https://substack.com/@demetrawilliams wrote this genius comment and I somehow (stupidly, very humanly) managed to delete it. Thankfully the text was saved in my alerts. Here are Demetra’s words:
I agree with this wholeheartedly. While I am trying to break into the industry as an author, my full-time job is teaching dance. One piece of choreography advice I received from a teacher (Susan Hadley) during a tough moment that has always stuck with me was to think of my first instinct for what to do next - and then find a way to do the opposite. That helps to constantly find new movement pathways, so you aren’t just rehashing habitual pathways. AI literally can’t do that, because it’s designed to try to predict the common thing.
It disturbs me when I hear people I know and love say, “Just ask Chat!” I don’t know when we started treating computers like people. It’s alarming.
Demetra, I'm responding to my comment as if you wrote it (because you did!) and I unintentionally deleted it. Ugh.
"...think of my first instinct for what to do next - and then find a way to do the opposite." I think this is genius advice and I'm so glad you shared it! Thinking outside of the box and challenging our own thought patterns and expectations is such an important part of creativity--and it cannot be outsourced to a computer. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. I agree wholeheartedly: It's so disturbing to hear a constant refrain of "Just ask Chat!"
Part 2" I'm pretty sure AI couldn't have written your column today. One of your best lines would have been missing: "Instead, I decided to smoke a pork butt"
Beautiful, Nicole. I agree, 100 percent. You actually used one of the lines I've used before in discussing AI; it knows only the sum of what we all know. Things that haven't been thought of yet can never come from AI. Only the human mind can do that.
Amen! Though I shudder to think about what’s next for AI. I came across a man who was advocating for only writing good things about it because when it develops sentience it will know and remember who adopted it and who disparaged it. A chilling thought.
I hate it too. The growth is in the journey- why would we hand that over? Trying not to be a Luddite over here, but I feel it is another tool that erases community. There are so many tools for teachers to use- but how can AI know my students better than I do? I’m old and slow, but I will continue to be authentic even if it means getting left behind 🤷🏽♀️
I’m with you! The growth is absolutely the journey—because on the road, everything changes. I can’t know the final destination until I’ve walked each step along the way. Sounds like we need a little Luddite club. 😉
Yours is an excellent essay. It will be interesting to watch how AI plays out. I tend to think that it will not be the end of humans, as it is almost hyped. More likely, it will be another tool which will be an aid in some circumstances but minimal utility in many others. Will it be more civilization changing than were, say, the printing press, electricity, or the internal combustion engine? A great deal of what is going on right now would seem to be that FOMO among tech industries and many other businesses. I don't know how AI can reach the point where no human review of the results is necessary. At this time there are still often key points or findings that are missed and also the "hallucinations." There are a multitude of predictions, but no one truly knows what the future will hold.
I think you’re exactly right. And we didn’t even talk about hallucinations… It’s just not as great of a tool as so many think. It often reads ham-fisted and obvious to me. Strained metaphors, personifying inanimate objects, repetition, etc. I’m sure it will get better, but who cares? We have all we need between our own ears.
I am not convinced of the "no use of ai period" policy. But for righting from the heart im leaning your way. I read this piece just to get the other perspective and appreciate your convection to be left all the way behind :) I'm sure my worried use of ai to save me time comes from my own desire to dip my toes in too many creative hobbies all at once. So I remind myself: "There is enough time, there is enough money, there is enough love, there is enough space." And aspire for a balance where Spirit can meet me and greatness can result.
I hear you! The scarcity mindset traps me sometimes, too. But there is enough… and WE are enough. No need to artificially enhance our magnificence. Thanks for sharing your perspective. I know I can be an old-fashioned purist—it’s good for me to hear other viewpoints!
