Writes and Write-Nots
Summary
The author predicts that within a couple of decades, few people will possess writing skills due to the pervasive use of AI. Writing is inherently difficult, requiring clear thinking, and this difficulty previously created significant pressure in many professions, sometimes leading to plagiarism. AI now removes this pressure, enabling individuals to outsource writing tasks, which will lead to a societal division between "writes" and "write-nots", eliminating the middle ground of "ok writers". This development is deemed detrimental because writing is fundamentally linked to clear thinking, implying that a decline in writing ability will result in a corresponding decline in critical thinking skills. The article draws a parallel to physical strength in post-industrial society, suggesting that clear thinking, like physical strength, will become a deliberate choice rather than a widespread capability.
Key takeaway
AI's text generation capabilities will eliminate the societal pressure to learn writing, creating a stark divide between those who can write and those who cannot. This is critical because writing is fundamentally a form of clear thinking, a skill that will now only be cultivated by choice. For AI/ML professionals, this implies that critical thinking, often honed through writing, will become a differentiating and increasingly rare capability.
Topics
- AI and Writing
- Writing Skills
- Critical Thinking
- Future of Work
Best for: Research Scientist, Software Engineer, General Interest
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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by Paul Graham Essays.