A Quick Intro to Large Language Models
Large Language Models (LLMs) are a type of artificial intelligence designed to process and generate human-like language. These models are trained on massive amounts of text data, which allows them to learn patterns, relationships, and nuances of language. Sort of.
They don't really "understand" anything the way you or I might. But they do know what word is statistically likely to come after another word in a sensible sounding sentence. You know how when you type on your phone, there's an ever-updating list of possible next words to choose from on your screen? That's what LLMs are doing, only far faster and all by themselves.
In the context of writing, LLMs can assist with a variety of tasks, from proofreading and editing to generating entirely new content. Imagine having a tireless assistant who can help you craft the perfect sentence, suggest new ideas, or even write entire paragraphs based on your prompts. Whether you’re working on a blog post, an article, or a novel, LLMs can be a game-changer in your writing process.
The When, Why, and How of Speed and Power Modes
Navigating the world of AI writing tools can be a bit overwhelming—this is brand spanking new territory for humans, after all. If you don't have any specliazied knowledge of LLMs, it kind of makes choosing between different modes and models difficult.
The good news is you don't need that much specialized knowledge. Understanding the difference between Speed and Power Modes is good for getting the most out of your writing time; you don't need to become an AI expert. A few basics are all you need:
Speed Mode offers much faster response times, making them ideal for basic writing tasks like generating the next sentence or paragraph. They excel at quick edits and simple rewrites—anything more than a paragraph and it starts to lose the plot (literally, if you're writing fiction).These models are perfect when the priority is speed and efficiency in writing tasks. With no usage limits, they're also great rapid back-and-forth collaboration and experimentation.
Power Mode, on the other hand, are incredibly adept at mimicking your writing style, and following complex instructions. They offer a more nuanced understanding of context and intent, thanks to their larger context windows: the context window is basically how much of a current conversation the LLM can "remember." The larger the context window, the further back in the dialogue the LLM can go.
While power models have basic rate limits that reset monthly, Type users will likely never reach them (and if you do, we offer a one-time reset if you send us an email at hello@type.ai) Power mode is ideal for complex rewrites, translating technical content to non-technical language, maintaining subtle voice and tone, and working with longer documents. These capabilities make Power Mode Models particularly effective for following detailed writing instructions, ensuring the output aligns closely with your specific needs.
In a nutshell:
- Use Speed mode for first drafts and basic edits
- Switch to Power mode when you need more sophisticated help or are doing final polishing
- Toggle between them as needed: you can switch anytime using the lightning bolt icon
Key Points: Writing with GPT-4.x and the Power of AI
Although Type supports both ChatGPT and Claude, we're going to focus on GPT-4 for the purpose of explaining what you can do with power mode. If you followed the link above to our post on the differences between the two LLMs, you know the basics that GPT-4 excels at reasoning and complex requests and Claude is like GPT's creative, artsy brother.
We're focusing on GPT-4 for two reasons: the first is that it makes reading and writing this post a lot less wordy and confusing. The second reason is that more people know GPT than Claude, and that was probably what you Googled to get here.
In any case, what's important to understand here is that all the improvements we see in GPT are, more or less, present in Claude as well. Claude does some things better than GPT, and GPT does some things better than Claude—but both are progressing at a similar clip from version to version. The gains you get in Power Mode with GPT exist regardless of which LLM you're using.
That said, let's highlight the advantages of Power Mode.
Matching Your Writing Style
One of the standout features of LLMs is their ability to match your writing style. By analyzing your previous work, an LLM can learn to mimic your tone, voice, and language patterns. This is particularly useful for generating content that needs to conform to a specific brand or style guide. For example, if you have a distinct, witty tone in your blog posts, the LLM can generate new content that aligns with that style. However, it’s important to remember that style matching isn’t perfect. While the LLM can get surprisingly close, manual editing is often necessary to ensure the generated content meets your specific needs and maintains your unique voice.