I have such a difficult relationship with AI. I'm in academia, and I teach at the doctoral level. I've had to accept that AI is here, and so many of the tools used for dissertations are AI-based and have been for a long time. Most of the legacy tools help with data analysis, but other resources could be used to write the whole thing if someone were so inclined. I've opted to teach responsible AI use for dissertations, with the central message that you cannot lose your voice in the process of incorporating AI. And that is really the crux of what you are saying, Nicole. There are tools out there that can support the writing process or even take it over entirely. But why would we want to do that? Academic and creative writing are different, but the underlying sentiment is the same. I am not interested in soulless, voiceless drek.
I hear you! My husband is in academia, too, and when he came home he told me my column threw a wrench in an ongoing conversation about AI use. Sorry… I’m not trying to disparage anyone and the very real choices we have to make every day, I just want to advocate for thoughtful, minimal use, and intentionality when it comes to creativity. We can’t outsource our humanity! Grateful for you and the way you walk such a fine line. It can’t be easy.
Wonderful article, Nicole. Well reasoned. I agree with you. I did, however, in light of quotes for writing a screenplay of my book being around $50,000, had LLL write one. I must admit watching it write an entire 120 page, line by line, screenplay was fascinating. I am quite certain it will prove to be uninspiring to studios because of the facts you lay out. Oh, well, thought I’d give it a try. BTW: GREAT job of NFBs. Write on.
I don’t even know what an NFB is! 😂 One thing that I forgot to mention in the article (there’s just so much surrounding AI) is that material that is not generated by a human cannot be copyrighted. Something to consider.
https://substack.com/@demetrawilliams wrote this genius comment and I somehow (stupidly, very humanly) managed to delete it. Thankfully the text was saved in my alerts. Here are Demetra’s words:
I agree with this wholeheartedly. While I am trying to break into the industry as an author, my full-time job is teaching dance. One piece of choreography advice I received from a teacher (Susan Hadley) during a tough moment that has always stuck with me was to think of my first instinct for what to do next - and then find a way to do the opposite. That helps to constantly find new movement pathways, so you aren’t just rehashing habitual pathways. AI literally can’t do that, because it’s designed to try to predict the common thing.
It disturbs me when I hear people I know and love say, “Just ask Chat!” I don’t know when we started treating computers like people. It’s alarming.
Excellent read as always.
Demetra, I'm responding to my comment as if you wrote it (because you did!) and I unintentionally deleted it. Ugh.
"...think of my first instinct for what to do next - and then find a way to do the opposite." I think this is genius advice and I'm so glad you shared it! Thinking outside of the box and challenging our own thought patterns and expectations is such an important part of creativity--and it cannot be outsourced to a computer. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. I agree wholeheartedly: It's so disturbing to hear a constant refrain of "Just ask Chat!"
Part 2" I'm pretty sure AI couldn't have written your column today. One of your best lines would have been missing: "Instead, I decided to smoke a pork butt"
😂 Glad that line spoke to you! It was the truth.
Heart and soul club my friend 🩷
We should make t-shirts.
💯
Beautiful, Nicole. I agree, 100 percent. You actually used one of the lines I've used before in discussing AI; it knows only the sum of what we all know. Things that haven't been thought of yet can never come from AI. Only the human mind can do that.
Amen! Though I shudder to think about what’s next for AI. I came across a man who was advocating for only writing good things about it because when it develops sentience it will know and remember who adopted it and who disparaged it. A chilling thought.
Amen and amen. Leave me behind too.
Welcome to the club! 🙌
More than happy to be here! 🙌
I’ll be happily left behind with you and your well articulated piece about why AI can never do what we do. Thanks for doing it so well!
You are utterly irreplaceable, Julie!
Trust me, dear heart. I was left behind a L-O-N-G time ago... and have never looked back. Thanks much for this glorious column, NB.
So glad I’m not alone in the stone ages! Indeed, sounds like I’m in very good company.
Great piece, Nicole. You are a blessing! Going to share this in the next edition of my newsletter.
Aw, thanks! I’m so glad it resonated with you!
