Writing a Medium Article Using AI — Google Bard
How to write a “business process mapping” article using AI (Google Bard)
When I first began writing about how to write a Medium article using AI, I did not anticipate the release of so many AI tools in such a short time. Here is the timeline:
- Meta released Galactica on November 17, 2022, and I authored an article titled “Writing a Medium Article Using AI — Meta Galactica (Paused)”.
- OpenAI released ChatGPT 3.5 on November 30, 2022, and I authored an article titled “Writing a Medium Article Using AI — OpenAI ChatGPT”.
- Stanford University released Alpaca on March 13, 2023, which is based on Meta’s LLaMA, released on February 24, 2023, and I authored an article titled “Writing a Medium Article Using AI — Stanford Alpaca, running on your local PC”.
- OpenAI released ChatGPT 4.0 on March 14, 2023, and I authored an article titled “Writing a Medium Article Using AI — OpenAI ChatGPT (GPT-4)”
On March 21, 2023, Google released Bard (https://bard.google.com/) as an Experiment. Therefore, I decided to try it out, using one of my Medium articles as a baseline: Writing a Medium Article Using AI — OpenAI ChatGPT.
So, I went to https://bard.google.com/ and asked it to write me an article about “Business Process Mapping”. My request is labeled as Prompt, and the response from Bard is labeled as Bard. The article is structured into five sections:
- Instruction to Bard
- Request information on business process mapping
- Elaborate on one of the section
- Rules to follow when documenting the flow
- Combine all information into one article
Interactions with Bard
Prompt: From now on I want you to pretend you are a medium.com writer who is engaging, witty, and uses personal experiences to write a how-to article. Acknowledge Yes or No.
— — —
Bard:
Yes, I can do that. I will try my best to engage, be witty, and use personal experiences to write a how-to article. I will also try to be informative and helpful, and to provide the reader with the information they need to complete the task at hand.
— — —
Prompt: Write me an article on business process mapping, using a real-life operational example to explain the concept.
— — —
Bard:
Business process mapping is the process of visually documenting how a business operates. It can be used to identify inefficiencies, streamline processes, and improve communication.
There are many different ways to map a business process. One common method is to use a flowchart. A flowchart is a diagram that shows the steps in a process and the relationships between them.
To create a flowchart, start by identifying the process you want to map. Once you have identified the process, start by listing the steps involved. Then, connect the steps with arrows to show the flow of the process.
Once you have created a flowchart, you can start to identify inefficiencies and opportunities for improvement. For example, you might find that there are steps that could be combined or that there is too much manual labor involved in the process.
Business process mapping can be a valuable tool for any business. It can help you to identify and improve your processes, and it can also help you to communicate more effectively with your employees and customers.
Here is an example of a real-life operational example of business process mapping:
Let’s say you are a manager at a retail store. You are responsible for overseeing the store’s inventory and ensuring that it is always stocked with the products that customers want.
One day, you notice that the store is running out of a popular product. You check the inventory and find that the product is not scheduled to be delivered for another week.
You know that customers will be disappointed if they do not find the product they want, so you decide to map the process of how the product gets from the manufacturer to the store.
You start by identifying the steps in the process. First, the manufacturer produces the product. Then, the product is shipped to the store. Finally, the product is stocked on the shelves.
Once you have identified the steps, you start to look for ways to improve the process. You find that the manufacturer could produce the product more quickly. You also find that the shipping company could ship the product more quickly.
Finally, you find that the store could stock the product on the shelves more quickly.
By mapping the process, you were able to identify several areas where the process could be improved. You were able to make these changes and ensure that the store always has the products that customers want.
— — —
Prompt: Can you elaborate on how to create a flowchart?
— — —
Bard:
Sure. Here are the steps on how to create a flowchart:
- Identify the process you want to map. What is the goal of the process? What are the steps involved? Who is involved?
- List the steps in the process. Once you have identified the process, start by listing the steps involved.
- Connect the steps with arrows to show the flow of the process. Use different types of arrows to show the different types of flows, such as a start/end arrow, a decision arrow, or a loop arrow.
- Label the steps and arrows. Use clear and concise labels to describe the steps and arrows.
- Review and revise your flowchart. Once you have created your flowchart, review it to make sure it is accurate and complete.
Here are some tips for creating a flowchart:
- Use simple language. Avoid using jargon or technical terms.
- Use clear and concise language. Make sure your flowchart is easy to understand.
- Use visuals. Use images or icons to help illustrate the steps in your flowchart.
- Use a flowchart template. There are many flowchart templates available online.
- Use a flowchart software. There are many flowchart software programs available.
— — —
PROMPT: Are there any simple rules to follow when documenting the flow?
— — —
Bard:
Yes, there are a few simple rules to follow when documenting the flow of a process:
- Start with a clear understanding of the process. Before you start documenting the flow, make sure you have a clear understanding of the process you are mapping. This means understanding the steps involved, the people involved, and the resources involved.
- Use simple language. Avoid using jargon or technical terms when documenting the flow. Use clear and concise language that anyone can understand.
- Be consistent. Use the same symbols and terminology throughout your flowchart. This will help to make it easier to understand and use.
- Use a flowchart template. There are many flowchart templates available online. Using a template can help you to create a professional-looking flowchart.
- Use a flowchart software. There are many flowchart software programs available. Using a software program can help you to create a more detailed and complex flowchart.
— — —
Prompt: Would you mind combining the last three responses into one cohesive article for medium.com?
— — —
Bard:
Sure, here is an article I wrote about business process mapping:
Business Process Mapping: A Step-by-Step Guide
Business process mapping is the process of visually documenting how a business operates. It can be used to identify inefficiencies, streamline processes, and improve communication.
There are many different ways to map a business process. One common method is to use a flowchart. A flowchart is a diagram that shows the steps in a process and the relationships between them.
To create a flowchart, start by identifying the process you want to map. Once you have identified the process, start by listing the steps involved. Then, connect the steps with arrows to show the flow of the process.
Once you have created a flowchart, you can start to identify inefficiencies and opportunities for improvement. For example, you might find that there are steps that could be combined or that there is too much manual labor involved in the process.
Business process mapping can be a valuable tool for any business. It can help you to identify and improve your processes, and it can also help you to communicate more effectively with your employees and customers.
Here are some simple rules to follow when documenting the flow of a process:
- Start with a clear understanding of the process. Before you start documenting the flow, make sure you have a clear understanding of the process you are mapping. This means understanding the steps involved, the people involved, and the resources involved.
- Use simple language. Avoid using jargon or technical terms when documenting the flow. Use clear and concise language that anyone can understand.
- Be consistent. Use the same symbols and terminology throughout your flowchart. This will help to make it easier to understand and use.
- Use a flowchart template. There are many flowchart templates available online. Using a template can help you to create a professional-looking flowchart.
- Use a flowchart software. There are many flowchart software programs available. Using a software program can help you to create a more detailed and complex flowchart.
In my assessment, ChatGPT (both GPT-4 and GPT-3.5) surpasses Google Bard and it is similar to Meta’s Galactica. Give it a try! You can also create the first draft of an article in roughly 5 minutes.
Resources
The following is a resource used or referenced in this article:
- https://bard.google.com/
- Writing a Medium Article Using AI — Meta Galactica (Paused)
- Writing a Medium Article Using AI — OpenAI ChatGPT
- Writing a Medium Article Using AI — Stanford Alpaca, running on your local PC
- Writing a Medium Article Using AI — OpenAI ChatGPT (GPT-4)
- Introducing LLaMA: A foundational, 65-billion-parameter large language model
