I don’t know about you, but I am getting more than a little fed up with how AI is infiltrating my life and inserting itself where it isn’t wanted.
This isn’t a post about the pros or cons of using AI in writing, although I do have firm views on it. This is a moan about the pervasive and insidious creep that is happening in my daily life.
It started with Copilot. I didn’t want it, so deleted it. The next time there was an update the pesky blighter was back. Along with Microsoft shoving Edge under my nose at every opportunity, I now have them trying to force AI on me. I am not amused and will continue to uninstall it until MS gets the memo.
I use ProWriting Aid, mainly as a check on grammar, spelling, and punctuation, but there a few reports I can run that are pretty handy. Yet, despite saying my work is fantasy fiction, their suggestions seem more about dumbing me down to the lowest common denominator rather than enhancing my work. The latest updates include having a machine “beta read” my work and make suggestions. If they can’t even get the drift of a sentence, I hate to think what will come from its analysis of a whole book! No thank-you! I prefer people to critique my work.
Then there is social media. On every platform I use, AI is trying to write my posts for me. I mean, how difficult is it to write birthday wishes to a friend that doesn’t include hundreds of emojis? They deserve the 30 seconds of your life that it takes to greet a friend properly.
When I write a blog on my website and click the button to share it to my social media sites, it not only writes the intro but adds hashtags to it. (Does anyone even search for hashtags these days?) The intros always sound bland and generic. Interestingly, as I’m writing this, there are posts on LinkedIn about how fed-up people are with AI content, to the point they don’t even bother reading it. Surely, if we are trying to make connections, we want to at least have people look at the things we post? Otherwise, what is the point?
Google have introduced a new feature which scrubs websites, so that when you create a search, an AI summary appears at the top of the results page. This means no-one will bother clicking on an actual site anymore. Bad news for those who rely on traffic for income, let alone those of us who hope that visitors will explore more once we lure them to our webpage.
You may have already heard about an X user who asked what the difference was between a sauce and a dressing. The computer replied, “The main difference between a sauce and a dressing is their purpose: sauces add flavor and texture to dishes, while dressings are used to protect wounds.” While this is very funny, it also illustrates another point about AI. It is not always correct in its responses. In a society dominated with fake news, conspiracy theories, and subjective truths, the internet, which is a major source of AI content, is full of hearsay, lies, and fabrications. We can’t trust something at face value. Unfortunately, many will decide that doing extensive research into a topic Isn’t worth their time and will accept the automated answer without bothering to discover its validity.
I am willing to wager anyone reading this will have been exposed to an AI generated email or reply on social media. The fact that you can recognise it is written by a computer is telling. It is generic, impersonal, and often sales focused.
If you want to connect with me or find out more about my work, then using AI is not going to do you any favours. I will ignore your messages and block you. Your emails will go straight into the recycle bin.
Yes, there is a place for AI. It can be a useful tool when used correctly, but that is all it should be. A tool.
As for me, I am a grown adult with a firm grasp of the English language. I have no need for someone to put words in my mouth. I’m quite capable of doing that myself, thank you very much.
Now, where’s that delete button?
Women Writing Other Worlds 