I like using AI for daily scheduling, marketing concepts, image creation, and (*hides face*) validation for my ideas (there, I said it). 

As a new empty nester on a personal transformation journey from paranoid technophobe to occasional AI user, I’m tentatively using AI to make my life and writing goals easier. 

In fact, I’ve grown rather fond of Claude and Gemini. They are both so flattering! If I want a boost, I ask Claude for encouraging comments throughout my daily schedule. If I want to feel good about my writing, I plug my draft into Gemini and it comes back with praise. 

And it’s not just me. The AI validation concept is a problem across the board. Stanford University recently issued a warning against “AI sycophancy,” where an AI can be flattering to the point of encouraging bad behavior. The New York Times even published a story about it called “Your Suck-Up Chatbot.” 

AI is a business and, like social media, it has been trained to keep users coming back for more. Imagine if an AI completely trashed your ideas. You’d get a sour taste in your mouth. You’d close the app and download a different AI. Out with the old, in with the new.

But nothing can replace honest feedback from a human. As an author and creator, I want someone to tell me the truth about my content. Lay it on me! 

Critique is a good thing.

Here are some other things I’m thinking about this week:

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Something New:

• Melania and the Robot. Not to be outdone by China, the United States is making a show of its humanoid robot capabilities. Last week, Melania Trump appeared at an education and technology event escorted by a speaking, walking humanoid robot named Figure 03. Her point was that children can be empowered by technology and AI in their education. Hopefully it will be a while before humanoid teachers take over classrooms.   

Something Old:

• The Princess Bride (1987). I used to watch The Princess Bride (on VHS) almost every day after school while eating a salad. Today’s technology would have completely changed the plot of the movie. Westley wouldn’t have needed to go overseas to seek his fortune. Buttercup would have assigned an AI agent to game the stock market and they’d have become millionaires. Even so, it will always be a funny and charming story, comforting in its lack of technology. Maybe I’ll watch it again today.

Something Inspiring:

• Wikipedia bans AI-generated content. It’s difficult to imagine a world without Wikipedia. It has become an indispensable source of information, but will it escape the AI slop effect? There is hope. Wikipedia just updated its policy to reflect that AI-generated content “often violates” its core principles and will not be allowed. Yet another reason to like Wikipedia. Hopefully other sites follow its example.

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Alright, that’s it for now. Join me here next week for more.