Like with the digital detox, I love the pragmatism of your Substack.
My concern with the fiction writing of AI is of it surpassing us all. How will you and I handle it when we read a truly beautiful story, maybe the most beautiful story we've ever read, then realize it was written by AI? This makes me shudder.
Paul, I cannot possibly conceive of that scenario (I somehow hope that we would discern the lack of soul) but if that were the case, I would feel utterly repulsed. My house is filled with so many classics yet waiting to be read and reread, I think I will just stick to those...
Glad to hear you find my posts pragmatic :) Looking forward to more of your writing!
This is so inspiring, even for this old greying writer in dark South Africa. Yes, it's literally dark here, throughout this cold winter due to the evils of our world. I guess alll that keeps me going is my faith in Jesus Christ and reading articles against the machines, such as yours. Again, thank you!
The deeper the darkness the brighter the light. Since Lent I have stopped reading any news, and I have to say that it has truly helped me, lifted my spirits, and allowed me to focus on how I can offer more hope during this time of chaos. Focusing on your faith in Christ and writings that view reality through clear lenses is certainly the right path to tread. Glad to hear you enjoyed my post:)
If AI is so damn smart, how come they can't come up with a spellcheck or a predictive text editor that doesn't continually change correct spelling and syntax to incorrect?
What a wonderful piece, Ruth. Yes, hard to believe the powers we so quickly give away in the name of convenience. Hard to imagine the consequences. Your words brought to mind my favorite writers, who shock me with the breadth of their vocabulary and the flexibility of their metaphors to conform so exactly to their meaning. Listen to these, from Mary Oliver, who writes, "The flounder makes a pretty super. So does mackerel - a squamation of snow, midnight, and the blue of a stormy sky." I had never read the word "squamation" before that sentence. In that one careful description, Oliver opened up a secret of the world I didn't know before.
Thanks for your comment Mary:) I also love coming across striking vocabulary, it almost gives me a 'lifting the heart' feeling. When I was still learning English and trying to read classic novels, it would often do so with a dictionary in my other hand to look up what all these wonderful words such as 'squamation' meant. Great to hear that you are reading wonderful writers:)
Thanks for the mention Ruth, and a lovely idea regarding the competition. I hope you get some well-written and beautiful submissions.
I was speaking to my assistant pastor this week about AI and one thing we discussed was how Christians can create communities of authenticity - places where songs, essays, photos etc can be guaranteed to be free from AI. Living in a world where nothing can be trusted to be authentic human creation anymore is disorientating. I know that your writing and those you have recommended in this post will be free from AI and thus are refuges of authentic writing.
That is a wonderful idea Hadden - building communities of authentic human creation! I agree that it is disorienting to no longer know whether writing or other art is human-created. It also places a veil of deception over everything. We may come to a point where writing or art will come with an approval sticker "human-made" or "AI free", although even those will likely get faked....
Your article "And the Fields Fall Silent" added inspiration to focusing the short story contest on a natural setting. I hope that as young writers pay closer attention to their natural surroundings, they develop an affinity, care, and desire to preserve its beauty.
I am at the stage where every photograph I see on social media I question its authenticity (unless I know of the creator). It is totally disorientating to think "This mountain I am marvelling at might not exist!"
I think we will in the not-to-distant future read the point where authenticity stickers are needed.
Thanks Kathleen:) I have felt strongly about the incursion of tech into our human fabric since the first smart phones came out, but the month of detox certainly provided additional time for reflection. Looking forward to more of your writing!
What a great contest! My solution against AI is simple, give kids a pencil and piece of paper! I have been asking students at my middle school their thoughts on computers in school. To my surprise, many don't like them! So glad I found your substack and look forward to reading more!
Thanks for your daughter's submission - just saw it in my inbox:) Yes, the deadline has been extended by two weeks and I have waived the entry fee to encourage additional submissions. If you would like your fee refunded, let me know and I will cancel the payment via Stripe.
Like with the digital detox, I love the pragmatism of your Substack.
My concern with the fiction writing of AI is of it surpassing us all. How will you and I handle it when we read a truly beautiful story, maybe the most beautiful story we've ever read, then realize it was written by AI? This makes me shudder.
