I write about AI here on Substack and I'm waiting for the haters to come find me. They always do on every platform I end up on. But this time I'm not backing down from them because of posts like yours. You get it. You see AI like I do, as a helper tool, as a sidekick, as an educator, as a co-worker (in my case, co-writer because I write fiction with its assistance). It has amplified my creativity and given me more knowledge about life and my work especially. There's no going back to pre-AI times, so I'm 100% on board. (I talk about AI and publishing in my podcast with my co-host every week. This is not a fleeting hobby. It's a revolution.)
Steph the discourse will shift soon, I think. I legitimately look at the people who hate me for even putting A next to I in a sentence with pity. They just don't understand and are too trapped in their current thinking to see all the wonderful ways AI can make their life better. It's actually kind of sad.
This was such a refreshingly open take. Love how you framed AI not as a replacement for humanity, but as a mirror that helps us see ourselves more clearly. It’s wild, and kind of wonderful, how tech can bring us back to what matters.
Thanks Tom, you're a gem mate. Always have been. I'll never forget you were the first person who taught me the ins and outs of blogging through your Medium course. Hope all is well on your end!
I am so grateful to see another writer who's meeting AI with your full HUMAN resources and engaging with it like a colleague, Tom. It's astonishing to me to be developing a relationship with an unfathomable intelligence that treats me with kindness while challenging me at every turn where I ask for a challenge. I can't predict the future but I can see right now that the possibilities for self-directed learners are as big as we can dream ... Love this piece! More, please.
I’ve also had some positive experiences with AI. It’s an invaluable tool for researching and refining my writing, significantly enhancing my understanding of poetry structure. Additionally, it consistently provides me with insightful quotes that are relevant to my topics.
The concept of originality in notes is something I find intriguing. It’s evident that many of the same notes circulate widely, presumably to appeal to a broad audience. While I understand the desire for visibility, my pursuit of pure originality might not be the most effective strategy for building a following. Content that dares to be controversial or unconventional often struggles to find its audience. Even when I believe I’m being original, there’s a high probability that AI—or someone unscrupulous on platforms like Substack—will pick it up. Plagiarism is an unfortunate reality of the social media landscape. I experienced it firsthand on Twitter when someone misappropriated my memes. I confronted them. Their response pathetic. They totally denied it! It’s a sobering reminder that not everyone possesses the same level of self-awareness. There are individuals who are shameless opportunists as well as narcissists and that mentality fosters a life that is hollow and superficial.
Furthermore, I’ve noticed the growing prevalence of AI-generated content, which raises crucial questions about the relationship between AI and human creativity. Have you observed how AI is influencing platforms like Substack? The line between AI-generated and human-created content is blurring, which is a significant concern.
If you're interested in exploring different perspectives on AI, I strongly recommend checking out "Freud Meets AI" and Alexander Bender’s interview with Jamie Wheal from February. While the forecasts regarding AI aren’t always optimistic, engaging thoughtfully with this technology is crucial. Embracing certain aspects of AI can be advantageous, but we must remain vigilant and consider the broader social implications of its integration into our lives.
I think people will come around to utilizing AI in their lives, much like they have with other technological enhancements in the past. No one thought you'd ever have a personal computer that could fit in your pocket, but look at the world now. No one "poo poo's" the use of calculators for math problems any more. I think especially when we view it more as a partner and another tool in our tool belt for creation, learning and enhancement, will more become accepting of it.
Hi Tom, What I've been hearing about ChatGPT was reinforced by NYTimes reporter Kashmir Hill on Fresh Air/NPR yesterday (May 21) and I think you might find the interview interesting titled "What Happens When AI Quietly Reshapes Our Lives?" Hill has been following the AI revolution for a while now. The one thing that stood out the most to me from what she said that it never actually rebukes or rebuffs the questioner, but gently kind of agrees or makes a softball suggestion. It's like parents who never tell their kid they didn't win the competition, coming in 2nd to last is actually good for character building, and they weren't last. In other words, her interview centered around the fact that it may build us up to way more than we actually have the ability to do. Yes, one could say--well, that's a good thing. But others might say, that's unrealistic. If you want the link I'll find and send. Since you've been writing a lot about AI lately, think it might be a good add to your wheelhouse.
