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AIQuiet 4d · day 4

Simon Späti: Writers using AI today can't know if they can write without it

Essay argues AI-written text lacks human character and leaves writers more exhausted than manual work.

newest coverage 3d agosummary written 3d ago3 pieces16 likes & upvotes24 comments MastodonNewswiresHacker News

What to know

  • Späti argues that writers starting with AI cannot verify they can write independently, as the distinction between human and AI prose blurs over time.
  • AI-generated writing is criticized as uniform, unnatural, and exhausting for both writers and readers compared to concise human-authored content.
  • The essay proposes AI's proper role as brainstorming and research assistance only, not sentence generation or composition, to preserve human authorship and thought.
  • Späti contends that human-written work carries irreplaceable character and soul that AI cannot replicate, making it essential for meaningful communication with human audiences.

Simon Späti Essay authorNaval Ravikant Referenced thought leader

Simon Späti: Writers using AI today can't know if they can write without it
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How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts

Peak 3 pieces in one hour at Sep 22, 10 AM; 3 pieces over 4 days (1 article · 2 posts) Sep 22, 10 AM — 3 pieces · 1 article · 2 posts — Hacker News 1, Mastodon 1, Newswires 1Sep 22, 11 AM — quietSep 22, 12 PM — quietSep 22, 1 PM — quietSep 22, 2 PM — quietSep 22, 3 PM — quietSep 22, 4 PM — quietSep 22, 5 PM — quietSep 22, 6 PM — quietSep 22, 7 PM — quietSep 22, 8 PM — quietSep 22, 9 PM — quietSep 22, 10 PM — quietSep 22, 11 PM — quietSep 23, 12 AM — quietSep 23, 1 AM — quietSep 23, 2 AM — quietSep 23, 3 AM — quietSep 23, 4 AM — quietSep 23, 5 AM — quietSep 23, 6 AM — quietSep 23, 7 AM — quietSep 23, 8 AM — quietSep 23, 9 AM — quietSep 23, 10 AM — quietSep 23, 11 AM — quietSep 23, 12 PM — quietSep 23, 1 PM — quietSep 23, 2 PM — quietSep 23, 3 PM — quietSep 23, 4 PM — quietSep 23, 5 PM — quietSep 23, 6 PM — quietSep 23, 7 PM — quietSep 23, 8 PM — quietSep 23, 9 PM — quietSep 23, 10 PM — quietSep 23, 11 PM — quietSep 24, 12 AM — quietSep 24, 1 AM — quietSep 24, 2 AM — quietSep 24, 3 AM — quietSep 24, 4 AM — quietSep 24, 5 AM — quietSep 24, 6 AM — quietSep 24, 7 AM — quietSep 24, 8 AM — quietSep 24, 9 AM — quietSep 24, 10 AM — quietSep 24, 11 AM — quietSep 24, 12 PM — quietSep 24, 1 PM — quietSep 24, 2 PM — quietSep 24, 3 PM — quietSep 24, 4 PM — quietSep 24, 5 PM — quietSep 24, 6 PM — quietSep 24, 7 PM — quietSep 24, 8 PM — quietSep 24, 9 PM — quietSep 24, 10 PM — quietSep 24, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 1 AM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 5 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 9 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 1 PM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 5 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 9 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quietToday, 1 AM — quietToday, 2 AM — quietToday, 3 AM — quietToday, 4 AM — quietToday, 5 AM — quietToday, 6 AM — quietToday, 7 AM — quiet 1
Sep 23Sep 24yesterdaynow · 8:30 AM ET
  1. 1

    Späti proposes limited AI role: brainstorming only, not composition

    Späti argues AI should assist with brainstorming and research phases but not generate sentences, as finishing ideas suggested by AI leaves writers exhausted and disconnected from their own work. He describes using local AI models to organize personal notes rather than generate new prose.

    “I don't want AI to write my sentences, but it could help me brainstorm.”
    — Simon Späti
  2. background

    Späti argues AI writing lacks human character and soul — The essay contrasts AI-generated writing with manual writing, claiming that human-written work carries character and soul that no AI model can replicate. Späti references Naval Ravikant's discussion with Garry Tan about why readers should prefer the original prompt over expanded AI-written versions.

  3. background

    Späti publishes essay on AI writing's risks to human authorship — Simon Späti updated his essay 'If you start writing today, there's no way to know if you can write without AI,' arguing that writers using AI tools cannot verify their independent writing ability. The piece compares AI-generated text to DALL-E images—initially polished but ultimately uniform, unnatural, and exhausting to read.