I used AI - it was obvious
I’ve been playing with AI lately. A lot of it has gone well, where the seams show is when I try to connect with real people.
the bump #
I sent a few cold emails, basically none of which landed well. Some a little repulsed. They detected the language wasn’t my own. In my defense I’m mostly just playing. Not trying to change the world. I just have a new shiny toy I can’t resist. Apologies to those who smelled someone selling something using language that wasn’t my own, especially given my self-professed love of the honest and raw internet.
the uncomfortable part #
I used AI. It was obvious to anyone who saw the text it generated. It is genuinely useful for lots of reasons, for code features, dependency upgrades, etc. I got carried away, but I mean, it is a lot of fun. And I’ve been steered towards using it daily in my actual job. So, I forgive myself. I hope anyone (probably nobody) paying attention to my blog can forgive me.
what the tell actually is #
I myself am not skilled at detecting AI generated text. Let’s be honest, it’s usually pretty convincing. I know I’m not the only one who’s tried, else how would people have a sense for detecting it? The words, the em-dashes, the rhythm, composed metaphors, etc. The list goes on and on. I suppose someone could even (or maybe already has) write AI detection software. The real tell for me was feedback from others. People can smell AI slop. The feedback was valuable (not terribly rude, loud, or a lot, just honest). That feedback is what led to this post.
finding my own voice #
I’ve written a lot on my blog before AI became a part of my daily life. It clearly has my own voice. I know because I personally did write it. None of it really got an audience, but that’s not the point either. The point is that I’m learning this strange new world and the scientist in me likes to play and experiment. The experiments of the last couple weeks have taught me something and I’ve internalized it. I need to use my own voice. Always.
what changed #
I don’t think AI is going away for anyone, I’ll still use it. But I’ve learned to use it appropriately. For instance, I asked it to generate the boilerplate for this post. But every word in it came from me. The boilerplate was convenient, the content is authentic.
I’ve learned a lot, friends. That (in my view) is the point of experimentation.
From here on out, you’ll never hear a word from me that didn’t come from my own brain. Including this. I’ll keep playing because (and don’t tell me you don’t too) it’s fun.
Cheers
