How to work with ChatGPT as a freelance writer

Like most people, the rise of ChatGPT made me very curious and a bit apprehensive. I've read extensively about the platform and how Open AI can work with and for us. Let me take a step back for those who have no idea what I'm talking about. ChatGPT is a chatbot launched by OpenAI in November 2022. It is fine-tuned with both supervised and reinforcement learning techniques. In other words, a learning, writing and chatting robot built on OpenAI takes the digital world by storm. First of all, I'm not against new technology, but in this case, the way it has been embraced makes me a bit anxious. What happens if companies decide that this platform can write all their blogs, newsletters, brochures or even their full website copy? What is left for me to do as a freelance copywriter? Many companies prefer efficiency, which automation provides them.

Let's chat

The famous saying goes 'keep your friends close, but your enemies closer', which made me decide to get to know the platform a bit better. I asked the chatbot my questions directly. As I was talking to a machine anyway, there was no need to sugarcoat, so I went straight to the point (how very Dutch of me).

Well, that was actually quite a nice reaction, especially from a robot. I decided to take this conversation further and ask how we could work together.

How nice is this reaction! Or is this just lip service from a robot? Yes and no, I'd say. Maybe you could compare it with buying bread at the supermarket versus getting it from a baker. Pros of getting your bread at the supermarket: it fills you up, has a long shelf life, and is efficient to buy along with your other groceries. Con's: it tastes bland, is not always freshly baked that morning, and has more e-numbers than fresh brand. Whereas fresh artisanal baker's bread is always fresh from that day, there are many different types of loaves and variations to choose from, you can get it sliced or not and it just tastes so much better. However, it costs more and is not always efficient as you still need to go to other shops for the rest of your food shopping.

Embrace and Collaborate

As an exercise on embracing ChatGPT, I requested a blog post by prompting: "Can you write an 800-word blog on the perks of being in your 40s set against being in your 20s?" This is the answer and draft I received: "Sure! Here's a draft for a blog about the perks of being in your 40s: The Benefits of Being in Your 40s: Why This Decade is the Best Yet As we age, it's natural to compare our lives to the days of our youth. However, while it's true that our 20s can be filled with energy and excitement, there are many benefits to being in your 40s that are often overlooked. In this blog, we'll explore why being in your 40s can be the best decade yet." It then created a list of reasons that fit the title's premise. Overall, it was a nice blog to read, albeit short and lacking a certain je ne sais quoi. Which proves my bread point earlier. Next time you need a new copy, consider what type of bread you prefer. A simple, efficient, cheap loaf that feeds you or an artisanal sourdough loaf that is a joy to eat. Hit me up if it's the latter.