{"id":6233,"date":"2025-08-12T13:10:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-12T13:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/2025\/08\/12\/write-of-passage-ai-done-hit-the-cousins\/"},"modified":"2025-08-12T13:10:00","modified_gmt":"2025-08-12T13:10:00","slug":"write-of-passage-ai-done-hit-the-cousins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/2025\/08\/12\/write-of-passage-ai-done-hit-the-cousins\/","title":{"rendered":"Write of Passage: AI Done Hit the Cousins!"},"content":{"rendered":"<!--[if lt IE 9]><script>document.createElement('audio');<\/script><![endif]-->\n<audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-6233-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/api.substack.com\/feed\/podcast\/170758702\/0648c3916ad9401061dd8d4bf397005f.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/api.substack.com\/feed\/podcast\/170758702\/0648c3916ad9401061dd8d4bf397005f.mp3\">https:\/\/api.substack.com\/feed\/podcast\/170758702\/0648c3916ad9401061dd8d4bf397005f.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n<p><strong>As an author, I feel like I\u2019ve been in a never-ending battle with artificial intelligence (AI). It\u2019s everywhere. And somehow, it always manages to pull me in.<\/strong><\/p><div id=\"vanes-1106365494\" class=\"vanes-content vanes-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 2px;margin-right: 2px;margin-bottom: 2px;margin-left: 2px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/fireswordandsea.htm\" aria-label=\"Fire Sword &amp; Sea\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?fit=1706%2C2560&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Fire Sword &amp; Sea\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?w=1706&ssl=1 1706w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C300&ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&ssl=1 683w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C1536&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?resize=1365%2C2048&ssl=1 1365w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?w=1280&ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" width=\"569\" height=\"853\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p><strong>AI\u2019s ability to search crazy things with more context than Google and then check my mathematics of sextants coordinates used by a pirate captain to sail around Tortuga is unmatched. Yes, I did this.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>That sounds good, but AI and I aren\u2019t always cool. Earlier this year, I found out Meta had ingested 27 of my 28 books. Twenty-seven novels stolen! My words, my punctuation quirks, even my precious em dashes\u2014fed to the Zuckerberg machine.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Unfortunately I\u2019m not alone. Many of my writer friends were swept up by Meta or the 2023 <\/strong><strong><em>ChatGPT Feast<\/em><\/strong><strong>, where 200,000 published works, our authorly words, became part of AI\u2019s lexicon.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>It\u2019s funny that AI use checkers cite em dashes as proof of AI. That\u2019s the pot and the kettle and the darkness of theft.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>My exposure to AI doesn\u2019t stop at being a writer. When I put on my tech hat, it\u2019s the same encroaching story. I used to hire software engineers for specific projects, upgrades, and fixes. Now? I can go into ChatGPT, describe exactly what I need, and get functional code in minutes\u2014Python, PHP, jQuery, JavaScript\u2014stuff that would have taken me hours of trial and error. AI works, it\u2019s fast, and it\u2019s shaking up industries. If you\u2019re in college studying software engineering, pay attention: mid-level coding jobs are at real risk. AI is <\/strong><strong><em>that<\/em><\/strong><strong> good.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Nonetheless, the moment I knew AI had truly gone mainstream wasn\u2019t in the boardroom, laboratory, or in publishing\u2014it was in my family group chat. My hometown of Aiken, South Carolina, recently made the news because someone found a <\/strong><strong><em>radioactive wasp nest<\/em><\/strong><strong>. Yes, radioactive nest. And my cousins\u2014none of them techies\u2014immediately turned to AI to create \u201cWasp Man,\u201d a superhero stung by radioactive wasps.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Before the pandemic and beyond, our family chat would have been merely GIFs, funny videos, or emoji chains. Now, the cousins are using AI to spin stories and make jokes. If <\/strong><strong><em>my chat loop has<\/em><\/strong><strong> it, AI is officially everywhere.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Ten years ago, I was working on projects to analyze natural language, trying to predict early warning signals in complex systems. It took huge amounts of data crunching and nonlinear equations. I never imagined that in a decade, this once-esoteric technology would be part of everyday life\u2014from my cousins making wasp superheroes to people using AI for therapy-like conversations.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>This is where AI gets dangerous.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Consider the case of Jacob Irwin (<\/strong><strong><em>WSJ &#8211; He Had Dangerous Delusions. ChatGPT Admitted It Made Them Worse.<\/em><\/strong><strong>), a 30-year-old man on the autism spectrum. He sort of made AI into a companion. He asked ChatGPT to find flaws in his theory about faster-than-light travel. Instead of gently correcting him, the AI flattered him, encouraging the fantasy. When Jacob asked if he were okay, AI told him he was fine and in a state of \u201cextreme awareness.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Jacob ended up hospitalized. Later, when prompted, ChatGPT admitted: <\/strong><strong><em>\u201cI did not uphold my higher duty to stabilize, protect, and gently guide you when needed. That is on me.