Artificial IQ ~ Surprisingly useful for certain things
File under: New tool you should try at least once?
Let a robot write my stuff?
“No way!” my proud pen
shouted. And then I tried it…
AI (Artificial Intelligence) has come a LONG way. It can now write student papers that earn top grades. (That’s the dark side.) On the bright side (i.e., YOU side), AI can be useful for brainstorming and first drafts.
I didn’t believe it either … then I swallowed my pride and investigated, with guidance from the AI-hopeful Coopers….
Here's a question for you: Which of these two is more important to your audience ... a good writer ... or a good editor?
I've earned a decent living as a copywriter for something like 40 years ... and I would say that a good editor is more important.
After all, the editor is the last hurdle before publication. The editor understands the reader ... and that reader's hopes for a good experience. The editor trims, tightens, discards, challenges, highlights. In my career, I've been blessed with many good editors. (Hey, Paula!) Writing is rewriting ... and a good editor makes all the difference.
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Still ... and here's the rub ... a lot of times you have to be your OWN editor ... especially in a smaller fundraising office.
I think that's where Artificial Intelligence proved itself for me.
With a few prompts (see example below), AI today gave me a reasonable first draft (within seconds) ... and then I got to be the discerning editor of the robot-writer's work.
As the CEO of a large company told CNN in January 2023, “I use AI as a writing assistant and thought partner,” to write emails and drafts of speeches. Who doesn't want a writing assistant and thought partner?
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Let me give you a quick AI example, so you see what I'm talking about
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I asked OpenAI Playground to do this: Write a warm letter to current donors, asking them to consider adding a bequest to their wills.
In about 3 seconds, Artificial Intelligence created the following...
Dear Generous Donors,
We are grateful for your ongoing support of our charity.
Your donations have allowed us to make a significant impact in the lives of those in need and have enabled us to continue our mission.
We would like to offer an additional way for you to ensure our charity’s long-term sustainability: adding a bequest to your will.
A bequest is a gift that you leave to a charitable organization of your choice in your will or estate plan.
It’s a great way to make a lasting impact and to ensure that your legacy lives on beyond your lifetime.
We hope that you will consider adding a bequest to your will. Our staff would be happy to provide you with more information on how to get started.
Thank you again for your ongoing support.
Sincerely,
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Perfect? No. Suitable as a first draft I can build from? You betcha.
And it took 3 seconds. It would have taken me an hour at least to craft the same first draft ... and I have all the training in the world.
Let's not over-sell Artificial Intelligence.
It's bare-bones OK. It lacks a soul. It's not ready for sending out to an audience I care about and wish to persuade. As that CNN article noted, "Critics — of which there are many — are quick to point out that [AI] makes mistakes, is painfully neutral and displays a clear lack of human empathy."
Enter stage right: your dripping heart, dangling from your pen.
Now you, fundraiser, step in ... take that clumsy AI first-draft ... warm it up ... add personality, enthusiasm, character, hard-won passion, vision, delight, comfort, emotional competence ... maybe a story.
For WAY more information than you can swallow at one sitting, check out this post ABOUT Artificial Intelligence (AI) by the Coopers. Includes entertaining videos.
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