Why AI-Generated Articles Leave Us Feeling Betrayed

As someone who is pro-tech and has worked in the tech industry for over a decade, I continue to have strong aversion to AI-generated written work. AI to assist with grammar or for brainstorming—sure. But if the idea of the entire article was not generated by the writer and I learn that they are profiting from it, it feels like a betrayal. It is like buying an item for $100 only to discover it’s worth just $5. Or receiving an expensive gift, only to learn that the giver’s intention was manipulative. Being on the receiving end of AI-generated writing can evoke a similar emotions.

We’re frustrated because we feel that our most valuable resource as readers — our time — is being taken for granted. When content is generated so quickly, it undermines the value of the both the reader’s time and the effort that human writers invest in their work. You paid and took more than three hours to read a book only to learn it was produced in less than 2 seconds.

Perhaps we might consider using AI to summarize AI-generated articles to reclaim our time. Some people are already doing this. This makes me sad. What does this say about the future of reading and writing?

All I know is people will always resonate with human-generated content. An age-old strategy from my Marketing days was to highlight an individual’s story in an advertisement to create an emotional connection with the audience rather than presenting an ad without a personal focus. Our need for connection is primal and writing and reading are essential means for connection.

Readers can feel a writer’s heart and soul in their words. Let’s not forget the emotional depth that makes writing truly meaningful. Please, don’t leave our hearts behind.