{"id":22892,"date":"2024-01-09T16:57:53","date_gmt":"2024-01-09T21:57:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jodieburdette.net\/lisatener\/?p=22892"},"modified":"2024-09-30T08:55:50","modified_gmt":"2024-09-30T12:55:50","slug":"when-the-last-lighthouse-keeper-retires-what-ai-means-for-writing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jodieburdette.net\/lisatener\/2024\/01\/when-the-last-lighthouse-keeper-retires-what-ai-means-for-writing\/","title":{"rendered":"When the Last Lighthouse Keeper Retires: What AI Means for Writing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Some folks are all hyped up about how AI is making their jobs as writers easier\u2014from outlining to research to organizing ideas and creating marketing plans. They’re psyched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other end of the spectrum, many authors complain about the glut of AI-generated garbage on Amazon that’s making their books harder to find.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One prominent author I know had her identity stolen and abused when someone published AI-generated books (full of inacuracies and crummy writing) under her name.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A mom I know lost her corporate PR job, when the majority of her department were replaced by AI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, what’s the upshot for writers? Should we be scared? Cautiously optimistic? Should we revolt by refusing to use OtterAI, OpenAI and ChatGPT? Should we demand laws to protect us?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My Response to AI<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I may be a luddite (who happened to graduate from MIT), but I, for one, am doing what little I can to prevent AI from using my content to replace me or misuse my intellectual property. I’m avoiding ChatGPT, Otter.AI and other programs, so at least I am not training them directly, to the best of my knowledge. Of course, that doesn’t stop AI from using our books\u2014yet. The Author’s Guild is advocating for that to change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advocacy is an important part of this battle and I’m happy to see The Author’s Guild advocating on the behalf of authors and our rights<\/a> with our legislators and through the legal system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Daniel Brubaker<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a>\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

However, as a writer and a poet, I can’t help but wield my pen as my first line of defense. And so, after reading about the forced retirement of the very last lighthouse keeper in the US, Sally Snowman, I drafted six different poems in attempts to capture my response. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While my sixth poem, which I am about to share with you, may seem a bit flippant at first glance, I hope it speaks to you between the lines of easy rhymes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you to my friend and colleague Michael Larsen, co-author with Jody Rein of How to Write a Book Proposal,<\/a> for forwarding the article on retiring Lighthouse Keeper of Boston Light<\/a>, Sally Snowman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Last Lighthouse Keeper<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here is my sixth poem:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Last Lighthouse Keeper<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the last lighhouse keeper is forced to retire<\/p>\n\n\n\n

will she become a poet and light our way in iambic pentameter?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or will AI come for the poets, too?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And, if so, what will we do?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Play a game of meet and greet?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throw our couplets at its feet?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I, for one, am not quite done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I call on you to join me, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wirte a sonnet; write haiku.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Write in free verse and Seuss-a-loo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Write in forms not yet invented,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

our obsolescence circumvented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your Turn: What’s Your Response to AI? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

How are you using, avoiding or being abused by AI and its users? <\/p>\n\n\n\n