Two things up front:
* 2nd ChatGPT review is out.
* I will do a review and document my steps in the process.
Solivagant:
Thanks for that Nan! Very interesting. I have now tried ChatGPT asking it the question "Please produce a review of a a visit to XXXXX" I have also done so multiple times
Doesn't work that way. You need to give it the bullets and structure and proper directions. Think of the tool more as a personal assistant who carries out laborious tasks like researching Umayyad history.
Solivagant:
indeed I was rather disappointed with them and wouldn't want to use any of them . or even any bits of any of them!!!
Again, imagine you had an assistant, smart but now experienced. You need to tell them what they are supposed to do.
Solivagant:
short essay in acceptable English.
Most reviewers on this site, me and Els included, are not native speakers. Having a tool that pimps my English to acceptable English at short notice is quite a feature. Feedback from Els on first review was that it doesn't sound like a non native speaker. Apparently, my previous posts did ;)
Solivagant:
US High schooler on "happy pills
I noticed this too. There is a strong "positive bias" and you have to work hard to undo it. But... via prompt you can, e.g. tell it to take the view that Venice is an overrated site. And I mostly had to delete the conclusions as they tried to have a happy ending.
Solivagant:
Bot has access to a knowledge base which includes critical "reviews" but it doesn't access these unless pushed to do so
These are faked. Experiences you have to provide yourself. Don't use a bot to generate it. Use the bot afterwards to phrase it nicer.
Solivagant:
c. I tried "please produce a critical review" and "please produce a mixed review". It did this but it wasn't clear where it found its alternative views from - perhaps it found some Trip Advisor reviews which (in this case) criticised the maintenance of the site? (I also asked it to "produce a bad review" - but it refused on "ethical" grounds - so I had to change the word "bad" to "critical"!!!)
References and sourcing are not the strong point of generative AI. Essentially, it generates the next plausible word and does not represent reality. I think this will change in the coming months/years.
Solivagant:
Clearly one can't expect the Bot to replicate personal experiences - but, once one has fed these in for oneself - what is left for it to do? Perhaps those for whom English is not a first language will feel more confident in producing a review with it providing a "starter" for them?? I personally would prefer to read their "broken" English or an auto translate by Google!!
Auto translate by google is pretty bad. As stated by both Ian and myself, the expectation to write sth sensible can prevent reviews being written at all. Generally, while you personally may prefer an authentic review, I would argue the overall internet does not.
Solivagant:
It also provides a bit of background context to "surround" the self generated personal experiences. Again, I personally would rather have a link to a proper article or to Wiki!! If everyone uses it we will get the same "facts" produced again and again!
I am not as much a fan of links as I used to. Essentially, you should not need to read a lengthy wiki page to know who Hisham was when you read a review of Hishams palace.
In addition, I generally read what previous reviews exist and keep redundant information short. Hisham, e.g., was a first review for the site, so giving some facts makes sense. My Siza's Ensemble review meanwhile is heavily focused on my experience. It does not provide context.
Solivagant:
Each reviewer produces their reviews for their own reasons. If the purpose is to provide useful experiences and information for others (rather than as a "record" for themseleves) I don't see that the Bot adds anything unless it gives someone the confidence to produce a review of their experiences which they otherwise would not have done.
I think it creates a higher quality review in less time in a language I am not a native speaker of. And that's what it adds to me.
meltwaterfalls:
As I said in the WhatsApp group I rather liked the review, I felt the first section was a little fact heavy and felt a touch less human (but only a small critique as I was specifically looking for AI clues). The OUV section read as much more natural.
Fact heavy came from the review being the first. And then I wanted to provide a little background information. I repeatedly told ChatGPT to shorten (50 words or less), though ;) Looking at the review section, I would probably have only done two less fact-heavy paragraphs: History of Umayyads and Hisham (1). Key elements on the site (2). Then my visit (as is).
meltwaterfalls:
As you said I think it works well as an assiatant or tool for getting past certain blocks, but it does lose your specific voice as an author.
I think my voice is still there. It's in the opinion and logistics section :) Those were only cleaned up, but not written by ChatGPT.
meltwaterfalls:
I'm stuck a little on a review at the moment, perhaps I will put it through ChatGPT to see what polish it gives it, though the focus is raher negative so maybe it will come up against the limits Solivagant has also found.
I found the same limits (happy endings). But that's not how you should use it. But in any case, give the future a try :)