My half-finished sentences have been lying on the screen for an hour. I stare at them trying to find fresh inspiration, but in vain. Words stand before my eyes like soldiers fallen on a battlefield. It takes an instant to give in to the temptation: it’s better if I take a walk, waiting for them to come back to life.
Writing in the digital era has become a real challenge. Instead of leading to apocalyptic scenarios like those portrayed in movies – which may not be that far away -, Artificial Intelligence has brought a new kind of personal crisis. Even if you’re simply using Google to gather information on a topic, AI Mode pops up, ready to help you surf the internet. The step of telling AI to write for us is only a click away.
So, how should writers approach this powerful yet tricky tool?
Honestly speaking, I found myself being tempted when I first decided to publish in English. Not being a native English speaker filled me with fear: what if I make a mistake? What if, while reading my articles, someone feels that something is clearly off? The idea of receiving help from ChatGPT or Gemini has seemed reassuring more than once. Is it really that bad to share my work to get a hint on how to organise my confused thoughts?
Nonetheless, every time I reached this point, I stopped myself before I could commit this outrageous crime. Am I a total hypocrite? How can I sell the idea that our minds are marvellous and that we shouldn’t use AI tools, only to fall into the same trap I’m trying so hard to warn people against? I feel immensely guilty whenever I reflect on it. What would I say if others did the same?
I’m aware that my English writing might not be as good as my Italian writing - or rather, it is far behind it. The flow is different and, despite my certificates and experiences in an English-speaking environment, I still have a long way to go. But this very fact is what keeps me on the right track: the process of learning. I want to be that machine learning how to write; I do not want AI to do that for me. I want to be the one improving my style of writing, not AI to do it in my place.
Thus, I’ve made a promise to myself: to avoid using AI when it comes to writing. I acknowledge how it is an incredibly useful innovation, which is no longer the future, but already the present. Still, writing is creativity – why should we let a machine, even a clever one, write what we believe, think, or dream?
I do not want to use it as a shortcut when facing a daunting blank page. My brain is shaped by my creativity, passion and enthusiasm, as well as my flaws, overthinking and inevitable mistakes. And I am eager to learn from my own slips and errors, I am willing to spend hours trying to write an article as best as I can – for my readers and for myself.
Refraining from using AI when writing isn’t something we do just because it is not allowed – whether imposed by schools, institutions or parents. It should be first and foremost for ourselves, for keeping our neurons firing, and for being satisfied with our own work.
Continuing to write, reading the same paragraphs over and over to understand what disrupts the flow or what doesn’t need changing, and searching for new words that could express our ideas better is no walk in the park. It is indeed tough. However, I’m willing to make this effort – for you, our readers, and for myself – because I would rather see myself happy with what I’ve done than surrender to a robot.
I’ve reawakened my creative spirit. With a relieved heart and a refreshed mind, I can now return to the desk, determined to fulfil my promise. Here, my tiny soldiers: it’s time to resume our battle.
Elisabetta Vittoria Caiazzo
