By Michael Kelman Portney

The question of why I write with AI extends beyond mere convenience; it is rooted in a curiosity about how technology can influence, complement, and even challenge the creative process. Writing has traditionally been a deeply personal and human endeavor, guided by emotion, creativity, and intuition. Yet, as artificial intelligence (AI) tools have become more sophisticated, they have begun to play a unique role in this process. Today, AI can assist writers in generating ideas, refining language, and organizing content, serving as both a collaborator and an enabler of human creativity.

This paper explores the reasons for integrating AI into my writing practice, the benefits and limitations it brings, and the evolving relationship between human creativity and machine intelligence. By understanding the role of AI in writing, we can gain insights into how technology can enhance—rather than replace—the human element in creative expression.

1. Enhancing Efficiency and Overcoming Writer’s Block

A. AI as a Tool for Generating Ideas

One of the most immediate benefits of writing with AI is its ability to generate new ideas or prompt directions that I may not have considered. When facing a blank page, AI tools can suggest topics, phrases, or angles, sparking inspiration. By providing a base, AI allows me to overcome the initial barrier to writing, helping me initiate projects that might otherwise feel daunting.

Idea Generation: AI can offer a multitude of potential directions for a piece, suggesting topics or relevant themes based on keywords or questions I input. This brainstorming function saves time and broadens my thinking.

Overcoming Writer’s Block: When I encounter a block in my writing, AI tools can suggest new ways to approach a subject, helping to unlock creativity and reframe challenges from different perspectives.

B. Improving Efficiency in Drafting and Editing

Writing can be a time-intensive process, especially when it involves extensive research, drafting, and revisions. AI can help streamline these stages by suggesting alternative word choices, restructuring sentences, and even fact-checking content. This allows me to focus more on higher-level ideas and less on repetitive tasks.

Quick Drafting: AI can generate first drafts or initial structures based on outlines or brief prompts. This speeds up the drafting phase, giving me more time to focus on refining the final product.

Automated Editing and Proofreading: AI tools are particularly useful for catching grammatical errors, awkward phrasing, and other technical issues. Automated editing reduces time spent on corrections, making the writing process more efficient.

2. Expanding the Boundaries of Creativity

A. AI as a Creative Partner

Writing with AI challenges me to think differently. By interacting with an AI model, I am exposed to a wider range of ideas and linguistic styles that may fall outside my habitual thinking. This pushes me to consider new forms of expression and experiment with perspectives I might not have otherwise explored.

Exploring New Angles: AI’s suggestions often reveal fresh perspectives, encouraging me to consider ideas that I may have overlooked. This can lead to more dynamic and nuanced writing.

Expanding Vocabulary and Style: AI tools can introduce new vocabulary and phrasings, adding variety to my writing. This expansion allows me to refine my voice while exploring different tones and styles.

B. Collaborating with AI in Creative Experimentation

In certain instances, I use AI to experiment with form, genre, and structure. This collaborative approach allows for playful exploration, as AI’s analytical approach contrasts with my own intuition-driven creativity. For instance, AI can help me write in styles I’m unfamiliar with, from technical manuals to poetry, enabling me to expand my creative repertoire.

Pushing Boundaries in Genre: AI allows me to explore different writing formats and genres. I can input a simple prompt, for example, and see how AI would generate content in a specific style, giving me insights into techniques unique to that genre.

Creative Iteration: Using AI to quickly generate multiple versions of an idea provides me with a “sandbox” for experimentation. I can select, modify, and build on these versions, merging human and AI creativity.

3. Learning from AI: Developing as a Writer

A. Self-Reflection and Insight

Writing with AI encourages me to reflect on my style and strengths, helping me recognize patterns in my language and thinking. When AI suggests alternatives to my phrasing or introduces new ideas, it often prompts me to evaluate my own approach to storytelling and argumentation.

Identifying Personal Writing Patterns: AI highlights my common phrases, sentence structures, or stylistic tendencies. Recognizing these habits helps me decide when to embrace my voice or when to make adjustments for variety.

Enhancing Critical Thinking: By comparing my original drafts with AI-suggested alternatives, I develop a critical perspective on the strengths and weaknesses of my writing. This feedback loop fosters growth, as it compels me to consider what makes writing effective and engaging.

