Me and ChatGPT Attempted the Same Writing Brief

Embarking on further exploration of ChatGPT, and what it can do, I devised a little exercise to see how my own writing would compare to that generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI) when we were given the same brief. Here are the instructions I entered.

In 300 words or less, write an account in the third person of how Jules Winnfield fared after leaving the gangster life behind in Pulp Fiction.

The first rule was that I would write my piece before ChatGPT, so I wouldn't be influenced in any way. The second was that I would spend an hour maximum on my article, although once I got going it seemed to flow, so it didn't take long.

Here are the results side-by-side. I'll leave it to you to decide which was written by AI, and which by a human mind.

Version 1

After leaving his life of crime behind, Jules Winnfield struggled to find his place in the world. He had always been defined by his work as a hitman for the gangster Marsellus Wallace, but now he was adrift, unsure of who he was or what he wanted.

At first, Jules tried to distance himself from his past by moving to a new city and starting over. He got a job as a security guard at a local mall but found the work unfulfilling and mundane. Despite his best efforts to leave his old life behind, he couldn't escape the memories of his violent past.

Eventually, Jules decided to turn to religion as a way to find meaning and purpose in his life. He became a born-again Christian and started preaching on the streets, sharing his testimony with anyone who would listen.

Through his faith, Jules found a new sense of purpose and a community of people who accepted him for who he was. He used his experiences as a hitman to speak out against violence and promote peace, becoming a powerful voice for change in his community.

While Jules never forgot his past, he was able to move beyond it and create a new life for himself. He remained committed to his faith and continued to spread his message of love and forgiveness to all those who would hear it. Despite the challenges he faced along the way, Jules emerged as a powerful force for good in the world, leaving his mark on those around him and making a difference in the lives of others.

Version 2

Jules didn't like that Vincent had mocked his spiritual awakening in the diner. Earlier, at Brett's apartment, when six bullets fired from a few feet away hadn't even grazed either of them, it was as clear as day in Jules's mind that some sort of divine intervention had taken place. Now, he was walking away from it all.

The dark suit was gone, but so were the shorts and t-shirt hurriedly donned following the accidental shooting of Marvin on the way to Jimmie's place. Now he wore sneakers and a jogging suit, which served as a metaphor for his new, more relaxed life. He still wore the shades, but he looked like a regular guy.

He had sold some of his stuff and was sitting in a Greyhound depot, waiting for a bus that would take him many miles to see an old friend from jail. He had called to tell of his desire to escape, and his friend said he'd be welcome.

On the bus, Jules held up a newspaper, more as a shield than reading material, because he was deep in thought about his future. Unsolved murders from his past meant that he would never be able to relax fully, and he'd always be looking over his shoulder, but he hoped that over time people would forget he ever existed.

An item in the newspaper caught his eye, and he was suddenly riveted. It told of how the body of suspected gangster Vincent Vega had been found at the apartment of boxer Butch Coolidge. Jules muttered his most-used profanity as he read of how his literal partner in crime had been gunned down.

On reflecting that, had he not escaped that life, he may have been alongside Vincent when he was killed, Jules became even more convinced that a higher authority was looking after him.