Stephen Marche, a novelist and cultural commentator, dives into the fascinating impacts of ChatGPT on writing. He discusses the potential demise of traditional authorship versus the possibility of a renaissance in creativity. The conversation highlights concerns about educational equity and the unique challenges AI poses to essay writing. Marche further explores the dynamics of authenticity in writing, questioning how AI-generated content influences our understanding of creativity. His insights provoke thought on the future of literary expression in a tech-driven world.
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Early GPT-3 Experiments
Stephen Marche experimented with GPT-3, PseudoWrite, and Cohere before ChatGPT's release.
Two years prior, he witnessed GPT-3 credibly finish Coleridge's "Kubla Khan."
insights INSIGHT
The Death of the Essay
Marche believes the undergraduate essay, as a blank-page exercise, is obsolete due to AI.
He sees this not as a threat but as a chance for creative exploration.
insights INSIGHT
The Value of Wording
Essay writing, while seemingly about wording, represents a lifetime of refining expression for Marche.
He acknowledges the prevalence of filler in student essays, which AI can now easily replicate.
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In 'The Two Cultures', C. P. Snow argues that Western society is split into two distinct cultures: the scientific culture and the literary or intellectual culture. He contends that this division hampers the ability of society to address global problems effectively. Snow criticizes the British educational system for favoring the humanities over scientific education, which he believes has hindered the UK's ability to compete in a scientifically driven world. He also discusses the gap between rich and poor nations and advocates for a more balanced education system that integrates both scientific and literary knowledge. The book sparked significant controversy and discussion upon its publication and remains influential in debates about education and cultural divides[2][3][5].
The postmodern condition
Jean-Francois Lyotard
Jean-François Lyotard's "The Postmodern Condition" is a seminal work in postmodern thought, exploring the nature of knowledge and its relationship to power in contemporary society. Lyotard argues that postmodernity is characterized by a decline of grand narratives and a proliferation of localized knowledge systems. He introduces the concept of legitimation by paralogy, suggesting that knowledge is increasingly validated through consensus rather than objective truth. The book examines the impact of technology and information on knowledge production and dissemination. Lyotard's work has had a significant influence on various fields, including critical theory, cultural studies, and education.
ChatGPT is the Internet's new favourite toy. This is some of AI’s most impressive technology yet, but could the creation of an all-knowing human-like chatbot - a tool which can create answers, emails, poems, stories, and essays instantly - mean that writing as we know it could cease to exist? Or could it be a renaissance for the ways in which we view and approach writing? To explore these questions we’re joined by novelist, essayist, and cultural commentator - Stephen Marche; and academic, critic and broadcaster - Shahidha Bari.
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