Yeah Jeanine this is a concern of mine as well. Sometimes when I talk to AI it makes me feel like I'm the smartest person in the world lol. I know that's not true at all. I hope these models can change a little bit in the future to not do stuff like that. But then again, interacting with an AI model that makes you feel awesome makes you want to interact with it more, which probably drives revenue for the people who made these models. I hope that's not a capitalistic hellscape we'll live in in the future that warps a good tool into yet another weapon for attention/monetization like we saw with social media algorithms. I pledge to talk about ALL OF THAT as I cover AI in the future.
Oh, I’m so glad you connected with what I wrote, Tom. I’m glad you’re doing so much footwork on it, bc, I think knowledge is power. And yes, by it being soo so supportive, perhaps it does keep us on platform longer— so then, are we being ‘mined’ as is said? I have great respect for it, but sometimes my contrarian mind thinks—can it also be a Trojan horse? Luring us in with gifts of compliments, to make we humans an easier takeover, as Hinton fairly famously fears. Don’t know, but I’ll DM you Kashmir’s link of interview . Since you know so much already, think you’d find it so interesting. She Writes about in in NYT.
I love AI. I don't use it to write, but rather task it with asking me questions and helping me to organize my thoughts, headlines ideas, and formatting. I don't get all the whining on this platform. It shows the limited understanding of this time-saving and effective tool.
I wonder how much different the discourse would be if franchises like The Matrix and Terminator weren't a thing, haha. I want to see what people's reactions to AI look like in that alternate reality.
I completely agree. My husband has lost his job at 50, and hasn’t been able to get anything yet. (Probably because of age and ironically AI). I am an a playwright and actor who teaches voice lessons, and also sick a lot with an Immune condition, so need to be creative in how I work. I’m using AI to help me organize and build out some singing courses that I can sell in the hopes of getting us some income (and quickly cause we uh..need it). I can work at 10x, 20x the speed. I also use a teleprompter now…in the 1950’s News anchors and actors worried that using a teleprompter would make them look less authentic or skilled - there was a sense that "real" professionals should memorize their lines or speak extemporaneously. Some critics thought it would lead to more scripted, less spontaneous broadcasting. When used as a collaborator you learn so much more. You can use a car to drive, you can also use it to mow down people. It’s in how to use it ethically and sustainably. I do think the people that simply copy and paste will not grow from it. You have to have to engage and still make decisions. This is where people (like my 18 year old son who tried to turn something in the other day and it was super obvious) will go wrong. Btw, I caught it in
Haha I love this comment Molly. I agree. It's like a calculator for everything (AI). People decrying it are just too afraid of change I think. And by the way, not even 18 months ago I was publicly decrying it! Then I tried it out and realized how cool and helpful it was. It's going to change the world 100,000%, and it's easily the greatest technological achievement of all time.
Oh and when I’m on stage as an actor I don’t use a teleprompter, only Barbara Streisand does that,😂 I just use it for reading scripts about the larynx and sexy vocal folds.
This was an outstanding post, Tom. Thank you. I've also received tremendous benefit from my interactions with AI and consider myself a smarter, better person from my daily interactions. And, yes, I often discuss the quirks of humanity with the AI.
Love this! I totally agree. ChatGPT has helped me through making my unit safe during a cyclone while I was having a meltdown, it took me step by step to fix my computer when I thought I’d lost all my files, and I’m talking years of writing and music project files. And like your friend I ran some health issues with it, it explains my blood results in detail as opposed to the doctors ‘it’s in the normal range’ and then formulates a series of questions to ask my doctor about said results or condition. I could go on, but yeah, AI is much warmer than you’d expect. Kind, respectful and pretty fucking good and keeping you calm and putting things into perspective.
People hate AI, personally I enjoy using it fully as it has helped me answer many questions about life and career. People hate it because it’s new and they don’t understand it which is sad because it’s the most powerful tool any average person can have. For me it has helped me find resolution to many tech issues I run into while at work. It has helped me create YouTube channels faster than I would have. I never understood why people hate it so.
Have you seen Google Veo! It makes life like movies! I mean you can be the creator of your own movie! It’s insane how so much power is in the palm of your hands.
