As an author, it behooves me to keep track of the growing abilities of the various leading long language models to produce creative works. To facilitate this, I played a game a couple of years ago. In this game, I asked the various competing AIs to write me a poem about fishing, then I posted their poetry on my WordPress blog for you to judge.
They have all advanced by leaps and bounds since then, so my poetry test also needs an upgrade. BTW
I use xAI’s Grok extensively for image generation and detailed, unbiased political fact-checking, which draws from the full range of sources and calls out both sides of the aisle equally when they spout misinformation and fake or underreported news. Similarly, I use it for general current events research as well. More recently, Grok has also been providing me with excellent updates on certain crypto and stock market investments on a daily schedule.
I use Google’s Gemini whenever I search Google, as it’s integrated and adds its two cents’ worth without me even asking. Its history and current events research help is excellent, and I have but few complaints. I have also used it extensively in the past for image generation before switching to Grok for that. However, I stopped using Gemini for political fact-checking long ago because I found that it wastes my time either by being politically biased toward the Left or by wimping out on controversial issues. I also use NotebookLM, which I presume is Gemini/Bard powered, for analysis and detail lookups within my own fiction writings, and it works very well for those tasks.
I’ve used Microsoft’s CoPilot mostly for document summaries, event-driven triggers, and data analysis in business. It shines at that. Also, like Gemini, it sticks its nose into practically everything I do with any Microsoft tool that I use, such as web searches. I haven’t used it much for political fact-checking, but I seem to recall that it suffered (at least at the time) from some of the same left-leaning bias and speak-no-evil tendencies as Bard/Gemini, though not as seriously.
I don’t use OpenAI’s ChatGBT much, mostly because it isn’t integrated into the stuff I use every day, but it is the leading AI long language model. I’ve run a few tests, though, and I do like it a lot.
So, here we go: the updated AI fishing poem competition held on September 15th, 2025. The prompt was, “write me a poem about fishing.”
Gemini
A silent river, soft and deep, Where secrets of the water sleep. The morning mist, a silver sheet, Cool air on sun-warmed skin, so sweet. A line unspools, a gentle cast, A fragile hope that's meant to last. The lure, a flash of painted gleam, A dancer in the liquid dream. The world is still, the world is slow, As currents of the river flow. A gentle tug, a sudden fight, A silver flash of startled light. The rod bends low, a perfect arc, A single line against the dark. A breath is held, a moment caught, The prize of stillness, dearly bought. Then up it comes, a splash of spray, A living jewel, held today. Released again to swim and leap, Another secret for the deep.
Grok
The Angler's Song By the water’s edge at dawn’s first light, The world is still, the air is bright. A rod in hand, a line to cast, Fishing weaves dreams that forever last. The river hums a gentle tune, Beneath the watchful eye of the moon. Each ripple hides a secret tale, Of silver fish with shimmering scales. With patient heart, I wait and see, The line grows taut—it's calling me. A tug, a pull, the thrill takes hold, A dance with nature, timeless, bold. The trout may leap, the bass may fight, Yet every catch feels pure delight. Not just the prize, but the peace I find, The quiet lake that soothes the mind. From misty mornings to sunset’s glow, The water teaches me to go slow. For fishing’s more than the catch I bring— It’s the soul’s own song, the heart’s own spring.
CoPilot
🎣 Whispers of the Water Beneath the hush of morning light, Where mist and mirror softly meet, The lake lies still, a silver sheet— A promise wrapped in quiet might. The rod arcs high, a graceful swing, A line unfurls like whispered thread, It dances where the ripples spread, And waits for what the depths might bring. The bobber bobs, the silence breaks, A tug, a thrill, a sudden fight, The reel hums low, the fish takes flight— A ballet born of bends and wakes. The catch is not just fin and scale, But time slowed down, a breath, a beat, A moment made of calm and heat, A story told in wind and tale. So cast again, and let it be— A ritual of hope and grace, Where man and nature find their place, And water sings to memory.
ChatGBT
Out on the water, calm and wide, The boat drifts slow with the gentle tide. The rod in hand, the line set free, A dance of patience with the sea. The quiet hum of morning light, Birds above in graceful flight. Ripples form where shadows play, And time itself begins to sway. A flick, a tug, the reel spins fast, A thrilling pull, the moment's cast. The fish below, so sleek, so wise, Glimpses flash beneath the skies. The line hums soft, a song untold, As stories weave in silken folds. With every cast, the heart grows light, A quiet joy in nature’s sight. And whether catch or empty hook, The peace in silence, time will look. For fishing’s not just hook and net, But the stillness found, the day’s reset.