Paul, I cannot possibly conceive of that scenario (I somehow hope that we would discern the lack of soul) but if that were the case, I would feel utterly repulsed. My house is filled with so many classics yet waiting to be read and reread, I think I will just stick to those...
Glad to hear you find my posts pragmatic :) Looking forward to more of your writing!
This is so inspiring, even for this old greying writer in dark South Africa. Yes, it's literally dark here, throughout this cold winter due to the evils of our world. I guess alll that keeps me going is my faith in Jesus Christ and reading articles against the machines, such as yours. Again, thank you!
The deeper the darkness the brighter the light. Since Lent I have stopped reading any news, and I have to say that it has truly helped me, lifted my spirits, and allowed me to focus on how I can offer more hope during this time of chaos. Focusing on your faith in Christ and writings that view reality through clear lenses is certainly the right path to tread. Glad to hear you enjoyed my post:)
Hi there. Is the contest only for kids in Canada?
The contest is open to participants from around the world:)
If AI is so damn smart, how come they can't come up with a spellcheck or a predictive text editor that doesn't continually change correct spelling and syntax to incorrect?
Ha, yes ! Or how about a spellcheck that does not mark low-frequency vocabulary as wrong?
What a wonderful piece, Ruth. Yes, hard to believe the powers we so quickly give away in the name of convenience. Hard to imagine the consequences. Your words brought to mind my favorite writers, who shock me with the breadth of their vocabulary and the flexibility of their metaphors to conform so exactly to their meaning. Listen to these, from Mary Oliver, who writes, "The flounder makes a pretty super. So does mackerel - a squamation of snow, midnight, and the blue of a stormy sky." I had never read the word "squamation" before that sentence. In that one careful description, Oliver opened up a secret of the world I didn't know before.
Thanks for your comment Mary:) I also love coming across striking vocabulary, it almost gives me a 'lifting the heart' feeling. When I was still learning English and trying to read classic novels, it would often do so with a dictionary in my other hand to look up what all these wonderful words such as 'squamation' meant. Great to hear that you are reading wonderful writers:)
Love it!
Thank you:)
Thanks for the mention Ruth, and a lovely idea regarding the competition. I hope you get some well-written and beautiful submissions.
I was speaking to my assistant pastor this week about AI and one thing we discussed was how Christians can create communities of authenticity - places where songs, essays, photos etc can be guaranteed to be free from AI. Living in a world where nothing can be trusted to be authentic human creation anymore is disorientating. I know that your writing and those you have recommended in this post will be free from AI and thus are refuges of authentic writing.
That is a wonderful idea Hadden - building communities of authentic human creation! I agree that it is disorienting to no longer know whether writing or other art is human-created. It also places a veil of deception over everything. We may come to a point where writing or art will come with an approval sticker "human-made" or "AI free", although even those will likely get faked....
Your article "And the Fields Fall Silent" added inspiration to focusing the short story contest on a natural setting. I hope that as young writers pay closer attention to their natural surroundings, they develop an affinity, care, and desire to preserve its beauty.
Thanks Ruth,
I am at the stage where every photograph I see on social media I question its authenticity (unless I know of the creator). It is totally disorientating to think "This mountain I am marvelling at might not exist!"
I think we will in the not-to-distant future read the point where authenticity stickers are needed.
You have done some great philosophising during your digital detox! Thanks for this wonderful piece.
Thanks Kathleen:) I have felt strongly about the incursion of tech into our human fabric since the first smart phones came out, but the month of detox certainly provided additional time for reflection. Looking forward to more of your writing!
I resisted a smartphone for so long! But no more...I've come to also love it with boundaries. Detox is a fantastic strategy; mind will be in July. :)
What a great contest! My solution against AI is simple, give kids a pencil and piece of paper! I have been asking students at my middle school their thoughts on computers in school. To my surprise, many don't like them! So glad I found your substack and look forward to reading more!
My daughter sent her original story in. We noticed the deadline and entry fee have changed. Is that correct? Thanks!
Hi Dana,
Thanks for your daughter's submission - just saw it in my inbox:) Yes, the deadline has been extended by two weeks and I have waived the entry fee to encourage additional submissions. If you would like your fee refunded, let me know and I will cancel the payment via Stripe.
Nope, I sub'd because I like your writing. Just needed to know if she needed an entry fee.
Wonderful:) Thanks so much for your generous support - I greatly appreciate it!