Let’s compare three distinct writers, modern medical writers, William Shakespeare, and ChatGPT, across three factors: words per minute (speed), subjects covered, and perspectives. Each performs in unique ways, reflecting their contexts and purposes.
-
Words per Minute (Speed)
-
Modern Medical Writers:
- Typing speeds average 40–60 words per minute, but efficiency depends on research depth, data interpretation, and adherence to regulatory guidelines (e.g., FDA/EMA). Templates and subject expertise may accelerate drafting, but technical accuracy often slows output.
- Key Limiter: Time spent verifying scientific validity and revising for clarity.
-
Shakespeare:
- Handwriting with a quill likely limited him to ~20–30 words per minute (estimated). His 37 plays, 154 sonnets, and other works suggest disciplined productivity over 20+ years (approx. 880,000 words).
- Key Advantage: Focus on creative bursts rather than daily volume; revisions occurred across drafts.
-
ChatGPT:
- Generates 100–1,000+ words per minute, depending on input complexity. Speed is unmatched but lacks intentionality—output is algorithmically driven, not creatively inspired. Quality depends on the prompt – garbage in, garbage out.
- Key Caveat: Requires human oversight to confirm accuracy and relevance.
-
Subjects Covered
-
Modern Medical Writers:
- Specialized in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, clinical trials, and regulatory documents. Expertise is deep but narrow, with mastery of specific disciplines and/or therapeutic areas (e.g., oncology, neurology).
- Scope: Combines scientific rigor with accessibility for diverse audiences (doctors, patients, regulators).
-
Shakespeare:
- Mastered literary genres (tragedy, comedy, history) and explored themes like power, love, and human folly. Subjects spanned mythology (Hamlet), history (Henry V), and cross-cultural tales (Othello).
- Scope: Broad in emotional and thematic range but confined to pre-17th-century knowledge.
-
ChatGPT:
- Trained on vast datasets, enabling output on virtually any topic, from quantum physics to poetry. However, depth is superficial, synthesising pre-existing information in the absence of true understanding.
- Scope: Jack-of-all-trades, master of none; excels at breadth over expertise.
-
Perspectives
-
Modern Medical Writers:
- Objective and evidence-based: Prioritise accuracy, regulatory compliance, and clarity. Tailor language to audiences (e.g., technical jargon for researchers vs. plain language for patients). Facilitates consensus in group efforts and will weight contributions.
- Limitation: Reticent to inject personal opinions; bound by scientific consensus.
-
Shakespeare:
- Profound emotional and psychological insight: Explored diverse human perspectives (kings, peasants, villains, lovers) with timeless empathy. His works reveal universal truths about our ambitions, jealousy, and identity.
- Strength: Artistic depth, originality and character complexity unmatched by technical or AI writing.
-
ChatGPT:
- Mimics experts, not genuine perspective: Generates text in varied tones (clinical, conversational, poetic) but lacks consciousness or lived experience. Output reflects training data biases without original thought.
- Risk: Will produce plausible-sounding inaccuracies or oversimplifications and invents source references.
Conclusion
- Speed: ChatGPT > Medical Writers > Shakespeare
- Subject Breadth: ChatGPT > Shakespeare = Medical Writers
- Perspective Depth: Shakespeare = Medical Writers > ChatGPT
Each excels in their own domain:
- Medical Writers prioritise precision in scientific communication.
- Shakespeare remains unparalleled in literary creativity and human insight.
- ChatGPT offers rapid, versatile text generation but lacks accuracy, authenticity and expertise that has to be fact-checked.
Medical writers could be seen as modern-day intellectual chameleons, akin to Shakespeare but with a scientific focus. While Shakespeare was a creative genius whose words endure through history, medical writers ensure precision, clarity, and knowledge dissemination—essentially writing the scientific “plays” that shape the future of medicine.
