I'd love to hear your view on something that happened this week and left me really wondering about the big picture consequences of using Generative AI on our work, not only as designers but also developers, artists and in this specific situation, writers.
I had a post removed from an online platform because, according to the moderators, it was AI-generated. Well, for obvious reasons,I am sure that the copy and screenshots in that post were authentic and human-made.
So, what happened there? After some research across similar decisions in that platform and others, I've spotted some of the "identifiers" that lead moderators to assume posts like the one I published are AI-generated:
- They're structured in short and clear paragraphs.
- Language and syntax are accurate and purposeful.
- There are no grammar issues or misspelled words.
- They include bullet points 🤔.
- The tone is cheerful or empathetic (this one is a blast!).
- Repetition is used as a stylistic device.
Is there irony or tragedy in this? Rationally thinking, this is what's happening:
AI models learned by reading millions of online posts written and published by human beings. Therefore, AI copy sounds human. Therefore, if we write as human beings we sound like AI slop. Therefore... what? We have to sound like a machine to convince people we're human? > Therefore, we need to:
- Use awkward paragraph structures?
- Use slang or speak like our knowledge merely scratches the surface of things?
- Throw grammar or spelling to the bin?
- Just shove stuff randomly into a text, using very long sentences?
- Show no emotional connection or tone?
- Stop thinking about pace or rhythm when we're writing?
In conclusion, if we keep on using AI to think and write for us, are we falling into one of the most terrible traps we could possibly imagine? Losing our identities? Having to "dumb down" our work so other people don't think, say, or judge it's AI-made?
I'd love to hear what you think and if you've ever felt the same. Cheers!