It’s May and along with the start of gardening season, many countries take time to celebrate mothers. My own mother passed away almost five years ago but I still miss her sweet, supportive presence. The Witch’s Foundling, Book One of the series, hit the stands about a year after she died. However, I know she would have been proud and loved seeing the book for herself. She and my father were my biggest supporters throughout my life. Yet, considering the state of the world at present, I think both my parents would have had difficulty understanding what was going on. Especially with AI.

I’ve written about AI before; how it’s a technology built on theft. Examples of the serious side effects I’ve encountered on social media, a number of ‘authors’ claiming that they use Generative AI because they don’t have the skills to write a book but have a great idea for a story. Do you think someone should tell them they can LEARN how to write a novel? Ideas are a dime a dozen and typing a prompt into a computer program and getting something spewed out in minutes does not make you a writer. As an additional layer to their arguments, some AI Authors claim their disability requires they use AI as their only option to achieve their goal. They are then countered by other disabled authors who have never used AI and dismiss those justifications as excuses. Round and round we go. It has begun to build into a real US vs THEM dynamic in the publishing marketplace.

The market is actually being flooded with sloppy AI novels leading to the dilution and devaluing of certain genres; not to mention an artist’s style and brand. In short, it becomes more and more difficult to connect with readers if they are faced with hundreds and hundreds of cheaply but quickly produced titles before they can find a book written by an actual person. And maybe that’s where we’re all headed. You’ll go online or to a bookstore and find novels listed as “AI-Assisted” or “Bio-organically Produced”? Also, trends seem to indicate the ‘AI Bubble’ will soon burst and it’s unclear where that would leave any people who have built their entire career on that model. Not to forget the extreme environmental impact AI Data Centres have on their surroundings with every use. So, despite the sales job from promoters, it’s a mess out there and finding one’s place within it is becoming more difficult. Yet, still we do it.

I will never use AI for my work. As frustrating as it can be, the process of writing supports my growth as a writer. It is necessary. As much as I sometimes wish I could snap my fingers and pump out a book, it would never be authentic to myself. And frankly, the theft involved in the technology prohibits any such work from being authentic in the long run. However, I know many people will simply disagree with me. That’s okay. It’s not something I can control.

This a long-winded way of saying if you wish to support real, human authors and artists it may require some careful selection on your part. It is the best way to support the creatives you like. Just like Mom would want you to.

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FEATURE DESIGN OF THE MONTH

As gardening season begins, we are open to the many signs of new life. The Green Man is a herald of the natural world. He can guide you to get all things growing. Find this design at our Redbubble store on stickers, t-shirts, mugs, journals and lots of other cool merchandise. Nature is calling. It’s time to answer.