Is ChatGPT killing writing jobs on Upwork?

[airmanx]

As a top-rated plus writer, I used to receive invitations almost every day. Now, after ChatGPT became famous, it has been weeks since I received an invite. I'm wondering if it's just a coincidence or has ChatGPT already started makin its impact on Upwork. I would like to ask other writers for their comments on ChatGPT and what they are doing in this situation,

[prestonhunter]

Fun Fact:
You know all those Dune novels, movies and mini-series?

Frank Herbert's far-future galaxy has no A.I.

Humanity fought a war over this. Those on the side of A.I. lost.

So there are giant sandworms. But no robots. And no A.I.

[williamtcooper]

Watch out for the sandwords 🙂

[tlsanders]

I'm a little surprised by this--not because of how well it did, but because I can't see any reason in the world that AI shouldn't be able to make near perfect scores on the first several items you mentioned. The SAT is extremely mechanical and a 1020 is significantly below average.

[lizablau]

What could possibly go wrong? 

[the-right-writer]

Where did the AI program get its data? I would expect the program to do all of this since it has the data. It's not as if it created anything. 

You keep talking about embracing these tools. And you are posting on Upwork. That lends the impression you are telling people to violate the Terms. I'm sure that is not your intention, but you know how people misconstrue posts. There is no place for AI at Upwork.

BTW, I didn't make the rules.

[williamtcooper]

Jeanne,

I am an AI Marketing Economist - you are VERY incorrect that AI is not used on Upwork.

What you are probably referring to is AI generation which has no place on Upwork which is very different than having to understand AI to complete Blockchain, Fintech, Edtech, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, and other highly technical skill sets which there are hundreds of Experts on Upwork getting paid hundreds per hour.

Where does AI get it's data - it depends on the tools. There are hundreds of API application tools that are industry or skill specific. I think you are referring to ChatGPT-3 which works completely different than AI API applications; not even in the same ballpark.

[the-right-writer]

I thought you were including such programs. If you were not, then it is my error.

[tlsanders]

Per Valeria's post a few days ago, it seemed the only restriction on AI usage was that it must be disclosed to the client.

[tlsanders]

If by average writer you mean "average person who is not a writer but is able to read and write in English," I would agree with you. What I've seen from AI platforms has been at about the level of a mediocre 7th grader, which sadly is the reading level most commonly recommended for targeting a general audience in the U.S. 

However, though the grammar and ability to construct sentences is decent, every piece I have seen has been either entirely devoid of information (each paragraph being a general concept followed by a few more sentences each stating the same concept in different words) or riddled with factual errors. 

[1b9493d5]

I'm with you. I don't like this stuff. Sure, it's not "there yet", but it is already creating impressive artwork, writing code, and interpreting x-rays. It can also write essays. So, yeah, I don't like where this is going.

[the-right-writer]

It is not creating; it is using data from creations that exist. No matter how you spin it, it is not creating, it is plagiarism, which is why many businesses are moving to ban it. Others will love it, the same clients who don't care much about content and are sold it will save money. We have all seen the terrible results online and in documents

[williamtcooper]

Imran,

ChatGPT-3 creates low quality plagarized work and would be equal to entry level writing. It is good for brainstorming ideas if someone has writers block.

ChatGPT-4 which is estimated to be released this summer will synthesize text, voice and video and contain 10 to 1000 times the dataset might be a different story. It may compete against Entry and Intermediate Jobs.

However, ChatGPT is usually used in conjunction with industry specific API applications that compete against Entry and Intermediate Jobs and is 99.99% plaguarism free. An Intermediate to Expert writer is needed if the client wants quality work versus just poor to average content.

My advice is for EVERY person to upgrade their skills as medium through enterprise clients start using these tools themselves at work and have less of a need to hire for Entry and Intermediate projects.

By the way, I am an AI Marketing Economist and micro influencer on LinkedIn. If  you have any other questions, let me know. Have an amazing day!

[melaniekhenson]

Hi, William. I'm curious about that 99% plagiarism free comment. Are you saying the text is not mined from websites/platforms? (IOW, authors?) How then is the copy obtained?

[williamtcooper]

Melanie,

Yes, for ChatGPT-3 the text is mined from websites which is why there are bad plagarism issues.

However, the API applications don't scrape websites, but instead uses trillions of data points that use pattern recognition and not previously written sentences or phrases. These phrases are then tested to make sure that the phrases or text have not been used before.

Companies are starting to use these API tools and during the course of 2023 will require Experts to finish the job, fact check, etc.

[tlsanders]

It seems like maybe you're mixing copyright (which has to do with form, including replication of language and structure) and plagiarism (which has to do with borrowing ideas uncredited).

[williamtcooper]

Tiffany,

I use these tools, therefore I am very familar with them and how they work; not mixing the words copywriting and plagiarism.

Please read this Post Samer and I have about the concepts since it provides more details. I think you will find it very interesting. Thanks!

https://community.upwork.com/t5/Freelancers/Buzzfeed-amp-ChatGPT-Thoughts-From-Writers/m-p/1239146#M...

[tlsanders]

I'm not actually interested at all, thanks. I simply missed the recognitiion in your prior post that ChatGPT-3 is indeed founded in plagiarism. 

[airmanx]

Thanks guys, I've been playing with it and the quality of writing appears fairly reasonable to me. I haven't checked if it plagiarises others work, but I doubt it. I agree that version 3 may be lacking in certain specialized types of writing, such as writing creative headlines for a specific brand or product, but version 4 is going to take care of it, I think. And they're rolling it out in 2023. Moreover, Google is also coming up with similar  products that  will be integrated with other Google apps.

On the whole, I believe ChatGPT and other AI tools are going to render many people  jobless, starting with content writers. The volume of work out there is going to shrink considerably. That's just the writing on the wall. I have seriously started considering other options, as I no longer feel secure just being a writer like I used to.

[williamtcooper]

Imran,

Areas to be affected in 2023 are writers, social media content, programmers, law, medicine, finance, and the list goes on. The KEY is for everyone to upgrade their SKILLS to expert level and know about many different topics so that there is value added to the client.

[tlsanders]

Here's why I'm not sure how much use this advice will be in the long run: the more ubiquitous AI-generated content (empty, low-level content) becomes, the more the already-shifting norm and expectation will shift. I don't think the problem in the long run will be that the quality of AI content comes up to meet expert-level writers (though that's certainly possible), but that the flood of AI-generated pablum will rapidly dilute the demand for expert-level content by changing reader expectations and preferences. 

[the-right-writer]

Yes, ChatGPT does plagiarize. It is against the Terms of Service to use it or any AI program in any way, including proposals.

[rantimi-paul]

ChatGPT is a tool that can assist with writing tasks, but it is not designed to replace human writers.

[williamtcooper]

Yes it assists the Intermediate to Experts today. Entry level is replaced with the new AI application tools that are layered onto ChatGPT-3.

[6bfcdaf8]

Every single day, programming evolves. We can build a program in a day, which would take a year in 1980. Yet programmers make even more money and they are needed more than ever. We are humans, we learn, change, evolve. If chatgpt helps you write things faster, add it to your toolbelt. Tell your customers you start with AI and add a human touch, providing most cost effective service. Just like programmers use software libraries and new programming languages rather than rejecting or ignoring them. 

[williamtcooper]

As a programer, it speeds the process, however within a few years, that AI application tools will do most of the programming and will work best with an Expert programmer. Lesser skilled programmers will not be as needed because the Enterprise companies will be using these tools to reduce costs themselves.