Letters to and From the Editor

What happens when you ask ChatGPT to write a 300-word magazine editor’s column about the use of ChatGPT in professional writing? In three seconds, it spits out six fairly coherent—if somewhat bland—paragraphs that tout the emerging technology as the best thing for writing since the Gutenberg printing press. I present an excerpt for your own judgement:

The applications of ChatGPT are vast and diverse. From drafting persuasive marketing copy to crafting engaging blog posts, from developing gripping storytelling to refining technical documentation, this AI assistant has become an invaluable resource for professionals seeking to optimize their written communication. With its vast knowledge base and ability to adapt to different writing styles, ChatGPT serves as a trusted partner for both seasoned wordsmiths and aspiring writers alike.

While “developing gripping storytelling” might be a stretch, I can see how refining technical documentation might be in its wheelhouse. (Our copy editor, Peggy, notes that using “both” and “alike” in the last line is redundant. Take that, ChatGPT.) To its credit, perhaps seeking to reassure the prompt writer, the AI-generated text does go on to define itself as a helpful tool, rather than a potential human replacement:

However, we must recognize that while ChatGPT offers immense benefits, it does not replace the skills and expertise of human writers. The true power lies in the collaboration between human and machine, where the AI tool augments and enhances human creativity, rather than replacing it.

[See the bottom for the entire answer to my prompt and judge for yourself if I should be concerned for my profession.]

Hardly a day goes by without another news story about how large-language models are about to upend our lives. It’s no wonder a recent Critical Conversation panel discussion on ChatGPT by five WPI experts generated standing-room-only interest. That discussion, and follow-up conversations with the panelists, became the basis for the feature on page 36, which includes AI-generated illustrations of our experts. I considered asking ChatGPT to write the same article to compare the output, but some things are best left untested.

I received two thoughtful answers to my query in the last issue: What surprised you when you first joined the WPI community? Charles Innis, who received his PhD in 1975 and taught as an adjunct professor later in his career, noted a strong familial connection to WPI, including the fact that his grandfather, Nelson E. Frissell, was a member of the Class of 1912.

“I started my PhD work in September of 1969, which turned out to be the start of the WPI Plan. That was a huge surprise. You cannot imagine the advising load that put on the professors, especially my advisor, Professor Hagglund, and his neighbor, Professor Boyd … Their corridor, which ran from the main corridor to the west wall of Higgins, was packed with students trying to meet with their advisors, as was I.

“The Plan itself, though, was the major surprise. I had thought I was applying to a traditional engineering school—which it was, as far as the Graduate School was concerned. What I wound up being immersed in was a new approach to engineering education, which incorporated the humanities. On reflection, this pleased me no end. I had worked as an engineer for several years before coming to WPI and had engineers in my family, and was disappointed in how narrow-minded engineers could be. Perhaps I was spoiled—my mother and grandmother were Smith College graduates and humanities were part of my home environment—but I thought engineers were missing part of the richness of life through the limits of their education…And I was so lucky to have one of the drivers of the Plan, Ray Hagglund, as an advisor, even though I had to fight my way through shoals of undergraduates to see him.”

A second writer, Tennyson Wang ’58 (MS), mechanical engineering, offered welcoming words to WPI’s new president, Grace Wang, along with his own moment of surprise:

“When I joined the WPI community in 1954 as an instructor in the mechanical engineering department, I was the first and the only Chinese faculty member. My real surprise was finding out that there were two prominent Chinese educators who had previously graduated from WPI. Mei Yi-Qi graduated in 1914 and subsequently became the president of Tsinghua University in Beijing, and Sa Ben-Dong graduated in 1924 and became a renowned physicist and the president of Xiamen University in China. The knowledge and spirit they obtained from the WPI community has since benefited students in China for decades. This could be a surprise to our new president and the WPI community.”

Keep those surprises coming.

—Kristen O’Reilly, Editor

I am so pleased by April Hammond’s endowment in honor of her parents, Fahire and Professor Thom Hammond. I knew Professor Hammond and Professor Roy Bourgault before I started my PhD program at WPI through my ex-wife, who grew up on their street, Einhorn Road, and played on the WPI campus as April did. She was April’s counsellor at Nature Training School in Holden, where I met the Hammonds.

I am pleased to remember working with Professor Hammond on my dissertation and in my many contacts with him as a graduate student.

He was a great person to work with and really understood what I had accomplished. He encouraged me to present my work as an ASME paper and asked me to present it to his class. Knowing him was a highlight of my WPI experience and it is a tribute to him that his daughter, whom I know and respect, has created this endowment in honor of her parents.

—Charles Innis ’75 (PhD), mechanical engineering

What happened when I ask ChatGPT to write a 300-word magazine editor’s column about the use of ChatGPT in professional writing? You be the judge of its complete answer:

Editor’s Column: Unleashing the Power of ChatGPT in Professional Writing

Welcome to this edition of our magazine, where we explore the ever-evolving landscape of professional writing and the cutting-edge tools that shape its future. In recent years, one remarkable development has caught the attention of writers, editors, and communicators worldwide: the rise of ChatGPT, an AI-powered language model that has revolutionized the way we approach content creation.

At its core, ChatGPT is a sophisticated language model that can generate human-like text based on the prompts it receives. This powerful tool has been harnessed by professionals across various industries, enabling them to streamline their writing processes, enhance productivity, and unlock new realms of creativity.

The applications of ChatGPT are vast and diverse. From drafting persuasive marketing copy to crafting engaging blog posts, from developing gripping storytelling to refining technical documentation, this AI assistant has become an invaluable resource for professionals seeking to optimize their written communication. With its vast knowledge base and ability to adapt to different writing styles, ChatGPT serves as a trusted partner for both seasoned wordsmiths and aspiring writers alike.

However, we must recognize that while ChatGPT offers immense benefits, it does not replace the skills and expertise of human writers. The true power lies in the collaboration between human and machine, where the AI tool augments and enhances human creativity, rather than replacing it. As editors, we must remain diligent in ensuring the authenticity and accuracy of the content produced using AI assistance.

Furthermore, ethical considerations must be at the forefront of our minds as we embrace this technology. We must be cautious about the potential biases or misinformation that can inadvertently seep into AI-generated content. Rigorous fact-checking and critical evaluation are essential to maintain the integrity and credibility of the written word.

In conclusion, the integration of ChatGPT into professional writing has opened up exciting new possibilities, transforming the way we create and communicate. By harnessing the power of AI, we can amplify our productivity, explore innovative writing styles, and break through creative barriers. However, as we embrace this technology, let us do so responsibly and ethically, ensuring that human judgment and critical thinking remain at the core of our profession. Together, we can leverage the potential of ChatGPT to shape a future where the written word is more powerful, captivating, and impactful than ever before.