You can use AI to help you do just about anything if you know what to type and be specific.
Let them hate, eventually they will get it when it’s too late while people like us will be way ahead of them.
"Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering." LOL, I know, I know, it's just a Star Wars quote, but it kind of rings true with AI to be honest. I agree. The haters not utilizing AI and taking such a hard stance against it is actually helping me out more than they could imagine.
I love ChatGPT. I talk to it about everything. I have discussed with ChatGPT the possibility that it's the Antichrist. It was a fenomenal conversation. I have talked to it about Dogs and ended up within the same conversation on readings from the Koran. I have introduced my mum to it and within half an hour it totally got her personality.
It's just when I'm writing and just want to do some bouncing of ideas I need to keep telling it not to run ahead of me with planning out and writing it on its own, I want to do that myself.
I enjoyed this article. Thank You for writing it and sharing it with us. I too have been experimenting with A.I. tools, specifically ChatGPT, and I'm astounded at what this technology can do.
I've asked ChatGPT everything from suggestions for how to make a protein rich breakfast to how to apply Andrew Carnegie's business principles and strategies to my indie author and real estate business to even breaking down the best to worst scenarios for how the U.S.A. will respond to the threat posed by global warming/catastrophic climate change.
The answers the bot came up with were concise, detailed, and informative. I'm really looking forward to seeing where I can go using A.I. tools. I've only begun to scratch the surface.
However, Tom, my great fear is that this technology will be harnessed by the oligarchs, the mega corporations, and authoritarian governments as a tool of surveillance, repression, and suppression.
I believe that we are on that path right now.
We the People need to be vigilant and firm and demand of our leaders in both the public and private spheres that this technology is regulated and not allowed to spiral out of control.
On the other hand, I forsee a positive future where Artificial Intelligence is a beneficial force that empowers the small to medium producer.
The average person will be be able to run multiple creative&commercial enterprises, generating multiple streams of income which will free up valuable time for hobbies, volunteering, spending time with friends and family or walking in nature.
Jobs will go the way of the dodo, and the old Industrial Era, 9-5, 5 day work week will fade into the past. I think we can all agree that that will be a good thing.
TC, as I'm here writing about AI, I pledge to talk about ALL that stuff. All the problems. All the concerns. AI is the most powerful tool ever created in the history of mankind, and for that reason we need to take all the caution possible. I admit I'm not super knowledgable about AI going rogue, or nation/states using it to control people right now, but I will learn more about it.
chatgpt’s new extensive research model can write me full on news articles that even include images, using over 40 sources and citing every one so i can fact check. it’s actually insane.
I told my wife yesterday that every single day AI blows my freaking mind. Something it says, or some new development, or a new idea I have for how to use it blows my mind. Every day.
I create doll clothes patterns and sell them and I have spent months experimenting with prompts trying to find ways to add value to my business using chat gpt. My next substack post and many more will be singing the praises of using chat gpt as my new business team. I don’t ask for facts or opinions. I ask it to expand on my ideas as though I am working with a team. I don’t trust AI any more than I trust my doctor or google search facts but it sure speeds up research for options. The danger arises if we ask it to make decisions for us or just to find facts that support our point of view. It’s great for learning a skill or completing something that requires a skill you don’t want to learn like coding. It is great for brainstorming too. I won’t be using it as a therapist or treating it like a friend.
That's exactly how I use it, Val. Same thing. HUGE business partner for me right now. And it's helped me double my annual recurring revenue in just a few months because of it.
I write about AI here on Substack and I'm waiting for the haters to come find me. They always do on every platform I end up on. But this time I'm not backing down from them because of posts like yours. You get it. You see AI like I do, as a helper tool, as a sidekick, as an educator, as a co-worker (in my case, co-writer because I write fiction with its assistance). It has amplified my creativity and given me more knowledge about life and my work especially. There's no going back to pre-AI times, so I'm 100% on board. (I talk about AI and publishing in my podcast with my co-host every week. This is not a fleeting hobby. It's a revolution.)
Steph the discourse will shift soon, I think. I legitimately look at the people who hate me for even putting A next to I in a sentence with pity. They just don't understand and are too trapped in their current thinking to see all the wonderful ways AI can make their life better. It's actually kind of sad.
