Somehow it was suddenly November 22nd (you know: the unexpected often happens) and an email from my favorite editor-in-chief of Galvanotechnik fluttered into the house with the request to deliver the texts for the columns by the middle of the coming week. Uppssss! There was something else ....
My editorial plan for December was, in keeping with the time of year in the far north, as white as snow ... What to do? Now that everyone is talking about AI and it's hard to imagine the news, social media and the world of work without it, I had a thought: "Just do it and let the AI write your text", said and done.
Did it convince me?
See the conclusion at the end of the text ...
Will it convince you? I am curious! Let us know what you think ...
So, let's start with the AI writing software.
Version 1
I enter the following in the text field: "Write an article about making decisions and too much information"
Here are a few bars from the first draft:
Title: "Making decisions: Why too much information can be a hindrance"
One of the many processes we deal with on a daily basis is decision-making. From choosing our outfit for the day to choosing which direction to take in our careers, making decisions is an integral part of our daily lives. In the age of the internet and the growing flood of information, these decisions should actually be made easier. But is this really the case? Numerous studies have found that too much information can be a hindrance to decision-making. But how does this come about? Cognitive load (...) is one of the main reasons why it can make decisions more difficult. Our brain only has a limited capacity. When it is flooded with too much information, it can easily become overwhelmed and we feel stressed and confused. This can lead us to postpone or even avoid decisions altogether. (....)
My first impression?
A very lengthy text. Nested sentence structures. The reader, hungry for information, has to make quite an effort to think. Good.
Variant 2
Then the same task for my AI software. But now the text for the "teenager" target group. Here is the result:
Hello teens!
In today's information society, access to knowledge and information is easier and faster than ever. Our smartphone is just a click away from answers to any questions we might have. But has anyone ever asked you if too much information could be harmful?
You know the saying "knowledge is power", right? But greater power also means greater responsibility. Too much information can also be incredibly overwhelming. It's important to think about the uncontrolled consumption of information, because too much of it can actually lead to bad decisions.
It is necessary to learn how to properly deal with the constant stream of information. Here are a few tips on how to do this: (....)
- Get information from reputable and trustworthy sources, not just social media posts and trends.
- Take a break from the digital world every now and then to reduce the "digital noise".
- Inform yourself selectively: focus on the topics that really apply to your life and interest you.
- Think critically: Check facts and sources before accepting them as truth.
Remember that less is sometimes more, especially when it comes to information. Use the internet and its sources wisely to promote decision-oriented and critical thinking. Stay informed, but don't over-inform yourself!
And my impression:
Easy to read, well laid out, good and clearly formulated tips. I'm not satisfied that quickly. But keep thinking. What else does the AI spit out?
Variant 3
So here's the next variant of the AI text, written especially for my favorite customers, young team leaders:
Title: The danger of information overload for young team leaders: how too much information encourages bad decisions
In the digital age, information is power. As a young team leader, you strive to learn as much as possible and gather enough information to develop innovative solutions and make informed decisions. However, "too much" information can be problematic and lead to wrong
decisions. This phenomenon is known as information overload and is an urgent problem that needs to be addressed (...).
How can young team leaders deal with information overload?
- Selective data collection: Not all data and information is equally relevant. Learn to filter and collect only the information you really need.
- Use technology: Use technological solutions to filter, organize and analyze information.
- Effective time management: Allow sufficient time to process information and make decisions (...).
My conclusion:
The AI responds to the language of the respective target group and also addresses them accordingly per Du or Sie. The clearer I formulated the task for the AI, the sharper and better the text. Nevertheless, the desired ease of reading according to the Flesch formula* did not reach the desired value of between 60 and 80 points for all 3 texts. Similar texts can be found in an average newspaper and correspond to the level in middle school. My decision on how to write future texts for electroplating? AI is great for collecting ideas. It saves a lot of time when searching for content. Nevertheless, I will not adopt the suggested texts 1:1. I have a lot more know-how in my brain. And my writing style is different.
And now my questions to you:
- What experience do you have with AI?
- What aha moments do you have with the above AI text drafts?
Write to us!
*The Flesch Index assesses the readability of a text
