Critics Are Missing the Point: AI Writing Is About Ideas, Not Just Words
By Michael Portney
As AI becomes a tool in writing and content creation, critics have raised concerns that it may dilute originality or even “plagiarize” human content by drawing on existing knowledge. However, these critiques overlook the fundamental nature of ideas: they are meant to be shared, discussed, and built upon. The purpose of AI writing is not to replace human creativity or ownership but to democratize access to ideas and facilitate intellectual exchange. When AI helps organize and present information, the focus shifts from individual authorship of words to the accessibility of ideas, allowing more people to benefit from shared knowledge.
This paper argues that the value of AI writing lies in its ability to expand access to ideas, enrich discussions, and serve as a collaborator in the creative process. Critics who focus on issues of ownership or originality miss the bigger picture: AI writing is an extension of our natural inclination to share ideas, making intellectual exchange more accessible and inclusive.
1. Ideas Are Free: From Books to Conversations
Ideas are inherently free. Once they are shared—whether through books, articles, or conversations—they become part of a collective intellectual resource that anyone can engage with, interpret, or build upon. When we buy a book, we’re paying for access to the content; we are not buying ownership of the ideas within it. Once the ideas are in our minds, we are free to discuss them, share them with friends, and even build on them in our own work. In this sense, AI is simply an extension of this process, drawing on existing knowledge and making it more accessible to everyone.
A. Paying for Access, Not Ownership of Ideas
When we purchase a book or subscribe to a service, we are paying for the delivery of content, not for the exclusive right to the ideas within it. Afterward, we can freely discuss the concepts, analyze themes, or even use them to inspire new ideas without anyone claiming this as “plagiarism.”
• Access Over Ownership: Buying a book or paying for access to an article provides us with legal access to the content, but it does not make the ideas within it exclusive. Similarly, AI draws on information that is already public, making these ideas more accessible without infringing on ownership.
• Free Intellectual Engagement: Just as discussing a book with a friend requires no royalties, AI’s use of publicly available information facilitates knowledge-sharing, enhancing our collective understanding rather than appropriating originality.
B. Ideas as Part of the Collective Commons
Once an idea is introduced to the public, it becomes part of a collective intellectual commons. Conversations, classrooms, and literature all contribute to this shared resource, and AI serves as another way to make this knowledge more widely available.
• AI as a Tool for Knowledge Sharing: AI, like a library or the internet, helps disseminate information and broaden access to ideas that are already in circulation. It plays a role in keeping knowledge accessible rather than competing with individual originality.
• Facilitating Intellectual Collaboration: Far from “stealing” ideas, AI helps organize and present information that supports new perspectives and fosters intellectual collaboration across disciplines.
2. AI as an Extension of Human Knowledge-Sharing
AI writing critics often overlook its role as an extension of how humans have always shared ideas. People rely on others to inspire new thoughts, refine arguments, and enhance understanding. AI serves as a tool to extend these collaborative practices, making it easier to explore complex ideas and synthesize knowledge from multiple sources.
A. Parallels to Conversations and Collaboration
When people discuss books, topics, or theories, they aren’t accused of plagiarizing each other; instead, they’re seen as collaborators in expanding understanding. AI functions similarly, helping refine, organize, and present information, serving as a collaborator rather than a competitor.
• Encouraging Intellectual Exploration: Just as conversations allow us to broaden our perspectives, AI can introduce us to new ways of thinking, helping us engage with information in more meaningful ways.
• No Ownership Over Ideas, Just Engagement: AI doesn’t take ownership of ideas; it helps structure and share knowledge that is part of the public domain, assisting people in accessing and exploring these ideas effectively.
B. AI as a Democratizing Tool for Knowledge
Similar to the role of libraries or online databases, AI makes information more accessible to everyone, regardless of background or expertise. Rather than concentrating knowledge in the hands of a few, AI opens up intellectual resources to a wider audience.
