Real Writers Against A.I. (a new feature)
Fuck AI. Long live real writers. - Gabino Iglesias
I don’t want to “streamline” my writing. I don’t want to “increase my output.” I don’t want to “write a novel with one click.” I want to write stuff only I can write. I want to read and write novels with soul and heart and a unique voice. Fuck AI. Long live real writers. -Gabino Iglesias, author of House of Bone and Rain
Dear friends, as promised, I’m starting a new anti-A.I. for writers feature here at Meg Pokrass Microfiction Workshops— launching it off with some quotes from a few artists and writers of note. I don’t have any “solution” for the tyranny of this force fed technology, as we’ve landed in dystopian times. There is not much we can do but resist (which the writers I respect are doing).
In the near future I’ll be publishing your mini essays, poems and stories on this subject, so stay tuned.
Gabino Iglesias (quoted above) is a brilliantly outspoken advocate for us human writers. You can check out his Substack here.
Recently, there was a New Yorker article about what A.I. is actually doing to our creative brains, making them less active, making our writing less original. If you can, please read “A.I. is homogenizing our thoughts” in The New Yorker by Kyle Chayka.
Roxanne Gay says it this way:
Finally, I’ll leave you with more quote today. This one re: the regular annoyance of being force-fed AI “tools” on an hourly basis, by Ted Goia, American jazz critic, music historian, author
This is how AI gets implemented everywhere. You don’t get to choose. You’re never asked. It just shows up. Now you have to deal with it. I don’t want AI customer service—but I don’t get a choice. I don’t want AI responses to my Google searches—but I don’t get a choice. I don’t want AI integrated into my software—but I don’t get a choice. I don’t want AI sending me emails—but I don’t get a choice. I don’t want AI music on Spotify—but I don’t get a choice. I don’t want AI books on Amazon—but I don’t get a choice. If they gave people a choice, they would reject this tyranny masquerading as innovation. -Ted Gioia, American jazz critic, music historian, author
Completely agree. We are screwed. I still haven't figured out anywhere to send my "Fuck AI" poem to, so I hope I can eventually submit it to you!
I’m so glad this will be an ongoing feature. AI is a menace to creativity in my opinion. Perhaps by more having material such as this circulating writers and students will be encouraged to believe they have the words and creativity to make something truly unique.