Introduction

Recently, language models such as ChatGPT have gained widespread recognition for their ability to generate human-like text. ChatGPT is a large language model trained by OpenAI and has become one of the most widely used due to its impressive language generation capabilities.

ChatGPT can also be incredibly valuable in technical writing. Technical writing requires a level of precision, clarity, and accuracy, and ChatGPT offers an opportunity to streamline the writing process while improving the quality of the document.

In March of 2023, we had a Twitter Space where Cynthia Peter and Edidiong Asikpo spoke on how to maximize ChatGPT for technical writing; Ebenezer Don also shared his expertise on using ChatGPT as a personal assistant. Here is a recap.

Definition of Terms

• Language models: Language models are artificial intelligence (AI) systems designed to understand and generate human language.
• OpenAI: OpenAI is a research organization focused on developing advanced AI systems that can benefit humanity.
• ChatGPT: ChatGPT is a language model that has been designed to understand and generate natural language text. 
• Technical Writing: Technical writing involves providing users with detailed instructions to help them understand a specific skill or product. 

Here is an article to get you started on technical writing and an article that explains the skills required in technical writing.

What tools do technical writers use?

Here are some tools used by technical writers and how they can be used for technical writing;

1. Google Docs: Google Docs is used in technical writing to write, edit, and format documents while collaborating with team members. It provides various features like commenting, suggesting, and revision history.
2. Grammarly: Grammarly is an excellent tool for technical writers who want to make their writing more coherent, clear, and correct. It can also help in improving sentence structure and the overall readability of the document.
3. HackMD: HackMD enables technical writers to collaborate on documents in real-time, providing features like commenting, revision history, and version control.
4. Hemingway: Hemingway is a writing app that helps users improve the readability of their text by highlighting complex sentences, unnecessary adverbs, and passive voice. 
5. Figma and Canva: These are tools used to create visual representations of complex concepts. Technical writers can use these tools to create diagrams, charts, and other visual aids to illustrate technical concepts and make their documents more engaging. 
6. Quillbot: Quillbot can be used by technical writers to generate alternate versions of their text and eliminate redundancy and ambiguity. If you feel that a sentence could be said differently, Quillbot is recommended.
7. Google Scholar: Using Google Scholar, technical writers can find and cite authoritative sources when writing technical documents.
8. Codepen: Technical writers can use Codepen to demonstrate coding concepts and create interactive examples to illustrate technical concepts.
9. ChatGPT: ChatGPT can be used to research a particular topic or subject by providing relevant information and insights from various sources. 

What is ChatGPT, and Will it replace our jobs as technical writers?

ChatGPT is a language model developed by OpenAI based on the GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) architecture. ChatGPT has been trained on a massive amount of text data, which enables it to answer questions, generate text, and translate languages.

Humans understand tone, know their audience, and can use analogies to explain concepts, but the way we (humans) would explain concepts is different from the way ChatGPT would. What stands us out as technical writers is the human factor. 

ChatGPT cannot replace the creativity, expertise, and unique voice that human content writers bring to their work. So, while ChatGPT can be a valuable tool for writing, ChatGPT does not pose a threat to technical writers’ jobs.

ChatGPT as a Personal Assistant – Ebenezer Don

Don’t see ChatGPT as an AI tool that will do your job for you, but see it as an assistant that you can ask for pointers, for help, to criticize your explanations, to check the accuracy of your explanations, and to complete your sentence/ paragraph. 

If you have writer’s block, ChatGPT can also help you come up with new ideas.

Chat with the tool like you are chatting with a person who is capable of making mistakes but has access to a lot of information. 

How can we best maximize ChatGPT for technical content creation?

Let’s assume you want to write on a certain topic, and you can tell ChatGPT to write an article on ABC. ChatGPT will create that article for you, giving you an introduction, content and a conclusion. What you can do as a technical writer is take the information out and try to build up on that. It gives you a layout or structure of the article (where to start and an outline), and you have to do further research on the headings and subheadings provided.

Additionally, ChatGPT can assist writers in brainstorming ideas, suggesting topics, and providing supporting information.

How can technical writers stay up-to-date with the latest AI tools and trends in technical writing?

Technical writers can stay up-to-date with the latest AI tools and trends in technical writing by engaging in various activities. Here are some ways;

• Joining communities that offer access to resources and networking opportunities. When you join these communities, interact and be active.
• Subscribing to relevant newsletters.
• Attending industry conferences, webinars, and workshops can also provide insight into the latest AI tools and trends in technical writing. 
• Looking out for keywords in technical writing job postings to see what recruiters want.
• Following the right people on social media. Twitter and LinkedIn are sources of trending information in the technology space. 
• Use your search engine regularly to check for the latest AI tools and trends in technical writing.

Don’t be pressured to try out all the tools at once because it can be overwhelming. 

Conclusion

ChatGPT is a tool that can help technical writers create high-quality content efficiently. By leveraging the pre-trained knowledge of ChatGPT, you can generate high-quality technical documents that meet the specific requirements of your project. With the increasing demand for high-quality technical content, ChatGPT provides an efficient and effective way to produce accurate and precise technical documents.

Set a reminder for my upcoming Twitter Space for more interesting Twitter spaces.