In her blog, well-known writer and writing instructor Anne Janzer (author of The Writer’s Process: Getting Your Brain in Gear) warns, “If…you let AI actually write in your place, what it creates will probably sound like the amalgam of what other people write like.” AI and Writing: Should you prioritize speed? She suggests that while AI can be effectively used for some purposes, it’s a mistake to let it replace your voice.
Janzer compares the current enthusiasm about the use of AI in writing to the initial exuberance when the microwave was introduced. People thought it would revolutionize cooking, and it could do everything well. Now we know that the microwave is not the best way to cook everything. But it is excellent at doing some things, like reheating leftovers or cooking vegetables.
Using AI to write is similar — it does some things very well, but others not so well. As writers, we need to understand its limits and its possibilities and use it appropriately. For some ideas about how to best use AI to improve your writing, see my blog post, AI and Creativity: Finding the Balance Between Assistance and Replacement.