The Future of Writing
This text was written entirely with GenAI, apart from the em dash prefacing my name at the end — and that one too.
Why struggle to develop an original thought when artificial intelligence can generate one for you in under three seconds?
Simply type a vague prompt such as “Write something profound about the human condition”, and watch as the machine produces 800 words about “the ever-changing landscape of modern society,” complete with a stirring conclusion about the importance of balance, empathy and innovation. It may not mean anything, but it will sound as though it was peer-reviewed by a committee.
AI writing is especially useful for people who have plenty to say but refuse to say it themselves. Why waste time choosing a verb when a language model can provide twelve alternatives, each progressively less natural? Why risk having a distinct voice when you can write in the internationally recognised dialect of polished corporate oatmeal?
The best part is the efficiency. A task that once required thought, revision and perhaps a working knowledge of the subject can now be completed by asking a chatbot to “make it more engaging.” If the result is bland, ask it to “make it punchier.” If it becomes absurd, ask it to “make it more human.” If it still sounds like it was written by a committee trapped in an airport lounge, add: “Use a warm, conversational tone.”
Naturally, there are concerns. Some worry that AI will destroy creativity, undermine authorship and fill the internet with lifeless paragraphs assembled from statistical patterns. Fortunately, AI has already written a thoughtful response to these concerns, beginning with: “In an age defined by rapid technological advancement…”
And so we move confidently into the future: a world in which everyone is a writer, nobody has read anything, and every article ends by reminding us that the future is not something we enter - it is something we create together.
— Thomas