Writing with Artificial Intelligence
By: DR. Cameron Wilson
When ChatGPT became publicly available in late 2022, many feared that writing would follow the path of complex mathematical calculations outsourced to calculators decades ago. Why do math when the calculator can do it for you? Just as calculators revolutionized math, generative AI now offers to take over writing tasks, so why not leverage this technology to ease our writing workload? And let’s be honest: it can be exhausting staring at a blank screen, waiting for the right words to pop into our heads.
But as with all new technologies, what it gives with one hand it takes with the other. Research has shown for years that writing is vital for brain development — not only for organizing and clarifying our thoughts but also for strengthening the brain’s neuroanatomical structure. In a nutshell, writing is good for us. Now more than ever, in an age of endless distraction and constant stimulation, writing remains essential for our social, spiritual, emotional and intellectual growth, especially given our identity as beings created in the image of God.
As part of our new Digital Humanities program, the University has launched its first class in “Writing with AI,” which is one of the only undergraduate courses of its kind. In this class, students learn about how large language models (LLMs) are trained, fine-tuned and deployed to better understand the strengths and limitations of this exciting technology. Further, students practice the craft of writing by utilizing LLMs in ways that can complement their development as writers.
At Jessup University, we believe that writing is essential to the development of the whole person. Each individual is part of the gospel story, where God’s redemptive work plays out in every dimension of life — from the personal writing of the memoir to the crafting of social media posts and advertising copy. Consider the role of the written word in the history of the church: God’s self-revelation is carried out in written language, which has been transmitted in writing for centuries, and the practice of personal writing itself has a long history in the Christian community as a spiritual practice.
In “Writing with AI,” students practice different models of AI-human collaboration. Adopting a critical but open stance, students invite AI to different stages in the writing process. How might AI be a useful tool during brainstorming, and when might that be best left up to human creativity? When is it most effective to use AI for drafting, and when is it best to wait until the revision and editing stages to run one’s writing through an LLM? Asking the right questions is the foundation of responsible AI use — especially in writing, which remains a deeply human process that current AI systems cannot fully replicate (at least not yet). Humans excel at understanding the perspectives of others, tailoring messages to fit specific situations, reader expectations and contextual nuances.
Even tasks for which LLMs are well-suited — such as grant writing, technical documentation and project proposals — depend on human knowledge and insight to be effective. Success requires thoughtful collaboration between GenAI and human writers to achieve the right voice and tone and ensure content accuracy.
Knowledge of GenAI systems like LLMs is one of the most in-demand skills that employers are looking for in college graduates. Students who know how LLMs are trained and fine-tuned and how to utilize them effectively will be prepared for effective and ethical AI use. Far from ending writing programs, LLMs have brought the value of writing into sharp relief. “Writing with AI” equips students for an AI-enriched future, ensuring they hone this essential human skill for a new era of written expression.
