When AI Scripts Slip into the Uncanny Valley: The Chilling Moment Machines Mimic Humanity Too Closely

THE RECKLESS WRITER

I get the temptation, I really do. Writing a book or a screenplay entails a lot of work. The first step is freewriting the initial word dump that you can then polish off into something brilliant.

Today, writers might think, “Well, if the craft is in the editing, why shouldn’t I use an AI tool to generate a manuscript? Then I can work off the manuscript and nobody will be the wiser.”

Except, that’s the kind of shortcut that spoils the cake.

A great story is more than a sequence of component parts. The element that elevates a story into a work of literature is the ethereal narrative thread. This is a part that has to be felt rather than seen, and as of yet it cannot be detected by a machine.

When it comes to creation, life adds another ingredient. The difference is as profound as the contrast between a pile of Amino acids and a living cell. They might have the same essential parts, but one is profoundly different. Removing life from the process of inspiration is like trying to make bread without yeast.

Using a voice recorder

Modern writers have the advantage of wonderful tools that allow us to capture more of our inspiration, but we must resist the temptation to abuse these tools. Asking AI to generate a manuscript is like asking a hammer to design a house.

I do most of my brainstorming in the form of voice notes. Then, I use an AI tool to generate a transcript from these recordings. The tool organizes my words into paragraphs and sentences. However, I do not require the tool to create anything.

I grew up in the era before home computers. I’ve turned in assignments that were produced on typewriters. Just being able to cut and paste blocks of text was a massive improvement. You can use whatever tool you want as long as you retain ownership of every element of inspiration.

Lately, I’ve watched some films that feel like the original screenplay was AI and then the writers…