Matching Your Writing Style
GPT-4 excels at capturing your unique voice and writing style more accurately than previous models. It obviously isn't going to nail your voice perfectly, but you'll be surprised by close it get can get. What's more, at least within Type, you don't even have to specify that voice explicitly. GPT-4 uses context clues, and Type relies on its awareness of the document you're working on to match your style.
Check out the following example: I wrote a few sentences using Gen Z slang and then used Type's "write sentence" command to generate an additional sentence.
In Speed mode (GPT-3.5-Turbo), Type generated a sentence that had no rizz at all:
But in Power mode (GPT-4) it all but dapped me up with its next sentence:
It still sounds like an older person trying to sound cool, but, honestly? So do I. So: mission accomplished!
Remember: style-matching is never the best and final answer. We've found you'll almost always get the best results by manually editing any text the AI generates. Even small, subtle edits imbue the writing with your personality. Giving AI the last word leaves your reader in the uncanny valley.
Better Alignment = Better Results
When training an LLM, it goes through a process that is called "alignment." LLM alignment is the process of ensuring that a large language model’s outputs align with human values, goals, and intentions, making it safe, ethical, and useful.
That's the jargon-y way to explain it. Essentially, alignment ensures that an LLM gives its users the output they're looking for: something that understands their intent in a question without having to explain it in detail.
GPT-4's superior alignment to prior models means two things: it's less likely to refuse reasonable requests and it can follow more complex instructions. Here's what the looks like in action:
"Write an angry resignation letter in the style of an Oompa Loompa."
Speed mode refuses my request. It gets hung up on the word "angry" and assumes my intentions are malicious. But in Power mode (GPT-4), the AI understands the lighthearted-nature of what I want written and it fulfills the request.
Following Complex Instructions
When it comes to handling more complicated instructions, GPT-4 tends to outperform its earlier models. To illustrate this clearly, I gave Type Chat a question that leaves a lot of room for interpretation:
"What's a funny, understated way to say you hated a movie?"
GPT-3.5-Turbo returned this response:
Well, that was an hour and a half of my life that I'll never get back.
It failed to understand the more subtle part of my instructions (make it "understated," a word which is pretty understated itself). The response itself is predictable and hackneyed, the kind of thing a Reddit troll might say when he has no other way to refute something.
Better to switch to Power Mode, because GPT-4 is no hack:
Rewriting Text Without Losing the Point
When rewriting chunks of text, Power Mode does a better job of maintaining your core ideas and understanding your intent. As another test, I pasted the first few paragraphs of the Wikipedia page for large language models into a document. Then I gave Type Chat these simple instructions:
"Rewrite this for a non-technical audience and condense it into a few sentences."
Speed Mode was quick to disappoint:
Large language models (LLMs) are advanced computer programs that can be trained on vast amounts of text data using self-supervised or semi-supervised learning... (continues)
It kept most of the key ideas intact, but right off the bad failed to appreciate that a non-technical audience won't know industry terms like "semi-supervised learning." Power Mode demonstrated much better judgement about what non-technical readers could handle:
Large language models (LLMs) are advanced computer programs trained to understand and generate human-like text... (continues)
The text is still a little clunky, but it's more helpful than what Type wrote in Speed mode. Now, with a better and more specific prompt, the text gets even more readable for your tech-deficient audience:
Adapting to Different Audiences
In the example above, GPT-4 showed its ability to adapt its text based on the audience's proficiency with the topic. But these improved rewrite capabilities are also super useful if you're in a jargon-heavy industry (ex. you're a lawyer) or otherwise have a distinct audience (ex. a bunch of lawyers).
In Power Mode, you can more easily rewrite technical text into something your customers and readers will understand. Whatever demo- and psychographic information you give, using Power Mode ensures that Type Chat will be able to modify the text for the intended audience. Let's have it tailor that LLM description to a different audience entirely:
Larger Context Windows
Context windows in AI language models refer to the amount of text the model can consider at once when generating responses. Essentially, it's the memory span of the model for a given interaction.
