Authenticity in the Age of AI

Dinosaur computers.

Recently, I made the decision to eliminate artificial intelligence (AI) from my blog, and avoid AI entirely in my writing. It was not a simple decision. Here's why: AI is a legitimate resource, but dependence on it is not a strength. There's tons of AI-generated crap online nowadays, and it's becoming increasingly difficult to filter it out. In fact, sometimes, I can't immediately tell whether something was created by a human or by a robot. I am guilty of consulting a chatbot every now and then, but today, that finally ends.

When I was first starting out as an entrepreneur, I used AI for my small business. It made sense to me at the time because I was essentially a solopreneur and didn't really have any other resources besides myself. The chatbot "validated" my ideas; it made me feel like I was making all the best decisions, and it steered me in the "right" direction. "Clearly, it must be smart," I thought. Using AI and my legal background, I maximized the benefits of these chatbots. For example, I created an entire, legally-binding contract from scratch. Of course, I refused to rely on AI completely, as it would have probably gotten me into trouble. That I cannot risk.

Anyway, when I was in law school, there was no such thing as AI. Or maybe I had not discovered it yet. We did things the old-fashioned way (side note: I just aged myself): going to the library and checking out relevant books. I thought it was the only way to get ahead. It worked well for me though, at least at that time. Now, I cannot even begin to imagine all the ways that law students are using AI. In fact, I have no idea how they use it, but one piece of advice is: Don't depend on AI for anything.

I'm not an AI-hater. In fact, I've taken many online courses on data science, machine learning, and analytics. I currently work in tech, and while I cannot give details on my current projects, let's just say that I consider myself an expert on AI. And no, I do not use AI for my work at all. It's actually pretty much banned. We don't want to make any mistakes that could cost us everything. That we cannot risk. My point is simple: I know AI, and I know that it can either immensely help or damage a business.

So here's what I suggest: Keep learning about AI, and take advantage of its benefits. It's ever-evolving and it's in the news every day. You, the human, need to stay ahead of it, the bot, in every possible way. Sure, a bot can look things up online a little bit faster. But is saving a little bit of time worth it when it makes you rely on it to your own detriment? Not if you ask me. I'd rather spend a few hours researching a topic and formulating my own opinion. You'll be well-informed and be the most interesting person in the room. That's the beauty of being authentic in the age of AI.

Now, when it comes to tech, I also prefer reading physical books. It's all about getting educated. I'm not just talking about education you get in a classroom or from a lecturer. I'm talking about active, daily learning. Whether it's reading a novel, an autobiography, or a self-help book, it's all much more valuable than anything a bot will ever be able to find. I remember one time I asked a bot for book recommendations. It gave me a list of five books. Guess what? The bot had entirely hallucinated these titles and authors. They simply did not exist. So maybe next time you ask for help from a chatbot, make sure it's not hallucinating.

With that, I leave you with grace, and with gratitude for keeping authentic bloggers and authors like me on your radar and helping us compete against AI bots. We appreciate it more than a bot will ever know.

Disclaimer: This blog post was written entirely by a human being.

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