AI Chat GPT — A Comprehensive Overview

A review of the most discussed topic of the year.

The transformative nature of this tool lies in its remarkable capabilities, user-friendliness, and accessibility at no cost. It can effortlessly produce articles, essays, emails, lists—essentially anything you might need. Additionally, it excels at summarizing, emulating specific authors’ writing styles, coding, and even translating languages.

This creates a strong temptation for some to simply copy and present the generated content as their own, posing a significant threat to those who earn a living as writers or journalists, as well as hobbyists like many of us.

Medium's Consultative Approach

Medium has sought feedback from its subscribers regarding how to navigate this evolving landscape. On January 26, 2023, they published a thoughtful response from Vice President Scott Lamb. If you missed it, you can find the article linked below:

How we’re approaching AI-generated writing on Medium

The feedback from Medium users showcased a wide range of opinions, from those who view AI as a beneficial tool for idea generation and research, to others who are deeply concerned and advocating for strict measures. As Scott noted:

"This is a pivotal moment in the digital realm, and the potential consequences are extensive and still not fully understood. Yet, they are not abstract: AI-generated content is already here, and we must begin to grapple with its impact even as the landscape continues to evolve."

Medium's Updated Distribution Standards

In response to the rapidly changing situation, Medium has released interim guidance regarding its distribution standards, marking this as a preliminary step:

"We encourage the responsible use of AI-assisted technology on Medium. To enhance transparency and manage reader expectations, we require that any story created with AI assistance be clearly labeled as such."

This update aims to strike a balance between various perspectives, though compromises can sometimes leave few fully satisfied.

I commented on Scott’s article, expressing my support for this update while indicating that Medium must act more decisively to address a potential existential threat to the platform. I was pleasantly surprised to see that my comment received a clap from CEO Tony Stubbebine himself.

Having worked for numerous organizations over the years, I’ve noticed that many CEOs of large companies often remain distant from their staff, offering little more than a nod in passing. Many may share similar experiences with detached upper management. Therefore, the fact that a CEO took the time to read and acknowledge comments reflects positively on Medium's organizational culture and is indeed appreciated.

For further context, I discussed some of the organization’s history in my piece:

The Medium Story

It is hoped that the updated distribution standards for AI content will be widely disseminated and enforced, providing protection for both the platform and its writers. Additionally, we anticipate more detailed and rigorous guidance in the near future.