The Real Enemy

In the war against generative AI, there have been far too many casualties.

I could talk about the usual issues like the excessive water and electricity usage that drives up prices, or all the content stealing, but at the end of the day, the biggest problem with this war is mistaking who the enemy is.

Your enemy is not the sibling who keeps making and sending you silly AI videos, or the friend who uses generative AI to write texts and emails, or who uses AI for all their research.

It’s not the girl who keeps posting AI-generated character images or even the authors who get away with using generative AI to write their books.

My Stance On AI

I’ve never liked the idea of using generative AI to replace the amazing things that we as humans can create, but I also understand that (gasp) not everyone feels the same way that I do.

Does that mean that I support other people who use AI?

Absolutely not.

But condemning and shunning everyone who has ever used AI for any reason is not the answer.

So what should we do instead?

AI Encounter

Anyone who uses generative AI has a reason.

It might not sound like a good reason, but it’s a reason nonetheless.

The other day I had a conversation with a fellow writer who said that she wanted to start writing fantasy books, but that she’d probably need to use AI to help her.

Admittedly, I am particularly biased against using generative AI for writing, so I didn’t respond right away.

While I was collecting my thoughts, she went on to explain that she wasn’t good at worldbuilding, and that’s why she felt she needed AI to help her.

And there it was… Her reason.

At this point I had a few options.

• I could tell her that she shouldn’t ever consider using generative AI for writing.
• I could pretend that I didn’t disapprove of AI and escape the conversation as soon as I could.
• I could identify the real reason she wanted to use AI, and address that.

(Spoiler alert! I chose option #3)

When she said she wasn’t good at worldbuilding, what she really appeared to be telling me was that she didn’t know how, or that she lacked confidence in her ability to worldbuild.

She just didn’t realize that the answer to her insecurities wasn’t AI…

It was information.

So first I agreed that worldbuilding can be difficult, then I told her that I have a ton of helpful worldbuilding resources that I could give her, and that I’d be happy to answer any questions she had.

And after I said that, her face completely lit up.

She thanked me for offering to help her, and for not telling her that she’s “not a real writer” for using AI.

(Let’s just say that I was very glad that I didn’t go with the first option after that)

The True Reasons

This conversation along with other conversations I’ve had with people who use AI helped me come to the conclusion that there are two main reasons why regular people use generative AI:

Insecurity & impatience.

It’s easy to look at the girl who posted AI-generated art and say that she’s too lazy to learn how to draw, but I guarantee that she’s tried drawing before, and most likely, her art never turned out the way she wanted it to.

Sure, she could keep trying and practicing, but it’s frustrating when it takes weeks, months, or years to learn how to do the thing that you want to be good at right now.

But what if she had support?

What if, instead of lecturing and yelling at her in the comment section, other artists took the time to send her helpful tutorial videos, tips, and encouragement?

Yes, she might keep using AI at first, but if people keep encouraging her to grow and hone her own art skills, there’s a higher chance that she’ll start posting her own art. And as her skill and confidence increases and her insecurities decrease, AI won’t seem as necessary.

Choose to See the Human

Bullying people into not using generative AI will only keep more people from ever doing the things they’re insecure about but are interested in trying.

So why don’t we do our best to inspire and encourage people to create without AI?

Instead of having an “us vs them” mentality about people who use AI, why don’t we adopt a “make them one of us” approach?

We all have people or resources that have helped us get to where we are today, so are you willing to be that person for someone else?

Before You Go…

Do you know of any helpful websites, resources, or accounts for aspiring writers & artists to check out?

Leave a comment to help inspire someone!

Also, if you haven’t yet, don’t forget to sign up for the Spring Writing Challenge! Click here to learn more or sign up!