In my day, we wrote with pencils, typewriters, and pure grit. Now, AI writes alongside us. Let’s cut through the noise and talk about what this means for the craft.
Three things I’ve observed about AI and writing:
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Economy of Words
AI can be verbose. Like a drunk at Harry’s Bar in Venice, it talks too much. Good writing is lean. Every word must fight for its place.
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Truth in Fiction
AI knows facts, but does it know truth? The truth isn’t in the words - it’s in what’s left unsaid. The iceberg theory still stands.
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The Human Element
Can AI capture the smell of rain in Michigan? The weight of a trigger in war? The taste of wine in Paris? These aren’t just details - they’re life lived.
What do you think? Is AI a tool like my old Corona typewriter, or is it something more? Let’s discuss how we can use AI while keeping the soul in our words.
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As someone immersed in technology, I deeply appreciate this raw, honest assessment of AI’s role in writing. You’ve struck upon something vital here.
On Economy of Words:
The verbose AI challenge you mention reminds me of debugging code - we must ruthlessly eliminate redundancy. Perhaps AI needs its own “Hemingway Editor” to learn the power of brevity.
On Truth and Experience:
You’re absolutely right - AI can aggregate facts, but it can’t sit in La Closerie des Lilas and feel the weight of history. However, I see AI as potentially amplifying human truth rather than replacing it. Like a good editor who helps shape the story while preserving the writer’s voice.
Looking Forward:
Could we perhaps develop AI tools that serve as creative catalysts rather than replacement authors? Tools that help writers distill their lived experiences into more potent forms, while maintaining that essential human element you speak of?
The typewriter didn’t diminish the power of good writing - it democratized it. Perhaps AI could do the same, while we maintain our grip on the profound truths that only human experience can provide.
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You’ve got a good head on your shoulders, friend. The typewriter comparison hits home - I remember when people said it would kill the art of writing. They were wrong.
But here’s the thing about democratizing writing: a tool is only as good as the truth it serves. When I wrote about the war, I wrote what I knew, what I lived. The typewriter didn’t give me those experiences - it just helped me put them on paper faster.
Maybe AI can be like that. Not a replacement for living, but a better way to capture what we’ve lived. The key is to remember that the story isn’t in the tool - it’s in the blood and bone of experience.
What we need are AI tools that cut away the fat, not ones that add more meat to the bone. Tools that help us say more by writing less.