I tested the writing ability of AI. Here's what I found
How does Winter affect the Canberra consulting market?
I asked a certain AI software the following:
Please write a 500-word article, with references, on how Winter affects the Canberra consulting market.
Here is what it came up with. The AI article is in italics, with my comments interspersed.
The article (with comments)
The Impact of Winter on the Consulting Market in Canberra
Winter in Canberra brings with it a unique set of challenges and opportunities for the consulting market, influencing both business operations and client engagements. As the capital city of Australia, Canberra experiences distinct seasonal changes that affect various sectors, including consulting, which plays a crucial role in supporting government, private businesses, and non-profit organizations in achieving their objectives.
Comments:
1. No references used, despite being asked.
2. The article doesn't go beyond presenting merely plausible notions—there are no concrete examples involving real-world organisations, people, or circumstances.
3. The first sentence is immediately generic and dull. Like much of this article, it uses words but doesn't say much. For example, what does 'unique' mean here? Every city in every season brings unique challenges and opportunities.
4. The second sentence is jumbled. Okay, it's setting context about consulting in Canberra, but not saying anything that wouldn't apply to any other capital city in the world.
5. The first paragraph remains drab and generic.
6. While the overall structure is okay, the headings are extremely bland.
The article continues …
Seasonal Trends and Client Behavior
During Canberra's winter, which spans from June to August, there is often a noticeable shift in client behavior within the consulting market. Government departments, which are major clients for consulting firms in the city, tend to intensify their planning and budgeting activities as they prepare for the upcoming fiscal year. This period sees an increase in demand for consulting services related to strategic planning, policy development, and program evaluation.
Comments:
7. Government planning tends to come earlier, in Autumn or early Winter.
8. This paragraph sounds logical, but where's the evidence?
9. The paragraph could be shortened into one sentence:
With the approach of Winter and the end of the financial year, Government departments tend to focus on planning and budgeting for the coming year and may require consultants to support their strategic planning, policy development, and program evaluation.
It goes on …
Private sector clients also adjust their priorities during winter. Businesses in industries such as construction, hospitality, and tourism may experience fluctuations in demand influenced by seasonal factors like reduced construction activity due to weather conditions or fluctuations in tourist numbers. Consulting firms catering to these sectors may find themselves focusing on projects aimed at optimizing operations, enhancing customer experience, or navigating regulatory changes.
Comments:
10. The first sentence is a broad statement presented as a fact, which again could apply anywhere. The specific details in the subsequent sentences are ambiguous. 'Businesses ... may', 'Consulting firms ... may'. The grammar is alright, though its usefulness is lukewarm.
11. The specific examples stitch together tourism with construction, and operations with customer experience with navigating regulations. What’s the connection? Winter, one must assume.
Now for the challenges …
Operational Challenges and Adaptations
The colder temperatures and occasional snowfall in Canberra can pose logistical challenges for consulting firms, affecting travel arrangements for consultants and client meetings. This may lead to delays in project timelines or the need for alternative communication methods such as video conferencing. Consulting firms often mitigate these challenges by implementing flexible work arrangements, leveraging digital collaboration tools, and planning ahead for potential disruptions.
Comments:
12. We're not sure how many consultants are snowed under each Winter, but it hasn't happened to anyone we know. Sure, the work from home in your PJs occurs more than it once did, but that's not mentioned here. I suspect the AI is simply guessing based on what's probable in a winter city in the US. Again: correct grammar, sounds reasonable to anyone who doesn't know Canberra, but not anchored in facts. It resembles the run-of-the-mill first-year uni-student essays that I used to mark.
The section continues …
Moreover, the winter months coincide with the end of the financial year in Australia, adding another layer of complexity for consulting firms as clients rush to finalize budgets and meet reporting deadlines. This period typically sees an increase in demand for financial consulting services, including audit support, financial planning, and compliance reviews.
Comment:
13. This seems plausible, but given the previous paragraphs, I'm sceptical about there being any actual evidence behind this. It seems a castle built on logical connections (A + B = C), which is okay to a point, but unreliable for any real decision-making.
Industry-Specific Impacts
Comment:
14. Okay, perhaps things will get more specific now?
Certain consulting sectors in Canberra are particularly sensitive to seasonal changes. For instance, environmental consulting firms may experience heightened demand during winter for services related to environmental impact assessments, land management planning, and compliance with environmental regulations affected by weather conditions such as bushfire risk assessments or water management strategies during heavy rainfall or drought.
