Rishu Bhardwaj

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  • Harnessing AI for Effective Copywriting

    Harnessing AI for Effective Copywriting

    First of all, writing is itself a technology. If this notion makes little sense then here is some suggested reading: https://rishu.blog/2023/01/16/ai-teaching/ & https://rishu.blog/2022/05/19/to-pimp-a-butterfly-towards-new-literacy-studies-rap-as-oral-literature/

    If the iPhone stopped innovating then we’d be over it before Outkast was outcast.

    What I’m trying to say is that as a writer I get bogged down with the same contracts and jobs over and over again and I was looking to work on something totally different and went to chatgpt for some help.

    After some noodling I knew I wanted to write more copy but as a 360 for a product launch; sort of a mock-trial of copywriting standards in B2B & B2C markets.

    ChatGPT – Portfolio Project Ideas
    Shared via ChatGPT

    Above is the link to the entire chat so feel free to look through at my own prompts and how I landed with such a clear/concise plan for writing.

    This layout and plan would be so relevant to any editor/writer/marketer/product manager/graphic designer. It would essentially get you a step ahead of all other copywriters out there since you’d know what every section of writing will need. B2C needs empathetic, eye-catching copy that relates to customers, while B2B requires you to be efficient and accurate in all writing and projections.

    I unfortunately have not had the time to get into all of these wonderful ideas and plans but I do hope this can help writers out there find prompts that’ll help them tide over times of unrest and vacancy.

    Happy writing!

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  • The Medicine Mentors Podcast & Descript

    The Medicine Mentors Podcast & Descript
    A testament to UpWork’s potential! I found this job with the podcast, The Medicine Mentors, online and have been paying my bills and enjoying the work for about 4 months now.

    I was initially hired just as a writer who had to listen to the episode and find quotes and create marketing material for emails and such but quickly ended up accruing more responsibilities. I was asked to make cuts to the episode and now I’m in charge of making the whole thing from start to finish.

    More than just displaying another job I’m proud of, I wanted to share the incredible software that we used to complete the episodes.

    It’s called Descript.

    This is what my day starts like. I import the audio files and begin to chip away at the conversation for imperfections in speech or audio quality. What’s really neat is that it’ll follow along the transcribed conversation (a feature that I literally used to get paid to do, thanks AI) with the audio and all I have to do is take out the word directly on the transcript. You can see that some sections are crossed off and there’s words like “um” or “uh” that are crossed out too, that all happened automatically I didn’t have to go in and individually take out every little “um,” which is fantastic.

    The crazy thing is, you can essentially edit everything on this software and not even touch an audio engineering software if you really want.

    I’ve only really touched the surface of this software as we’re only doing audio currently. I can’t imagine how useful it is for content creators that make tutorial videos or companies that need training videos made, it’s a pretty versatile software. It even has this thing called “Studio Sound” that came out like a month ago in a new update that equalizes everything and elimates all background noise. Dude, it’s crazy. Like we don’t have some huge budget with a studio and professional mics, these people are using their computers to record over Zoom, so this feature has been a godsend. It turns basic audio into something that sounds like you spent time and money creating a studio for it, really lives up to the name.

    The job itself is pretty great, I get to hear experts talk about how they got to where they are, the challenges they’ve faced along the way, and some tidbits and tips on how to be your best self and continue thriving in a professional and personal way.

    Weirdly, it makes me sorta want to be a doctor. Of course, the education is intimidating and pri$ey so we’ll have to do a few more episodes to afford that but the prospect of the job is very noble. I love that a common thing every one of these “Medicine Mentors” mentions is treating patients like people rather than a disease or a timeslot. A sentiment even my favorite American poet, William Carlos Williams, shares when he wrote, “My business, aside from the mere physical diagnosis, is to make a different sort of diagnosis concerning–patients–as individuals.”

    Give it a listen!

