Chapter 1: The Enthralling Yet Frustrating World of Tech

While I might not be a tech enthusiast, I can't ignore the emergence of groundbreaking technologies that seem to capture everyone's attention. As someone who spends countless hours writing, I often find myself overwhelmed by the time I spend in front of a screen.

However, there are innovations that are impossible to overlook. When ChatGPT made its debut, it quickly became apparent that it was a significant development. The ability to generate poetry or compose articles on topics like the benefits of shale gas was astonishing.

By the time I decided to give ChatGPT a shot, it had already accomplished remarkable feats, including writing dissertations and creating workout plans. Despite my skepticism—comparing it to Siri, the iPhone assistant—I was genuinely impressed by its capabilities.

Although I wouldn’t dream of passing off its work as my own, I recognized its potential as a writing aid. I frequently use tools like Grammarly for consistency in my writing, so keeping ChatGPT open in a separate tab felt like a natural progression.

For a piece on over-tourism, I sought examples of severely affected destinations, and ChatGPT suggested Bali and Barcelona—two places I have visited and can attest to being overwhelmed by tourists. This suggestion saved me time compared to manually sifting through a world map.

I utilized ChatGPT for quick factual inquiries as well. When curious about the prevalence of Portuguese in Macau, I learned that it is mostly spoken by older individuals and government officials—information that saved me from extensive online searches.

However, it soon became clear that ChatGPT did not fully meet my expectations. Despite its impressive features, it lacked the factual accuracy I was seeking. Here’s what I discovered: ChatGPT excels at creativity but struggles with factual correctness.

During my research on over-tourism, I sought to compare the economic conditions of countries with large tourism sectors to those without. I asked ChatGPT about Thailand's wealth in relation to its neighbors before mass tourism took hold. It claimed Thailand was possibly the poorest country in the region during the 1970s. I was skeptical, given that Vietnam was embroiled in war and Cambodia faced genocide during that period.

After I highlighted this discrepancy, ChatGPT revised its answer, suggesting that Thailand was actually wealthier than Vietnam, China, and Cambodia but not as prosperous as Indonesia or Malaysia. While this sounded more plausible, I asked for a reference to World Bank data, only to find that the link provided was nonexistent.

This pattern of presenting fabricated information became increasingly evident as I probed further into various topics. Sometimes, its responses were generally accurate but lacked suitable citations. At other times, it presented incorrect information with unwavering confidence. These inconsistencies made it more time-consuming to validate its claims than simply conducting my own research.

On the flip side, ChatGPT did demonstrate a knack for creativity. For instance, it generated captivating headlines, which could be beneficial for media outlets in need of attention-grabbing content. However, this wasn't particularly relevant to my current writing objectives.

Chapter 2: A Frustrating Conversationalist

In my interactions with ChatGPT, I often felt as if I were conversing with a well-meaning but overly cautious college student. For example, when I inquired about Latin American countries perceived negatively by Americans, it responded with a lecture on generalizations rather than presenting relevant data.

This led to frustrating exchanges, as I found myself frequently rephrasing questions to avoid triggering unnecessary political correctness. Asking about holiday spots deemed tacky or known for bachelor parties often resulted in similar lectures instead of straightforward answers.

Asking for insights on destinations favored by lower-income travelers would earn me a lecture rather than the information I sought. Such interactions only added to my stress when I was already burdened with the demands of writing and editing.

Writing is a therapeutic exercise for me, allowing for authentic expression. While certain tools enhance my work, I find that ChatGPT adds unnecessary layers between me and my audience. When I don't rely on it, I feel more like the writer I aspire to be.

Ultimately, my experience with ChatGPT reinforced my skepticism toward new productivity technologies. Nevertheless, I remain hopeful that someone will create a speech-to-text tool capable of understanding my Northern Irish accent—a true game-changer for writers like me.

This first video discusses common issues users face with ChatGPT, including downtime and login errors, along with solutions to get back on track.

The second video explores alternatives for ChatGPT Plus, including tools available for free users, providing insights into maximizing your AI experience without the premium cost.