Introduction to the Creative Challenge

Your first creative challenge asked you to reflect on what you and other writers gain by writing without AI. For the second challenge, you developed your critical AI literacy skills by researching prompt engineering in relation to research and scholarship in writing studies, especially (1) writing processes; (2) rhetorical processes; (3) style. You then developed a tutorial to help other writers collaborate successfully with AI tools. Now, for this experiment, you’ll collaborate with your peers to develop a bot for a customized purpose. Thereafter, you will reflect on this experiment to address the question of whether creating a bot constrained or advanced your agency as a human.

Bots, short for “software robots,” are computer programs that automate specific tasks or simulate human behaviors. Chatbots are designed to mimic human-like conversations and interactions. The advent of user-friendly bot-building platforms such as Poe AI has made it possible to create and personalize these programs without extensive coding knowledge. Bots can be integrated into various platforms, including websites, messaging apps, and virtual assistants. They serve a wide range of purposes, from providing information and answering questions to assisting with tasks.

To illustrate the concept of bots in literature, we can draw inspiration from the works of Edgar Allan Poe. Suppose we imagine a chatbot named “PoeBot,” designed to engage users in conversational exchanges reminiscent of Poe’s dark and mysterious storytelling style. Below are a few examples of how PoeBot might respond to user inputs. These examples showcase how a bot inspired by Poe’s writing style could engage users in eerie and evocative conversations, capturing the essence of his literary works.

User: Tell me a chilling tale, PoeBot.
PoeBot: In the dimly lit chamber, a sense of dread pervaded the air. Shadows danced upon the walls as a ghostly figure emerged from the darkness, whispering tales of forbidden knowledge and eternal damnation.

User: What is the meaning of life, PoeBot?
PoeBot: Life, a wretched existence in the abyss of mortality, is but a fleeting candle flame, destined to be extinguished by the cold winds of oblivion. Seek not meaning, for it eludes even the most enlightened souls.

User: Can you describe the haunting beauty of a moonlit night, PoeBot?
PoeBot: Ah, the moon, a spectral orb suspended in the heavens, casting an ethereal glow upon the earth below. Its silver rays illuminate the hidden terrors that lurk in the shadows, revealing a world both captivating and macabre.

Scope

Please note that for this creative challenge you are not expected develop a polished bot. Rather, the goal here is to introduce you to this new genre of discourse.

Schedule

Step 1 – Research Bots

1. Create an account at Poe.com
2. Experiment with at least six bots listed at Poe.com. By experiment, I mean open at least six and see how they work
3. Review Poe’s tutorials on creating Prompt Bots at Poe for Creators
4. Using gDocs, develop a one-page pitch for creating a new bot. Your pitch should address
   • The purpose and intended use case of your proposed bot.
   • The target audience for your bot.
   • The unique features or capabilities your bot will offer.
   • A brief outline of the prompts or conversational flow you envision for your bot.

Step 2 – Peer Collaboration

1. Let’s try a “speed dating approach.” Walk around the classroom and speak with at least 4 other students whom you haven’t spoken with. Spend about 10 minutes per meeting. Pitch your Bot idea. 
2. After 40 minutes, join a group that wants to work on a Bot you find interesting. The size of each group can be 3 to 5 people.
3. Begin working collaboratively to build your Bot at Poe.com
   1. Assign roles within your group (e.g., project manager, prompt writer, tester, etc.) and divide tasks accordingly.
   2. Continuously test and refine your bot based on feedback from group members and interactions with the bot.

Step 3 – Group Presentations on Prompt Bots

Each group will present their Chatbot to the class. Presentations should include:

• A brief introduction to your bot’s purpose and target audience.
• A live demonstration of your bot’s capabilities and conversational flow.
• Challenges faced during the development process and how you overcame them.
• Future improvements or features you’d  add to your bot if you had more time.

Step 4 – Write a Reflection/Analysis

1. In 200 words, respond to this question, “How do you think the ability for non-programmers to create chat bots will change learning and education — and create entrepreneurial opportunities for content creators?” 
2. In 200 words, analyze how chatbots constrain a writer’s agency, voice, and creativity.

Requirements

1. Provide quotations, paraphrased, summaries, snapshots and  illustrations to support your claims/argument
2. Design Messages for Maximum Impact. 
3. Employ a Professional Writing Style. 
4. Use APA 7 when you discuss sources.

Step 5 – Submission Instructions – Deliverables

1. Upload to Canvas a gDoc link to your bot pitch. Be sure your link enables edit-view privileges.
2. Share with me how to access your group’s bot
3. Upload to Canvas a .pdf version of your individually-authored reflection/analysis. If you used a GAI tool to author your reflection, keep the chat log archived in case I need to review it.

Recommended Resources

Welcome to Poe for Creators