Machines can drive cars.
Deliver packages.
Cook food.
One day, machines may even expertly swaddle newborns while crooning a lullaby that’s the statistical average across a subset of mothers.
You probably see where this is going.
Many authors already use AI in their writing. I do not. To be clear, I leverage some AI-like tools such as spell check. And if I buy an artist’s work, I may change the color or style using an AI-like processing system such as Photoshop.
Which brings me to the great question of our time.
What’s the difference between good and bad machines? (And I do believe that everything and everyone carries the potential for these two extremes.)
My work explores Purgatory. The in-between. When does righteous anger become the deadly sin of wrath? Where’s the line between ambition and greed? For my characters, that border may be found whenever their actions hurt the innocent. The thrax consider it unworthy to attack an opponent who is weaker or who did not strike first. My character, Myla, is called to fight evil souls in the arena. She enjoys battle and practices her craft, but she does not pick out fights at random.
I believe there’s a similar line when it comes to AI or as Frank Herbert said in his Dune Series, thinking machines. This is no longer an industrial revolution where we create an assembly line for knitting socks. Instead, we’re now automating that sock’s design and artistry. As a culture, we cross a line into deciding that a statistical average can be the official ‘thought’ on any particular task or subject. Without meaning to, we essentially declare certain thinking activities–like driving a cab or cooking a burger–are worthy of execution by machine.
And who is telling us what thoughts and activities deserve machine automation? Investors and billionaires.
For my part, I’ve met cab drivers and line cooks who are absolutely artists at their craft. I’m thinking about the NY driver who calmed me with funny stories on route to my first job interview at Microsoft. Or the line cook at my old day job who made breakfast sandwiches that were so balanced, each bite was a revelation.
Boiling any category of thinking human work down to an average machine output–and worse, accepting that ‘boiling activity’ as mainstream–cuts down artistry in that segment, devaluing the work and person. Someone will get hurt. All of us will miss out on the kind of human connection and uplifting insight that only our fellow beings can deliver.
Therefore, I am adding the image below to my book covers and the following text to book descriptions:
100% HUMAN MADE
-BUH BYE, AI…this book’s written by an actual human
-NO MONOTONE AUDIO…the author reads her stuff and does all the voices
-NEW WORLDS, EVERY TIME…this story introduces the after-realms
-PLUS, KICK-ASS HEROINES…complete with sassy mouths, steamy kisses and killer right hooks
This may make a difference to you when choosing your next book. It could also inspire you to hate my guts. But however you feel, please know that I make this decision because I truly believe that doing anything else eventually hurts the innocent.