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  • How to Make a Spotify-Ready Podcast (2023)

    How to Make a Spotify-Ready Podcast (2023)

    With over 400 million people listening to podcasts, it’s a great time to get your voice out into the world and share that special something that’s been cooped up. It’s free to publish and Spotify has merged with the distribution platform formerly known as Anchor, for an all-in-one creator powerhouse fit with all your publishing needs called Spotify Podcasters. If you’re looking to dip your toes into the creator world there’s no easier way to start than podcasting.

    From weird history to serial killers, podcasting has transformed the media landscape and is hotter than ever. Over the past few years, data has shown that people across the age spectrum have begun listening to podcasts more and more. Regardless of your idea, Spotify has made it easy to make your voice heard by everyone. Again, that’s 400 million users. Who knows, you could be the next Joe Rogan or Glennon Doyle.

    It all starts below.

    Instructions

    Step 1 – Come Up With A Concept

    Thomas Edison said, “Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.” He was also known for taking credit for other people’s work so it’s safe to say that if you find a concept you really love, just copy that. With podcasting being such a new landscape, you can virtually talk about anything you want.

    There is, as with any new media, an agreed-upon format that eventually becomes standard. But because Podcast listeners vary so much in terms of their listening habits, experimenting is welcomed. You may just land on a format that works so well for you that others start following along.

    Solo or with guests, as long as you’re excited about it and want to share it with the world it will be received. Don’t worry about finding the right length right now, dip your toes in and get to feel the water first.

    Be sure to check if your idea is already out there before starting. However, do not let this deter you. Listen, learn, and add your own twist to it. Podcasts are about your voice, nobody else has that.

    Here are a few questions and ideas to get you started if you’re feeling a bit apprehensive:

    1. What’s your favorite thing to talk about with your friends? What can you endlessly gab about?
    2. Is there a part of the world that interests you? Dive into current discussions and add your two cents:
      1. Politics
      2. Art
      3. TV
      4. History
    3. Is there something you’re an expert on or have access to experts regarding the subject? (This is a big one if you’re looking to grow an audience.)
    4. Gather a list of about 5-10 podcasts that you like to listen to. They don’t have to be current but they should be on the same platform you’re going to distribute on, if it’s multiple that’s fine too just make sure it aligns. Youtube podcasts are nowhere near the same as solely Spotify or Apple Music podcasts in both production and concept. Figure out the scope of what you enjoy and see what will work with your concept best.
    5. If you have your own idea, it’s always a good initiative to start writing out a script. You won’t know how it sounds until you start speaking but giving yourself a safety net (script) will be helpful to get you thinking about the length of time it takes FOR YOU to read one page.

    Step 2 – Set Up

    This step is crucial in terms of what you should expect to get in return. Publishing a low-quality podcast with an incredible hook might squeeze out a decent audience.

    Imagine you’re a listener. At what part of my day will I be listening and for what reason? If I’m tuning in to hear about sports news or breaking news, I’d rather get up-to-date info than a super high-quality production. Telling a story, on the other hand, might require higher-quality audio recording devices.

    Here is a list of some of the most affordable and high-quality microphones:

    The last mic is expensive because it has both an XLR and USB port. Most mics come with just an XLR option. Meaning you’ll have to spend a little more on an XLR cable or XLR to USB cable. This also brings into question how you plug it into your computer.

    XLR-only mics require, you guessed it, another XLR port. You can certainly buy an XLR to USB cable, but you’ll risk losing some quality.

    Should you want to keep the quality and not splurge on a mic like the Shure MV7, you’ll have to get an AudioBox that connects the XLR mic to your computer. I know it sounds like a lot of components but it’s all to ensure you’re getting the right quality.

    Set-up 4 success

    Now let’s capture those dulcet tones and piquant pitch. You’ll need audio recording software. Here is a list of some of the best and most reliable.

