I'm Kenyan. I Don't Write Like ChatGPT. ChatGPT Writes Like Me
17 hours ago
- #AI-bias
- #Kenyan-education
- #colonial-linguistics
- The author, a Kenyan writer, expresses frustration over being accused of writing like ChatGPT due to their formal and structured writing style.
- The structured writing style is a result of Kenya's rigorous education system, particularly the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE), which emphasizes formal English with rich vocabulary and sophisticated sentence structures.
- This formal style is a legacy of British colonialism, where mastering 'Queen's English' was a marker of education and class, continuing post-independence as a language of opportunity.
- AI detectors often flag non-native English speakers' writing as AI-generated due to low 'perplexity' and 'burstiness,' traits that Kenyan education trains students to adopt.
- The author argues that what is deemed 'robotic' is actually a deeply human product of colonial history, education, and cultural identity.
- The conversation highlights biases in AI tools and the narrow definition of 'human' writing, which excludes non-native, formally trained writers.
- The author reflects on how their multilingual background (e.g., Swahili influences) shapes their English expression, further complicating perceptions of authenticity.
- The piece concludes with hope for AI's evolution into multilingualism, acknowledging the current challenges faced by non-native English writers.