When AI Does Our Writing, Who Will Do Our Thinking?
The hype exposes how bad we are at this foundational skill — and it’ll only get worse
Three stories, one lesson.
Yesterday, a friend forwarded me a sample ad for a car seat, written by ChatGPT:
“As a young parent, keeping your child safe and secure is your top priority. That’s why you need a car seat designed by professionals who understand the importance of safety and comfort. Our car seats are engineered with the latest safety features and materials to provide the ultimate protection for your little one. From side-impact protection to easy installation, you can trust that your child is in good hands with our car seats. Don’t compromise on your child’s safety — choose a car seat designed by professionals. Order yours today!”
The creator’s comment? “Copywriters are screwed.”
Yesterday, I also overheard a conversation at work. “I had ChatGPT write like 80% of this thing for work, and when I read it out at the meeting, everyone was impressed. When I told them it was written by AI, they suddenly said: ‘Oh yeah, you can kinda tell.’ Then, they started criticizing bits of the text — but they were the bits I had written!”