    NameFeaturesOperating SystemFees
    AudacityOpen Source and Free Audio RecordingMac, Windows, LinuxFree
    WavePadAudio Recording with Special Effects and FilertsWindowsFree, $250 for commercial license
    Apple GaragebandMusical Workstation for MacMac and iOSFree
    OceanaudioAudio Editing and Recording (Personal Favorite)*Mac, Windows, LinuxFree
    Adobe AuditionMultitrack UI, Automatic noise reduction, Smart FunctionsMac, Windows$20.99 / month
    FL StudioGrouped Recording Takes, Multi-sampled instruments, Track consolidationMac, WindowsFruity – $99 (83 instruments & effects)Producer – $199 (89 instruments & effects)Signature – $299 (96 instruments & effects)All Plugins Edition – $499 (107 instruments & effects)
    Avid Pro ToolsPodcasting presets, multichannel recording, many samplesMac, WindowsPro Tools – $29.99/monthPro Tools Ultimate – $79.99/month

    The last thing you need is a dedicated recording room. Soundproofing can be done DIY, but a good mic and a quiet room can be all you need to get started.

    That’s it! You’re on your way to recording your first episode.

    :moneybag:

    Free Setup: iPhone or Android Mic + Any Free Software = FREE

    Beginner Setup: Rode PodMic Cardioid Dynamic Broadcast Mic – $99 + AudioBox $100 + Oceanaudio = $200 no monthly payments

    Aficionado Setup: Shure SM58 Cardioid Dynamic Vocal Mic + XLR Cable – $109 + FL Studio (Producer) – $199 = $308 no monthly payments

    Pro Setup: Shure MV7 USB Podcast Microphone – $249 + Avid Pro Tools (Ultimate) = $279 for the first month, $79.99 every month after.

    Step 3 – Record

    This step is going to take a lot of trial and error. Record a couple of takes, get into the groove of things, and find out what parts make you laugh and what parts make you wonder what’s coming next. Creating something front-facing means looking at it over and over until you know just when it’s right; kinda like baking but with art. Let’s get into some technical things you should be aware of.

    Depending on your preferred software, take a look at some YouTube tutorials. (All are linked to the according software in the list above.)

    Here’s a list of things that people often overlook when beginning to record:

    • Mic placement: Ensure your microphone is positioned correctly to achieve the best sound quality. Avoid placing it too far away from your mouth or too close to it.
    • Headphones: Use closed-back headphones when recording to block out external sounds and prevent sound bleeding, and use headphones with a flat frequency response to ensure an accurate representation of the sound being recorded.
    • Recording levels: Properly set your recording levels to prevent distortion or unwanted noise. Keep your levels at around -12dB to -6dB to achieve the best sound quality.
    • Audio file format: Use the appropriate audio file format that is compatible with your editing software. Common formats used in podcasting include WAV or MP3. MP3 will be best for uploading to Spotify Podcasters.
    • Bitrate: Adjust the bitrate when exporting your audio file to balance file size and sound quality. A higher bitrate can improve sound quality, but it also increases file size, which may make it more difficult to distribute or download your podcast.

    That’s it, you’re ready to press record!

    Step 4 – Edit Audio

    First things first, level out any noise that’s going on. If using Pro Tools or Adobe, there should be software that helps you do that automatically or manually. If using something like Oceanaudio, you’ll want to tinker with the Effects < Amplitude < Gain & Normalize tools. This will help increase the dialogue while pushing away any unwanted noise.

    You’ll see a wave of audio like below. The left (y-axis) indicates decibels and the bottom (x-axis) is time. The one on top is the recorded, unedited (quiet) audio, and the bottom is clipped (loud) audio.

    Ideally, you want your audio wave to be somewhere between these two. It should be loud enough that I don’t have to blow out the speakers in my car or headphones to hear what you’re saying but quiet enough that I’m not hearing that clipping that we see in the bottom image

    Here’s another diagram of how the two look different.

    Still, if none of that makes any sense then you can always rely on YouTube.

    You can always edit and change a published podcast on Spotify at any time so don’t spend too much time editing and have fun with it.

    For some royalty-free music and jingles you can take a look at some of these:

    All that’s left to do now is EXPORT.

    Step 5 – Fill Out Episode Details and Upload

    Now comes the fun bit, creating your audio world. Spotify Podcasters is pretty all-in-one so besides what it looks like, from title card images to the color scheme and copy language, you’re almost done.

    After signing up you should see this on the top right.

    Press ‘Quick upload’ and you’ll land on the final page of the day. All that’s left to do is fill in your title, description, and any other details you wish to include.

