Writing is Like Good BBQ

Writing is like good BBQ. You don’t (or at least you shouldn’t) just throw something on the flame. Rather, the process starts days, weeks, or years earlier as a series of ruminations about your audience, the duration of the cook, the occasion, and the resources. A good article like a good meal conveys something not only about the subject matter but about the author as well. An author like a cook can tell you precisely where they received their inspiration from and often the exact location at which the inspiration occurred.

I wanted to share some rather disheartening news that I came across this week. Most of us are aware of the impending rise of artificial intelligence (AI). It can be an extremely useful tool when it comes to automating monotonous, routine tasks. However, this week I was present for a demonstration of a business technology that could not only automatically target consumers based on their interests, but it could also automatically write and send full articles on various subjects to targeted individuals. In layman’s terms I can quickly explain how these systems work. They use what’s called a crawler to scan millions of webpages, articles, and other digital content which is downloaded into a database. The software then reads all of the information in the database which allows it to use what’s called machine learning to write the articles or content. Why is this a problem? Because the machine is simply piecing together tiny portions of everyone’s work that has been posted online.

If you were able to ask the machine how it was inspired to write an article on food, dog training, medical research, etc. the best it would be able to do is spit out a list of a million or so websites that it plagiarized to create your article. The danger is that the content that you read via email, social media, or in print could possibly have been created by a sophisticated software program.

I sum this up to say that out of principle we at CTRG we will abstain from using these programs. We believe that writing, like dog training, and BBQ are sacred. They must be rendered appropriately to produce the optimal effect. If AI wants to organize our calendars better, sweep our floors, or recycle dog

excrement in the most efficient way possible we support the effort. However, our writing will continue to come from within. From within the soul of the subject, the nuance, and the respect that a machine will never comprehend.

As a testament to our commitment, we daringly stand behind the written materials that we produce and welcome the subsequent dialogue that ensues. Additionally, if there are any contributing writers out there in the stratosphere that are looking for a platform that filters and fences out artificial content send us a message! We’d be glad to have you for writing, training, or maybe even some BBQ!

Oh, and spoiler alert! For everyone who is licking their chops thinking that they can get away with pushing the fake articles and content…they have already deployed detectors that can identify the materials. Drats! Don’t take the bait! Be one of the good guys…your writing doesn’t have to be perfect.

People want to read about your experiences. Let it marinade and come to you in its proper time. (I must be hungry! So many food references!)

Much Love,

Scott

Canine Training Research Group