7mo ago

How do you think Apple's AI rewrite (Writing Tools) performed in their example from WWDC?

I highlighted what I might have wanted to carry over to a more professional rewrite. (If the filename was real, I'd sanitize it so as not to single out any one employee, but I do think it's an effective example.)

Using these powerful tools

~~is lazy, unprofessional, and~~ could result in a catastrophically expensive, embarrassing mistake

if someone's not careful :)

Source: Apple Intelligence on Apple.com

OK, this is kinda funny. I wanted to make sure I'd actually seen this in WWDC. Turns out they showed a different rewrite (embedded below):

I think I see what happened. The [macOS] rewrite shown is more 1:1, but comes out sounding goofy (very LLM). On their site, they didn't want to show that, but then they used an [iOS] rewrite that missed e.g. the filename used as an example. Even someone skimming the email should see that filename was garbage and be afraid of getting called out in a meeting for typing a name like that in the future, so I think it's a miss not to have it.

Not to make a mountain out of a small example or two, but I do hope folks are aware they'd do best to read every word of anything generated for them. Reminds me: I'm excited for that word-by-word suggestion feature as it allows for one-by-one modifications to be very intentionally made.

17 comments

I'm mostly just glad to be in a country where it is more socially acceptable to be direct. I would be a bit more formal than the original email, but the rewritten version seems really watered down and tip-toed in comparison.
I think that is changing through ChatGPT and the likes though, even it's non-English output has a distinct American tone to it that I'm starting to see more in professional emails. I have seen too many literal translations of "I hope this message finds you well" already, it's kinda ridiculous

Prefer the left, it conveys the seriousness and feels compelling.
The right is so generic i stopped reading half way through.
- Same. The right email doesn’t really say anything, so I would absolutely be at risk of ignoring it.
  Better to be direct and human if it’s important.

The LLM edit shows a lack of care and detail. Bloodless, bland, not compelling. I would prefer to say things the human way, and I prefer to be spoken to the same way. Someone sent me an LLM email once and it made me feel just lonely and bored.

~~The Mac rewrite misused "compose" at the end, as well. Confusing, and could be read as self-martyring.~~ You're absolutely right that anything the LLM generates or rewrites needs to be reviewed for accuracy word by word, which rather limits the utility to most people. Imagine all the interpersonal problems that could be caused by the LLM using the wrong word, phrase, conjugation, context, etc. Imagine all the hand-typed stuff that will be blamed on the LLM if it lands badly...
- How is “compose” misused?
  
  Oh god, you're right, it used it correctly, it's just self-martyring. That's much worse. "This hurts me more than it hurts you". Ugh.

The right looks like an over-the-top business email I would send to my friend....as a joke. The only thing it's missing is a reference to synergy.
Like others are saying, I would ignore this email so fast.
- Not only is it writing the emails it’s going to read them and summarize them to the end user. That’s kind of crazy when you think about it.
  
  It is crazy. It completely homogenizes communication by turning everything into generic business jargon mush.
  Nobody I know likes the soulless corporate culture, why would we want to write like HR?
- I had a meeting with a sales guy today and he wouldn’t stop mentioning synergy 😂
  
  I think best practice is to circle back on this

So it DOES have a passive-aggressive mode!!!
- It errs on the passive side too much 😅

Here is an alternative Piped link(s):
WWDC
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For non native speakers it’s fine. I can do better, however English is my first language.
If it can support my so-so Japanese grammar that will be awesome.

17 comments