    That is all! If your only goal was to hear your voice on Spotify, you’ve done it. But that’s no fun, we want friends and listeners and a community. But for now, you’ve got a full-on podcast out; you Dan Carlin you.

    Step 6 – Grow Your Audience

    So you’re worried it won’t reach anyone. There are a million different ways one can go about marketing but the best is word of mouth. Tell your friends, family, and colleagues, and maybe even get them on your podcast. You’ll have people saying yes that you didn’t even think cared about podcasts and it might even be the first time they’ve ever recorded their voice. What a stellar moment for you to share with someone.

    But beyond that mushy stuff, you have to get ears! Hopefully, your idea is brilliant enough to attract attention. But, in the case that it doesn’t, let’s go over some tips and useful tools when marketing a podcast.

    Quick Tips on engagement
    • Define your target audience: Before you start promoting your podcast, you need to have a clear understanding of who your target audience is. Consider the topics and themes of your podcast, and think about the people who would be most interested in listening. You can use tools like Google Analytics or social media insights to get a better understanding of your audience. Use podcasts similar to yours for finding an audience.
    • Optimize your podcast for search engines: SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is important for any online content, including podcasts. Make sure to include relevant keywords in your podcast titles and descriptions. You can also add tags to your podcast to make it easier for people to find.
    • Utilize social media: Social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram can be powerful tools for promoting your podcast. You can use these platforms to share episode previews, quotes, and clips. Make sure to use relevant hashtags to reach a wider audience. Hootsuite, Buffer, and Sprout Social are great tools for scheduling and posting to social media.
    • Engage with your audience: Encourage your listeners to leave reviews and ratings on platforms like Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This can help boost your visibility and credibility. You can also engage with your listeners on social media by responding to comments and messages.
    • Use audio clips for promotion: Audio clips can be a great way to promote your podcast on social media. You can create short clips that highlight interesting moments from your episodes, and share them on platforms like Twitter and Instagram. Headliner.app and Wavve * Turn Your Audio into Video for Social Media are great tools for creating audio clips and videos.
    • Collaborate with other podcasters: Collaborating with other podcasters can help you reach a wider audience. You can appear as a guest on other podcasts, or invite other podcasters to appear on your show. This can help you tap into their audience and gain new listeners.

    By implementing these tips, you can grow your podcast audience and build a loyal following. Remember to be consistent and engaging, and provide value to your listeners.

    You’re on your way to becoming the next Spotify #1 podcast. Enjoy!

    Related Articles

    Here are a few articles on podcasting that have helped me and can do the same for you.

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  • Breaking the Fourth Wall (2023)

    Breaking the Fourth Wall (2023)

    From the great, Teresa Lo, comes a documentary like none other. Mostly because no one else saw what she saw. After working with Teresa for about a year, photographing her open mics at the Good Nite, she asked me to help out on set of her documentary about L.A. and the comedy scene. She needed some help with production and some scripting stuff, mainly questions which I’m especially good at because journalism, but I was happy to help out in any way.

    The film premiered at the Hollywood Independent Reel Film Festival and I got to see my name on the big screen which was something of a dream before, so I’m happy to have come all this way. Looking forward to more work on set!

    Breaking the Fourth Wall (2023) – IMDb
    Breaking the Fourth Wall (2023) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more.

    The documentary covers the LA comedy scene, particularly its evolution in the past 5 years. Where open mics were ran by bartenders looking for more money and ultimately hurt comics because of a terrible system, Joe Manente of the Fourth Wall Comedy created his own place with a slot system that’s now ubiquitous across L.A. This is him getting his flowers.

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  • Oak Point University Job

    Oak Point University Job

    Kinda funny how I was so pressured to go to med-school and now I’m writing for one.

    This was a quick and simple job rewriting and pitching Oak Point University’s nursing practitioner program. Having had so many family members in the medical field and working on med school dissertations this felt pretty natural. Sorta felt like I was helping out my cousin figure out what to do with their life by reading a catalog of options. Anyway, it was nice working with such a big company as I felt the language was easy to fall into.

