ChatGPT vs. Me: Can a Machine Really Take My Place?
We’ve all heard about the revolutionary technology ChatGPT, an AI chatbot designed to answer all your questions and help with tasks. The advent of this technology has led to speculation that professionals from a variety of industries, including journalists, will soon be replaced. Today, I will put this to the test and answer the question: can ChatGPT replace me as a Her Campus writer?
The first way I tested ChatGPT was by asking it for pitch ideas, the first task assigned to me as a writer when starting a story for Her Campus. I put in the prompt, “Give me three ideas for a Her Campus article,” and it presented the following.
“Slaying the Semester: Time Management Tips for Maximizing Productivity and Minimizing Stress” — With busy schedules and multiple deadlines, college can be overwhelming. This article could offer time-management techniques, productivity tips, and stress-management strategies for students looking to balance their coursework and extracurricular activities.
“The Power of Female Friendship: Celebrating Sisterhood in College” — This article could explore the importance of building strong friendships with other women during college, offering advice on how to connect with like-minded individuals and create a supportive network on campus.
“From Sweatpants to Runway: Elevating Your Style in College” — With the rise of influencer culture and social media, college students may feel pressure to dress to impress. This article could offer advice on how to curate a personal style on a college budget, with tips on thrift shopping, capsule wardrobes, and finding inspiration from fashion icons.
These pitches all fit the Her Campus style and are relevant to the audience. These ideas, however, are overdone and have been written about many times on and off of Her Campus. The AI lacks originality as expected, but clearly understands what it’s being asked for and has come up with a good variety of appropriate suggestions.
My next test was asking ChatGPT to write one of these articles. I inserted the following prompt, “Write a 250-word article for Her Campus based on your first pitch,” and received the following.
Slaying the Semester: Time Management Tips for Maximizing Productivity and Minimizing Stress
College can be a challenging time for students, especially when it comes to managing their time effectively. With busy schedules and multiple deadlines to juggle, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and stressed out. However, there are several strategies that students can use to maximize productivity and minimize stress.
Firstly, it’s important to create a schedule and stick to it. Set aside specific times for studying, attending classes, and participating in extracurricular activities. This will help you stay organized and ensure that you don’t miss any important deadlines.
Secondly, prioritize your tasks based on their importance and deadline. Start with the most pressing tasks and work your way down the list. This will help you stay focused and ensure that you complete your work on time.
Thirdly, take breaks and practice self-care regularly. It’s important to take breaks from your work and engage in activities that help you relax and recharge. This could be going for a walk, practicing yoga, or simply taking some time to unwind with friends.
Finally, build a support system of friends, family, and mentors who can offer you support and guidance when you need it. Having a network of people you can turn to for advice and encouragement can be a valuable asset when you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed out.
By implementing these strategies, students can slay the semester and achieve their academic goals without sacrificing their mental health and well-being.
I was surprised by the quality of writing the AI model was able to produce. It answered the prompt accurately and was able to share helpful and accurate information. The only thing missing was a sense of humanity. The language lacks personality, and it isn’t able to share personal experiences to which readers may relate. If I were to write this article, I would write it as follows; I’ll let you be the judge of who wrote it better.
A Journalist’s Guide to Time and Stress Management
As a second-year journalism student, I’m no stranger to a busy schedule. Between publication deadlines, assignments for class, extra-curricular activities and working part-time to afford the cost of living in Toronto, life can be hectic, to say the least. Here are my top three suggestions to stay productive yet sane this semester.
Scheduling is my number one tool when it comes to time management. My agenda is filled with meetings, appointments, deadlines and often even time set aside to spend socially. Keeping an organized agenda allows me to see all of my upcoming commitments at a glance and stay on top of commitments without missing any events.
After reviewing my upcoming deadlines, I like to prioritize my work by order of what is due first. The assignments due the soonest are given top priority; however, if something is especially large or time-consuming, it’s also given more time in my schedule to make sure it’s completed on time. Creating a schedule and a mental to-do list has helped me stay focused and on track.
One key aspect of preventing burnout and being able to finish each commitment is building a close social circle. My social circle is admittedly just as busy as I am, which is nice as we’re able to understand and sympathize with one another, offer each other advice and use our time together as a much-needed break for each of us. We often go out to eat between classes or simply work on our projects together at school. If you can, try to find friends with similar schedules who can help you stay on task while still providing an outlet for socialization.
Time will get away from you, and that’s okay. Nobody can stay on task all the time, but by maintaining a schedule and keeping track of commitments, prioritizing tasks, and taking breaks with friends, hopefully, you too can manage your time and stress easily while navigating all that’s ahead.
My Conclusion
Ultimately, ChatGPT could be a Her Campus writer, but not a good one. While I don’t think the chatbot would be the top-grossing writer and would likely receive stylistic edits, it’s able to come up with pitches and write articles appropriate for the page. It lacks the human touch that brings readers back again, but in terms of content, formatting and approach, ChatGPT can get the job done.