My mind has been thinking deeply on this since we spoke about it, too (thank you!). And thank you for the lovely mention.
I echo what Suzanna said about not spending time on tasks that can be automated. Not to mention the more we do manually, the more we continue to get ourselves into a pretzel trying to appease algorithms for companies whose entire purpose is to turn around and sell to us based on our behaviors.
As scary as a lot of this is (and you know how much I love learning to build with it), I'm so committed to using AI to get my time back... and get offline more.
If AI contributes to a Scotland visit, then Quill becomes my favourite "person". Lol. My conversations with you about AI have formed much of what I say here. Thanks for sharing your brains. š
Our conversation about this transformed how I see my "output" in my work. I will no longer spend ungodly amounts of time on anything a computer can do better, such as marketing, campaigns, building subscriber bases, or even things like thumbnails and word placement. I'm concentrating on everything AI will never be able to do or mimic: me, my humanity, my magic. Thanks again Lisa-Marie!
This article is crystalizing for me! I have begun a pivot to in-person events that are VERY sensory-focused and outdoors. Reading this just strengthens my resolve and focus to keep going in that direction!
I spent an hour in a work meeting today where it seemed very clear that I will lose my job soon (Iām a college writing professor). Another faculty member in the meetingāa history professor no lessāactually commented on the chat, āis it necessary to learn to write?ā This forced my dept chair into the awkward position of having to explain the worth of our entire department off the cuff. Iām still livid.
I need two years tuition benefit to get my eldest out of college, so I hope I have that long. M youngest, well sheās in 8th grade and lots knows what college or careers will even be like in 2030. You are right to think about this now. Itās here. I vacillate between clinging to the human parts of my job and writing and just feeling absolute terror about my destitute future with zero marketable skills.
Kristen, I feel your worry, but I actually think you have incredibly marketable skills. The ability to teach writing face to face, and guide students in real-timet are human skills that technology won't easily replace.
Universities may change the way they operate, but I believe strongly that in-person teaching and mentorship will stick around for many years. If anything, as AI takes over more mechanical writing tasks, the human side of writing (like coaching, dialogue, feedback, and connection) will become even more valuable.
I do hope you are right--I so want to believe that. My connections to my students have always been my favorite part of the job. However, I'm not sure they value authenticity or voice in the same way we do, or in the same way they have in the past. They are so conditioned for mere performance in this superficial, algorithmic environment. It feels very apocalyptic, honestly. And the university as a corporate entity can't wait to jump on board this train, damn the torpedoes. That said, there are days when I feel that old connection emerge anyway, and it's joyful. I'll miss it when it's gone.
I taught Undergrads in creative writing a few years ago and they were all incredible, authentic, and eager to improve. It makes me sad if things have changed so quickly.
Everything you said here is so important, especially cultivating our humanness as an asset. AI can fake human relatively well and AGI will be infinitely better. There will be people who want that. There will also be people (especially us older folks) who want and value human connection. What AI can't yet mine is human experience; it only gets the filtered version.
For me, there was freedom in getting off the content generation treadmill. What I think about next, what I want to build, is real-life places where women can reset and renew.
Nothing concrete yet. Iāve always wanted to host retreats that are structured like creativity/personal growth retreats but focused on understanding our relationship with money. Still working on finding a good place to do that.
I think, Angelique, that I should hold on to the core of myself, which has always been very optimistic. I'm not naive, but if we don't look on the bright side we might all panic :-)
Agreed! I wrote a similar post a few days ago. Whew. It was great to get it off my chest, but there was some backlash. Not much, though, most people were happy I dug into the dirtā¦
I provide my reasons in the article, Laura. If we don't understand, and learn to use this technology that is coming up on us like a tidal wave, then we will be on the back foot in hundreds of ways.
Besides, AI is a reflecting tool and there is so much we can learn about ourselves and our work though "conversations".
My mind has been thinking deeply on this since we spoke about it, too (thank you!). And thank you for the lovely mention.
I echo what Suzanna said about not spending time on tasks that can be automated. Not to mention the more we do manually, the more we continue to get ourselves into a pretzel trying to appease algorithms for companies whose entire purpose is to turn around and sell to us based on our behaviors.
