Thoughts
I write a lot. Essays. Articles. Blog posts. All of them sharing what I’m thinking about. Maybe you think about these things, too.
Why AI Can’t Write Poetry
The rest of the bot’s writing is about on a par with its poetry, but the latter stands out because poetry appeals to more than just the brain: it’s an echo of lived experience, a reaction to the world’s constant change. So many poems illuminate the struggle we experience when life takes us in a different direction than the one we’d planned. Our hopes and desires are often thwarted and poetry gives word and life to the pain that ensues.
Where Do We Find Meaning?
We're outsourcing the activities that give meaning to our lives. Most of us look for what we might call "meaning opportunities": places where we can do good, or create something, or exercise empathy. What happens when those are the very opportunities taken over by something that is non-sentient? What takes their place in our lives?
AI isn’t just a problem for authors, it’s a problem for the world
Why am I writing about this, when I usually talk about fiction and storytelling and books? I’ll be honest: it’s because I’m scared. There’s a lot about AI that’s terrifying, not least of which is the possibility that generations of students won’t learn how to write. But this strikes me as a far more existential threat.
Why AI Can’t Do Poetry
A bot executes algorithms, and does so perfectly every time. There is no space there for the experience of failure, or the yearning for something transcendent.
Real or Robot? Who Can Tell?
Ludwig Wittgenstein says that we form language as part of human activity, and that we then shape that activity through language. But both parts are necessary; and, so far, AI can’t manage the “human activity” part of the equation.
The Mills Are Closing
We can regret some changes and applaud others; but they’re going to happen, with or without our approval, whether or not we’re prepared for them.
Art is on My Mind...
When I was wondering what context to give my protagonist Sydney’s next set of adventures, it occurred to me that I hadn’t yet explored the world of art.