Thank you, FunDza fam, for joining us in our exciting AI vs Human Writing Challenge! We’ve loved seeing so many of you put your reading skills to the test and join the fun. Now, it’s time to share the results and reflect on what we learned!
First, let’s recap. We challenged both Jackie Chikambure, our amazing human author, and ChatGPT, a powerful AI model, to write stories based on the same prompt: “At a bustling street market, two strangers reach for the same unusual item at a vendor’s stall, setting off a series of unexpected events.”
Jackie took her time with her story—spending five days crafting her characters, thinking through the plot twists, and polishing every word to perfection. It wasn’t just about writing fast; it was about connecting with the story and pouring her emotions into every page. Jackie crafted her story with love, care, and that very human touch of imagination. In contrast, the AI story was generated in under 10 seconds, thanks to its processing power.
When we asked you, our readers, to decide which story was written by a human and which by AI, we got a mix of results! Some of you could feel the warmth and creativity in Jackie’s writing, and others were surprised by how convincing the AI could be. The result?
78% of you guessed correctly! The Human piece, written by Jackie was Story B: You will meet a tall, dark stranger. Well done for all of you who got it right!
Here are some of the comments we received: “Jackie’s story had so much depth, I could tell it was written by a human.” Many also highlighted the emotional depth, cultural relevance, and vivid details in Jackie’s story, which made it feel authentically human. For example, some noted the inclusion of culturally significant items like ’24-inch Peruvian weave,’ ‘Mercedes Benz,’ and African music star ‘Tyla,’ which rooted the story in a relatable context. One participant mentioned, ‘The way Jackie described the bustling market and the characters’ emotions really made me feel like I was there. The AI story just didn’t have the same vibe.’ Another said, ‘I could relate to the cultural references and the realistic portrayal of societal issues—it felt like it was written by someone who truly understands our experiences.’ Others pointed out that the imperfections in the human story, such as minor grammatical errors, actually made it feel more genuine and relatable compared to the AI’s polished but impersonal style.
To everyone who took part—whether you got it right or not—thank you for playing along and making this challenge a success!
Congratulations to our winner, Wesani Letsoalo, a 19-year-old from Limpopo, who provided insightful feedback: “This story has too much emotion that is spilled on the story, and I believe only a living person can portray the emotions nicely and clearly.” We hope you enjoyed your R2000.00 prize!
And to everyone who participated, we hope you came away with a deeper appreciation for the beauty of storytelling and the unmatched creativity of a human heart.
This challenge showed us a lot. It highlighted that while AI can spin a good tale quickly, there’s something magical in the process that only a human can bring—the emotions, the thoughtfulness, the ups and downs of spending time with characters until they truly come alive.
Stay tuned for more activities and challenges, FunDza fam, because we’re just getting started! Keep writing, keep reading, and keep celebrating the power of words!