I recently put one of my surplus vintage tuner/amps on eBay. As is customary, I included a description of the technical details, which would appeal to similar minded enthusiasts. But looking at other entries, I've recently noticed, some have very "flowery" descriptions, worthy for consideration for the Booker Prize. They amused me. I noticed there's a facility now on eBay, where, having included your description of your item, you can click on the "A I" button and it will take the information you have provided and give your entry, the same treatment. I avoided it.
I know a teacher who is now sick to death, of all her students now using AI to write their reports, (I'm talking about university level stuff)... https://copyleaks.com/ai-content-detector So she now uses the link above, to check which student is using AI - After which (if caught) they are failed! Repeat offenders are warned in writing. And 3rd time repeat offenders are expelled. Soon the administration department started breaking out in a cold sweat, after seeing so many students were about to be thrown out. Therefore they changed the rules, that now nobody is going to get expelled, (or else majority of the university will become empty soon). Of course, this was a private university. So naturally they have a business (of education) to run... In government universities, it's different, as they have zero tolerance for this. But the problem in this is, that nobody will bother checking in a government university. So like it or not, agree with it or disagree, love it or hate it. But one way or another, AI is here to stay.
When AI first came out, I thought it was fun to play with. My image is AI. As time passed, I've learned more of the negatives. I turned it off, on my search engine. It's kind of unavoidable in many places. One of these days I might change my image here to something non-AI.
Actually AI is just another highly useful tool. Like I now use DeepSeek almost daily, throwing at it complexity ridden topics - And it doesn't complain. Unlike university professors who have limited time on their hands, as they are human after all, (who need to eat, rest, as well as deserving quality time with their loved ones). So I now can't exactly be nagging Noble Laureates daily, (while they might be in the bathroom seeking some lone time and privacy) - But I can keep on using AI endlessly. And it too keeps on giving me answers at the same level as brainstorming with a university professor. So it's now an extremely valuable tool, which in the entire human history, we never had before... The problem with AI starts when a tool, instead of being used, ends up getting abused. Or even worse, taken for granted. I'm someone who was born in the mid to late 70s. So since childhood, (with crystal clear memories of the entire 80s) - I've witnessed and experienced the entire computing revolution first hand. And so since my very early childhood, I had been yearning for an AI like DeepSeek. Which only now has arrived. So never will I ever take it for granted, nor abuse it - For it is literally the answer to all my prayers. As from it I now ask (for free) which I couldn't even do freely while at the university... These old books of mine, are some of the ones I now consult more today, then when I was a student at different universities. And today I now also get extremely valuable answers about the topics. Which I never got when I was actually paying for an education at some of the most prestigious institutions of my country.
I find it a very useful tool for bouncing off ideas for my stories. The one I use also does the proof reading for me, which is a real help. Proof reading is very, very boring. Useful also as it can tell me if I am getting too esoteric in my word choice for the aimed target ages. Cannot solve crossword clues very well though! It is like any other tool, misuse is frequent. Look at the number of chain saw accidents there are, or how many times one hits one's thumb with a hammer. Ban screwdrivers because they slip and gouge out the plaster in the wall?
You are using a false analogy. Chainsaw accidents, hitting your thumb with a hammer are both accidental miscalculations and lack of concentration or inadequate or temporary lack of hand to eye coordination. Use of AI is a choice, not a mishap. It has to do with intent, not a slip up. Proofreading used to be a paid profession. AI used for that purpose puts people out of work. My Aunt was a proofreader as well as the Head of the Secretarial pool at Harvard Business svhool. That's a profession that no longer exists. People should support other people and not be looking to negate their professions. Just my opinion.
It always annoys me when Microsoft wants to make, "helpful suggestions" regarding grammar and spelling, when I'm typing stuff on my laptop. It insists that a comma should follow "and." I went to an old-fashioned grammar school in the fifties, and I know it shouldn't. It isn't grammatically necessary.
I am not putting anyone out of a job by using AI to proof read my stuff since the only person to do it is me! The spinning jenny put people out of jobs at the beginning of the industrial age, The Luddites objected to that. The silk weavers put their sabots in the new machines to stop them, hence sabotage. Like it or not, when Pandora's box is opened there is no putting things back in it. Mind I agree about the grammar thing, that is very annoying .
I read somewhere that by the year 2030, (not too far away) - AI is going to take over 40% of the jobs in the workforce. From my point of of view, as I'm an employer not an employee - I see less expenditure this way. However I'm not greedy either. So my plan is to not pile up more wealth. But use the money saved this way, for the betterment of the indispensable employees I'll still have. Simply because loyalty, is something that has no price. So those who will still be standing besides me, as well as agree to evolve with the changing times, (and therefore learn to use AI as a tool alongside me) - I'll always be taking care of.
