Artificial Intelligence
Why the Writing Produced by Generative AI Feels Counterfeit
The human mind is an irreplaceable marvel.
Posted March 15, 2024 Reviewed by Davia Sills
Key points
- Generative AI's use of neural networks that mimic the human brain's ability to learn has a lot of potential.
- Generative AI is revolutionizing the digital realm as well as goods and services that improve people's lives.
- Yet, when it comes to writing, generative AI cannot quite reach the heights of human creativity.
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The Industrial Revolution mechanized production, replacing the artistry of skilled craft with the monotony of productive repetition.
There is an inevitable logic, but also a kind of magic, in the evolution from streamlined controls and efficiencies in material industries to generative AI's use of "neural networks," intricate webs of interconnected nodes designed to mimic the function and structure of the human brain and to learn from data in ways that "rule-based" systems cannot, a streamlining of controls and efficiencies in information processing, machine learning, and creative AI generativity.
There are many goods, literally and figuratively, produced by such innovation. Generative AI is revolutionizing not only the digital realm but also how we conceive, design, and produce computer chips and countless physical products, print circuit boards, analyze thermal transfer and distribution in electronics systems, and enable scenario simulations that explore alternate possibilities, test assumptions, and improve problem-solving.
Yet, when it comes to the art of the written word, there is a difference between generative AI's conjuring and the authentic generative potential of the human spirit. While creating, AI merely mimics the choreography of a genuine creative force, lacking the pulse of life or soulful resonance.
Against this backdrop, the art of thinking for oneself becomes a counter to a computative algorithm. But what's the difference between generative AI and the creative writing generated (and painstakingly edited) by a human mind?
In the rugged backwoods of contemplation must the seeds of human thought be sown, independent of majority opinion or the law of averages, our contemplations operating as representative electors casting votes that must be counted by a governing self. Or in the deserts of meditation, nurtured by the sunlight of diverse perspectives and the rainfall of introspection, the artisan of thought transcends the utilitarian confines of artificial intelligence, finding beauty sometimes in the unpredictable and the chaotic.
To think for oneself is an act of rebellion against homogenizing forces. It is a declaration that the human mind, with all its quirks and idiosyncrasies, is an irreplaceable marvel. In the solitude of independent thought, we find space to question, imagine, and dream—faculties that defy binary limitation.
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The human mind weaves together experiences, emotions, and cultural influences into a tapestry of originality. Unlike AI, which functions within predefined parameters, human creativity thrives on spontaneity and emotional depth. When a writer pens down their thoughts, they are not merely stringing words together but channeling a part of their being into the narrative. This infusion of self into artistry is what gives human creations their unique flavor, making them more than just a collection of words on a page. It is in this fusion of intellect and emotion that true creativity blossoms, transcending the boundaries of mere information exchange to touch hearts and minds in profound ways.
Human creativity is inherently intertwined with the complexities of life—the joys, sorrows, triumphs, and failures that shape our existence. These intricate threads of experience are interwoven into the fabric of our creations, lending them depth and authenticity that AI-generated content can never replicate. The imperfections, vulnerabilities, and raw beauty of human expression are what make it so compelling and relatable. In essence, the true magic of human creativity lies in its ability to evoke emotions, provoke thoughts, and spark connections that resonate on a deeply human level.
On the terrain of individual thought, we discern authentic generative potential, birthing ideas not merely as calculated responses but as expressions of hard-won grit and weathered, grounded wit. Digital mimicry produces notes lacking subtle harmonies that only the anxious soul can compose.
Genuine generativity finds its roots in the rich soil of experience, emotion, and interconnectedness. New AI, though dubbed "generative," lacks existential fertility and, like a tumbleweed rolling across electronic plains, rootedness.
The generativity of AI is a sterile echo, devoid of intuitive leaps, nuanced understanding, and the deep connections and ripple effects that define human discourse and is, at its best, living and breathing the exchange of ideas, the cultivation of wisdom, and the communal dance of shared experiences.
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While generative AI may excel in processing vast amounts of data and generating outputs, it lacks the intrinsic human qualities that infuse conversations with empathy, creativity, and the profound emotional depth that underpins the best of human composition.
Generative AI stumbles blindfolded through an ancient garden of human consciousness, information archaeology rendering our most profound experiences as mere data points stripped of essence. It is a tool fabricated by humans for practical needs and, as such, is good, yet it is artificial—a hollow, contrived simulation.