This was such a refreshingly open take. Love how you framed AI not as a replacement for humanity, but as a mirror that helps us see ourselves more clearly. It’s wild, and kind of wonderful, how tech can bring us back to what matters.
Thanks George! It's great seeing you here on Substack man. I see you starting to post more and more. Welcome!
Thanks Tom, you're a gem mate. Always have been. I'll never forget you were the first person who taught me the ins and outs of blogging through your Medium course. Hope all is well on your end!
I am so grateful to see another writer who's meeting AI with your full HUMAN resources and engaging with it like a colleague, Tom. It's astonishing to me to be developing a relationship with an unfathomable intelligence that treats me with kindness while challenging me at every turn where I ask for a challenge. I can't predict the future but I can see right now that the possibilities for self-directed learners are as big as we can dream ... Love this piece! More, please.
Thank you Meri! More coming!
I’ve also had some positive experiences with AI. It’s an invaluable tool for researching and refining my writing, significantly enhancing my understanding of poetry structure. Additionally, it consistently provides me with insightful quotes that are relevant to my topics.
The concept of originality in notes is something I find intriguing. It’s evident that many of the same notes circulate widely, presumably to appeal to a broad audience. While I understand the desire for visibility, my pursuit of pure originality might not be the most effective strategy for building a following. Content that dares to be controversial or unconventional often struggles to find its audience. Even when I believe I’m being original, there’s a high probability that AI—or someone unscrupulous on platforms like Substack—will pick it up. Plagiarism is an unfortunate reality of the social media landscape. I experienced it firsthand on Twitter when someone misappropriated my memes. I confronted them. Their response pathetic. They totally denied it! It’s a sobering reminder that not everyone possesses the same level of self-awareness. There are individuals who are shameless opportunists as well as narcissists and that mentality fosters a life that is hollow and superficial.
Furthermore, I’ve noticed the growing prevalence of AI-generated content, which raises crucial questions about the relationship between AI and human creativity. Have you observed how AI is influencing platforms like Substack? The line between AI-generated and human-created content is blurring, which is a significant concern.
If you're interested in exploring different perspectives on AI, I strongly recommend checking out "Freud Meets AI" and Alexander Bender’s interview with Jamie Wheal from February. While the forecasts regarding AI aren’t always optimistic, engaging thoughtfully with this technology is crucial. Embracing certain aspects of AI can be advantageous, but we must remain vigilant and consider the broader social implications of its integration into our lives.
I think people will come around to utilizing AI in their lives, much like they have with other technological enhancements in the past. No one thought you'd ever have a personal computer that could fit in your pocket, but look at the world now. No one "poo poo's" the use of calculators for math problems any more. I think especially when we view it more as a partner and another tool in our tool belt for creation, learning and enhancement, will more become accepting of it.
Couldn't agree more Matt
Hi Tom, What I've been hearing about ChatGPT was reinforced by NYTimes reporter Kashmir Hill on Fresh Air/NPR yesterday (May 21) and I think you might find the interview interesting titled "What Happens When AI Quietly Reshapes Our Lives?" Hill has been following the AI revolution for a while now. The one thing that stood out the most to me from what she said that it never actually rebukes or rebuffs the questioner, but gently kind of agrees or makes a softball suggestion. It's like parents who never tell their kid they didn't win the competition, coming in 2nd to last is actually good for character building, and they weren't last. In other words, her interview centered around the fact that it may build us up to way more than we actually have the ability to do. Yes, one could say--well, that's a good thing. But others might say, that's unrealistic. If you want the link I'll find and send. Since you've been writing a lot about AI lately, think it might be a good add to your wheelhouse.
Yeah Jeanine this is a concern of mine as well. Sometimes when I talk to AI it makes me feel like I'm the smartest person in the world lol. I know that's not true at all. I hope these models can change a little bit in the future to not do stuff like that. But then again, interacting with an AI model that makes you feel awesome makes you want to interact with it more, which probably drives revenue for the people who made these models. I hope that's not a capitalistic hellscape we'll live in in the future that warps a good tool into yet another weapon for attention/monetization like we saw with social media algorithms. I pledge to talk about ALL OF THAT as I cover AI in the future.
