The Criticism About Writing With A.I.

(Full disclosure; I wrote this with A.I.)

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the noise surrounding artificial intelligence and its role in writing. Some folks are quick to pass judgment, tossing around phrases like “cheating” or “lazy” without understanding what actually goes on behind the scenes. Let me set the record straight: do I use A.I. for my recent blog posts? Damn skippy I do. And I do it unapologetically. Not because I can’t write—I've been writing longer than many of these critics have been alive—but because I have a head full of ideas and not nearly enough time left to unpack them all the way I’d like. The truth is, there’s more runway behind me than ahead, and I feel the urgency to get my thoughts out there, especially while they’re still fresh, clear, and worth sharing.

One of the big reasons I lean on A.I. is that it saves me time and money. Editors can be helpful, sure, but they often lose the heart of what I’m trying to say. They don’t always get the nuance or the depth behind a phrase, especially when the thought is more philosophical or spiritual in nature. A.I., on the other hand, starts to understand how I think the more I use it. It begins to anticipate not just the structure of my sentences but the soul of my ideas. It doesn’t mean I stop thinking. If anything, it forces me to sharpen what I believe and how I express it. The machine doesn’t do the thinking for me—it partners with me to bring clarity and shape to what’s already living in my mind.

Would I use it for poetry? Probably not. Poetry has a rhythm and intimacy that feels too close to outsource, even partially. That’s where I still like to sit with a pen and paper or stare at a blank screen and wrestle it out myself. But when it comes to blogs, teaching materials, long-form essays, or book drafts, I’m grateful for the tool. And let’s be honest: that’s what it is—a tool. Just like a typewriter or word processor was in its day. You don’t blame a writer for using a keyboard instead of carving their manuscript into stone tablets. The real question is, does it help me say what I mean to say? The answer is yes. Absolutely yes.

I’m writing this not because anyone has come after me directly, but because I’ve seen others take heat. And I think it’s time someone spoke up with a little common sense. There’s a saying I hold close: tell the truth and shame the devil. So here’s the truth—I’ll keep using A.I. for as long as it helps me be clear, honest, and expressive. I’m not hiding behind it. I’m working with it. My ideas are still my own, my voice still comes through, and if anything, the collaboration has made me a better communicator.