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You say it’s more complicated than PG’d claim, but your “just a tool” narrative is a classic oversimplification of technology’s relationship with man. A tool i

You say it’s more complicated than PG’d claim, but your “just a tool” narrative is a classic oversimplification of technology’s relationship with man. A tool is an extension of man, and it is not additive as you suggest, even for “talented writers”. A tool interacts with man’s mind and body, and society’s fabric, “adjusting the sense ratios” of man, to use McLuhan’s phrase. “Just a tool” is lazy thinking that is most effectively used to stifle debate about technology. This has happened with the typewriter, the gun, the computer. For a more sophisticated engagement with technology, see Neil Postman, Ivan Illic, Marshall McLuhan, even Frank Herbert.

nickagliano 3y ago
No, I agree with you! I'm not trying to simplify things by saying it's a tool. As you use the tool, it changes you as well. I think the chatbots are particular technology that will have a lot of that effect. One of my favorite ramblings on this is Wendell Berry's essay on "Why I Am not Going To Buy A Computer". I'm just saying that there's an obviously bad way to let this tool have an impact on you, and there's a way to use it that won't ruin you. It's important to be vigilant, and not to abuse GPT-4 and, i.e., replace all of your own writing with AI.