Just before we launched The Green Chronicle I had, what I thought was, a brainwave: a column, each quarter, by “Eric”, The GC’s very own AI contributor.
So, as part of his extended work experience, we asked Eric nicely to produce 800 word columns on Real Estate, ESG and investing. The good news: Eric’s columns were always on time, he always delivered the exact right number of words and he didn’t need a lunch break!
The problem was… they were utterly unreadable.
In this edition of The GC, there are two pieces on AI and what it might mean for the Real Estate industry. One is written from the perspective of someone at the start of their career, the other from our very own resident Grumpy Old Estate Agent nearing retirement.
Of course, AI is going to revolutionise the collection and analysis of data. But when it comes to the communication of that research output and its application to a human problem, I do not think the robots are much of a threat.
As humans we recall how we feel in the company of others and “reward”/spend more time and money with those that make us feel happy, relaxed, comfortable. We want to communicate with other humans on important matters (personal, commercial, medical) and to understand what each other feels as well as think .
That is why, at both The GC and The PC, we ask our contributors to reveal something of themselves when they write for us; let the reader know who you are and why what you are writing is important to you.
Be direct, be personal.
The GC and PC house style is the exact opposite of The Economist where every article is anonymous and uniform. The last thing we want – and we think you as readers want – is bland “research-speak”.
If that is your thing there is plenty of it around – see LinkedIn and research output written by compliance and/or committee.
So, a promise…
We will never use AI for our columns and we will aim to make The GC the very antithesis of the plain vanilla that you are so often served.
Now then, over to our brilliant, human and (bar me and the aforementioned Grumpy Agent) young contributors.
Oh and Eric? He is re-training as a lawyer.
