SHOULD WE BE AN ADVOCATE OR LUDDITE FOR AI AND WRITING?

            I'll remind you that Luddites were named after an apocryphal figure Ned Ludd, a young apprentice who smashed a couple of knitting machines in the early 1800's. Thereafter Luddites saw young Ned as a hero fighting back at new machinery that threatened their jobs making clothing. These days writers have been clutching their pearls because they fear AI may surpass their own writing. Of course writers have been threatened ever since the advent of the printing press.

            Artificial intelligence isn't intelligent. It's a copycat giving back what it's been trained with. Maybe telesponder that gives back telesponses would be apt and follow on from other inventions like telegram, telephone, and television.

A well trained telesponder may someday give us brilliant pieces of writing based on their vast education. Therefore is it not our job as writers to ensure AI's education is based on learning great writing?  And          

 since these blogs are in the public domain (as AI tells me), here is my attempt to educate it all the while freely admiyying AI itself may have some worthwhile suggestions for me that it's picked up along the way.

So here's the experiment. I've just read a great new novel by Dave Eggers titled Contrapposto and written a review to post on Goodreads. It follows along with AI's:

 My review:

 Eggers is always interesting whether he's speaking or writing. The title of his first book (a memoir) and the book are unforgettable--"An Outstanding Work of Staggering Genius." Though this book's title, "Contrapposto," is forgettable, it's clever and so is the book. After the grandpop, mom, and her abuser stuff the novel really takes off. An incredibly original love story with sparking feelings and knowledge of art embedded in the plot. Ekphrasis-like and Contrapposto-like on both subjects. 

AI Option 1: Polished & Literary

Dave Eggers is consistently compelling, whether on the page or at the podium. His breakthrough memoir, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, remains unforgettable—and while this novel’s title may be less iconic, the story itself is just as clever. Once past the heavy backstory involving the grandfather, mother, and abuser, the narrative truly takes flight. What emerges is an inventive love story steeped in emotional resonance and sharp art-historical insight, balancing vivid ekphrasis with the nuanced tension of classical contrapposto.

AI Option 2: Punchy & Conversational

Whether speaking or writing, Dave Eggers never fails to captivate. His debut memoir, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, set a high bar, and while this book's title is less memorable, the writing is every bit as sharp. Once the dark family history is established, the novel takes off into an original, emotionally charged love story. It weaves art history seamlessly into the plot, creating a dynamic, ekphrastic exploration of both passion and form.

Key corrections  AI says it made:

·       Fixed the title from An Outstanding Work of Staggering Genious to A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius.

·       Replaced informal phrasing ("stuff", "feelings sparking") with stronger, more descriptive verbs and nouns.

·       Integrated the terms ekphrasis (the vivid verbal description of visual art) and contrapposto (counterpose/tension) naturally into the prose.

My take is that we both learned a bit from each other. But hey, I like my version better.