Category: Opinion Pieces

Recently, during a Twitter discussion (argument) a question was asked: Is AI writing real writing? My position is No, it is not. Artificial Intelligence does not have imagination. AI “learns” writing from already published books. So if AI writes a story, it will probably contain elements of published works, and that could be plagiarism.

The opposing view from another person in the discussion was that everyone retains elements of books they have read in their writing and that is used to come up with their own published works. In their opinion, AI is no different.

While this is a fair point, I maintain that the human ability to imagine and create cannot be duplicated by AI. They must use already created works and don’t have the human imagination to make the work original.

In order to test out this theory, I went to Chat GPT and asked it to write a story about a boy wizard who goes to wizarding school. It quickly wrote me a story. Below I will mark how many times it uses elements of the HARRY POTTER series. Each paragraph that contains elements of Harry Potter is highlighted in red.

CHAT GPT STORY:

Once upon a time in a magical realm, there lived a young boy named Ethan. He was an ordinary boy in many ways, but there was something extraordinary about him – he possessed magical powers. Unbeknownst to Ethan, he was a wizard, and his life was about to change forever.

One fateful day, a letter arrived at Ethan’s doorstep, sealed with wax and bearing the emblem of a magical school named “Havenbrook School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.” The letter revealed the truth about Ethan’s magical heritage and invited him to attend the prestigious school.

Overwhelmed with excitement and curiosity, Ethan’s parents explained everything to him. They revealed that they had kept his magical abilities a secret to protect him from the dangers that often lurked in the magical world. Now, it was time for him to embrace his destiny and embark on a new adventure.

With his parents’ blessing, Ethan set off for Havenbrook School. Upon arriving, he was awestruck by the magnificent castle-like (HOGWARTS?) structure nestled amidst lush, enchanted forests. The school was a hub of magic and mystery, where wizards and witches from all corners of the realm came to learn and hone their powers.

Ethan soon found himself sorted into one of the four houses at the school – House of Aurelius. (HOGWARTS SORTING) He made new friends like Lily (HARRY POTTER’S MOM IS NAMED LILY), a kind-hearted witch with a talent for potion-making, and Oliver, a mischievous yet lovable wizard who excelled in charms. (HARRY POTTER ALSO HAS TWO CLOSE FRIENDS, A BOY AND A GIRL)

Their first year at Havenbrook was filled with fascinating classes like Transmutation, Elemental Magic, and Magical History. Ethan discovered his affinity for wandless magic and became adept at summoning objects with a mere thought. Despite some initial struggles, he found himself growing stronger and more confident with each passing day.

However, as the year progressed, a shadow loomed over Havenbrook. Rumors of a mysterious dark force spreading across the magical realm began to circulate. It was said to be led by an evil sorcerer seeking to control all magic for his wicked purposes. Whispers of the sorcerer’s return ignited fear and uncertainty among the students. (VOLDEMORT?)

As the darkness crept closer, Ethan and his friends knew they had to be prepared to face it. They sought wisdom from their wise headmaster, Professor Alaric, who had seen his share of dark times and triumphs. Under his guidance, they formed a secret study group (DUMBLEDORE’S ARMY, ORDER OF THE PHOENIX) dedicated to strengthening their magical skills and unraveling the secrets of the dark sorcerer.

With each challenge they faced, Ethan discovered the true value of friendship, courage, and perseverance. His loyalty to his friends and unwavering determination to protect the magical realm transformed him into a brave and powerful wizard.

As the school year neared its end, the tension escalated. It was time for the annual Havenbrook Magic Tournament, (THE TRIWIZARD TOURNAMENT, GOBLET OF FIRE) a prestigious event where students showcased their abilities in various magical disciplines. Little did Ethan know that this tournament would become the battleground for the final showdown between good and evil.

During the intense finale of the tournament, the dark sorcerer and his minions infiltrated the school. (THE HALF BLOOD PRINCE) Chaos ensued as spells clashed, and the school’s defenses were tested. In the face of adversity, Ethan and his friends stood together, united by the strength of their bonds and their shared commitment to protect all they held dear.

Through ingenuity, courage, and self-sacrifice, Ethan confronted the dark sorcerer (DEATHLY HALLOWS). Drawing upon the lessons he learned at Havenbrook, he faced the darkness with hope and determination. In a spectacular display of power, the young wizard overcame the sorcerer’s malevolence and banished him back into the depths of the shadows.

With the threat eliminated, the magical realm rejoiced. Ethan and his friends were hailed as heroes, their bravery celebrated throughout Havenbrook. As the school year ended, Ethan returned home for the summer, eager to share his magical adventures with his amazed parents.

And so, the young boy wizard’s first year at Havenbrook School of Witchcraft and Wizardry marked the beginning of an extraordinary journey. Filled with newfound knowledge, cherished friendships, and an unwavering sense of purpose, Ethan looked forward to the many magical adventures that lay ahead. The tale of the boy wizard and his quest to protect the magic of the world had only just begun.

END OF STORY.

As you can see, a lot of this compares closely to Harry Potter and in my opinion, this story is not original. There are other problems, of course. It is all “telling,” with no showing, and AI does not seem to have the ability to evoke emotion or suspense. The rules of writing a story can be learned by an AI, so it could improve this story. But what it can’t learn is real emotion and imagination. But will it be allowed to steal phrases from a published story to make it seem as if it can evoke emotion? Can it steal pieces of the plot like it did above?

Of course everyone can recognize the similarities to Harry Potter. But what if it was a lesser-known book the AI was stealing from? The person using AI to “write” the story may not know they are plagiarizing.

I would love to have your opinion on this serious issue. Please share your thoughts in the comments below.