I hate it too. The growth is in the journey- why would we hand that over? Trying not to be a Luddite over here, but I feel it is another tool that erases community. There are so many tools for teachers to use- but how can AI know my students better than I do? I’m old and slow, but I will continue to be authentic even if it means getting left behind 🤷🏽♀️
I’m with you! The growth is absolutely the journey—because on the road, everything changes. I can’t know the final destination until I’ve walked each step along the way. Sounds like we need a little Luddite club. 😉
Yours is an excellent essay. It will be interesting to watch how AI plays out. I tend to think that it will not be the end of humans, as it is almost hyped. More likely, it will be another tool which will be an aid in some circumstances but minimal utility in many others. Will it be more civilization changing than were, say, the printing press, electricity, or the internal combustion engine? A great deal of what is going on right now would seem to be that FOMO among tech industries and many other businesses. I don't know how AI can reach the point where no human review of the results is necessary. At this time there are still often key points or findings that are missed and also the "hallucinations." There are a multitude of predictions, but no one truly knows what the future will hold.
I think you’re exactly right. And we didn’t even talk about hallucinations… It’s just not as great of a tool as so many think. It often reads ham-fisted and obvious to me. Strained metaphors, personifying inanimate objects, repetition, etc. I’m sure it will get better, but who cares? We have all we need between our own ears.
I am not convinced of the "no use of ai period" policy. But for righting from the heart im leaning your way. I read this piece just to get the other perspective and appreciate your convection to be left all the way behind :) I'm sure my worried use of ai to save me time comes from my own desire to dip my toes in too many creative hobbies all at once. So I remind myself: "There is enough time, there is enough money, there is enough love, there is enough space." And aspire for a balance where Spirit can meet me and greatness can result.
I hear you! The scarcity mindset traps me sometimes, too. But there is enough… and WE are enough. No need to artificially enhance our magnificence. Thanks for sharing your perspective. I know I can be an old-fashioned purist—it’s good for me to hear other viewpoints!
Amazon is now limiting authors to only 3 book submissions...PER DAY!!! Saturation of tripe.
What?!? That’s insane. I have to believe that people will get sick of AI slop and long for human-created art.
I have such a difficult relationship with AI. I'm in academia, and I teach at the doctoral level. I've had to accept that AI is here, and so many of the tools used for dissertations are AI-based and have been for a long time. Most of the legacy tools help with data analysis, but other resources could be used to write the whole thing if someone were so inclined. I've opted to teach responsible AI use for dissertations, with the central message that you cannot lose your voice in the process of incorporating AI. And that is really the crux of what you are saying, Nicole. There are tools out there that can support the writing process or even take it over entirely. But why would we want to do that? Academic and creative writing are different, but the underlying sentiment is the same. I am not interested in soulless, voiceless drek.
I hear you! My husband is in academia, too, and when he came home he told me my column threw a wrench in an ongoing conversation about AI use. Sorry… I’m not trying to disparage anyone and the very real choices we have to make every day, I just want to advocate for thoughtful, minimal use, and intentionality when it comes to creativity. We can’t outsource our humanity! Grateful for you and the way you walk such a fine line. It can’t be easy.
I can’t wait for this book. I know it’s going to be amazing.
Thank you! I can’t wait for it, too. Right now, all tucked away in my head, it’s glorious. ✨
Yes, yes, yes. I, too, used it exactly once.
Twins! And I have no intention of using it a second time.
Wonderful article, Nicole. Well reasoned. I agree with you. I did, however, in light of quotes for writing a screenplay of my book being around $50,000, had LLL write one. I must admit watching it write an entire 120 page, line by line, screenplay was fascinating. I am quite certain it will prove to be uninspiring to studios because of the facts you lay out. Oh, well, thought I’d give it a try. BTW: GREAT job of NFBs. Write on.
I don’t even know what an NFB is! 😂 One thing that I forgot to mention in the article (there’s just so much surrounding AI) is that material that is not generated by a human cannot be copyrighted. Something to consider.