As scary as a lot of this is (and you know how much I love learning to build with it), I'm so committed to using AI to get my time back... and get offline more.
Including visiting you in person next year! ;-)
If AI contributes to a Scotland visit, then Quill becomes my favourite "person". Lol. My conversations with you about AI have formed much of what I say here. Thanks for sharing your brains. š
Haha... yep! I'm coming over!
And always (sharing my brains) and right back at you!
Our conversation about this transformed how I see my "output" in my work. I will no longer spend ungodly amounts of time on anything a computer can do better, such as marketing, campaigns, building subscriber bases, or even things like thumbnails and word placement. I'm concentrating on everything AI will never be able to do or mimic: me, my humanity, my magic. Thanks again Lisa-Marie!
We are always on the same wavelength, Suzanna, having matching realizations. š
This article is crystalizing for me! I have begun a pivot to in-person events that are VERY sensory-focused and outdoors. Reading this just strengthens my resolve and focus to keep going in that direction!
I love this, Angie. Outdoors and sensory focused are certainly things AGI canāt replace.
I spent an hour in a work meeting today where it seemed very clear that I will lose my job soon (Iām a college writing professor). Another faculty member in the meetingāa history professor no lessāactually commented on the chat, āis it necessary to learn to write?ā This forced my dept chair into the awkward position of having to explain the worth of our entire department off the cuff. Iām still livid.
I need two years tuition benefit to get my eldest out of college, so I hope I have that long. M youngest, well sheās in 8th grade and lots knows what college or careers will even be like in 2030. You are right to think about this now. Itās here. I vacillate between clinging to the human parts of my job and writing and just feeling absolute terror about my destitute future with zero marketable skills.
Kristen, I feel your worry, but I actually think you have incredibly marketable skills. The ability to teach writing face to face, and guide students in real-timet are human skills that technology won't easily replace.
Universities may change the way they operate, but I believe strongly that in-person teaching and mentorship will stick around for many years. If anything, as AI takes over more mechanical writing tasks, the human side of writing (like coaching, dialogue, feedback, and connection) will become even more valuable.
I do hope you are right--I so want to believe that. My connections to my students have always been my favorite part of the job. However, I'm not sure they value authenticity or voice in the same way we do, or in the same way they have in the past. They are so conditioned for mere performance in this superficial, algorithmic environment. It feels very apocalyptic, honestly. And the university as a corporate entity can't wait to jump on board this train, damn the torpedoes. That said, there are days when I feel that old connection emerge anyway, and it's joyful. I'll miss it when it's gone.
I taught Undergrads in creative writing a few years ago and they were all incredible, authentic, and eager to improve. It makes me sad if things have changed so quickly.
Fantastic. So glad you did not use AI to write this.
Everything you said here is so important, especially cultivating our humanness as an asset. AI can fake human relatively well and AGI will be infinitely better. There will be people who want that. There will also be people (especially us older folks) who want and value human connection. What AI can't yet mine is human experience; it only gets the filtered version.
For me, there was freedom in getting off the content generation treadmill. What I think about next, what I want to build, is real-life places where women can reset and renew.
Agreed 100% Deidre. Tell us more about your real-life places for women. I am also working on something like this right now.
Nothing concrete yet. Iāve always wanted to host retreats that are structured like creativity/personal growth retreats but focused on understanding our relationship with money. Still working on finding a good place to do that.
Tough, but important subject, Deidre. Good luck!
Interesting and thought-provoking note. I like how you didn't leave it with a grimdark conclusion.
I think, Angelique, that I should hold on to the core of myself, which has always been very optimistic. I'm not naive, but if we don't look on the bright side we might all panic :-)
Agreed! I wrote a similar post a few days ago. Whew. It was great to get it off my chest, but there was some backlash. Not much, though, most people were happy I dug into the dirtā¦
I donāt understand why anyone is even ātalking to an AIā. There is a choice to not feed them your information
I provide my reasons in the article, Laura. If we don't understand, and learn to use this technology that is coming up on us like a tidal wave, then we will be on the back foot in hundreds of ways.
Besides, AI is a reflecting tool and there is so much we can learn about ourselves and our work though "conversations".