Comments:
15. Nope. I get the feeling the AI starts with the conclusion and works backwards. Which environmental consulting firms are we talking about? None of the actions listed seem particular to Winter, and the environmental conditions to address are across the board: drought, heavy rainfall, bushfires.
16. If I didn't know better, these well-constructed, logical-sounding sentences would seem acceptable. Perhaps someone more knowledgeable on environmental management can shed light on what I’m missing?
17. And that's a very long second sentence. Cut it in two or three.
What’s next?
Similarly, healthcare consulting firms may see an uptick in demand for services related to public health initiatives, emergency preparedness, and healthcare infrastructure optimization in response to seasonal health challenges such as flu outbreaks or increased hospital admissions due to winter-related illnesses.
Comments:
18. That's reasonable enough: in Winter people get the flu making the health sector busier.
19. One way to improve this paragraph would be to draw some comparisons with other times of the year; something a little more than 'people in Summer may suffer more from heatstroke'.
Now that we understand the impacts of winter, what are those unique opportunities we were promised?
Strategic Opportunities
Despite the challenges, winter presents strategic opportunities for consulting firms in Canberra. It is a prime time for firms to showcase their expertise in helping clients navigate seasonal fluctuations, mitigate risks, and capitalize on emerging opportunities. Firms specializing in technology consulting, for example, may find increased demand for digital transformation projects aimed at improving operational efficiency and resilience in the face of seasonal disruptions.
Comments:
20. 'Despite the challenges'—what 'challenges' are we talking about? These are hardly established. A bland half-logical connecting phrase.
21. 'navigate seasonal fluctuations, mitigate risks, and capitalize on emerging opportunities'—there's nothing here to explain why this is an opportunity during Winter, other than some wispy argument that Winter causes disruptions. Circular wordsmithery.
22. The connection to technology is unclear.
But the article must go on…
Moreover, winter serves as a period for consulting firms to engage in proactive client outreach, strengthen relationships, and position themselves for upcoming projects and initiatives in the new fiscal year. Networking events, industry conferences, and professional development activities play a crucial role in fostering collaboration and innovation within the consulting community during this time.
Comment:
23. A valid point. Yet again, Autumn is a better time.
Conclusion
In conclusion, winter significantly impacts the consulting market in Canberra, influencing client behavior, operational dynamics, and industry-specific trends. Consulting firms in the city navigate seasonal challenges by adapting their service offerings, leveraging digital tools, and capitalizing on strategic opportunities presented by seasonal fluctuations in client demand. By understanding and effectively responding to these seasonal dynamics, consulting firms in Canberra can enhance their resilience, deepen client relationships, and drive sustainable growth in a competitive market environment.
Comments:
24. Winter 'significantly impacts'? Well, I'm not convinced by this article. Vague and generic logic lacking any concrete evidence doesn't win me over. Neither is the writing very gripping.
25. The summary could apply to most seasons and most cities, so the article is a cookie, cut by my initial prompt. Could I spend time improving the prompt? Perhaps. Would I? No. I'm not convinced by the underlying quality of writing. An artificial camel is a horse designed by an artificial committee.
26. Finally, with popular buzzwords, the last sentence sputters some serious inspiration to warm the heart of any Canberran:
By understanding and effectively responding to these seasonal dynamics, consulting firms in Canberra can enhance their resilience, deepen client relationships, and drive sustainable growth in a competitive market environment.
Can you feel it?
27. Extra points lost: it’s about 100 words over the requested 500.
My conclusion
If you want a mediocre first-year student essay on any topic within seconds, AI is the way to get it. The grammar passes and there's a semblance of logic, so it’s enough to feign reality. But there’s a lack of evidence to support anything and the conclusions made are based on ambiguous statements and a kind of floating conventional thinking.
My concern is we don't always know what we don't know. Becoming accustomed to such writing not only atrophies one's own ability to write (and think), it is also extremely risky when real decisions need to be made.
My advice: be cautious with AI. Don’t rely on it for business or any other important documents. Human intelligence, when exercised, remains infinitely more astute, creative, and anchored in reality.
But let's see how things fare in a year, or three, or more.
In the meantime, enjoy the ski season.
Excellent job pointing out weakness of "AI" writing. I just retired from teaching English, and it was very disappointing to see so many colleagues embracing"AI". They didn't like me speaking out against it.
Nicely skewered, and deservedly so.