The big buzz over recent times has been about content generating AI – Artificial Intelligence that can produce much more than just spellcheck or grammar check or search for information on the net. These programs will not only find the information but turn out a coherent and cogent piece of writing that is an expression of the information; an integration of the information; and in almost any style that you nominate. Established authors say that the AI produced text is almost indistinguishable from their own. A university professor only picked up that the student had submitted an AI generated essay because the essay was too good!

There is more, of course, AI can generate images, websites, computer code, and much more. The sophistication of AI generated material can only improve. At the moment AI is limited to the information that is already available and can also make major errors in the information it collects. Does this mean that now that AI can generate high quality, but generic material, will this make it even more important and valuable to produce unique and innovative ideas? That might be the positive: AI can deliver us what is already known, and we are then free to explore and discover what is not yet known. I am also keenly aware of how wonderful and empowering this is for people who have struggled with writing issues like dyslexia, which interferes with someone’s ability to express their ideas clearly. This is a very good thing. The future will definitely be interesting.

SoP have included many interviews in the magazine and so, for this issue, I interviewed the freely available AI content generator, ChatGPT. What did it have to say for, and about, itself? We cannot ignore this computing capability. We need to work out what we can create with it. The rest of the issue returns to human authors. Judy Lovas describes the Importance of Psychoneuroimmunology-based Relaxation Therapy in 21st century mental healthcare. Matthew Dahlitz presents another episode of his explorations of innovative thinking in Iain McGilchrist’s book The Matter With Things. This month the focus is on Creativity. Our series of reviews on the 16 volumes of The Collected Works of Milton H Erickson continues with Vol 1 – The Nature of Therapeutic Hypnosis. And Gunnel Minett writes another intriguing book review, Who Is the Smartest Of Us All as she reviews the new book from Peter Robin Hiesinger, The Self-Assembling Brain: How Neural Networks Grow Smarter.

We look forward to continuing to publish original work that is not produced by an AI. The future is certainly going to be interesting. Generic, albeit interesting, writing will permeate all media, but maybe we have had a lot of uninventive, generic content being produced by humans for quite a while. I look forward to the opportunity for sharp minds and vibrant personalities and creative thinking to become more valued – and more valuable!

RICHARD HILL | EDITOR

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