    Though my writing is not explicity what they posted onto the site, they used it as a template for other writers to create affiliated material with.

    The person I was contacted by sorta didn’t say much other than the job and only gave critical feedback once so I was just throwing darts in the dark at this point but I think I did a pretty good job considering I had a pretty bad template to start from. From then till now you can see the descriptions have changed and made a lot more sense. Before there were parts that didn’t make any sense whatsoever so I’m glad they caught that.

    Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
    Skip to content

    Anyway, this was a cool job and I’m hoping to have more technical / senior roles in the future!

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  • Bio Profile: Audio Engineer

    Bio Profile: Audio Engineer

    For Your Consideration –
    Written & Edited by Rishu B.
    Produced by Jacob R. (link)
    Directed by The Music

    Jacob Arax E. Resurreccion is an L.A. multi-talented recording producer, audio engineer, and DJ. Starting his career as a DJ, Jacob has gone on to work in all spaces of audio engineering from foley to sound design. He’s engineered for brands like SanJuan, 3blackdot, and whydowhatyoudo.

    As a recent graduate of Los Angeles Recording School, he’s ready to take on new challenges and looks forward to collaborating with industry professionals and new artists.

    With a professional recording studio in his backyard, Jaer is all music all day.

    Need video production?

    From product marketing to individualized features, we’re here with all you need to share your story. If you’re a new artist looking for creative, fresh, and unique videos that’ll cement you as a tastemaker then hello, let’s chat. With a full studio, production staff, and creative engineers you’ll find a collaborative environment with high standards.

    Address:

    Anaheim, CA

    Email:

    rishu7259@gmail.com

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  • Copywriting For Redfin

    Copywriting For Redfin

    Got a job from a freelacing firm to write a few listicles for things to do around LA and Huntington Beach. Will be posting the others after this one seperately. This one’s for LA! Enjoy

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  • I’ll Bet Even Leonardo Couldn’t Use DaVinci

    I’ll Bet Even Leonardo Couldn’t Use DaVinci

    How Free Is Free?

    The following covers how to use the free video editing software DaVinci, by the company Blackmagicdesign. (Specifically, for how to make a #corecore video for tiktok or any sort of video editing.) It’s a fairly popular software, used by a good amount of freelancers and professionals in the film industry. If you’re a filmmaker worth their salt you’ve most likely used and heard about DaVinci. I am stale. I have only ever used brain software for editing writing so I had to figure this all out for a very specific video I had in mind that I’ll show you later. First, I need to tell you why I downloaded DaVinci, what my specs are, how I used it, and how it ended up.

    The Mona Lisa Would’ve Loved Tiktok

    No doubt you’ve heard of or used Tiktok. I jumped on the wave pretty early on and have mostly been lurking with a few little scenic videos here and there. Now, the important thing to know about Tiktok is that it uses a very specific algorthim that’s different from instagram. Here’s a literal case study of how Tiktok’s algorithm is better at reaching the right audiences. The idea here is that Tiktok places you onto these conveyer belts with the same sort of tags, content, etc. and then just indexes you to whichever conveyer belt you spend the most time on. It makes sense and it ultimately lets you be in control of what you’re viewing without any sort of meddling.

    The reason I like this is that it means each video that’s uplaoded is going straight to someone who really wants to see stuff like that whereas other apps tailor popular, or sometimes payed posts, to be viewed first, which is annoying because it feels unauthentic.

    So, with this specific algorithm I have found myself in a very specific niche of Tiktok. Invariably, everyone will. But this one is special and it’s called #corecore.

    What’s #corecore?

    You’re familiar with meta, not the company but the concept? To be self-referential, referring to itself. Well, on tiktok #corecore sorta means that but in this exisential dread sorta way. You know what, the best way to educate is to show so take a look below and let your imagination wander. Remember, this is not supposed to be some sort of narrative, it shouldn’t “make sense.” It is not in any way a linear media.

