Why I Don't Use AI to Write...Yet

This year, BookBub surveyed over 1,200 authors to ask them: “Do you use generative AI to assist with your writing, marketing, or other aspects of your work as an author?”(https://insights.bookbub.com/how-authors-are-thinking-about-ai-survey/). According to Carlyn Robertson who reported on the findings in a May 15, 2025 article, “Overall, opinions among authors are deeply divided — many consider any use of generative AI unethical and irresponsible, while others find it a helpful tool to enhance their writing and business processes. Some authors remain conflicted, and are still negotiating their own feelings about the utility and morality of this technology. Among survey respondents, about 45% are currently using generative AI to assist with their work while 48% are not and do not plan to in the future. Another 7% of respondents are not currently using AI but might use it in the future. Of the authors who are currently using generative AI, 30% use it occasionally and 60% are using it frequently.” (https://insights.bookbub.com/how-authors-are-thinking-about-ai-survey/). If you write for business or pleasure, do you use AI to facilitate your writing?

As a writer, I agree with “[for] the authors who do not currently use generative AI [,] 84% say they aren’t using the technology because they think it’s unethical. The other top reasons are because they enjoy doing the work themselves and they don’t think AI does a good job with the tasks they would give it. In elaborating on their ethical opposition to AI, by far the most frequently cited concern among authors was that many generative AI tools were trained on copyrighted material with no compensation for the original creators. Some authors also shared other objections, including mistrust of the companies developing AI tools and the environmental impacts of its use” (https://insights.bookbub.com/how-authors-are-thinking-about-ai-survey/).  The entire survey report shares interesting data.

Other reasons, I currently don’t use use AI to write:

• My authenticity and originality is important to me.

• Human imperfection is okay.

• My writing is reflective of my thoughts, my phrasing, my opinions, my signature style when AI isn’t involved.

• I own may own writing - good or bad, excellent or mediocre.

• AI is ‘vanilla’ - lacks creativity.

• We can’t trust the “research” and correct citing of source material.

Perhaps, if I were writing for business or non-fiction, I may consider taking advantage of AI, but, even that comes with problems. Think of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the current Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Trump regime. The “Make America Healthy Again” report  included AI generated “research” that didn’t exist. This report is worthless without empirical research and data to support the claims the secretary was making. To read more about this terrible flop, check out these websites:   https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/rfk-jrs-maha-report-contained-existent-studies/story?id=122321059 ; https://www.ibtimes.com/rfk-jr-admits-he-did-not-fact-check-maha-report-before-non-existent-sources-were-found-paper-3776718  ; https://fortune.com/well/2025/05/29/rfk-jr-maha-report-cited-nonexistent-misinterpreted-studies/ ; https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/29/well/maha-report-citations.html .

When I recently wrote my doctoral dissertation, I did not consider using AI.  I’m proud that my dissertation topic was researched by me, cited by me, written all by me, and I will have earned my PhD on my own.  I know my scholarly paper reflects originality, legitimacy, reliability, accuracy, validity, my thoughts, my opinions, and my assertions based on bona fide research that is exists and is cited.

If you are trying to decide if AI is helpful to you as you write, here are a few websites that feature discussions on the pros and cons of AI writing or traditional writing:

https://masterwriter.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-ai-writing-tools/ ;

https://digitaldefynd.com/IQ/ai-in-content-writing/ ;

https://aicontentfy.com/en/blog/ai-writing-vs-traditional-writing-pros-and-cons. In the meantime, it’s not smart to pull an ‘RFK, Jr.’ move with AI.  And, if you’re a college or university student, it’s unwise to employ too much AI because plagiarism checkers also check for AI use. And, if you are using AI in business, beware: “As one marketing agency noted, when every business jumps on the AI content bandwagon without adding human creativity, things can get ‘flat’…Nothing says ‘we don’t care’ more than cookie-cutter content that feels like a robot wrote it” (qtd. in https://aicontentfy.com/en/blog/ai-writing-vs-traditional-writing-pros-and-cons).

Do you use AI to help you write? If so, what are your reasons? If not, what are your reasons? Please share your stories, thoughts, insights, and suggestions by either commenting below this post if you are reading this on social media, or, if you are reading this through your email subscription, please share, by emailing me, at reimaginelife22@gmail.com.

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