Thanks for the thoughtfulness here. I want to share a couple "heads up" here (for you and any writer) about what consumes your work that is maybe hidden. Substack has an "opt out" button in the settings, so if you haven't, I would check settings and opt out of it using your work for AI. It's so annoying because that should obviously be opt in 😤 The other big one is that google docs scrapes documents for generative AI, at least last I saw. If anyone needs a word processor that's free and not g docs, Libre Office is a free program set that provides a program similar to Word.
This is so helpful!! This is exactly why I included "to the best of my knowledge" in my overview statement. Gen AI is everywhere and I am always searching for that "opt out" button. Thank you!!
I really appreciate the nuance and awareness that shows in your policy. As a furloughed federal worker, I've been struggling with the constant advice to use Gen AI to do job applications. When corporations are using AI to gatekeep applicants, does using AI perpetuate that cycle? Or is it using a tool to remove a barrier? Your point about imperfect systems reminded me that there is no easy answer. Thank you ❤️
That's so real! I know it's rough our here for job markets, and it's so hard to know what will get past the AI screening tools reading the resumes. Do they like other AIs more or less than people? It's all going to be messy, and all that really matters is that you move forward with intention vs just saying "I'll do it because I should/because everyone else is."
Thank you for sharing this. "why would I be bothered to read something you couldn't be bothered to write?" really sums up how I feel about generative AI. You have given me something to think about as I have recently tried ProWriting AI critiques to help me proofread since my favorite proofreader moved out and went to college. (and got a job in a writing lab getting paid to help students with writing instead of helping their mom for free at home! the nerve!) How does Beth Spencer feel about others using the badge? Was it created just for you?
First off, thank you for not using AI. As a librarian, it is something that is being discussed constantly in our field, and my general attitude towards it is, "I'd rather not, thanks, but you do you."
Secondly, I love the inclusion of BlackForager's tweet. She is literally one of my favorite content creators, and if you're not following her already, you should be!
My career was in IT, and I haven't trusted AI since it first came on the scene. That's why I don't use it. I'm trying to become a better writer, too. I don't exactly know what it is that I don't trust about it, but the more I keep reading about AI, the more I'm okay with not trusting it. It has fallen into the wrong hands, and because there's no transparency with how it's being used, NO CAN TRUST! 😂😆🤣
Thank you, Ben. And to Michael Zaki, thank you for bringing up the Substack button.
Agree with you. There is a place for AI as you’ve suggested but I thought your line “is it worth the water” was beautiful. I appreciate the obvious dedication to your craft! Thank you!
You summed up my feelings about using AI very well. I wish that anything created by it was labeled thus so that I could avoid it. Technology was meant to reduce drudgery and open up our time for creativity.
Thank you so much for this!!! I know of actual people losing jobs because AI overviews divert internet traffic from content creators (artists, writers, journalists, businesses, etc), while directly stealing their content. I also have environmental concerns and I appreciate the HBR link for concrete data around this.
Ben, this is great! Frankly, I use the free Grammarly for editing (it's not always that great.As a non-native speaker, I feel that it helps me avoid faux pas...). But I do hate the way my Chrome gives me an AI overview for information I could easily find without it. How do you get rid of the damn thing?
Thanks for the thoughtfulness here. I want to share a couple "heads up" here (for you and any writer) about what consumes your work that is maybe hidden. Substack has an "opt out" button in the settings, so if you haven't, I would check settings and opt out of it using your work for AI. It's so annoying because that should obviously be opt in 😤 The other big one is that google docs scrapes documents for generative AI, at least last I saw. If anyone needs a word processor that's free and not g docs, Libre Office is a free program set that provides a program similar to Word.
This is so helpful!! This is exactly why I included "to the best of my knowledge" in my overview statement. Gen AI is everywhere and I am always searching for that "opt out" button. Thank you!!
The opt out button for AI is under Settings/Privacy/Block AI Training ☺️
I really appreciate the nuance and awareness that shows in your policy. As a furloughed federal worker, I've been struggling with the constant advice to use Gen AI to do job applications. When corporations are using AI to gatekeep applicants, does using AI perpetuate that cycle? Or is it using a tool to remove a barrier? Your point about imperfect systems reminded me that there is no easy answer. Thank you ❤️
That's so real! I know it's rough our here for job markets, and it's so hard to know what will get past the AI screening tools reading the resumes. Do they like other AIs more or less than people? It's all going to be messy, and all that really matters is that you move forward with intention vs just saying "I'll do it because I should/because everyone else is."
I LOVE this, thank you! Also, em dashes all the way ;)
Thank you for sharing this. "why would I be bothered to read something you couldn't be bothered to write?" really sums up how I feel about generative AI. You have given me something to think about as I have recently tried ProWriting AI critiques to help me proofread since my favorite proofreader moved out and went to college. (and got a job in a writing lab getting paid to help students with writing instead of helping their mom for free at home! the nerve!) How does Beth Spencer feel about others using the badge? Was it created just for you?
First off, thank you for not using AI. As a librarian, it is something that is being discussed constantly in our field, and my general attitude towards it is, "I'd rather not, thanks, but you do you."
Secondly, I love the inclusion of BlackForager's tweet. She is literally one of my favorite content creators, and if you're not following her already, you should be!
My career was in IT, and I haven't trusted AI since it first came on the scene. That's why I don't use it. I'm trying to become a better writer, too. I don't exactly know what it is that I don't trust about it, but the more I keep reading about AI, the more I'm okay with not trusting it. It has fallen into the wrong hands, and because there's no transparency with how it's being used, NO CAN TRUST! 😂😆🤣
Thank you, Ben. And to Michael Zaki, thank you for bringing up the Substack button.
Agree with you. There is a place for AI as you’ve suggested but I thought your line “is it worth the water” was beautiful. I appreciate the obvious dedication to your craft! Thank you!
You summed up my feelings about using AI very well. I wish that anything created by it was labeled thus so that I could avoid it. Technology was meant to reduce drudgery and open up our time for creativity.
Thank you so much for this!!! I know of actual people losing jobs because AI overviews divert internet traffic from content creators (artists, writers, journalists, businesses, etc), while directly stealing their content. I also have environmental concerns and I appreciate the HBR link for concrete data around this.
Ben, this is great! Frankly, I use the free Grammarly for editing (it's not always that great.As a non-native speaker, I feel that it helps me avoid faux pas...). But I do hate the way my Chrome gives me an AI overview for information I could easily find without it. How do you get rid of the damn thing?