    @flicksaga

    Yea #nichetok #corecore

    ♬ The Sound of Myself – Disasterpeace

    So you’re probably thinking to yourself, “well that was sorta sad and despondent.” You’re right, good diction. It’s supposed to be a collage of videos, quotes, scenes, but mostly moods, that come together to fill in this sad black hole of a heart. Hey with a demographic of 16-20 year olds what’d you think was going to be on here? But it isn’t always just sad stuff, I personally like the ones that get philosophical and ask big questions. Here’s an example:

    @dullmangos

    #corecore #nichetok

    ♬ Love You So – The King Khan & BBQ Show
    Yeah not all sad, this one’s just reality! These are the only type of videos I see that leave me speechless.
    @nichelovercore

    #nichetok #corecore

    ♬ QKThr – Aphex Twin
    This one is superb.

    So what you can see is that it interpolates videos that all have this underlying theme of despondency and acquiesence yet bewilderment and maybe like a small pinge of hope because there’s hope there. Which leads me to my video! But it’ll take just a few more little headers beecuase I gotta show you how I made it work.

    DaVinci DaVinci DaVinci’s on fiya

    Free stuff these days sucks. Samples from costco are as big as my pinky, the free air at the gas station keeps stopping, it goes on. But DaVinci is pretty great. After finding a few helpful tips on formating and exporting from this guy. I have a desktop with some pretty old software, like 2014 old. AMD A10 8GB of RAM. It’s suggested that you have 16, but hey we make do. So I went over to the site, downloaded, installed, did some homework and I was on my way.

    So I sourced all the videos from youtube, converted them and wrote out a little shot list of where everything was going to go. I wanted to do the interpolation because it looked cool and I felt i thad a bigger impact on the theme when done well. I knew I wanted some hope at the end so I made sure to keep some crux of tension at the beginning. *writing

    The tricky thing about editing software is figuring out all the shortcuts and how to keep everything still while messing with other things but since I’ve had a pretty good education of Adobe I felt comfortable to just click a bunch of shit and it turned out pretty well! First edited video ever and I’m a fan.

    Caveat

    The one issue is laptops. My god it took so long. So when I was editing on my desktop, remember how I said there’s a suggested RAM limit? Well, that suggestion was valid because it was taking so long to do anything, literally just moving a video element a couple seconds would take me probably 5 minutes because of how much it would lag. So I went to my laptop, a Dell XPS 15 from 2014, and downloaded the same DaVinci Resolve 18. I had my shot list ready, this time for a friends new album.

    THEN IT CRASHED. AND KEPT CRASHING. THEN IT WOULDN’T EVEN OPEN.

    I learned that it was a driver issue after parsing through like 4chan chats and shit it was a lot man. but anyway I figured out that because laptops sometimes have two graphics cards DaVinci gets confused and just stops altogether; super smart. So anyway, I took to my drivers, updated them all, even went into my graphics settings and changed the preference of DaVinci to use one driver over the other. I even turned off the Intel driver entirely and it STILL DIDN’T WORK.

    So idk about you guys but I’m not a VERY tech savvy person. Like I know how the stuff works, I get what’s going on, and why it’s wrong but sometimes I’m just like hey if it works don’t worry ’bout it. So I gave up, left and went to sleep. Today I woke up and was determined to figure it out so I went to the scariest place of all; developers chats. This is where people speak in heirogliphics. Specifically, I went here, and it actually helped.

    Old Is Gold

    So what I had to do was revert my NVIDIA Geforce 960M to an older driver, specifically the driver that is compatiable with CUDA (no clue) but it’s listed in the, fuck it here it is.

    So that’s what I’m talking about. It wasn’t working because DaVinci has settings that were made for a specific driver year and has trouble converting for newer stuff. Now it’s working beautifully and I’m on my way to making Tuwke X an earthshatteringly incredible music video, keep on the lookout! But until then, check out the #corecore tiktok I made!

    https://www.tiktok.com/@risshoe/video/7192447257281563946
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  • AI & Teaching

    AI & Teaching

    I’ve seen a lot of articles recently talk about how AI, specifically Chat GPT, is revolutionizing the future of education. They say things like, ‘AI is changing the way universities teach.’ When really, I think what’s changing is how teachers and universities treat cheating. Because that’s all that’s really changing-cheating. Now kids can cheat very well. That’s the problem. But like any social issue, there’s more to this than meets the eye.

