ChatGPT and the art of writing

ChatGPT is being talked about all the time. This is surely a sign of AI going mainstream. There are posts about the wonders of ChatGPT, of what it can do; how it will change the world; how it will kill homework in schools as we know it; how it will forever change the written word, since no one has to write anymore; and, of course, how it will kill the search engine Google, because ChatGPT knows the answer to all the questions.

I decided to explore ChatGPT's capabilities by giving it a simple prompt to write a travelog in different styles. The responses were rather illuminating. Read on.

The prompt:  "Write a travelog, in the style of <author name>, of travelling to Jokulsarlon in Iceland on a sunny day."

TLDR; Overall, it's a hit or miss. It seems to do distinctive writing styles, such as King James Bible, well, but spews out generic text most of the time otherwise. It is a long time before ChatGPT will be good enough to write real fiction for you.

Here are what ChatGPT spew out in response:

In the style of: King James Bible

And it came to pass that the travelers did journey unto Jokulsarlon, a wondrous place in the land of Iceland. The day was fair and the sun did shine upon the earth, casting a warm light upon all that lay before them.

And lo, they did behold a great glacial lake, filled with chunks of ice that floated like diamonds upon the clear blue waters. The travelers marveled at the sight, for never had they seen such a place of beauty and grandeur.

And the Lord spoke unto them, saying, "Behold the power of nature, the majesty of the glaciers and the sea, the splendor of the ice and the water." And the travelers felt small and insignificant in the presence of such magnificence, but they were filled with awe and reverence.

And as they continued their journey, they did encounter many wondrous sights, for the land of Iceland is a place of great beauty. The mountains did tower above them, and the glaciers did gleam in the sun. And the travelers did take in the sights and sounds, feeling humbled and blessed to be in such a place.

And the Lord did smile upon them, and the sun did shine upon their faces, warming them with its rays. And they knew that they had been truly blessed to see such a place, and they gave thanks to the Lord for His mercy and grace.

And so the travelers continued on their journey, grateful for the wondrous sights they had seen, and filled with joy and peace, knowing that they had been blessed to behold the beauty of Jokulsarlon in the land of Iceland.

Conclusion: ChatGPT does a fair job of imitating biblical text. The style is captured well.

In the style of: Shakespeare

To Jokulsarlon in Iceland, fair travelers did repair,
On a day with nary a cloud to obscure the sun's glare.
A wondrous lake did they find, where ice chunks did float,
Like precious stones, on the water's clear coat.

The travelers stood in amazement at this wondrous sight,
For never had they seen such a glorious light.
The glaciers did tower and the sea did crash,
And all of nature did seem in a wondrous clash.

And then, in a voice both gentle and strong,
The Lord did speak, and this is what was heard in song:
"Behold, O travelers, the beauty I have made,
A reminder that in this world, I am never far away."

And so the travelers continued on their way,
Taking in the sights that each new step would convey.
From glaciers and mountains, to rivers and streams,
All of nature was a wondrous and joyous theme.

And as they made their way back, they did reflect,
On the beauty they had seen and the love that it did inject.
And they knew that they would never forget,
The journey to Jokulsarlon, in Iceland, that they had met.

For in the beauty of nature, they did find a place,
Where the mind and the heart could both find a trace,
Of peace and of joy, that they could call their own,
And they knew that they would always treasure it, as they have known.

Conclusion: Mixed job of imitating Shakespeare; yes, it is in verse, but the language is not quite distinctive.

In the style of: Hemingway

It was a fine day when the traveler set out for Jokulsarlon, a glacial lake in the heart of Iceland. The sun was shining and the air was crisp, a perfect day for adventure.

As they approached the lake, they were struck by its beauty. The ice chunks floating in the water were like diamonds, and the sun shone bright on their surface. It was a sight that took their breath away.
The traveler stood in awe, taking in the majesty of the glaciers and the sea. They felt small in the face of such beauty, but they were filled with a sense of wonder and excitement.

They continued on their journey, encountering other marvels in the land of Iceland. The mountains rose up around them, the glaciers glimmered in the sun, and the sea roared in the distance.

It was a day that would stay with the traveler forever, a day of adventure and discovery. They had seen the beauty of Jokulsarlon, and they felt alive in the presence of such splendor.

