The problem with AI is that it is a lot of different things being conflated into one term--and not necessarily by you, but by a lot of reporting, writing, etc.
There is certainly the "tell GPT to write a podcast script about xyz with a sardonic voice, etc, etc, etc" and I agree that I don't think there was ever a future in that. Definitely not if you're someone like you who has a unique voice and that's the secret sauce that people are paying for. Same, if you're an artist.
I am a programmer and I've found it to be exceptionally useful in my profession, not because it's taken away the coding (though it's taken away the bad parts of coding), but because I'm paid for my reasoning that has been expressed as coding up until now but now I'm being mostly paid for my reasoning and (software) architecture skills. In my industry, this is incredibly useful.
But in the creative realm, it can also be helpful while leaving the human voice intact. I paint miniatures (spudWorks dot com) and have made tableaus with them that I then have an image generator turn into a style I art direct. I painted the minis. I directed the "photoshop". That creativity is, I believe, mine. Likewise, I like to write fiction. I find Claude to be an outstanding writing coach. I discuss character and themes with it, plot structure and the like but *I* write every word of the story. I think there's a lot of value in that. Same as I use it as a health and fitness coach. I have to do the training but I can get feedback on progress by putting my numbers in.
I agree with you that it's not the work relief panacea that was "promised" but I'm not certain that was ever a lot of value. And certainly not if you want people to pay to hear/read YOU. But it can serve as an editor, a sounding board for you to bounce ideas off of first and I think that is where you can use AI and still be "you".
I guess that's a different process than the kind I enjoy... I wouldn't need or want a writing coach for the kind of writing I do, and can't imagine writing even being 'collaborative'! I just need alone time with my thoughts, and alone time to work out and write down those thoughts. I would find a 'coach' distracting, I think. But perhaps for a different kind of writing it is useful!
100%! I only do it because, with fiction, there are a lot of balls to keep in the air at any one time--plots, characters... When I write, it's still just me though. But I absolutely understand not wanting to collaborate when writing. After all, is there anything more personal than a person and their thoughts?
What absolutely grinds my gears at the moment is "AI voice" in YT videos as a voiceover, but it's supposed to sound like a real person's voice, with pauses, and even some tics thrown in. Like I can sense it within the first few seconds and I immediately switch it off. Also how obsequious the chatbots are (because they've been trained to respond that way). It's all so fkn creepy and gross.
The problem with AI is that it is a lot of different things being conflated into one term--and not necessarily by you, but by a lot of reporting, writing, etc.
There is certainly the "tell GPT to write a podcast script about xyz with a sardonic voice, etc, etc, etc" and I agree that I don't think there was ever a future in that. Definitely not if you're someone like you who has a unique voice and that's the secret sauce that people are paying for. Same, if you're an artist.
I am a programmer and I've found it to be exceptionally useful in my profession, not because it's taken away the coding (though it's taken away the bad parts of coding), but because I'm paid for my reasoning that has been expressed as coding up until now but now I'm being mostly paid for my reasoning and (software) architecture skills. In my industry, this is incredibly useful.
But in the creative realm, it can also be helpful while leaving the human voice intact. I paint miniatures (spudWorks dot com) and have made tableaus with them that I then have an image generator turn into a style I art direct. I painted the minis. I directed the "photoshop". That creativity is, I believe, mine. Likewise, I like to write fiction. I find Claude to be an outstanding writing coach. I discuss character and themes with it, plot structure and the like but *I* write every word of the story. I think there's a lot of value in that. Same as I use it as a health and fitness coach. I have to do the training but I can get feedback on progress by putting my numbers in.
I agree with you that it's not the work relief panacea that was "promised" but I'm not certain that was ever a lot of value. And certainly not if you want people to pay to hear/read YOU. But it can serve as an editor, a sounding board for you to bounce ideas off of first and I think that is where you can use AI and still be "you".
I guess that's a different process than the kind I enjoy... I wouldn't need or want a writing coach for the kind of writing I do, and can't imagine writing even being 'collaborative'! I just need alone time with my thoughts, and alone time to work out and write down those thoughts. I would find a 'coach' distracting, I think. But perhaps for a different kind of writing it is useful!
100%! I only do it because, with fiction, there are a lot of balls to keep in the air at any one time--plots, characters... When I write, it's still just me though. But I absolutely understand not wanting to collaborate when writing. After all, is there anything more personal than a person and their thoughts?
This makes sense. I don’t think I could even get my head around fiction writing!
What absolutely grinds my gears at the moment is "AI voice" in YT videos as a voiceover, but it's supposed to sound like a real person's voice, with pauses, and even some tics thrown in. Like I can sense it within the first few seconds and I immediately switch it off. Also how obsequious the chatbots are (because they've been trained to respond that way). It's all so fkn creepy and gross.
Same. Like why would I ever listen to this
YES!! I can’t even imagine what an AI Meghan would be like!! Genuine will be the future cultural currency. Excellent piece!