In an era where artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the landscape of various industries, it's tempting to delegate tasks to AI that once required human effort and creativity. However, when it comes to personal communication, particularly letter writing, outsourcing to AI may come at a great loss.
Watching the 2024 Paris Olympics and a sentimental commercial for Google's Gemini aired, the author realized the commercial promotes using AI to do things that humans once got joy out of doing such as writing letters to our heroes. Gemini, Google’s AI chatbot, promises to help us generate literature, art, movies, and even heartfelt letters.
"She wants to show Sydney some love and I’m pretty good with words, but this has to be just right. So, Gemini, help my daughter write a letter telling Sydney how inspiring she is and be sure to mention that my daughter plans on breaking her world record one day."
Although the scene is meant to be "adorable", it is also unsettling in that it promotes negating the real relationship at the heart of this exchange. The father and his daughter have an opportunity to bond over composing a letter to a celebrity athlete. This commercial highlights a growing trend of relying on AI for tasks that were once deeply personal and formative. But at what cost?
Letter writing is more than just stringing words together. It's an opportunity to:
The author reminisces about cherished memories of writing and receiving letters throughout her life.
"Those letters are a treasure map of my burgeoning personality, my quirks, my voice, my wobbly scrawls and my interests throughout my adolescence."
These letters served as a foundation for her development as a writer and a person. This reflection underscores the profound impact that letter writing can have on shaping our identities. By engaging in the practice of personal communication, we develop a deeper understanding of ourselves and our relationship to the world around us.
While AI can be a useful tool for writers, assisting with tasks like brainstorming and organization, it should not replace the human element of writing. As Wendell Berry wrote in his 1988 essay, "Why I’m Not Going to Buy a Computer," technology should enhance, not replace, human creativity.
"....when somebody has used a computer to write work that is demonstrably better than Dante's, and when this better is demonstrably attributable to the use of a computer, then I will speak of computers with a more respectful tone of voice, though I still will not buy one.”
Ultimately, writing is about putting our hearts and minds on the page. When we outsource our letters to AI, we risk losing a part of ourselves. It's not just the writing we are giving up, but our ability to connect with others, to reflect on our experiences, and to express our unique perspectives.
While AI may offer ease and perfection, it cannot replicate the authenticity and emotional depth that comes from human expression.
