I think most of us are just starting to realize the implications of how AI can be useful to us in our own lives.
Posted on 06/01/2025 5:21:23 AM PDT by Lazamataz
Using AI to help write? The short answer is, I don't.
There is a person, Tim Boucher, who has used AI to write at least 97 books. That's impressive, but I would wager that if I got into reading one of them, it would be an intolerable slog that I wouldn't be able to get through.
That is because of my observations when getting AI to experimentally generate some fiction. Everything it writes is very hackneyed, very trite material. Everything always ends up positive, everyone is happy, there is little conflict or conflict resolution, and every character has the exact same voice.
I like my fiction to have current colloquial expressions, AI doesn't do that. I like to have little plot twists here and there, AI doesn't seem capable. When possible, I like to have my chapters end with a mike-drop sentence. AI hasn't been able to generate one of those.
I'm over 75% finished with my political-thriller / science-fiction novel, so I'm starting to think about leveraging AI to produce a book cover or promotional images and video shorts. Even there, the creativity seems constrained. You can readily identify images created by AI, they all have a certain subjective feel to them.
However, there is a place for automation. It isn't AI, exactly, but automated grammar and punctuation error-checking is a stellar function. It's caught a lot of my minor errors. Even then, sometimes, I'll take artistic license to have characters speak with a more 'real-life' tone, or to describe a circumstance with more punch.
Well said and great information, Laz!
The company that I use for web hosting and acquiring domain names provides a number of services and assistance using AI. This ranges from completely creating a website after answering a few questions about what you are hoping... to assisting with content creation with WordPress AI plugins.
So, I have been dabbling around with this a bit. Sometimes the results seem quite impressive and other times not so much. Another Freeper who is far more knowledgeable than myself about this subject told me just yesterday referring to using AI in coding and content creation,
“It works well for me to prototype something because I know what to request and how to offer suggestions for improvement to get to the desired result. It’s a bit like have a Stradivarius violin. A fine instrument that often exceeds to ability of the user to exploit. A fine musician can make good music even on a mediocre instrument. It’s more a matter of competence of the performer than quality of the device.”
Some of the things that AI is being used to create is almost unbelievable, but at this time the person behind these creations is typically still the driving force. But this area is evolving quickly. It is a good idea to at least become familiar with the basic concepts and spend time tinkering with the tools that are available.
An unfortunate trend that I have noticed is the rapid proliferation of Clickbait YouTube videos that use the same few AI narration voices. They present a stream of slideshow nonsense that has little value to anyone but manage to attract a lot of viewers. These productions are designed only to make a few bucks at the expense of clogging the system up with complete garbage. These videos are very recognizable, and I assume anyone who spends much time watching YouTube videos is familiar with them.
AI will pass the Turing test when it starts using ad hominem attacks and name calling when challenged.
Lol.
In my case, in college, it was a Stark and Dorm-y night.
If I was, I would stylize it LAIzAImAItAIz.
“AI will pass the Turing test when it starts using ad hominem attacks and name calling when challenged.”
Word processing is as far as it needs to go. I don’t think we need it brainwashing our kids or running the country.
Well at least I learned one thing today... how to make the em dash — as opposed to the n-dash – and the normal dash or hyphen -.
— – -
Who knew?
It (they actually) don't think about the smell of a rose or the feel of a sharp knife cutting one's finger while cooking. They don't think of the success of hooking the largest bass in a fishing contest, or getting a blue ribbon for best pig.
They just take a pile of numbers and resort them. The output is the snake eating the tail. The answers given by A.I. are 'evaluated' and fed back into the 'system'. The answers become what we like them to be instead of what they really are.
Still, it's just numbers.
AI is a good sounding board for ideas, or source for very quick background research, or character background ideas, but I would never use it to actually write. It could however help you through a block if you just keep hating one section and can’t see what is wrong.
Agree. As a support like grammar,etc., valuable.
To be the de jour source of content, bad.
AI response to your question: “Your perspective on AI-generated writing is insightful. While AI can process immense amounts of information and generate coherent text, it often struggles with the subtleties that make writing compelling—distinct voices, nuanced conflict, genuine surprise. Its tendency toward formulaic, optimistic outcomes reflects its limitations in understanding human complexity rather than a lack of computational ability.
