In the long history of workplace automation and its displacement of humans, people have typically started really paying attention only when it’s their job on the chopping block. Up until about two years ago, AI’s intrusion into the writing world had barely registered on my radar. A columnist who had AI write her column (not terrible, but no Pulitzer prizewinner); the 2023 screenwriters’ strike dem...
The article presents a nuanced exploration of AI’s evolving role in creative writing, avoiding sensationalism while acknowledging legitimate concerns. The strongest version of the narrative (steelman) is that AI is rapidly improving, capable of mimicking human styles and collaborating on creative projects, but still lacks the depth and originality of human authorship. However, the piece also highlights the slippery slope: even writers who initially resist AI may find themselves integrating it in...