A.I. is Suddenly Everywhere!

For over a quarter century, we at Gollihur Music have been very proud to provide product descriptions and help documents that have been carefully conceived, curated, and written in the voice of the "lay person." Plenty of websites are full of the "marketing talk." But what does it mean to YOU, the individual, unique player? Features are cool, but what are the BENEFITS?

Now, Artificial Intelligence is rearing its sizable head into e-commerce. Our website provider/host now even offers an AI engine to "help" write product descriptions based on the data you enter. I've played around with it - and some of the results are scarily good, while others are laughably useless.

In my opinion, ultimately, AI can't (yet?) really substitute for genuine experience and a real, human understanding of what our customers need. For instance, we still use Bob's original description for Corelli 370 Strings:

These strings are one of my personal favorites for my own particular double bass needs -- but that doesn't mean they are perfect for you. I like them for their versatility and articulate sound. These are not your Daddy's doghouse bass string... unlike the more typical and earlier string types, these have an edge to their attack, rather than the traditional blunter attack.

Physically, they are thinner in gauge when compared to other strings that use the typical Light/Medium/Heavy sort of measurement scheme. I also find them to be more flexible, less stiff, so I can really dig in. I have hand/nerve problems so I prefer a string that responds more easily and with less effort. They can be bright, especially initially, but settle down after a bit of play to break them in. They are also very easy to bow.

So, how does AI fare with the task of writing a description for these strings? Even when setting it to provide a conversational, story-telling style, it is just so SALES-y... (and in some cases, totally wrong about features.)

Transparent, clean upright bass sound with a rich, round, full tone. The Corelli 370 upright bass strings are made with a high quality, transparent nylon core wrapped in a round, polished steel wire. This results in a smooth, clean sound with a rich, round, full tone. The 370 strings are also very durable, making them a great choice for players who perform regularly.

Savarez Corelli 370 strings are available in a variety of sets and gauges, to suit the needs of any player. Whether you're looking for a set of strings for your 4-string bass or a 5-string bass with a low B extension, Corelli has you covered. And with multiple sets and single strings available, you can be sure to find the perfect strings for your instrument and playing style. Corelli 370 strings are also available in a variety of colors, to match your personal style. Choose from black, clear, or natural, to add a touch of personality to your bass. With Corelli 370 strings, you can enjoy a smooth, clean upright bass sound with a rich, round, full tone. These strings are durable, available in a variety of sets and gauges, and come in a variety of colors. So what are you waiting for? Order your set of Corelli 370 strings today!

So, yeah - I know that one is expected to edit the results that the AI engine provides, to clarify and correct. But ultimately, there's so much to fix that it would have been more efficient to just write it from scratch. I mean, really - a 5-string bass with an extension? I've had maybe one or two customers in over 20 years who had a setup like that. It's quite rare. And Corellis are neither wire-wound NOR nylon core, so I'm not sure where that info came from.

Of course, this technology is only going to get smarter and better. Just 10 years ago, you could easily tell the difference between computer-generated scenes in movies vs. things that were filmed practically. Nowadays, it's really hard to tell. So, maybe in the future, our humanity will become obsolete(?)

All this long-winded silliness to say - after almost 27 years, just know that we still put the same level of care into what we do. We do the homework, we create our own descriptions (based on our personal experience) and we aren't sacrificing our scruples to make the sale. We want to have the most educated customer base around - because those are the people who end up buying the right products the first time, and are happy about it. (And they tend to return far less stuff as a result.)