I found my AI “line.” I really don’t care if the information that I read was constructed with generative AI. As long as it’s accurate and engaging, it’s fine with me. But it does bother me when I’m reading something that is presented as the authorship of an individual. When some person positions their content as coming “from“ them, that’s when I expect the words, phrases, and choice of language to be theirs alone. If I discover that it is not, I feel betrayed.
When I follow an author or columnist, it is a type of personal relationship. I’ve given that author my intellectual and personal trust. I’ve certainly given them my time. When AI is done badly and obviously, I feel like the “author” was trying to con me. They make themselves look foolish and whatever their message might have been is lost. My relationship with them is over and it sure as hell was them, not me.
From Google Gemini
The choice of words, phrases, and verbal craftsmanship imply personal qualities that should be genuine.
How would you feel if you were a fan of Stephen King only to find out that his work had been ghostwritten by John Grisham? And you don’t even like John Grisham.
If I follow your work and you are using generative AI non-transparently, your betrayal of me is in suspension, pending my discovery of it. Maybe I’ll never find out. But the disingenuousness remains. The qualities that I might admire in you, aren’t even yours.
Not everybody can be Hemingway. But have the confidence in, and respect for yourself to be transparent about the parts of your offerings that aren’t you.
If you’re going to use AI, be honest about it. But don’t abuse my trust. That’s where I draw the line.
