This post was crafted by a human being while eating chocolate chips straight from the bag and watching the snow fall. Not all stories have the luxury to be created in such a ridiculously unscientific manner.
Forbes is now using computer-generated stories created by Narrative Science software. Writers apparently are no longer needed for a long list of stories that can be written by algorithm, from sports stories to financial reports.
Personally, I have known some nice sportswriters and am sad to see them being sent to the junk pile. I always admired the depth of their verb vocabulary.
Who will be next? Bloggers, short story writers, novelists? Please no. I know humans are messy and can’t spell and like to be paid. What if I took fewer bathroom breaks and limited the use of “was” in chapter one? Would that save my job?
I can be creative. I know hundreds of words. Of course, Computer, you know thousands and can remember them. But I think people want to read more than stats with a few verbs sprinkled in, something a little more eloquent than a computer manual (no offense). I think they want to be swept away by the turn of a phrase or the essence of a character. They want to imagine themselves . . .
What? Yes, that could be melted chocolate on my keyboard.
I know. That would never happen to you.
Nice opening. May your job never be outsourced to a computer. Or mine for that matter…
You are indispensable in all facets of your life. Thanks for dropping by.
I suppose it had to happen, the next step in the evolution of writing. People often gravitate to authors they know and/or like, though. It would be difficult to form a bond with a computer.
I know my computer doesn’t have much personality. That’s why I read certain writers. It’s not just what they say, but how they say it.