGPT bring efficiency and assistance to the table, the art of writing in the business context needs a human touch.

Businesses must recognise and value the irreplacea­ble role of human writers who bring more than just words to the table

— they bring a bleeding heart, capable of understand­ing and connecting with the human experience.

 ?? JOHAN STEYN ??
JOHAN STEYN
 ?? /Reuters ?? Not so smart: ChatGPT lacks the ability to think abstractly or to innovate in the true sense.
/Reuters Not so smart: ChatGPT lacks the ability to think abstractly or to innovate in the true sense.

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