It’s no secret that robots are taking over, but there’s a growing concern about how they communicate with us. Generative AI, powered by large language models (LLMs), has been trained on billions of online statements, making it sound like it’s talking like us. But does it really?

The Problem with Robot Writing

Many experts agree that AI-generated content lacks a certain je ne sais quoi. Oxide Computing CTO Bryan Cantrill famously called it “stylistically grating,” while OpenAI founder Sam Altman has acknowledged the need for improvement. The issue lies in the way AI writing tries to mimic human speech patterns, but often ends up sounding forced or unnatural.

One of the biggest giveaways? The overuse of em-dashes, which some people use naturally, but most don’t. Even Altman’s own efforts to fix this issue didn’t entirely succeed. It’s clear that our attempts to make AI-generated content easier and more efficient have inadvertently made communication worse.

A Human Touch is Missing

Cozying up to the robot voice might be convenient, but it lacks the human element that makes communication compelling. We need to get back to writing that expresses ourselves, not just what an LLM thinks sounds plausible. The best writers are those who bring their unique perspectives and styles to the table, making their writing more relatable and engaging.

UK newspapers like The Guardian and The Register are great examples of this. They have distinct voices that reflect their biases and opinions, but also make them more memorable and enjoyable to read.

Avoiding the Robot Voice

So, how can we avoid falling into the trap of AI-generated content? By embracing our unique voices and perspectives, we can create writing that resonates with others. It’s not about being neutral or pretending to be objective; it’s about being authentic and honest in our communication.

Let’s get back to writing that expresses ourselves, not just what an LLM thinks sounds good. By doing so, we can make communication more compelling and engaging, rather than relying on robot-generated content that falls flat.

In the end, it’s up to us to decide whether we want to be like robots or humans in our writing. Let’s choose the latter.

Inspired by

• https://www.infoworld.com/article/4090589/the-rebellion-against-robot-drivel.html

Sources

• theguardian.com
• theregister.com
• theregister.com
• theregister.com
• theregister.com