    That ‘AI is changing the way universities teach’ is the 20-something journalist way of putting that information out there in an easy-to-digest bottle, when really it’s a hugely complicated issue. Artificial Intellegence now allows kids, who before couldn’t string two thoughts into a coherent sentence together, into full agents of their own mind who, at will, can now create pages of critical thought and even coding with a simple query. This is what changed. I’ll show you.

    Gold Star For You, AI

    Now let’s say you’re in an AP English class your Junior year in High School. Let’s say you’re not really much of a reader and mostly spend your days learning how to code video games or playing COD. When you get a prompt in your class asking you to “explicate the themes of the novel ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ from the lens of the New Feminist theory,” you’re probably gonna lose it. You just finished an 6-hour COD session, you’re pounding Sprite, and you’ve just learned that the book isn’t about baseball. You can call your sister’s friend’s cousin, spend all night cramming ideas onto a blank page and praying it comes out right, or you can just go to Chat GPT, log in, and ask your prompt. Like so:

    Pretty neat right? You’re probably thinking, it can’t really help with full assignments because that’s only an introduction, papers are 2-3 pages long sometimes. Well, that’s where ‘keep going’ comes in.

    For High School, this is probably somewhere between a C and B, as is. For college, maybe a C. Of course, you’ll want to add a few things here and there maybe a quote, but that’s nothing ChatGPT can’t help you out with.

    AI, can you do sumn for me?

    The point being made here is that now students across the entire spectrum of education from anywhere in the world have access to their own personalized assistant; a tutor, in some ways. It’s a pretty revolutionary thing once you think about the students who have questions that aren’t getting answered. I was one of those kids. I’d always raise my hand and ask questions that may have seemed errant or pointless but they all helped me learn things in my own way, so when I wouldn’t get an answer it forced me to figure things out in other ways. That’s a good and bad thing.

    Students who are forced to figure things out on their own develop skills that help them get answers, might not always be the right answer but they become resourceful. They learn to ask friends, learn how to search things properly on the internet, or even a library. It’s a trade that is slowly going away with the internet, moreso with ChatGPT.

    But now we have students that have answers right at their finger tips. Even if they can’t find the answers they know how to look for them and what it takes to get the right answer. Even with coding, you can input a code that won’t work and if you tell it it doesn’t, it’ll let you know possible reasons why it doesn’t work. It gets into the specifics without any of the garbage regular people try to put in. You’ve been there, asked someone a simple question and then you spend 20 minutes realizing you made a mistake.

    AI Teachers Have No B.O.

    The “change” that is going to happen is how teachers respond to these submissions. Is it fair for a student to have half of their paper written by an AI? Does it change how they learn? The biggest hurdle is deciphering which students cheat and don’t because the language used in this AI is pretty sophisticated. Changing a few ten cent words here and there and you’ll probably get away with it. It’s gonna take teachers who are good readers, which really means do you know your students. I can 100% tell when a student has plagiarized or cheated because it doesn’t sound like them. It’ll be a test of will, will teachers conform and adjust or will students acquiesce and give up?

    I was teaching a creative writing class and had a student that was like 11 or 12 and he was a persistent writer. The kid had ideas that would come out of thin air like magic and he’d create worlds and characters with no holds barred. I’m curious how he will respond to this new world. Will he let his mind wander and use his imagination as he’s doing now or will he start to use the technologies we have to put out as much work as he can think of. The possibilities are endless and shouldn’t be a point of concern.

    Please think for yourself. It’s easy to think change can be bad but I’m here to say, as a 20-something in the US, that it’s a lot brighter than we think. That’s a bit oxymoronic but you get what I mean. The future of education is always changing, don’t let editorials gaslight progress. It ain’t all Big Brother and Singularity in the future, maybe we get virtual post-it notes, that’s what I want.

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  • The Chameleon

    The Chameleon

    I wrote this story for the New Yorker. They said no. Here you go.

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