Don't Make Me Talk to Your Chatbot
3 hours ago
- #Writing Etiquette
- #Human Interaction
- #AI Communication
- The author introduces the principle 'Don’t make me talk to your chatbot,' emphasizing that while people can use chatbots, they shouldn't expect others to engage with AI-generated content unsolicited.
- Human communication is valued for its insight into personal beliefs, whereas chatbot-generated content often lacks clarity and intention, making it poor communication.
- The article critiques AI-generated 'slop'—verbose, unfocused text that requires excessive effort from the reader to decipher the core message.
- Exceptions to the rule include cases where AI is used iteratively to produce clear, standalone communication with the reader in mind.
- The author advocates for clear, manual writing as the best way to communicate, stressing that 'clear writing comes from clear thinking.'
- For those who still prefer using AI-generated content, the article suggests minimal curation: shortening the text and prioritizing key information upfront.
- An example is given with pull request descriptions in coding, where a human-written preface can frame and endorse an AI-generated summary, adding necessary context.
- The article concludes by urging readers to consider whether they are forcing others to engage with their chatbot output and to practice thoughtful communication.