Artificial Intelligence Has Replaced Me
Sorry folks, I’m no longer needed. Artificial intelligence (AI) has made my years of in-plant experience unnecessary. Henceforth, a bot will be writing all the articles for In-plant Impressions.
The new IPI editor at work.
On the radio the other day, I heard about a free chatbot called ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, that can purportedly write articles in seconds (and even write computer code). Skeptical, I checked it out, picking a topic most people don’t understand at all: in-plants.
I told the bot: Write an article on the value of in-plant printing. Then I sat back smugly, waiting for a story on potted plants. To my shock, this is what came back to me in a matter of seconds:
In-plant printing refers to the process of printing materials in-house, rather than outsourcing the work to a commercial printing company. This approach has a number of benefits that can make it an attractive option for businesses, organizations, and institutions.
One of the primary advantages of in-plant printing is the ability to have greater control over the printing process. When materials are printed externally, there is often a level of uncertainty about the final product. In-plant printing allows for a higher level of oversight and the ability to make changes or corrections as needed. This can be especially important for organizations that need to produce high-quality materials for marketing, branding, or legal purposes.
In-plant printing can also be more cost-effective than outsourcing. While it may require an initial investment in equipment and resources, the long-term savings can be significant. This is particularly true for organizations that produce a high volume of printed materials, as they can take advantage of economies of scale and avoid the costs associated with shipping and handling.
In-plant printing also allows for faster turnaround times, as there is no need to wait for materials to be shipped back and forth between the organization and the printing company. This can be especially beneficial for organizations that need to produce materials on a tight deadline, such as event flyers or promotional materials.
In addition to the practical benefits, in-plant printing can also have environmental advantages. By producing materials in-house, organizations can reduce their carbon footprint by eliminating the need for transportation and potentially using more environmentally-friendly printing processes.
Overall, the value of in-plant printing depends on the specific needs and resources of an organization. However, for businesses, organizations, and institutions that produce a high volume of printed materials and value control, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency, in-plant printing can be an attractive option.
So there you go, friends; no need for me anymore. Even the bots know the value of in-plant printing.
Bob has served as editor of In-plant Impressions since October of 1994. Prior to that he served for three years as managing editor of Printing Impressions, a commercial printing publication. Mr. Neubauer is very active in the U.S. in-plant industry. He attends all the major in-plant conferences and has visited more than 180 in-plant operations around the world. He has given presentations to numerous in-plant groups in the U.S., Canada and Australia, including the Association of College and University Printers and the In-plant Printing and Mailing Association. He also coordinates the annual In-Print contest, co-sponsored by IPMA and In-plant Impressions.
