The author, John Marek, is a writer and CEO of the Anson Economic Development Partnership.

A couple of weeks ago I wrote a column about Jonny Quest, a favorite TV show of my youth. One of my readers called me out in the comments for sloppy writing, and after rereading the piece and considering his points, I think the criticisms are valid. The article is steeped in nostalgia but lacks a clear objective and ends abruptly without any summary, conclusion or call to action. 

Here’s a different version that resolves those issues: 

Jonny Quest is a classic animated television series that first aired in 1964. The show follows the adventures of a young boy named Jonny Quest, his adopted brother Hadji, his father Dr. Benton  Quest and bodyguard Race Bannon as they travel the world on various adventures and missions. The series was created by Hanna-Barbera and was one of the first action-adventure  cartoons aimed at a young audience. Over the years, Jonny Quest has become a beloved and influential franchise, inspiring generations of young viewers and spawning numerous spin-offs  and remakes.  

The original Jonny Quest series was groundbreaking in many ways. At the time of its release, most children’s animated series were lighthearted and focused on comedic adventures. Jonny  Quest, on the other hand, was a much more serious and mature show that focused on adventure, mystery and science fiction. The show was designed to appeal to both children and adults, and it was one of the first animated series to feature complex storylines and intricate character development. The characters in the show were also unique and diverse, with Jonny and Hadji being among the first multicultural characters in an animated series.

One of the most notable features of Jonny Quest was its high-quality animation. The show was created using a combination of hand-drawn animation and innovative techniques such as xerography and cel animation. The result was a series that had a unique look and feel, with stunning backgrounds, detailed character designs and smooth, fluid animation. The animation style of Jonny Quest was so distinctive that it has been imitated by countless shows and movies over the years.  

Another important aspect of Jonny Quest was its adventurous and action-packed storylines. Each episode of the show followed the Quest family and their friends as they traveled to different parts of the world, facing danger and mystery at every turn. Whether they were fighting against secret societies, investigating ancient ruins or battling against powerful enemies, the characters in Jonny Quest were always on the brink of adventure. This made the show exciting and engaging for viewers of all ages, and it continues to be popular today.  

In addition to its exciting stories, Jonny Quest also featured complex and interesting characters. Jonny was the central character of the show and he was depicted as a brave and adventurous young boy who was always eager to explore new places and face new challenges. Hadji was another important character, and he was depicted as a wise and spiritual young boy who had a deep understanding of the world and its many mysteries. Dr. Benton Quest was depicted as a brilliant scientist and adventurer who was dedicated to his work and his family, and Race Bannon was depicted as a tough and capable bodyguard who was always ready to protect the Quest family.  

Despite its popularity, Jonny Quest only lasted for one season, with a total of 26 episodes. After its initial run the show was re-released in various forms, including remastered versions and  spin-off series. In 1986, a new version of the show was produced, called “The New Adventures  of Jonny Quest,” which added new characters and updated the storylines to reflect the changing times. This version of the show was well received by fans, but like the original, it only lasted for one season.  

In the years since the original series was released, Jonny Quest has continued to be a beloved and influential franchise. The show has been referenced and parodied in countless other works,  including movies, television shows and comic books. Its animation style and storytelling techniques have also been imitated by countless other shows and movies, making it one of the  most important and influential animated series of all time.  

Despite its age, Jonny Quest remains as popular today as it was when it was first released.  

Better, right? Except I didn’t write it. Not a single word of it. For the past few years, I have been using a tool called Grammarly. It is an artificial intelligence (AI) engine that monitors my writing  in real time, informs me of possible spelling, grammatical and tonal errors, and lets me know if I plagiarize. Still, although it does a great job of keeping me on track, every word I write with its  assistance originates in my head. 

The revised Jonny Quest piece above, on the other hand, was written entirely by an AI program called ChatGPT. I merely gave it a few prompts, and it did the rest. I wouldn’t necessarily call it  compelling writing, but it’s competent, n’est pas. And Grammarly, the tool I use to identify plagiarism, gives it a 4 percent. Not a clean score, but well below the threshold of suspicion.

A famous Clairol ad of the ’60s asked, “Does she or doesn’t she; only her hairdresser knows for sure.” Over the past few months, essays produced by ChatGPT have earned passing  grades in Ivy League classes and articles secretly written by the program have appeared in major national publications. Although there are a few “tells” – it has the annoying habit of  ending essays with “in conclusion,” which may be technically correct but is something most  professional writers haven’t done since they were in high school – the writing it produces is  nearly indistinguishable from human-generated text. Are we entering an age where only our “hairdresser” will know for sure whether we wrote a piece or the computer did?  

That conundrum reminds me a little of the mid-’70s, when pocket calculators began appearing in classrooms and a half-page of brutal long division was replaced by pressing a couple of  buttons. Many initially considered them a “cheat,” but calculators were quickly accepted as a tool that eliminated some of the drudgeries of math and allowed students to focus on the bigger picture. Ultimately, though, I am not sure that comparison holds up. A calculator is a tool that makes math simpler and more efficient, but it doesn’t replace the thought process behind the numbers.  

In conclusion (just kidding), as artificial intelligence becomes more pervasive, it will be  interesting to see where it leads. In specific industries like real estate, where descriptive ads for  houses and properties are relatively boilerplate, a good writing program could save an agent hours each week producing similar but slightly different copy. It remains to be seen how AI replaces, supplements or integrates with more creative writing endeavors. The formula I generally use for this column – throw out a personal anecdote, and then take it in an unusual or surprising direction – would be almost impossible for a computer program to replicate. At least for now.