Why didn't I let ChatGPT write this?

It would've easier and better written...

It’s never particularly easy for me to write. In fact just before mustering the strength to start typing I was doing anything I could to avoid starting to write. Squirming, gazing out the window, scrolling YouTube, I made lunch even though I’m not particularly hungry, I made another cup of coffee even though I’m not particularly tired. The phenomenon is not unique to me, it’s something most writers throughout history have faced. The difference? They didn’t have ChatGPT.

The idea I’ve been thinking about writing could be whipped up by the AI chatbot in about 30 seconds. As I frustrate over my inability to jot down what’s on my mind, fidgeting my day away, I wonder why I choose to struggle when I could very easily have the same thing, if not better, in a fraction of the time and about none of the effort?

I was having a conversation the other day about students who rely on AI to complete even the most basic writing assignments. At one point in the conversation my friend defeatedly admitted said, “Well if we’re going to have this technology forever whats the point in doing it on your own.” Nodding on with a defeated smirk across my face that might as well be a frown, I couldn’t dispute it.

Just as industrialization eliminated the need for everyone to learn how to farm or learn a specialized trade, skills like writing not necessarily with tools like ChatGPT widely available to everyone. While the industrial shift occurred over centuries, our shift has happened in a few years. As technology has become more equipped to give humans the answers that would previously take us hours to answer, our the necessity to learn skills for practical purposes is declining.

Is there utility in knowing beyond basic algebra with computers and calculators able to give us answers instantly? Do we need to memorize historical or scientific facts when we can search find them when we need to? Do people need to learn about the subjects or skills outside of their intended field of work?

Of course there are skills learned for pleasure, and I’m not talking about that. I could easily write this with AI, but instead I’m doing it the old fashioned way—typing it out on a laptop— because I find pleasure in something about this process.

These questions need to be asked and answered as AI continues to perform basic skills that in the past have been universally necessary across jobs and activities: writing, reading, basic math, basic logic. I have never needed to know how to plow a field or successfully plant a crop—activates my ancestors would be required to master. I’ve never really needed to use the geometry I learned in high school and I have yet to apply my lessons in physics.

And to a certain extent, this is all ok. As good as it would be for me to know how to grow my own food, I don’t have to. I don’t intend to go into a field where physics is a pre-requisite. So for those that don’t want to read or write, are they justified? Maybe, but something in my gut tells me no.

Of course there are well researched objective benefits to learning basic and advanced skills. There’s also objective benefits to eating a balanced diet and getting 8 hours of sleep and plentiful exercise, but who does that? My point is that, just because something is good for our humanity, is not enough to compel us to do it.

Circling back from that tangent that ChatGPT would certainly have cut, why am I compelled to write this instead of using AI? I don’t particularly enjoy the process, I think the quality is inferior, and using it would save me a lot of time and energy. For me, I think a bit of the answer lies in the Dorothy Parker quote, “I hate writing. I love having written.” I like finishing a piece, hitting publish, and sharing my idea with you in the way I want to articulate it.

I’m sure there is some chemical reaction happening in my brain involving dopamine or something else I didn’t need to learn about in biology or chemistry, but I think that’s it. I wouldn’t get that same reaction from a nicely polished perfectly imperfect AI written article. It’s this absurd pleasure that makes humans human.

As a generation of young people struggle to find purpose, I cant imagine this will be helpful.

Now, why did you read this?