Larger context windows allow GPT-4 to process more text at once than its predecessors. This means it can handle and process more text, both in terms of input and output. This allows it to maintain a better understanding of the conversation or document, and for longer, leading to more coherent and contextually relevant responses.
Larger context windows are particularly beneficial for tasks requiring detailed descriptions or complex instructions. You'll also need a larger context window if you're going to be engaging in a lot of back-and-forth dialog with your AI assistant. You don't want to be an hour into editing a document and then suddenly have to reexplain the instructions you gave at the beginning of the conversation.
Speed Mode: Fast and Efficient Writing
Speed Mode is your go-to feature for generating content quickly and efficiently. This mode is ideal for tasks that require rapid turnaround times, such as social media posts, news articles, or quick edits. While Speed Mode may not always match the level of quality achieved in Power Mode, it excels in scenarios where fast engagement and speed are crucial.
For instance, if you’re live-tweeting an event or need to churn out a blog post in record time, Speed Mode can help you generate quality content without missing a beat. Without rate limits, you can work in Speed Mode all day long without issue.
Power Mode: High-Quality Writing
When it comes to tasks that demand higher quality writing, Power Mode is your best bet. This mode leverages advanced algorithms to generate content that is more accurate, nuanced, and engaging. Whether you’re working on a novel, an academic paper, or a technical report, Power Mode can handle detailed descriptions, complex instructions, and just about any specific needs with ease. Although it takes longer to generate content, the results are often worth the wait. And that wait is still a fraction of the time it takes to do it yourself. Power Mode is like a seasoned editor, standing over you and ignoring boundaries, while ensuring your writing is polished and professional, ready to impress even the most discerning readers.
Measurably More Creativity
We're not suggesting you use Type's Power Mode to write your next novel, but we are saying that you should use Type's Power Mode to help you write your next novel. Simply put, GPT-4o's creativity is light years beyond where it was. GPT-4 can generate detailed descriptions based on simple prompts, and when it's powering Type Chat can be an excellent brainstorming partner.
GPT-4's creative capabilities are dramatically improved over previous models in several key ways:
- Nuanced Understanding: It can grasp subtle themes and metaphors, making it an excellent brainstorming partner for creative projects.
- Varied Perspectives: When asked for ideas, it can generate diverse viewpoints and approaches rather than variations on the same theme.
- Enhanced Descriptive Writing: It excels at generating vivid, detailed descriptions from simple prompts, helping you overcome writer's block or develop your ideas further.
- Consistent World-Building: For creative writing, it maintains better consistency across longer narratives and can help you develop coherent fictional worlds.
For example, if you're stuck on a character description, GPT-4 can suggest multiple angles for developing their backstory while maintaining consistency with your existing narrative. Or if you're writing marketing copy, it can generate fresh approaches that don't feel like generic AI-generated content.
Speaking Truth to Power Mode: GPT-4 is slow (very slow!)
For all of the wonder that is an AI writing assistant, there are still a few downsides—even in Power Mode—that you should be aware of.
The primary downside of writing with GPT-4 is that it’s slow. Sometimes, painfully so. It’s much faster than a human, of course, but for simpler writing tasks like writing the next sentence or paragraph, GPT-3.5-Turbo can perform on par with GPT-4 with significant speed advantages.
That’s why it’s so important to pick the right tool for the job. If you’re working on a tight deadline or need to churn out content quickly, Speed Mode is your best friend. I can’t think of a situation where quality isn’t the primary concern, but if that situation exists for you: don’t let Power Mode slow you down.
Cost Considerations
Power Mode uses more computational resources, which is why Type implements its basic rate limits. While most users won't hit these limits, it's worth considering when planning extensive writing projects.
Overconfidence and Hallucinations
Despite its improvements, GPT-4 can still occasionally “hallucinate” or generate plausible-sounding but incorrect information. That’s doubly dangerous with its increased language skills, which make the false information seem so much more plausible. Always fact-check important claims, especially in professional or technical writing. Failing to do so could lead to wrong information being accepted as correct.
