{"id":32926,"date":"2023-02-26T08:52:14","date_gmt":"2023-02-26T15:52:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwoodford.net\/blog\/?p=32926"},"modified":"2023-02-26T09:21:04","modified_gmt":"2023-02-26T16:21:04","slug":"i-robot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pwoodford.net\/blog\/?p=32926","title":{"rendered":"I, Robot"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AI<\/a>Pretty soon it’ll be 16 years since I quit drinking. I gave it up on or about St. Patrick’s Day 2007. Most years, I mark the anniversary with an \u00c9irinn-go-Bragh-Kiss-Me-I’m-Sober blog post.<\/p>\n

The big day’s coming up again, and with it the annual struggle to come up with fresh thoughts on the positives of sobriety.<\/p>\n

Lately, my news feeds have been full of concerned articles about students and writers cheating with the aid of artificial intelligence, specifically with an AI app called ChatGPT, already being used by thousands to write term papers, blog posts … even books<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

I once had a teaching fellowship at Sacramento State College, and remember getting occasional plagiarized essays from my English Composition 101 students. They were easy to spot. Until today, I assumed the concern over ChatGPT was overblown, that any college prof or magazine editor would recognize AI-generated material from a mile away.<\/p>\n

Out of curiosity, I signed up for ChatGPT this morning and asked it to write a short blog post about the joys of sobriety. Here’s what it came up with:<\/p>\n

Sobriety is often associated with negativity, restriction, and sacrifice. Many people assume that giving up alcohol or drugs means giving up fun, socializing, and pleasure. However, the truth is quite the opposite. Sobriety can be incredibly joyful, fulfilling, and liberating. Here are some of the joys of sobriety:<\/p>\n

Clarity of mind: One of the most immediate benefits of sobriety is the clarity of mind that comes with it. When you’re not clouded by drugs or alcohol, you can think more clearly, make better decisions, and be more present in the moment. You can fully experience the world around you without the numbing effects of substances.<\/p>\n

Improved physical health: Sobriety can lead to improved physical health. Alcohol and drugs can take a toll on your body, leading to problems such as liver damage, heart disease, and respiratory issues. When you’re sober, your body has a chance to heal and recover.<\/p>\n

Deeper relationships: Sobriety can also deepen your relationships with others. When you’re not relying on substances to socialize, you can connect with people on a deeper level. You can have meaningful conversations, create memories, and build stronger bonds.<\/p>\n

More fulfilling experiences: Sobriety can lead to more fulfilling experiences. When you’re not numbing yourself with substances, you can fully experience life’s pleasures. Whether it’s a beautiful sunset, a delicious meal, or a fun activity with friends, you can enjoy it fully without the need for alcohol or drugs.<\/p>\n

Self-discovery: Finally, sobriety can be a journey of self-discovery. When you’re not constantly relying on substances to cope with life’s challenges, you have the opportunity to learn more about yourself. You can discover your passions, values, and purpose in life.<\/p>\n

In conclusion, sobriety can bring immense joy, fulfillment, and freedom. If you’re struggling with addiction, know that there is hope for a brighter future. Sobriety may not always be easy, but it can be a path to a more meaningful and fulfilling life.<\/p>\n

You know, that’s … not bad. Not bad at all. Apart from the lame “in conclusion” final paragraph, a working writer or journalist could have written it. If I didn’t know, would I have any idea it had been generated by an AI? No. It would have passed my Turing test<\/a><\/strong>!<\/p>\n

But that’s not all. At the bottom of ChatGPT’s essay there’s a “regenerate response” button. Let’s see what happens when we press it.<\/p>\n

Sobriety is a state of being sober and free from the effects of alcohol or drugs. While the journey towards sobriety can be challenging, it comes with immense joy and fulfillment. Here are some of the joys of sobriety.<\/p>\n

Mental clarity
\nOne of the most significant benefits of sobriety is mental clarity. When we are not under the influence of drugs or alcohol, our minds are clear and focused. We can think more clearly, make better decisions, and have better judgment.<\/p>\n

Improved health
\nSobriety also comes with improved health. Alcohol and drugs can cause severe damage to our bodies, leading to various health problems. When we are sober, we can give our bodies a chance to heal and recover.<\/p>\n

Better relationships
\nAlcohol and drugs can strain our relationships with loved ones. Sobriety allows us to repair and strengthen these relationships. We can communicate better, be more present, and build stronger connections with the people we care about.<\/p>\n

Increased productivity
\nSobriety can also lead to increased productivity. When we are not under the influence, we can focus on our goals and work towards achieving them. We can be more efficient, work harder, and achieve more in our personal and professional lives.<\/p>\n

More money
\nDrugs and alcohol can be expensive habits. Sobriety allows us to save money and use it for more productive and fulfilling purposes. We can invest in ourselves, travel, and enjoy experiences that we may have missed out on before.<\/p>\n

In conclusion, sobriety is a beautiful journey that comes with many joys and benefits. While the path towards sobriety may be challenging, the rewards are worth it. By staying sober, we can experience mental clarity, improved health, better relationships, increased productivity, and more money. Sobriety allows us to live our best lives and be the best versions of ourselves.<\/p>\n

Okay, aside from the same formulaic ending, another perfectly-acceptable bit of writing.<\/p>\n

The game, I have to admit, has changed. We’re going to have to learn a new set of rules.<\/p>\n

You know what I don’t see in these AI writing samples? Any kind of personal touch.\u00a0All the more reason for me to keep it personal here at Paul’s Thing, the way friends and readers tell me they like it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Until today, I assumed any college prof or magazine editor would be able to spot AI-generated material from a mile away.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,6,21],"tags":[4198,4197,4196],"class_list":["post-32926","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-events","category-a-series-of-tubes","category-words","tag-celebratingsobrietywithhal9000","tag-chatgpt","tag-needsomehelpwritingthat"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwoodford.net\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32926","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwoodford.net\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwoodford.net\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwoodford.net\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwoodford.net\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=32926"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/pwoodford.net\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32926\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32951,"href":"https:\/\/pwoodford.net\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32926\/revisions\/32951"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwoodford.net\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=32926"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwoodford.net\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=32926"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwoodford.net\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=32926"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}