AI in Writing

AI this, AI that. AI is evil, AI is a tool. AI is destroying our planet, AI is going to expand the future... Well, golly. Which one is it?

I know one thing for certain. The internet certainly has its opinions. Then again, what's new? When was the last time anything existed without an airport security-level inspection performed by commenters ready to affirm or humiliate its existence? I know I haven't been so lucky.

Seriously though, AI (artificial intelligence) has recently become the key talking point that anyone, regardless of their internet affiliation, can speak about with an amount of knowledge that requires more effort than skimming a biased news article or watching a TikTok "scientist" who miraculously got the gig without the degree talk at 2x speed about data centers.

Okay, all cutting remarks aside, AI is big news. For everyone. And especially in the art community. But let me be candid, I have essentially zero authority to speak on art forms that don't involve writing, other than to say that I would much rather consume media and/or grace my eyes with a masterpiece that required intention, passion, and genuine skill. If you disagree with me, that's cool. Just know you're on a complete island and I heard a rumor that Gen Z is preparing a cannon siege in your general vicinity...so I don't know, maybe see if AI can generate you a shield or something.

Now, very few things will unlock the deepest parts of my being. The fires of my soul, if you will. Writing is one of those things. So you'd think I'd be protective of it, right? Exactly right. However, I am also not the type of person to form a solidified opinion and establish my foundation on one side of a camp without leaving any room for the abstract. If you're that kind of person, then you'll probably hate what I'm about to say.

I'm not anti-AI! Cue the neighbors shuddering and covering their children's eyes. Why not, you ask? Well reader, I'm glad you're willing to hear me out. Because honestly? That's rare. (Niche ChatGBT reference.)

Here's my take: AI is a tool. A very powerful, fast, and more nuanced tool than mankind has ever seen. I think it even beats out the existence of the internet on many fronts, or at least stokes the fire. But just like with a nuclear bomb (yes, we're going there), an amount of power capable of changing entire lives and societies requires that beautiful thing the Bible likes to call discernment. AI, much like the Ti-83 calculator or the iPhone in your hand (Green texters, you are welcome too. You deal with enough bullying as it is), is a tool that facilitates the daily functions of life that would otherwise be incredibly frustrating and/or impossible for most, now that we've had the convenience of technology for long enough. If you disagree with that, you're probably also the person at the dinner table who refuses to eat veggies because "steak has all the nutrients you need". Have fun with your 7-hour highway delay. I'll be waiting at our destination a few minutes early because Apple Maps suggested an alternative route.

When it comes to writing, you know, the act of pouring forth your soul with the use of just 26 letters, that is something entirely sacred. From writing unfiltered, messy blog posts to drafting a two-part fantasy novel with a cast of characters that could fill a graveyard, it takes creativity. Let me be clear, you can create something without being creative. Don't believe me? Ask the influencers who recycle each other's ideas like it's Switzerland. And if we're being literal, as creations made in God's image (AKA the Creator of the universe), we are little creators. We all do it to some degree. We can't help it.

I just got stuck with the pen. Maybe for you, it's the whisk, or the paint brush, or the sheet music. Is AI a creator? No. It is a replicator that uses digital formulas to produce, not create. And for those who don't already know, AI has been trained using human creations. So anything it can do, you can thank man. And I mean anything it can do...remember that discernment piece?

I'm not here to argue about data centers (keep your grubby fingers away from my forests, though). I'm here to answer the question about whether AI belongs in the writing space or not. And since you've read this far, you must be interested enough in what that is. Much to your gratification, I'm going to elaborate on my partial answer above. Tools have assisted authors since the dawn of time. And as time unwinds, tools are supposed to get better, aren't they? So while I won't balk at my access to a rapid synonym generator that understands the nuance my mind can't seem to describe based on the words that come to mind (For example: synonyms for that one word that means to be shy, but less in a reserved way, more in a shameful way. The word I can't think of is abashed, and now I have other synonyms like sheepish and diffident. See? Nuance), I will raise an eyebrow at a prompt like "Come up with a compelling plot for my novel" or "What background should I give my character that will really compel the audience in a non-cheesy way?" Those are not examples of using a tool, that's having AI generate the creative aspect of your work.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think everyone can write. Just like with any other creative talent, I am a firm believer that writing is a skill. A talent. One that requires fostering, and that secret ingredient of thinking in such a way that your words come to life. Anyone can cook a meal, but not everyone is a chef. Everyone can draw a stick figure, but not everyone can depict realism. Everyone can strum a few strings on the guitar, but not everyone can string together chords to make music. Do you get what I mean? Anyone can tell a story, but not everyone can infuse the characters with their own souls, to the point that you can't stop thinking about them even after you put the book down. Everyone can draft a description of a building, but not everyone can make you smell the humidity in the brick walls.

This brings me to my main point: writers write. AI assists. And if you really want to play it safe because maybe you've found yourself wrestling with AI guilt, try this: don't use AI for anything that a dictionary or thesaurus couldn't do. Also, be careful using it to complete your hyper-specified research (kid's sketchy).

So yeah. That's my contribution.

Now go, create something!