Edward Tian, co-founder of the artificial intelligence (AI) detection tool GPTZero, is worried that the increased reliance on technology is eroding the writing skills of people.
Tian, who developed GPTZero alongside Alexander Cui, told Business Insider that he feels a “profound sadness for the internet at large” and highlighted the importance of ensuring human-written content remains online.
He had noticed an over-reliance on AI among people who finished university after ChatGPT’s launch, especially in writing. “I have started to see a friction point at work when people can’t write or edit, and everything they send reads like AI. “People are allowed to use these tools however they see fit. At the same time, I feel a profound sadness for the internet at large. It’s important to make sure we still have human-written content online. At Superhuman, he is working on responsible AI usage guidelines. “If I went back to college right now, I wouldn’t major in computer science. I’d probably major in journalism and get a minor in computer science.
Because those are the important skills now,” he said, i’d get a humanities degree. Tian launched GPTZero in January 2023 when he was still studying at Princeton while Cui was pursuing a Ph.D. in computer science at the University of Toronto. After GPTZero gained popularity, the duo managed to raise around $3.5 million in their first funding round.
However, Tian said his views have since shifted. He said he has seen friction at work when colleagues cannot write or edit and everything they send reads as AI-generated. Part of what I’m doing now at Superhuman is working on responsible AI usage policies and guidance,” said Tian. Tian said that, if he returned to college, he would major in journalism with a minor in computer science rather than study computer science.
Three years later, GPTZero was sold to Superhuman. Tian explained that GPTZero was never built to argue against AI use on the internet, especially when it comes to education.
Tian, who is now a director of product at Superhuman, said the team stayed on after the sale and the deal made financial sense. “We’re definitely not against AI use anywhere in education,” he said, adding that the aim is to ensure authenticity and truth in how it is used.
