AI just became my smartest co-author! 🧠

Key Concepts:

• Deep research tools (likely referring to Large Language Models or LLMs like ChatGPT)
• AI-assisted writing
• Reference finding
• Literature reviews
• Cherry-picking data (a negative practice to avoid)
• First draft generation

AI-Assisted Writing and Research Support

The video focuses on using deep research tools, specifically Large Language Models (LLMs), to support the writing process. This is presented as a potentially controversial application of AI, but the emphasis is on using it as a tool to aid writing, not replace it entirely.

Reference Finding and Justification

Instead of manually searching for references to support existing writing, LLMs can be used to find relevant sources and justify claims. The speaker highlights the efficiency of this approach, suggesting it can significantly reduce the time spent on tasks like literature reviews.

Avoiding Cherry-Picking

A crucial caveat is that users must be careful to avoid cherry-picking data. This means selecting only the information that supports a pre-existing argument while ignoring contradictory evidence. The speaker emphasizes that this is a concern regardless of whether AI is used, but it's particularly important to be aware of when using LLMs to find references.

Future of Writing

The speaker envisions a future where LLMs are widely adopted in academia and other fields to generate first drafts of written content. The speaker uses a somewhat humorous tone to suggest that the traditional method of typing on keyboards will eventually be seen as outdated and inefficient. The speaker believes that LLMs will become integral to the writing process, particularly for generating initial drafts.

First Draft Generation

The core idea is that LLMs can handle the "grunt work" of writing, such as generating a first draft. This allows writers to focus on refining, editing, and adding their own insights and analysis.