The robots are coming.
AI is not likely to replace copywriters because while it can generate text, it lacks the creativity, understanding of human emotions and cultural nuances that are necessary to effectively craft compelling and persuasive copy.
These are not our words, but the words of January’s Robot Employee of the Month, ChatGPT. Yes, it's lying to us.
Nevertheless, The Clubhouse remains organic for now. We are still here, humanly jabbing at our keyboards with sluggish fleshly fingers and trundling meat brains.
So revel in these cultural nuances. Bask in our comprehension of human emotions. Be compelled and persuaded.
And pay for your drinks in cash.
THE YEAR OF THE CHATBOT
Is this the end of the world, or just another spreadsheet?
Obviously we’ve been playing around with ChatGPT, and thinking about what this means for the future of the world – and more pressingly, our jobs.
There are lots of opinions. Ezra Klein is skeptical and says it’s going to lead to more misinformation. John Naughton thinks it’s just another helpful but mundane software tool. Nick Cave says that it makes a grotesque mockery of being human.
WE’RE GOING TO BE BETTER AT NEGOTIATING THIS YEAR
And there’s nothing you can do about it
As much as we hope things are going to be different this year, we are going to be having arguments in 2023. To be honest, we’ve already started. So let’s make them good: Harvard negotiator Dan Shapiro has some helpful pointers.
ANYBODY GOT A SPARE WRITER?
The people who write other people's autobiographies
Celebrities could probably write autobiographies by hitting a button on ChatGPT. But for now, they use ghostwriters. Who are these keyboard-haunting spectres?
Find out about the shadowy writer of Prince Harry’s book, JP Moehringer (who must be having an absolute laugh watching HRH defend all those bits he persuaded him to keep in the final draft. Legend.)
A GOOD AD CAMPAIGN
Featuring a song about lying to your children
Just a funny ad campaign by The Goondocks about tricking your loved ones into eating (deep fried) vegetables.
BOOKS TALK TO EACH OTHER IN YOUR BRAIN
How to generate new ideas with reading
You’ve probably already read our favourite books from last year. Here’s Austin Kleon on how reading more than one book at a time can generate ideas as they forge new connections that get your brain fizzing.
AND FINALLY, FROM THE WRITING CLUB DESKS...
MADE UP
Our words are on Pret windows
We’ve got words on the windows of Prets all over the land at the moment, in honour of their new sandwich deal.
We also named a new range of cost-of-living-busting range of meals for them called Made Simple, which you can now find in Prets everywhere.