B. Access to Instant Feedback

One of the unique advantages of using AI is its ability to provide immediate feedback on clarity, tone, and even coherence. This instant analysis helps me make informed choices about phrasing and structure, often leading to improvements that I might have missed on my own.

Evaluating Readability and Tone: AI can analyze text for readability and appropriateness, suggesting modifications to enhance clarity or adjust tone for a specific audience. This feedback is particularly useful in adapting writing to suit different contexts or reader demographics.

Continuous Improvement: Using AI regularly allows me to track my progress as a writer, as I can observe how my drafts evolve with each interaction. This helps me set goals for improvement and recognize areas where I am consistently refining my skills.

4. Addressing the Ethical and Authenticity Concerns

A. Balancing AI Assistance with Original Thought

One concern when writing with AI is maintaining the authenticity and originality of my voice. Relying too heavily on AI suggestions could lead to a loss of personal expression or even unintentional imitation. To address this, I use AI as a guide or collaborator, ensuring that the final output remains distinctly my own.

Using AI as a Guide, Not a Replacement: I consider AI-generated content as a starting point rather than a final product. This approach ensures that AI enhances rather than overshadows my creative intentions.

Maintaining Ownership of Ideas: While AI offers suggestions, I remain actively involved in refining and shaping the content. This intentional process of selection and revision allows me to maintain creative ownership over my work.

B. Navigating Bias and Ethical Implications

AI systems are trained on vast datasets that may contain biases or unverified information. Writing with AI requires awareness of these biases, as they can inadvertently influence the content generated. I approach AI with a critical lens, ensuring that my work aligns with factual accuracy and ethical standards.

Being Aware of AI Biases: Recognizing that AI is not infallible, I remain vigilant about potential biases in AI-generated suggestions. I verify information and adjust content as needed to ensure accuracy.

Using AI Responsibly: Ethical AI use means not only recognizing AI’s limitations but also ensuring transparency. When appropriate, I disclose AI assistance in my writing process to maintain transparency with readers and colleagues.

5. Embracing the Future of Writing with AI

A. Bridging Technology and Human Creativity

Using AI in my writing practice is not about replacing human creativity; it’s about bridging technology with my unique perspective. This partnership allows me to leverage AI’s strengths—efficiency, precision, and idea generation—while retaining the deeply personal elements that define my writing.

Enhancing Human-AI Collaboration: Rather than viewing AI as a threat to creativity, I embrace it as a collaborator that enhances my productivity and innovation. This perspective allows me to stay open to new possibilities while remaining grounded in my own creative instincts.

Embracing the Future of Writing: AI is likely to play an increasingly prominent role in various creative fields. By integrating AI into my process, I am positioning myself to evolve alongside technological advancements, ready to adapt and grow as new tools emerge.

B. Inspiring a New Era of Writers

Writing with AI has the potential to democratize content creation, offering opportunities for more people to express themselves and experiment with writing. As AI becomes more accessible, it can empower writers from diverse backgrounds to explore new genres, enhance their skills, and share their voices.

Expanding Access to Creative Expression: AI tools lower barriers to entry for individuals who may lack formal writing training, enabling more people to engage in creative expression. This opens up new possibilities for storytelling, allowing for a richer diversity of voices.

Encouraging Innovation in Storytelling: With AI’s potential to augment human creativity, we are on the cusp of an era where storytelling can be more dynamic, interactive, and personalized. Writers who embrace AI are well-positioned to lead this new wave of innovation.

Conclusion: Why I Write with AI

The decision to write with AI reflects a commitment to exploring the intersection of technology and creativity, a willingness to adapt, and a curiosity about how AI can expand the boundaries of expression. Writing with AI is a partnership that enhances efficiency, fosters creativity, and provides new avenues for self-improvement, all while preserving the essential human elements of writing.

While AI brings undeniable advantages, its value lies in complementing rather than replacing the writer’s role. My voice, intuition, and perspective remain central to my work, with AI as a supportive collaborator. As I continue to write with AI, I am excited by the potential it offers—not to diminish human creativity, but to empower it in new and transformative ways. The journey with AI is just beginning, and by embracing it thoughtfully, we can redefine what it means to write in the digital age.