Title: Navigating the Writer’s Odyssey: Competing with AI for Writing Opportunities
Introduction
The digital era has brought about incredible advancements in technology, leading to the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in various industries, including writing. As AI’s capabilities in generating content continue to evolve, writers find themselves in a unique position: competing with machines for writing opportunities. This blog explores the emotions and experiences that arise when human creativity faces off against AI in the realm of writing.
1. The Intriguing Allure of AI
The allure of AI lies in its ability to churn out content at lightning speed. It can generate vast amounts of text on a wide range of topics with remarkable accuracy and efficiency. As a writer, witnessing AI produce content that mimics human writing can be both awe-inspiring and intimidating.
2. The Uncertainty of Identity
Competing with AI can evoke a sense of existential uncertainty. Writers may question their value and identity when they see algorithms creating content that closely resembles their own style. This internal struggle prompts introspection: What sets human creativity apart? What makes our work uniquely valuable?
3. The Emotional Rollercoaster
The process of competing with AI is often an emotional rollercoaster. One moment, you might feel invigorated by your creative powers, only to be plunged into self-doubt when AI generates content that seems indistinguishable from your own. Coping with this emotional flux becomes an essential part of the journey.
4. The Battle for Originality
One of the key advantages humans have over AI is the ability to infuse their writing with authentic emotions, unique perspectives, and genuine experiences. AI can mimic patterns, but it often struggles to replicate the depth and authenticity that human writers bring to their work. Embracing your capacity for originality becomes a potent weapon in this competition.
5. Collaborating, not Competing
A shift in perspective can transform the competition into a collaboration. Writers can leverage AI tools to enhance their creative process. AI can provide inspiration, generate ideas, and even help with tedious tasks like grammar and style correction. Embracing AI as a partner rather than an adversary can lead to synergistic outcomes.
6. The Evolution of the Craft
Just as writers adapt to new mediums and changing reader preferences, the emergence of AI adds a new layer of evolution to the craft. The writing landscape is evolving, and adapting to these changes is an opportunity to grow, learn, and expand your skill set. Embrace the challenge as a catalyst for personal and professional growth.
7. Embracing the Essence of Humanity
At its core, writing is a deeply human endeavor. It’s an art form that weaves together thoughts, emotions, and experiences into narratives that resonate with readers. AI might excel at generating text, but it can’t replicate the nuanced tapestry of humanity that human writers bring to their work.
Conclusion
The competition between human writers and AI is not a binary struggle, but a complex interplay between technology and creativity. While AI’s rise may pose challenges, it’s also an opportunity for writers to redefine their craft, amplify their skills, and discover new dimensions of creativity. Remember, the essence of writing lies in the human experience, and no algorithm can replicate the depths of the human soul poured onto the page. So, embrace the journey, learn from AI’s strengths, and continue to harness the power of your unique voice in the ever-evolving landscape of writing.
I didn’t write all that. I let Chat GPT do it.
I wanted this to be a turnback about the time before AI started writing the work we writers struggled to get done, and here we go…
If you look at the work above you can see there are distinctions between what I do and what the bot does. It is focused, for one. It is organized by headers and numbered points, as the free version of CHatGPT is wont to do. Of course, if you made it this far into the blog that suggests that it was either readable, or you TLDR’d the situation until something felt genuine. I think that last bit is the last standing difference between us and the machines: What we write feels genuine. This is true of fiction and non fiction. Take for example the following passage about losing a loved one:
Losing someone you love is like having a piece of your heart torn away, leaving an ache that resonates in the deepest corners of your being. The world seems muted, as if colors have faded and the air has grown heavy. Every corner holds a memory, every familiar scent a bittersweet reminder. Waves of grief wash over you, unpredictable and unrelenting, as you navigate the paradox of yearning to hold onto the past while slowly learning to let go. It’s a journey through a landscape of emotions where sorrow and cherished moments intertwine, reminding you of the profound impact that person had on your life.
That is a passage about los from an AI. it doesn’t suck but it does sound distant, as if it is writing about the concept of losing someone but hasn’t experienced that visceral moment of loss. Loss is no journey through a landscape. It is a chasm of darkness from which you have no desire to ever emerge. It takes loss to see that. Machines don’t feel. Instead they capture a conglomeration of feelings in print and distill that into a new form. This is not to say they aren’t good at some things. This character below was created by an AI in 4 seconds:
Name: Kassandra “Silhouette”
Metatype: Human
Role: Infiltrator/Decker
Physical Attributes:
- Body: 3
- Agility: 5
- Reaction: 4
- Strength: 2
Mental Attributes:
- Logic: 6
- Intuition: 5
- Willpower: 3
- Charisma: 3
Essence: 5.0
Initiative: 9 + 1d6
Skills:
- Stealth: 6 (8 Urban)
- Pistols: 4
- Hacking (Decking): 6 (8)
- Locksmith: 5
- Perception: 4
- Electronics: 3
- Gymnastics: 3
- Unarmed Combat: 2
Knowledge Skills:
- Shadow Community: 4
- Corporate Security: 3
- Matrix Architecture: 3
- Urban Legends: 2
Languages:
- English (N)
- Japanese (2)
Qualities:
- Code of Honor (Professional): Kassandra operates with a strict set of ethical guidelines that include avoiding collateral damage and not causing unnecessary harm to innocents.
