It is a common trope in sci-fi where a human creation becomes a threat to its creators. Works like ‘Frankenstein’ or movies like ‘The Terminator’ depict how human creations can rebel against their makers. However, in real life, the threat isn’t always as obvious or dramatic. One such example is the rise of AI text-generation tools. While not armed with physical weapons or exhibiting malevolent intent, these tools pose a challenge to one’s human cognitive faculties.
A Forbes analysis noted that essays produced by AI, like other AI-generated content, exhibit certain recurring patterns that hint at their machine origins. Typical examples recognized include phrases such as “aligning seamlessly with my aspirations” and “stemming from a deep-seated passion”. Moreover, words like “tapestry” also raise suspicions of automated involvement.
Tapestries were once the fruit of laborious skill, with each thread being proof of the artistry of the hand that wove it, with the bright hues conveying a story that was rich in meaning. Yet in this modern age, algorithms toil incessantly to produce paragraphs with sophisticated vocabulary that often repeats in a monotonous pattern. AI-generated texts may have the vocabulary of a thesaurus on steroids, but people tend to forget that creativity is more than just fancy words. Tapestry, the once-majestic word, now suffers the unfortunate fate of being tarnished by the mind-numbing repetitive tendencies of AI.
Though the modern ‘tapestries’ may be produced faster, they lack the artistry and imagination. They pale in comparison to their original counterparts.
So, no, I will not be ‘crafting’ an article that will ‘delve’ into the ‘realm’ of AI tools and how they can ‘elevate’ communication standards. This article will emphasize how writing one’s own essay has become a thing of the past.
AI TOOLS
Websites promising to produce essays for students are experiencing a recent surge, alleviating academic loads. The issue here lies in how these tools encourage the passive consumption of content rather than the active creation. These platforms offer tailored works on a silver platter, seemingly fulfilling every demand. Despite being mostly free, the real cost to students lies in their diminishing imagination and inability to construct even the simplest of sentences. Today, a student may seamlessly use ‘seamlessly’ in their essay, but ask them about the difference between ‘seamless’ and ‘seamstress,’ and suddenly, the threads of confusion start to show.
When creativity is reduced to algorithms, human imagination becomes confined within the limited parameters of artificial intelligence. While proficient in generating text, these tools struggle to capture the depth of human expression. Human imagination thrives on ambiguity, contradiction, and paradox—qualities that are challenging for AI to comprehend, let alone replicate. Moreover, context, culture, and personal experience are inherently human factors. AI may analyze vast amounts of data, but it lacks the experience and empathy, that enable humans to understand the world.
Also, text generation tools use existing sets of information to create content. These sets originate from sources that widely accept ideas and thoughts, thereby reflecting their perspective in the produced content, leading to bias where alternative or under-represented perspectives might be disregarded. This lack of diversity can lead to a narrowing of discussion and prevent unconventional or minority views.
PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECT ON WRITERS’ MIND
Though AI tools offer an endless fountain of ideas, they also present a threat to a writer’s sense of agency and autonomy. Relying on this overly opinionated co-author for creative input can engender a reliance that undermines the writer’s self-esteem and self-confidence. The constant temptation to rely on AI for solutions may erode the writer’s ownership of their work.
For centuries, writers have refined their craft through a deeply personal journey of discovery and expression. The introduction of AI into this domain, however, raises questions regarding authorship. Writers grappling with the notion of being superseded by machines may wrestle with existential angst. The worry that their unique voice could be deprived amidst a deluge of algorithmically-generated content can dampen innovation and authenticity.
COMMODIFICATION OF LANGUAGE
AI has now hijacked language that was once used by poets and writers, stripped it of its soul and turned it into a profit-driven commodity. Cold and calculated algorithms are replacing the warmth and passion that once nourished language, reducing it to a tool for monetization rather than a form of self-expression. Linguistic capitalism is commodifying every word into a tradable stock and every phrase into a commodity to be bought and sold.
The rise of AI has also ushered us into a new era of literary insincerity. The pressure on writers to forgo creativity and conform to SEO (Search Engine Optimization) strategies prioritizes click-through rates and keyword density over genuine creative expression. This pressure forces writers to meticulously choose words not for their poetic elegance but for their potential to increase revenue. Content, today, does not sing to the soul but to the search bar.
CONCLUSION
One has to write their own words because it is theirs and because it feels right in their heart. Relying too heavily on AI tools can leave a lasting impact on both readers and writers. Readers crave authenticity, originality, and the unexpected twist that keeps them turning pages late into the night. However, AI’s repetitive tendencies risk diluting these elements, leading to predictability and disengagement. The beauty of human expression lies in its spontaneity and imperfection, qualities that AI-generated texts often struggle to accurately reproduce. One has to remember that a keyboard is mightier than a processor.
Until empathy can be downloaded, creativity comes with a user manual, ChatGPT can rant about capitalism, someone learns how to code ethics and AI sheds a tear at a trashy rom-com, I would prefer writing my own essays.
