In 2023, Artificial Intelligence (AI) dominated societal debates, from how it impacts employment in some occupational sectors to its questionable use in the modelling industry. As a language teacher, I’m not immune from the significance of AI’s rapid evolution. In my writing courses, I don’t discourage adult students from using translators or AI, as they maintain doing this to save time. Instead, I focus on how they can improve their AI-generated texts, pointing out the choice of words and punctuation, reminding them to check the type of English (UK or US) and adapt this to the one their company or organisation uses, and forming or adding phrases to sound human or courteous but impactful. Most importantly, we discuss intellectual property rights, reputable resourcing, and referencing.
A year and a half ago, I started writing a novel. With the arrival of Chat GPT (AI software and platforms show up every day), I decided to shelve it. There are already novels helped by AI or even entirely written by it, and many more will be on the market. How do readers differentiate between human and AI-generated stories?
I enjoy writing, and in 2024, I’ll venture into a non-fiction illustrated/pictorial book that is entertaining (fun to read) yet informative or educative. Wish me luck! I admire people with a good sense of humour, a gift I don’t have but am determined to acquire as a skill. I hope to achieve this objective before AI exceeds my ability to laugh and empathise.
It’s a coffee table book about using English in our globalised and digitalised world. I need anecdotes, jokes, photos, and illustrations related to this topic. All contributions will be acknowledged (i.e. you decide on your full legal name, nickname, or website link that will go with them). You can contact me through the comment section here. I’m the only one who can see your message and email address, which are deleted after I’ve read them).
How about you? What did you let go last year? What are your challenges in 2024?
I wish you, my readers, and your loved ones good health, peace, love, joy, and prosperity. May you’ve more giggles than grumbles this year!
