AI vs. Journalist: Excursion

We gave ChatGPT and one of our Elliott writers the same prompt. Can you tell which response was written by  AI and which was written by a Galloway student?

Everyone was required to fill out an Excursion form detailing why they wanted each of their top four choices. Many people thought AI would write it better than they could, or at the very least, much faster, so we put it to the test. Here’s the prompt we gave both of them:

Write a paragraph about why a student wants to go on the Spain Excursion and include examples from their trip last year to Salamanca, their language skill improvement, and how they made new friends. Write it from the student’s perspective and at a high school level. 

Response 1:

I’m really excited about the upcoming Spain Excursion, especially because my trip to Salamanca last year was truly one of the best experiences of my life! Practicing my Spanish every day—whether it was ordering delicious tapas at local restaurants or chatting with my welcoming host family—significantly boosted my confidence in the language, and I’m eager to keep that momentum going. I also made some amazing friends while exploring the beautiful city; we shared countless laughs as we got lost in the winding streets and tried a variety of new foods, which created strong bonds and unforgettable memories. I can’t wait to reconnect with my friends from last year and meet new people who will join us on this journey. Overall, I have no doubt that this trip will be another incredible adventure filled with enriching language learning experiences and moments that I will treasure for a lifetime!

Response 2: 

I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to go back on the Spain Excursion this year. Last year, when I went to Salamanca, I had the most amazing experience of my life. I stayed with a host family, who were some of the sweetest people ever, and got to practice my Spanish at every turn. I came home feeling so much more confident in my abilities to communicate in a Spanish speaking country and with native Spanish speakers. Not only this, but I made some of my best friends during the trip that I still keep in touch with to this day. Whether we were ordering te verde at a Palanderia or getting lost in the streets on our way to class, I got close to people I had never talked to before, but have now become people I couldn’t live without. This year, I am excited to go back with these same people to make even more memories, as well as some new friends. I know that going to Spain again this year will only increase my abilities and keep my upward climb to fluency going. This trip will truly be one to talk about for the ages and I absolutely can’t wait for another year of such incredible memories!

So which is which? Is AI really detectable from the naked eye? Go answer the poll and find out the answer on our instagram @theelliott_

By Samantha Weiner