AI Is A Poor Substitute For Writing Skill, But Do You Understand Why?

The more AI grows, the worse it’s going to get, and here’s why

Boy pulling a bulb filled with ideas, illustration licensed from Deposit Photos

I got an email a few days ago, can’t get it out of my head.

It was from a reader.

Said he confesses he uses AI because he has so many ideas for stories he wants to write but he doesn’t have twenty years to become a good writer because he spent his adult life working a job to pay the bills.

Said he just wanted me to understand his perspective. Wants me to understand the hunger to get his ideas into the world.

I’m as human as anyone else. Here’s what my first thought was.

First time I got published in print was 1996. It was in a print magazine and when the editor called to say they wanted the story and offered me five hundred dollars I thanked her and when I hung up the phone? I cried.

That first essay came back in the mail filled with red pen. And the next and the next but eventually there were so few edits we did them on the phone. First time an editor said omg, don’t change a word… I cried then, too.

Twenty nine years. Writing anything someone would pay for. I’ve written essays, articles, ads, product descriptions, brochure copy, and on a rough…