Style Consistency Challenges
While GPT-4 is better at matching writing styles than its predecessors, it's not perfect. You might notice subtle shifts in tone or voice, particularly in longer pieces. This is why we recommend treating AI-generated content as a first draft that needs human refinement.
Context Understanding Limits
Even with its larger context window, GPT-4 can sometimes miss nuances or misinterpret complex instructions. This is particularly noticeable when dealing with industry-specific jargon or specialized knowledge domains.
Practical Applications
LLMs have numerous practical applications in writing, making them invaluable tools for various tasks:
- Content Generation: LLMs can generate high-quality content, such as blog posts, articles, and social media updates, tailored to your specific needs and style.
- Proofreading and Editing: They can assist with proofreading and editing tasks, catching grammar and spelling errors, and suggesting improvements to enhance readability.
- Research Assistance: LLMs can help with research tasks by finding relevant sources, summarizing information, and even generating bibliographies.
- Writing Assistance: From generating new ideas and creating outlines to writing drafts, LLMs can support you at every stage of the writing process.
- SEO Optimization: LLMs know how SEO works, and you can leverage that knowledge to make quick work of on-page optimizations.
By leveraging the capabilities of LLMs, writers can streamline their workflow, improve the quality of their content, and increase their productivity. Whether you’re a professional writer, a student, or someone who writes occasionally, LLMs can be a valuable addition to your writing toolkit, helping you generate high-quality content with ease.
Conclusion: The Right Tool at the Right Time
Choosing between Speed and Power Mode isn't exactly a difficult choice. It's more like picking between a motorcycle and an SUV—they'll both get you there, but what kind of trip do you want to have?
Speed Mode is the motorcycle. It's fast and efficient, but maybe won't get you to your destination in one piece. Power Mode is your luxury SUV. Speed is irrelevant: we need utility, to get the job done in comfort and style, no matter the time commitment.
Having four different options in Type as to the underlying LLM gives a flexibility that most other tools can't match. Even with apps trained on both Claude and GPT, the LLM is just a mashup of the two. It's far more important being able to switch between them whenever you need to—it's the kind of control that a professional writer needs.
Just remember: the best mode is the one that helps you get your writing done. Everything else is just details (and power mode is better for details).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Writing with GPT-4
Is GPT-4 Good for Writing?
Yes and no. GPT-4 is a large language model that excels at generating high-quality written content, with a special aptitude for crafting detailed descriptions to following complex instructions. So, from a process standpoint, its ability to understand context and engage with readers means it can assist in creating engaging novels, essays, and more.
That said, GPT-4 is also a more generalized LLM, more a jack of all trades than a master at any one task. Something like Claude is better for its range of expressiveness, but an app like Type.ai—which was purpose-built to assist writers—is an all-around better writing solution. It makes use of both ChatGPT and Claude, which sit behind a familiar, document-editing interface.
Can I Use GPT-4 for Free?
Access to any LLM typically requires a subscription or payment, as it is part of advanced AI services. The computational power required is costly, as are the electrical and cooling requirements. However, some platforms may offer limited free trials or access to certain features. It's worth exploring different providers to find the best option that suits your writing needs and budget.
How Can I Ensure Originality When Using AI-Generated Content Tools Like GPT-4?
To ensure originality, use AI-generated content as a starting point or inspiration rather than a final product. Incorporate your unique voice and ideas, and always fact-check the information provided. Additionally, use plagiarism detection tools to verify the uniqueness of the content before publishing.
What are Some Practical Uses for GPT-4 Prompts in Marketing and Creative Industries?
GPT-4 prompts can be incredibly useful in marketing and creative industries for generating new ideas, crafting engaging copy, and developing innovative strategies. They can help create personalized marketing messages, brainstorm creative campaigns, and even assist in writing scripts or storylines that captivate audiences.