- Perfect Time: Kassandra has a natural sense of timing, granting a +2 bonus on any tests involving timing or synchronization.
- Dependent (Contacts): Kassandra has a network of contacts in the shadow community that she feels responsible for protecting.
Gear:
- Cyberdeck: Sleek, custom-made deck with top-notch hacking capabilities.
- Stealth Suit: Advanced urban camouflage suit providing enhanced protection and increased mobility.
- Qi Focus: Enhances Kassandra’s ability to manipulate electronics and hack into systems.
- Streetline Special (Light Pistol): A discreet sidearm, easily concealed and surprisingly accurate.
- Lockpick Set: A set of specialized tools for bypassing locks and security systems.
- Maglock Passkey: Allows Kassandra to interface with electronic locks.
- Grapple Gun: Useful for reaching high or hard-to-reach places quickly and quietly.
Augmentations:
- Datajack: Neural interface for direct interaction with electronics and the Matrix.
- Skilljack: Allows instant learning of new skills.
Contacts:
- Fixer (Mr. Johnson): A well-connected middleman who feeds Kassandra shadowruns.
- Street Doc (Doc Wren): A streetwise doctor who provides medical assistance and augmentations discreetly.
- Decker (Cipher): A fellow hacker who trades information and tech tips.
Background: Kassandra “Silhouette” is a seasoned professional in the shadows, skilled in both physical infiltration and electronic manipulation. With a background in corporate security, she knows the ins and outs of the systems she targets. Guided by her code of honor, she takes on jobs that align with her principles. She’s haunted by a personal tragedy that fuels her dedication to safeguarding the innocent and seeking justice against the powerful. In a world of uncertainty, Kassandra remains a shadowrunner who balances her digital prowess and physical finesse to navigate the treacherous urban sprawl.
I legitimately cannot even type up a character that fast. Yet, again, it lacks a visceralness that is common to someone who is channeling self into the shadowrun experience. The same can be said of the D&D character below:
Name: Thalia Moonshadow
Race: Elf
Class: Rogue (Swashbuckler)
Background: Charlatan
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Ability Scores:
- Strength: 10
- Dexterity: 16
- Constitution: 12
- Intelligence: 14
- Wisdom: 10
- Charisma: 16
Class Features:
- Sneak Attack (3d6): Thalia deals extra damage when she has advantage on the attack roll or when an ally is within 5 feet of her target.
- Fancy Footwork: After making a melee attack against a creature, Thalia doesn’t provoke opportunity attacks from that creature for the rest of the turn.
- Cunning Action: As a bonus action, Thalia can Dash, Disengage, or Hide.
Background Feature:
- False Identity: Thalia has a second identity that includes documentation, established acquaintances, and disguises.
Skills:
- Acrobatics: +5
- Deception: +5
- Perception: +2
- Persuasion: +5
- Sleight of Hand: +5
- Stealth: +7
Languages:
- Common
- Elvish
- Thieves’ Cant
Equipment:
- Rapier
- Shortbow with 20 arrows
- Leather Armor
- Burglar’s Pack
- Thieves’ Tools
- Disguise Kit
- Forgery Kit
- Set of Fine Clothes
- Signet Ring
- Scroll of Pedigree (False documentation for Thalia’s false identity)
- 40 gold pieces
Backstory: Thalia Moonshadow, an elf with an insatiable curiosity and a knack for trickery, grew up in a world of secrets and hidden motives. Her background as a charlatan taught her the art of deception and allowed her to create false identities with ease. Tired of the mundane, Thalia set out to explore the world and seek treasures that could only be unlocked by her unique skills. Drawn to the allure of adventure, she embraced the life of a swashbuckling rogue, using her dexterity and charisma to outwit her foes. With her rapier at her side and a smile on her lips, Thalia Moonshadow dances through life, always ready for the next challenge or scheme that comes her way.
The more I experience AI, the more I recognize that it is a tool that is going to change the way writing happens and force me and everyone else to step up our game.