Been thinking about this interaction I had yesterday that both baffled and disheartened me. I was in a team meeting with one of my company's big bosses, and everyone on this team is a writer--we all have various responsibilities, serve different parts of the company and are a highly talented group.
The big boss started discussing AI and lauding the "benefits" of using it. As they spoke, the mood in the room shifted to one of discomfort, and they sensed it. So, they paused, and then said this:
"It does worry me, though. I worry about my kids and whether they'll become proficient writers. But, maybe they won't need to be."
I think they said this last bit as a joke--a nod to the frightening amount of people who are becoming dependent on AI "writing." The joke did not land.
I guess a group of writers didn't think it was funny to joke about how we're raising up a generation of people who won't be able to communicate concepts and ideas without the aid of AI. Also, thanks for verbally devaluing our talent. That made us all feel great.