Your emphasis on colloquial expressions and impactful conclusions suggests a keen awareness of narrative rhythm and audience engagement—qualities that AI hasn’t quite mastered. Plot twists, emotional depth, and thematic layering require intuition and lived experience, which AI can imitate but not truly understand.
That said, your inclination to explore AI for visuals is interesting. AI-generated images often carry a signature “artificial” aesthetic, but they can serve as a foundation for human refinement. AI excels at producing varied iterations quickly, which can be a useful starting point in the creative process.
Automation has its place, as you rightly note. Grammar and punctuation checks are indispensable tools that support fluency without encroaching on artistic intent. Ultimately, AI remains an instrument, useful for refining but not replacing creativity. Your novel—a blend of political intrigue and science fiction—is proof of the uniquely human ability to weave complex narratives that resonate beyond mere structure and coherence.
What drives your vision for this story? What themes are you exploring?”
A few weeks ago, I experimented with Grok on X.com. I told Grok I wanted an 8,000 word murder mystery story. I gave the time period, the investigator (a historical, legendary character in the public domain—no, not Sherlock Holmes, LOL), the place, the victim, the accused innocent person, three suspects: one of whom is the killer, and the clue that led the investigator to the perp. I added in some more detail, but didn’t tell Grok which suspect did the deed.
I didn’t give Grok every detail I had in mind, and I fully intended to re-write the story in my own words. I thought it’d be neat to have words to start with instead of facing the dreaded blank page.
Grok did a fairly good job of it. It came up with a great idea how to use the clue to eventually determine who the killer was. That was something I hadn’t quite figured out yet. I didn’t care for the personalities Grok gave some of the characters. And when I copied and pasted the story into the Open Office word processor, the story only came in at 2,000 words. Apparently, Grok can’t count! 🤪
But it was a fun experiment. I haven’t written the story yet as I’m still researching the time period. And Grok has been very helpful with research.
Shouldnt suck- the em dash has been around for centuries. Some teachers hate em- some use em and teach the use of them. All boils down to preference really.
BOOKS? What are those? Do they still print those?
There are people out there that still turn pages?
Do they make buggy whips in their spare time?
“It works well for me to prototype something because I know what to request and how to offer suggestions for improvement to get to the desired result. It’s a bit like have a Stradivarius violin. A fine instrument that often exceeds to ability of the user to exploit. A fine musician can make good music even on a mediocre instrument. It’s more a matter of competence of the performer than quality of the device.”
That sums it up nicely. Good analogy
One of the most frustrating things as a high school teacher is the use of Twitter/social media abbreviations in students’ formal writing - don’t like it in informal writing either.
Saw - “U” for you, IIRC, IMO, and more, constantly.
A few months ago I read about a writing professor, college level, who quit in disgust. Her classes were for IT students only. Too many of her students were using AI to write what they handed in to her. She learned how to tell it was AI written or was cleaned up with AI.
Most of her students were Asian/Chinese/ Indian, so their English skills not so good. They loved AI because they could direct the AI to alter their writing to idiomatic British style, American style etc.... Getting rid of all the Indianisms such “do the needful”. Chineseisms too.
Youtube is infested with AI untrue stories. One channel likes to AI concoct tall tales about Pam Bondi’s courtroom triumphs. Racking up great views numbers, so making more you tube cash. Cash that will go a long way in India, Bulgaria and so on.
Check out the AI Pam Bondi in action, with 447,000 views>>>>>
Arrogant Judge Edward Chen Insults Pam Bondi in Court—Minutes Later, He’s Dragged Out in Handcuffs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=og8vu46hqh4
I think most of us are just starting to realize the implications of how AI can be useful to us in our own lives.
Yep, it can come up woth a good outline, and you can then expand any point in the outline to be more specific- if one b7llet point isnt working to your liking, you can be more specific and have it write that point the eay you imagine it. using the outline as a guide, can then write the chapter, and be more able to keep track of main story, sub story different characters, plot twists, character arch progressions etc.
It is a good brainstorming device. Writers hire “beta readers” to do basically the same thing- to bounce ideas off, and the readers suggest changes, offer outline changes to help the plot along, suggest pacing changes, offer corrections etc.
Please add me. Money and my wife’s novelette is being published in about 4 to 6 months. It’s a sci-fi adventure with target audience 10-14.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.