Ninja Captain Alex J Cavanaugh created IWSG — because Alex understands we need a place to congregate, insecurity is part of our creative nature, and together we’re stronger. Today I’m fortunate to be one of the co-hosts of this blog. The other co-hosts are Kim Lajevardi http://kimlajevardi.com/, Gwen Gardner http://gwengardner.blogspot.com/, Pat Garcia http://www.patgarciaandeverythingmustchange.com/, and Natalie Aguirre http://www.literaryrambles.com/
On the first Wednesday of each month, you can write on any topic related to your writing journey or adopt the option of answering the month’s question. Either way, you’re in safe territory. If this sounds good to you, sign up here.
Every month, a specific question is offered, which may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. You can write free! Like I did because I wanted to address an important current event.
A lot of fear is associated with the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) into the writersphere. It seems that writers everywhere shredded their favorite tees and pajama pants and sat at their keyboards biting their fingernails while their knees knocked under their desks.. Insecurity is rampant in Hollywood, college English departments, and MFA programs. Will ChattGPT replace them, making them obsolete so that tenure will never be attained? Will reporters no longer be necessary for the newspapers that remain? Will movies and TV shows be scripted by AI? Jeopardy makes people go nuts.
There was a recent IWSG post extolling the use of AI for advertising. I agree… all good.
Here’s the thing about AI, though. It’s artificial, it’s fake, it’s not human. While its machinations could shut down power grids or disrupt air traffic control, it’ll never be able to detect sarcasm. Humor will not penetrate the artificial mind. It’ll be thick as a brick like unremarkable humans are. The domain of writing satire will remain the provenance of writers who excel with that schtick.
Here’s my slogan, “I’m
PJ Colando and I write humor and satire with a literary bent.” I doubt that ChatGPT will replace me in the writersphere. I feel safe, just as I do when I write as a participant of this group, Insecure Writers Support Group
https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.comAll for one and one for all – write on!
I’ve never really feared AI, mostly because I’m a hobby writer who has been working on their passion project for two decades, and I doubt AI will ever achieve the vision I have in my head. But I have checked it out. It’s a useful tool, but I don’t care for the stories it produces.
Thanks for chiming in with your perspective, Loni.
I once was a hobby writer…
When the Silicon Valley techie people tried to put the brakes on AI until some regulatory rules were in place, that was a huge signal to be on alert.
Thanks for co-hosting today.
I agree wholeheartedly with your opinion of the effect AI will have on writers. I have browsed your fun site here. No AI will match your humor and warmth. From a fellow mid-westerner, thanks for co-hosting!
thanks for reading, checking out my site, and the shout-out to another with origins in the Midwest
When the Silicon Valley techie people tried to put the brakes on AI until some regulatory rules were in place, that was a huge wake up call for me.
Thanks for co-hosting today.
I agree – and worldwide conversation about moral issues must take place, just as with gene splicing.
AI lacks the one (of many) thing(s) that make writers irreplaceable – originality. AI has no imagination. It doesn’t dream. It doesn’t fear or love or mourn. It has no emotional context for unique response or reaction. AI isn’t a living, breathing, feeling, fearing being. And it never will be (knock on wood!).
Thanks for adding more reasons why AI will not dominate the writing world –
Good point. AI will not have a sense of humor.
Thanks for co-hosting today!
Your opinion matters, Mr. Sci-Fi Writer!
There will always be challenges facing writers – the greatest of which is that it’s a skill which isn’t properly valued, so there will always be something to be faced.
@DebsDespatches posting today from Fiction Can Be Fun
I adore your website name!
There will always be challenges for writers – the greatest of which is that it’s a skill which isn’t properly valued, so there will always be something to be faced.
@DebsDespatches posting today from Fiction Can Be Fun
Good perspective on writing – and life, Debs.
Great POV. I’ve been wary of AI and wondered about using it as a writing assistance,,,doing research kinda info gathering.
I agree! satire, sarcasm, and humor is beyond the grasp of AI. Thank goodness.
Thanks, Lynn. Did you see/read the post last week on our website about using AI to generate ad copy? That will be an apt use, me thinks.
Hi,
I am listening and reading. What I do know is that A1 has only the brain that humans built into it. It can’t think outside of the box and it can’t discuss things. So, I am in a wait and see position.
All the best and thank you for co-hosting.
Wait-and-see is always a good mode – no pre-judging!
I’m not afraid of AI, but I think a lot of people are expecting that it will do the work for them, and machine-made writing is just not the same. @samanthabwriter from
Balancing Act
ChatGP will never have spunk and bite – writers like me have the corner on that (wink-wink)
Hi! I hope that’s how it will stay in years to come. I believe that a machine cannot replace humans but it’s also a matter of consumers getting used to the machines. Fingers crossed! Thank you for co-hosting.
Let’s all cross our fingers, eyes, and toes that AI doesn’t machine-learn to emote. After all, writers of fiction lie for a living and I doubt if machines can lie!
I like your common sense towards AI. I hope it never goes beyond a useful tool.
I’m Gwen, co-hosting today https://gwengardner.blogspot.com/
Common sense! Thanks for the compliment, Gwen.
Thanks for co-hosting today!
I agree with Nancy. AI lacks heart which will make it hard to touch a reader.
Thanks for co-hosting today!
I agree with Nancy. AI lacks heart which will make it hard to touch a reader.
This appears to have been a hot topic – thanks for your comment, Lidy!
I use AI to write articles for attorney websites for a web marketing firm. It has its uses and can save time. But it won’t replace writers. And I still write a lot when I use it.
Thanks for info and kudos for a useful tool, Natalie.
Thanks for co-hosting!
I agree- I don’t think AI will replace us anytime soon. There is far too much to the human emotion, snarkiness, and wit for a machine trying to digest 1 and 0 to really replicate. Thanks for hosting this month! Also, love your webpage.
Thanks for the website compliment – jazzy, pizzazzy, isn’t it!
Here’s our mantra: human writers can do Xs and Os and AI cannot –
Interesting topic for sure. I need to become more familiar with how to harness it usefulness.
I think there’s a use of AI: harnessing it to write ad copy
I’m with you, I hope, just that I don’t really write humor, but oh well! Thanks so much for co-hosting!
Thanks for chiming in, Lisa
The good thing about groups like these is that well never totally lose our work to AI. AI cant replace human Writer’s groups.
Thanks to you and the other co-hosts and Alex for hosting/coordinating!
Writer hugs for you, Mr. Far Out Fantastic –
You’re so right, PJ! While AI has the potential to replace a lot of things in the world, it can’t ever replace humans. No computer can have the uniqueness of a person – after all, how loudly do we tout our individuality and creativity on a regular basis? I think we’re pretty safe.
PS: I adore your site. It’s so very fun! <3
Thanks! I think my author site is groovy, too!
Valid point about AI and humor. As an academic, I’m not thrilled with how easily AI can be used to generate fake information (and fake citations to support it), but I’m not worried about it replacing human creativity.
Neither creativity nor empathy. Never spunk and bite! IMHO