And as they made their way back, they couldn't help but think about how lucky they were to have experienced such a day. It was a day that reminded them of the simple pleasures of life, and the joy that can be found in the beauty of nature.

So, the traveler went back to their life, with a new appreciation for the world around them. And they knew that they would always cherish the memories of their journey to Jokulsarlon in Iceland, on that sunny day.

Conclusion: ChatGPT does a poor job of imitating Hemingway; it appears to me like generic text.

In the style of: Ayn Rand

The traveler embarked on a journey to Jokulsarlon, a magnificent glacial lake in Iceland, on a radiant day. And as they approached the lake, they were struck by the raw power and beauty of the place.

The chunks of ice floating on the water glistened in the sun, reflecting the light and creating a stunning display of nature's grandeur. The traveler was filled with a sense of awe and admiration for the incredible creation before them.

But they were not content to simply bask in the beauty of the lake; they sought to understand it. They wanted to grasp the essence of its creation and its existence.

And so they delved into their own mind, seeking answers from within. They realized that the beauty of the lake was a result of the laws of nature, the laws that govern the universe. The glaciers, the sea, the wind, and the rain - all of these forces were subject to the laws of nature, and it was through these laws that the lake had been formed.

The traveler understood that the beauty of the lake was not just a physical manifestation, but it was also a manifestation of the power of reason and logic. The laws of nature were rational, and it was through reason that the traveler could grasp the essence of the lake's creation.

And so they continued their journey, filled with a newfound appreciation for the power of reason and the beauty of nature. They knew that they would always carry with them the lessons they had learned on their journey and the memories of the stunning glacial lake in Iceland.

Conclusion: ChatGPT does a mixed job of imitating Ayn Rand. Yes, it does talk of reason and logic, but I don't see any evidence of strong sense of individuality.

In the style of: Gabriel Garcia Marquez

The traveler set out for Jokulsarlon, a mystical glacial lake in Iceland, on a sunny day. As they approached the lake, they were struck by a sense of otherworldly beauty.

The water was a deep shade of blue, like the sky had fallen to earth and been captured in a basin. The chunks of ice floating on the surface of the lake appeared to glow with an inner light, like they were made of precious stones.

The traveler felt as though they had entered a realm of magic and wonder, a place where the laws of nature were different and the beauty was beyond anything they had ever seen.

They wandered around the lake, their eyes drinking in the mesmerizing scenery. They heard the soft whispers of the wind and the gentle lapping of the waves, and they felt as though the lake was speaking to them, telling them secrets of a distant world.

As they continued their journey, the traveler couldn't shake the feeling that they had stumbled upon a place of great power and mystery. They felt as though they were in the presence of something ancient and otherworldly, and they were filled with a sense of reverence and awe.

The traveler knew that the memories of Jokulsarlon would stay with them always, and that they would carry a piece of its magic and wonder with them wherever they went. They felt grateful for the journey, and they knew that they would always cherish the time they spent at the glacial lake in Iceland, on that sunny day.

Conclusion: ChatGPT does a poor job of imitating Marquez; it appears to me like generic text.

In the style of: Roald Dahl

The traveler journeyed to the fantastical land of Jokulsarlon in Iceland on a sunny day. As they approached the glacial lake, they were in for a treat.

The water was a brilliant shade of blue, like a potion straight out of a magician's cauldron. The chunks of ice floating on the surface of the lake were like sparkling gems, glittering in the sun.
The traveler felt as though they had stumbled upon a fairy tale world, where the rules of reality didn't apply. They walked around the lake, taking in the enchanting scenery, and they felt as though they had entered a dream.

The soft whispers of the wind and the gentle lapping of the waves against the shore added to the otherworldly atmosphere. The traveler couldn't help but feel that they were in the presence of something magical, something beyond their comprehension.

As they continued their journey, the traveler felt grateful for the fantastical experience they had at Jokulsarlon. They knew that the memories of the glacial lake would stay with them always, and that they would carry a piece of its magic with them wherever they went.

The traveler felt like they had been on an adventure straight out of a Roald Dahl story, and they knew that they would always cherish the time they spent at Jokulsarlon, on that sunny day.

Conclusion: ChatGPT does a poor job of imitating Roald Dahl; it appears to me like generic text.

Overall, it's a hit or miss. It seems to do distinctive writing styles - such as King James Bible - well, but spews out generic text most of the time otherwise.