• Improving Accessibility and Engagement: By simplifying information and making it more navigable, AI helps those who may feel intimidated by dense content or lack access to specialized education.
• Encouraging Diverse Voices: AI makes it easier for people from diverse backgrounds to access knowledge, join discussions, and contribute to fields that were once restricted by access barriers.
3. Moving Beyond Authorship Concerns: Prioritizing Insight Over Ownership
While critics of AI worry about authorship and originality, they overlook the larger purpose of intellectual exchange: to promote growth and understanding. Intellectual property laws protect the financial rights of creators, but they don’t restrict people from discussing or building on ideas.
A. Emphasizing Ideas Over Ownership
The value of intellectual engagement comes from the ideas themselves, not from strict authorship claims. AI contributes to this process by facilitating the spread of ideas, rather than replacing human voices.
• The Free Flow of Knowledge: Just as knowledge flows freely in classrooms and book clubs, AI enables information to circulate more widely, allowing people to focus on the ideas rather than ownership of each word.
• Redefining Plagiarism in an Open Knowledge Era: Plagiarism concerns are valid when individuals falsely claim credit for others’ unique creations. However, AI doesn’t claim credit; it simply aids in presenting information, acting as a tool to enhance understanding.
B. Facilitating Collective Insight Rather Than Individual Ownership
Focusing on the “authorship” of AI writing ignores the larger societal benefits of knowledge-sharing. AI writing, rather than competing with human originality, enriches our shared intellectual resources.
• AI as a Collaborative Platform: AI supports knowledge-sharing, helping people draw connections between existing ideas, and reinforcing a culture where insights are valued over individual ownership of every expression.
• Promoting Public Discourse and Understanding: With AI making information more accessible, more people can participate in public discourse, building a richer, more inclusive exchange of ideas.
4. Moving Forward: Embracing AI for Intellectual Growth
Critics of AI as “plagiarizing” information miss the true value of this technology: enabling broader access to ideas, supporting intellectual growth, and encouraging free exploration. Rather than replacing creativity, AI creates new opportunities for collaboration, curiosity, and understanding.
A. Fostering a Culture of Open Knowledge
AI enables a shift toward a more open and accessible culture of knowledge, where ideas can circulate freely and become resources for shared learning. Far from diminishing originality, AI contributes to a society that values intellectual progress.
• Encouraging Open Knowledge Culture: AI aligns with the principle that knowledge should be a shared resource, freely accessible to everyone rather than restricted by ownership.
• Breaking Down Barriers to Intellectual Engagement: AI makes it easier for more people to engage with complex topics, reducing gatekeeping and supporting a society that values understanding over exclusivity.
B. Reframing Ideas as Collective Resources
If we accept that ideas are fundamentally free, we can embrace AI as a means of enhancing access to knowledge. By supporting the exchange and exploration of ideas, AI writing reinforces intellectual curiosity and collective insight.
• Embracing AI as an Intellectual Partner: AI provides a foundation for collaboration, helping people explore and refine knowledge together, contributing to a culture of shared insight.
• Focusing on Ideas over Ownership: By valuing ideas as resources for collective learning, we can celebrate AI as a tool for knowledge-sharing, encouraging intellectual growth without limiting discussions to individual authorship.
Conclusion: Moving Beyond Plagiarism to Embrace Ideas Over Words
Critics who label AI as “plagiarizing” miss a larger truth: ideas are meant to be shared, built upon, and explored. AI doesn’t diminish originality; it enhances our access to ideas, empowering people to connect with knowledge that enriches our understanding. Just as conversations and classrooms enable free exchange without claims of plagiarism, AI supports the natural flow of information and broadens our intellectual horizons.
In a world where ideas are valued for their contribution to collective knowledge, AI is a valuable tool for democratizing access, supporting intellectual curiosity, and enriching public discourse. Moving forward, we should focus less on the specific authorship of words and more on the accessibility and power of ideas, embracing AI as a way to share and build the knowledge that drives progress.
