Is A.I. Really a Threat to Writers?
It is time to weigh in on the hot topic of the day. Every writer seems to ask, “Will Artificial Intelligence put me out of a job?”
I few days ago I read a poem that was generated by AI about the ending of a relationship. It was pretty good.
That, in a nutshell, is precisely how I would describe all the AI-generated material I have encountered thus far. It is pretty good. Not fantastic… not memorable…not art…and certainly not marketable. Merely it is “pretty good.”
Why is everyone in a panic then about AI?
I have two theories. One theory is that people are surprised by the better-than-expected quality of AI material. That bit of surprise takes a period of adjustment. There is another, deeper reason people are concerned. There just may be writers who should be concerned about AI.
I think the people who need to fear AI material also write “pretty good.”
That there is a percentage of writers whose quality of work would be challenged by AI. Their material too is not fantastic… not memorable…not artistic…and (at the moment) not marketable.
They are struggling to perfect their craft and are working hard to reach their dream of turning their passion into their livelihood. But, for the time being, their stuff is not that different from AI stuff.
That just means they need to work on their craft a bit more.
AI will never produce award-winning art. No creation will ever have the power to motivate someone to change their life. It will never expose hidden aspects of humanity. It will never reveal deeper truths and greater understanding.
AI will never do this… but these writers who currently fear AI one day can do these things.
And that is the key. AI has highlighted something that writing instructors and editors have been saying for decades. The key to good writing is not in mastering the technical, but in mastering the emotional.
If you feel threatened by AI, just remember. You are alive. You have memories, experiences, pain, joy, elation, triumph, and irony. A computer can only master the technical aspects of stringing words together…. It can never manipulate those words in such a way as to provoke new thoughts, generate new ideas, or create new ways of understanding.
AI seems intimidating because it forces writers to do the one thing that sets them apart from the machine… and the one thing they most hate to do. Feel.
An outstanding writer bleeds on the page.
A talented writer walks naked through life, raw and vulnerable.
With every page, an excellent writer puts everything on the line.
The creative process is more about psychotherapy than it is about technical execution. There is nothing safe about writing. It requires tremendous courage and a strong sense of self-worth. No computer will ever replace that.
AI can never explore the depths of the soul and, with only words, conquer a stray thought and bring it back like a hunter dragging home a slain lion.
A computer cannot inspire purpose, renew faith, heal bitterness, or grapple with anger.
It cannot reshape our definition of what it means to be human.
AI cannot contemplate divinity and lift us closer to God.
Algorithms and “most likely outcomes” might help you with a marketing email, polish a resume, or summarize medical jargon.
It cannot heal a broken heart or help a lost soul find itself.
If you feel fear when you think of AI then, great. Explore that. Dig deeper. Then go write about it. That is what will make all the difference.
Eric Myers
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