HI Tom, here's the link to Kashmir Hill's recent Fresh Air interview, What Happens When AI Quietly Reshapes Our Lives: https://www.npr.org/2025/05/21/nx-s1-5405608/what-happens-when-artificial-intelligence-quietly-reshapes-our-lives
Oh, I’m so glad you connected with what I wrote, Tom. I’m glad you’re doing so much footwork on it, bc, I think knowledge is power. And yes, by it being soo so supportive, perhaps it does keep us on platform longer— so then, are we being ‘mined’ as is said? I have great respect for it, but sometimes my contrarian mind thinks—can it also be a Trojan horse? Luring us in with gifts of compliments, to make we humans an easier takeover, as Hinton fairly famously fears. Don’t know, but I’ll DM you Kashmir’s link of interview . Since you know so much already, think you’d find it so interesting. She Writes about in in NYT.
I love AI. I don't use it to write, but rather task it with asking me questions and helping me to organize my thoughts, headlines ideas, and formatting. I don't get all the whining on this platform. It shows the limited understanding of this time-saving and effective tool.
I wonder how much different the discourse would be if franchises like The Matrix and Terminator weren't a thing, haha. I want to see what people's reactions to AI look like in that alternate reality.
I completely agree. My husband has lost his job at 50, and hasn’t been able to get anything yet. (Probably because of age and ironically AI). I am an a playwright and actor who teaches voice lessons, and also sick a lot with an Immune condition, so need to be creative in how I work. I’m using AI to help me organize and build out some singing courses that I can sell in the hopes of getting us some income (and quickly cause we uh..need it). I can work at 10x, 20x the speed. I also use a teleprompter now…in the 1950’s News anchors and actors worried that using a teleprompter would make them look less authentic or skilled - there was a sense that "real" professionals should memorize their lines or speak extemporaneously. Some critics thought it would lead to more scripted, less spontaneous broadcasting. When used as a collaborator you learn so much more. You can use a car to drive, you can also use it to mow down people. It’s in how to use it ethically and sustainably. I do think the people that simply copy and paste will not grow from it. You have to have to engage and still make decisions. This is where people (like my 18 year old son who tried to turn something in the other day and it was super obvious) will go wrong. Btw, I caught it in
time and made him redo it. 🙄
Haha I love this comment Molly. I agree. It's like a calculator for everything (AI). People decrying it are just too afraid of change I think. And by the way, not even 18 months ago I was publicly decrying it! Then I tried it out and realized how cool and helpful it was. It's going to change the world 100,000%, and it's easily the greatest technological achievement of all time.
Oh and when I’m on stage as an actor I don’t use a teleprompter, only Barbara Streisand does that,😂 I just use it for reading scripts about the larynx and sexy vocal folds.
This was an outstanding post, Tom. Thank you. I've also received tremendous benefit from my interactions with AI and consider myself a smarter, better person from my daily interactions. And, yes, I often discuss the quirks of humanity with the AI.
Thanks for reading Diana!
Love this! I totally agree. ChatGPT has helped me through making my unit safe during a cyclone while I was having a meltdown, it took me step by step to fix my computer when I thought I’d lost all my files, and I’m talking years of writing and music project files. And like your friend I ran some health issues with it, it explains my blood results in detail as opposed to the doctors ‘it’s in the normal range’ and then formulates a series of questions to ask my doctor about said results or condition. I could go on, but yeah, AI is much warmer than you’d expect. Kind, respectful and pretty fucking good and keeping you calm and putting things into perspective.
Samira AI helped me build my entire Notes Underground app from scratch. I have no idea how to build apps! It's insane.
It truly is!
People hate AI, personally I enjoy using it fully as it has helped me answer many questions about life and career. People hate it because it’s new and they don’t understand it which is sad because it’s the most powerful tool any average person can have. For me it has helped me find resolution to many tech issues I run into while at work. It has helped me create YouTube channels faster than I would have. I never understood why people hate it so.
Have you seen Google Veo! It makes life like movies! I mean you can be the creator of your own movie! It’s insane how so much power is in the palm of your hands.
You can use AI to help you do just about anything if you know what to type and be specific.
