To use AI, or not to use AI...that is the question!

Like many writers, I have cringed at the thought of using AI: Fear, uncertainty, lack of knowledge and lots of other questions plague my mind when I hear the words artificial intelligence. But is it really a threat?

For writers, it is like the curse of all curses. Why in the world would I use AI to write something that is already in my head? Is it going to take over the writing industry? Will there be any writing jobs left, any "real" authors, and what in the world is it doing to our kids in school? So much unpredictability!

However, after attending a class in AI for business, I realized a few things. First, we are all using AI already. If you ask Google for a different word to use in place of something else (like we used to use the thesaurus), or to look up a word that we aren't sure of the meaning, that's AI. If we ask for directions on the highway using our GPS--AI will tell us "In 350 feet, turn left." That always freaks me out--how do they know where I am every minute of the day?!!!

I asked our granddaughter, a senior in high school, what is to prevent the students from using AI to write their papers? She said they have AI checkers in the systems that will locate any phrases that are common to AI and kick out the papers. No different, I suppose, than when we were kids and looked up definitions in the encyclopedia for our vocabulary tests. If a student wants to cheat, they will find a way.

For serious writers, AI can be a tool that will advance our skills by offering new ways to craft a paragraph or points of interest in an article. We can take the suggestions or leave them. There is nothing that says we MUST use AI in our writing.

There is still a human element that can never be replaced by AI: The ability to capture the sounds, the smells, the taste and the feel of an autumn morning, or the precious feeling of holding your newest grandchild. In all our writing, there is heart, and emotion, and creative expression that cannot be duplicated with AI. It can help us with complicated ideas, but it can't provide solutions to complex situations. Complicated problems come from the right side of the brain; complex issues that are emotion based, come from the left side.

A hand-held calculator replaced the thought process of adding and subtracting, dividing and multiplying. When they came out (in the last century) everyone was afraid our kids would stop using their brains, but who doesn't have one now?

Artificial Intelligence is the modern-day calculator, the Google and the thesaurus all rolled into one program.

To use AI or Not?

I would never advocate in using AI to actually "write," but I will certainly use it for organizing my files, automating my finances and finding the zip code or address that I need.

AI is a tool. Use it wisely, and don't be afraid because it can help you progress. Afterall, way back in the last century, we all had rotary dial phones....just saying. Now I just ask, "Hey Siri, will you call my husband.?"

Times have changed, embrace them to your advantage.