Authentic vs. Artificial Intelligence Insights

As the New Year unfolds, Tom Durkin reflects on the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and the authenticity of human expression in writing. He shares his aversion to making resolutions, opting instead to initiate changes when they feel right, paralleling this point to his writing goals.

Durkin acknowledges the pressure of deadlines in journalism, often leading to last-minute writing. However, he emphasizes his belief that writing transcends mere information dissemination—it is an art form. This perspective leads him to address a concerning trend: the rising use of AI in writing, particularly seen in some political commentary flooding editorial pages.

After running various columns through AI-detection tools, Durkin discovers that many well-structured pieces from a local citizen, believed to be politically motivated, score remarkably high on AI fabrication. In contrast, his own writings consistently score as 100% human-written, prompting an unsettling question about the ethics and legality of passing off AI-generated content as personal work.

He recounts a former experience with a stringent legal publisher that mandated authentic human writing for their texts, signifying a longstanding industry standard that may soon be challenged. This context deepens his concern over maintaining integrity in the writing profession amidst technological advancements.

Durkin reflects on personal experiences at AI seminars where some attendees express relief that AI could undertake their job functions, a sentiment he finds concerning. The implications of such reliance pose risks; if AI is doing the job, what happens to the individual’s role? He poses a challenge: Given the opportunity, can individuals showcase superior writing skills compared to AI?

While he respects AI’s capabilities in grammar and research aid, he criticizes its lack of personality and flair. Despite limitations in AI’s proficiency, its increasing utilization raises fears about homogenized content across various platforms. He draws parallels to the Apollo 13 astronauts, suggesting critical skills may be neglected in favor of AI tool reliance, potentially leaving future workers unable to perform fundamental tasks unaided.

Durkin acknowledges the practical uses of AI in proofreading and error checking but insists it must not overshadow personal expression. He recounts a deflection offered to a company wanting him to teach AI to emulate his style, rationalizing that doing so would close the door on authentic human creativity.

Ultimately, he summarizes that the dichotomy between authentic and artificial writing is a vital discourse. As he poetically questions the preference for real versus artificial flowers, Durkin issues a call to action for individuals to fight against the trend of mediocrity introduced by AI. This sentiment is underscored with a wish for a year filled with peace, love, and the irreplaceable value of human originality.