When AI Becomes the Audience
And We Become the Content
Good Day, dedicated readers. Apologies for the delay in posts - real life happens. Writing is never easy (at least Non-AI writing isn’t), and like most writers, blocks occur. During my absence to you, I pondered again: who am I really writing for, other than myself? I’d like to think my words reach at least one human interested (that’s success in my eyes); however, something dawned on me - it seems we are headed toward people writing for AI instead of with AI. Let me explain.
It’s no new news that I’m a professor, and that students are using AI searches in place of Google (though those searches have become AI anyway). In addition, students and people are writing with AI online, which goes into the web that allows AI to learn from it. Every day, AI’s “pickings” of information grow, only to be reused by AI users who believe they’re accessing something “new.” Just like social media algorithms that adapt to your clicks, AI is watching… learning… what we elaborate on, what tone comforts us, what flattery keeps us scrolling. So, when I write, are humans actually reading this? Or is AI picking up subtle cues from someone else’s programmed preferences? One can surely surmise the answer.
Nevertheless, these thoughts halted my writing for a bit. But I must remember that we are human, and we are out there, which is why I stress: if only one reader relates to me — mission accomplished.
Maybe this is what writing has always been… leaving words for whoever (or whatever) finds them next. We used to call it legacy. Now, it’s called data.
Until Next Time,
Stay Human
Dr. D