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Dear reader,
In general, I try not to be too much of an alarmist. I acknowledge that it's always been the job of the aging generation to be inordinately freaked out by every newfangled thing the younger generation is using. Likewise, it has always been the job of the rising generation to roll their eyes at each "back in my day" rant the aging generation hurls at their Gameboy.
Growing up in the 90's, I remember all the anti-videogame rhetoric. Before that, I remember my grandparents talking about how TV was rotting our brains. And I've heard stories of the generation before that railing against the evils of rock-and-roll and comic books. The pattern is familiar.
But... this feels different, doesn't it?
Now, I'm not saying it's about to get all Terminator out there, but I'm concerned. I heard a compelling argument the other day that we are already living through the first AI apocalypse: the destruction of reliable information. And it's true, isn't it? I used to love watching AFV and other funny videos with my children. Now I can't even enjoy them, because I'm constantly trying to decide if what I'm viewing is AI slop. We really have no clue how much of the content we consume is legitimate, and we have no reliable ability to test it.
But, the second AI apocalypse, and this is the one that really keep me up at night, is not the destruction of quality content, but the destruction of our ability to produce it. In this age of "beautify this slide" and "summarize this email," I am seeing skill slippage among my peers and colleagues at an alarming rate. We used to find passion in our craft: meaning in our trade. Now I worry that we're sacrificing the most beautiful elements of our humanity (imagination, creativity, empathy, curiosity, determination) just for convenience.
I suppose this may just be the natural next step in our automated, digitized path to modernity, but doesn't this feel different to you? I can't be the only one, right? When I imagine the future, I don't see the flying cars and robot maids of The Jetsons. I see the lonely, braindead, floating blob people of WALL-E. And it worries me.
So, now more than ever, I think it's time we took a stand for our own minds. Buy art made by real artists. Listen to music made by real musicians. And read books written by real authors, not chatbots.
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On that note, here's a giveaway with a variety of free fantasy ebooks from independent authors:
You can also get a free copy of J. W. Weld's Slice of Sin, a dark fantasy prequel when you subscribe to the author's newsletter:
The Volcan Knights: Origins by Laurie Bowler is a a dark fantasy epic of immortal warriors, cosmic horror, and is now available at most major retailers:
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Thanks for your support, friends. It really means a lot. Happy reading, and until next time,
Ben Schwarting
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My Books:
The Sum of Ages Series is available from a variety of retailers
Kindred Straits is available from a variety of retailers
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