By Nick Noel
I have always had trouble starting. Whether it’s research papers in college, emails at work or mowing the lawn at home, it takes a determined conscious effort to shift my mind and body into action. It’s true of just about everything in my life, including this article (this marks my fourth attempt at starting to write it).
A few years ago, I discovered the cause of this was undiagnosed ADHD, coupled with generalized anxiety. What I had always felt was a character flaw (and still kind of do if I’m being honest) had a reason and with that knowledge I was able to manage the effects better. I still have trouble starting things, I still feel paralyzed, at times, when I want to speak or move, but knowing why helps me move past it.
Now, you may be wondering, what does this have to do with generative AI? Good question! Generative AI allows me to get over the initial internal resistance to starting something, by reinforcing that it is possible to do. I think for those without ADHD, this may seem like a strange concept, but typing in a prompt to create an email, or other simple written document, is very helpful. I usually don’t end up using what is generated, I just get some kind some starting point, and from there I can move on.
This also helps with creating lists to help organize tasks and building out documents. I’m not sure what others’ experiences are like, but for me I often know what I want to say. I’ll have pretty much everything planned out in my head. Usually, I have too much information planned out, as I try to anticipate reactions other people may have and incorporate that into the initial document, then the reactions to the new document, until it becomes an infinite loop of action and reaction. Using a generative AI tool helps me break the loop, by giving me an example to work from.
On the flip side though, I don’t find it very satisfying to generate creative work, or anything longer than a few paragraphs. There is something hollow about having pages of information created in a few seconds, based only on a simple prompt. Writing creates community. We build community when we ask for feedback, when we publish when we discuss it with those who read it. Writing generated by AI is more akin to overhearing a conversation or reading someone else’s diary. The others involved, through their work being used to train the AI, aren’t usually aware of it, and their individual contributions are obscured.
When I write something, it is hard. I put a lot of effort into blocking out distractions, and I have a lot of false starts. But, when it is done, it is something I can take pride in, because it was difficult. It is a record of a struggle (granted a relatively minor one) that I went through. With the increasing adoption of generative AI, I’m worried some of that will be lost for others. That the ease at which something can be created will lead to it being the default way it is created. I don’t want others to miss out on the joy that comes from completing something that was difficult and the community that is developed from sharing something you are creating with your colleagues and friends.
Nick Noel is the Assistant Director of Educational Technology with MSU IT.