Once again, I’m using Microsoft Co-Pilot while experimenting with human-AI teaming to write short stories. The first short story that I posted titled “Latrodectus mactans” is found here. At the end of the story, I will share the initial prompt that I used to generate the story and discuss briefly how I interacted with Co-Pilot to finalize the details of the story.
The short story begins…
The sun cast a somber glow over the small church as friends, family, and admirers gathered to bid farewell to John Henry. The air was thick with a mixture of grief and reverence as Emma, his wife, stood at the podium to deliver his eulogy.
Emma took a deep breath, her voice steady but laced with emotion. “John Henry—my dear John—was a man of unparalleled strength, not just in his physical prowess but in his heart and mind. Today, I want to tell you about the competition that defined his legacy, a competition between man and machine.”
She paused, allowing the weight of her words to settle over the crowd. “Several years ago, FutureTek Solutions laid down a challenge. They promised a $10 million prize to anyone who could write a love story that surpassed the one created by their AI, Eloquence. The world watched in awe as writers from all corners of the globe tried their hand at this monumental task.”
The congregation listened with rapt attention. “Eloquence, with its vast database, crafted a tale inspired by the collective works of Shakespeare. It wove together themes and elements from his greatest plays—tragedies, comedies, and romances alike. The story was elegant, poetic, and immediately familiar to everyone who read it. It was a masterful blend of timeless themes and romance, a testament to the machine’s ability to draw from the greatest works of literature.”
Emma’s eyes glimmered as she continued. “John Henry, however, saw this challenge as more than just a competition. He saw it as an opportunity to show the world the true power of human creativity and emotion. He poured his heart and soul into his story, which he titled ‘The Unseen Bond.’ It was a tale unlike any other, a story that defied conventions and transcended the boundaries of traditional romance.”
The crowd leaned in, captivated by Emma’s words. “John’s story followed the lives of two individuals, Evelyn and Marcus, who were separated by time and space but connected by an unbreakable bond. Evelyn was a scientist living in the distant future, while Marcus was an artist from the past. Through a series of extraordinary events, they communicated across the centuries, sharing their hopes, dreams, and fears. Their love grew not from physical proximity, but from the profound connection of their minds and souls.”
Emma’s voice grew more passionate as she described the impact of John’s work. “When the entries were reviewed, Eloquence’s story was initially declared the winner. Its familiarity and emotion resonated with the judges and the public. But as time passed, people began to delve deeper into ‘The Unseen Bond.’ They discovered layers of meaning and emotion that only a human could create. John had woven a tapestry of love that spoke to the very essence of what it means to be alive.”
She paused, letting her words sink in. “John’s journey to write ‘The Unseen Bond’ was not an easy one. He faced numerous setbacks and challenges. There were times when he doubted his own abilities, when the words seemed to escape him, and the pressure of competing against a machine weighed heavily on his shoulders. He spent countless sleepless nights, his desk littered with crumpled pages and unfinished drafts. The constant fear of failure and the judgment of his peers loomed over him.”
Emma’s voice softened as she recounted his struggles. “There were moments when John wanted to give up, when the enormity of the task seemed insurmountable. But he pressed on, fueled by his unwavering belief in the power of human creativity. He found inspiration in the smallest of things—a fleeting smile, a whispered word, a shared glance. He poured his heart and soul into his work, driven by the desire to prove that the human spirit could not be replicated by any machine.”
She continued, “John’s story became a timeless classic, studied in literature classes and cherished by readers around the world. It was a testament to the power of the human spirit, a reminder that no machine, no matter how advanced, could replicate the depth of human creativity and emotion.”
Emma’s eyes filled with tears as she looked out at the congregation. “John Henry achieved something extraordinary. He showed the world that the human mind and heart could triumph over technology. He left us a legacy of love, creativity, and resilience. And for that, we are eternally grateful.”
As the congregation rose to their feet in a final tribute, Emma felt a profound sense of pride and loss. John Henry’s journey had not been an easy one, but he had left an indelible mark on the world—a mark that would continue to inspire and uplift for generations to come.
As she rode away in the back of a car, her thoughts swirling with memories and emotions, Emma felt a strange vibration in her pocket. She pulled out her phone and saw a new email notification. The subject line read: “From the Future.”
With trembling hands, she opened the email. It was from Evelyn, the fictional scientist from John’s story. The email read:
Emma’s heart raced as she read the email. Tears flowed freely down her face, a mix of disbelief and wonder. John’s story was more than a masterpiece—it was a bridge between worlds. His legacy would indeed inspire and uplift for generations, in ways no one could have ever imagined.
…the end. The images are also generated by Co-Pilot. The main prompt that generates the story is:
Write a short story using “The Ballad of John Henry” as a framing. The story should be about artificial intellenge against the human mind like the ballad is about the steam engine against the John Henry’s human strength. For the human use the name John Henry just like the ballad. For the AI, use ChatGPT in place of the steam engine. The story should be about a competition between John Henry and ChatGPT. The competition is to create the greatest love story ever to be written. ChatGPT writes a beautiful love story based on the Shakespeare play of “Romeo and Juliet.” ChatGPT’s story follows Shakespeare in a subtle almost unnoticable way. John Henry’s story is wholly unique, nothing ever seen before. At first, ChatGPT is declared the winner as the Shakespeare story is so familiar. But with time, John Henry’s story becomes the true winner. The non-obvious nature of his story requires time to undertstand and accept. The setting for this short story should at the funneral of John Henry and a John Henry’s wife, who also narrates the short story, is giving John’s eulogy.
I then go on to add prompts to groom the story and add a twist to it. It’s fairly amazing how quickly one can go from concept to story. So far, I have generated eight short stories, and I’m planning to put them into a book.
I’d be interested to hear your thoughts in the comments below. Have you used large-language models like Co-Pilot or ChatGPT to write fiction?