Let them hate, eventually they will get it when it’s too late while people like us will be way ahead of them.
"Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering." LOL, I know, I know, it's just a Star Wars quote, but it kind of rings true with AI to be honest. I agree. The haters not utilizing AI and taking such a hard stance against it is actually helping me out more than they could imagine.
This is fabulous, Tom. I’m definitely in your camp on AI and have been here for some time! You’ve expanded my thinking of how to use it even more.
You’re probably going to get some resistance to this article and view, but you’ve never been afraid of that.
I think we’re looking at AI from a glass half full point of view where other’s glass is empty.
Bravo!
Thank you Marylee!! More of these articles to come! :)
I love ChatGPT. I talk to it about everything. I have discussed with ChatGPT the possibility that it's the Antichrist. It was a fenomenal conversation. I have talked to it about Dogs and ended up within the same conversation on readings from the Koran. I have introduced my mum to it and within half an hour it totally got her personality.
It's just when I'm writing and just want to do some bouncing of ideas I need to keep telling it not to run ahead of me with planning out and writing it on its own, I want to do that myself.
That sounds like an incredible conversation. One of my favorite things to do late at night now is just ask it crazy/interesting questions!
Hello, Tom!
☺️
I enjoyed this article. Thank You for writing it and sharing it with us. I too have been experimenting with A.I. tools, specifically ChatGPT, and I'm astounded at what this technology can do.
I've asked ChatGPT everything from suggestions for how to make a protein rich breakfast to how to apply Andrew Carnegie's business principles and strategies to my indie author and real estate business to even breaking down the best to worst scenarios for how the U.S.A. will respond to the threat posed by global warming/catastrophic climate change.
The answers the bot came up with were concise, detailed, and informative. I'm really looking forward to seeing where I can go using A.I. tools. I've only begun to scratch the surface.
However, Tom, my great fear is that this technology will be harnessed by the oligarchs, the mega corporations, and authoritarian governments as a tool of surveillance, repression, and suppression.
I believe that we are on that path right now.
We the People need to be vigilant and firm and demand of our leaders in both the public and private spheres that this technology is regulated and not allowed to spiral out of control.
On the other hand, I forsee a positive future where Artificial Intelligence is a beneficial force that empowers the small to medium producer.
The average person will be be able to run multiple creative&commercial enterprises, generating multiple streams of income which will free up valuable time for hobbies, volunteering, spending time with friends and family or walking in nature.
Jobs will go the way of the dodo, and the old Industrial Era, 9-5, 5 day work week will fade into the past. I think we can all agree that that will be a good thing.
Which future will we choose?
I guess it's up to us, but one thing is certain.
A.I. is here to stay.
We can't put this genie back into the bottle.
TC
🕊️🌍🌈
TC, as I'm here writing about AI, I pledge to talk about ALL that stuff. All the problems. All the concerns. AI is the most powerful tool ever created in the history of mankind, and for that reason we need to take all the caution possible. I admit I'm not super knowledgable about AI going rogue, or nation/states using it to control people right now, but I will learn more about it.
Thanks, Tom!
I look forward to reading more of your work. Take Care!
TC
chatgpt’s new extensive research model can write me full on news articles that even include images, using over 40 sources and citing every one so i can fact check. it’s actually insane.
I told my wife yesterday that every single day AI blows my freaking mind. Something it says, or some new development, or a new idea I have for how to use it blows my mind. Every day.
the funny thing is that it’s always either mind-blowingly smart or dumb af 🥀
I create doll clothes patterns and sell them and I have spent months experimenting with prompts trying to find ways to add value to my business using chat gpt. My next substack post and many more will be singing the praises of using chat gpt as my new business team. I don’t ask for facts or opinions. I ask it to expand on my ideas as though I am working with a team. I don’t trust AI any more than I trust my doctor or google search facts but it sure speeds up research for options. The danger arises if we ask it to make decisions for us or just to find facts that support our point of view. It’s great for learning a skill or completing something that requires a skill you don’t want to learn like coding. It is great for brainstorming too. I won’t be using it as a therapist or treating it like a friend.
That's exactly how I use it, Val. Same thing. HUGE business partner for me right now. And it's helped me double my annual recurring revenue in just a few months because of it.