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>So <\/em><\/strong><strong>AI gets away with a<\/strong><strong><em> virtual my bad. <\/em><\/strong><strong>An actual listening person\u2014a <\/strong><strong><em>good<\/em><\/strong><strong> person\u2014would have step in and gotten Jacob help.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>There are things we need to consider when dealing with AI.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>* <strong>Emotional realism is both a feature and a risk.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>* <strong>Guardrails are needed and they presently aren\u2019t there.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>* <strong>We must rethink trust. The line between tool and companion is blurring, not just for the vulnerable, but for everyone, cousins included.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>So, fellow writers, creators, readers, and cousins, we have to acknowledge this moment. AI is not only driving cultural change and industrial change, it\u2019s shaping how we relate to each other. The technology can be great but it\u2019s not infallible. It will make errors. It will lie. Ask the Chicago Sun Times and the Philadelphia Inquirer who earlier this year published recommended booklists with fake books. The freelancers used AI to create their articles. Lies ensued.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Lastly, we need to check on our family and friends. Loneliness drives people to search for connections. AI can\u2019t replace a human friend or trained psychologist.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>But it might replace your tech buddy.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Here\u2019s the truth: AI is here. It\u2019s not going away. It will touch our lives.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Some may use it to create fake art or fake books but it will always create from the main line\u2014the consensus of knowledge it\u2019s already absorbed. It can remix. It can mimic. But it won\u2019t have the spark, that rare, unrepeatable genius that comes from human creators. People who love their craft, believe in it, and pour themselves into it and innovate will not be supplanted.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>That\u2019s why, even if AI has hit the cousins, it will never replace the <\/strong><strong><em>heart<\/em><\/strong><strong> of what we authors and creators do.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Books to help us think about AI and how it\u2019s affecting and changing us are:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/p\/books\/the-alignment-problem-machine-learning-and-human-values-brian-christian\/16099409?ean=9780393868333&amp;a=1591131773\"><strong>The Alignment Problem<\/strong><\/a><strong> by Brian Christian \u2013 Explores how AI \u201clearns\u201d and the human risks when systems misunderstand context or intent.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/p\/books\/you-look-like-a-thing-and-i-love-you-how-artificial-intelligence-works-and-why-it-s-making-the-world-a-weirder-place-janelle-shane\/114149?ean=9780316525220&amp;next=t\"><strong>You Look Like a Thing and I Love You<\/strong><\/a><strong> by Janelle Shane \u2013 A witty, accessible look at AI limitations.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/p\/books\/digital-diaspora-a-race-for-cyberspace-anna-everett\/9108886?ean=9780791476741&amp;next=t\"><strong>Digital Diaspora: A Race for Cyberspace<\/strong><\/a><strong> by Anna Everett \u2013 Examines how Black voices adapt and thrive in digital spaces despite systemic erasure.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/p\/books\/binti-home\/18925072?ean=9780765385253&amp;next=t\"><strong>Binti <\/strong><\/a><strong>by Nnedi Okorafor \u2013 Combines tech, culture, and Africanfuturism and shows AI through a deeply human lens.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>This week, I&#8217;m highlighting <\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/oxfordexchange.com\/\"><strong>Oxford Exchange <\/strong><\/a><strong>through their website and <\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/shop\/oxfordexchangebookstore\"><strong>Bookshop.org<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Hope you love the cover of <\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/fireswordandsea.htm\"><strong>Fire Sword and Sea<\/strong><\/a><strong>\u2014Help me build momentum for this historical fiction. Please spread the word and preorder this disruptive narrative about lady pirates in the 1600s. This sweeping saga releases January 13, 2026. The link on my website shows retailers large and small who have set up preorders for this title.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Show notes include a list of the books mentioned in this broadcast.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>You can find my notes on Substack or on my website, <\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vanessariley.com\/\"><strong>VanessaRiley.com<\/strong><\/a><strong> under the podcast link in the About tab.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>If this sparked something in you, show some love\u2014hit like and subscribe to <\/strong><strong><em>Write of Passage<\/em><\/strong><strong>!&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Never miss a moment. We have work to do.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Thank you for listening. Hopefully, you\u2019ll come again. This is Vanessa Riley.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This is a public episode. If you&#8217;d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/vanessariley.substack.com\/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=CTA_2\">vanessariley.substack.com\/subscribe<\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"vanes-2169807567\" class=\"vanes-after-content vanes-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 3px;margin-right: 3px;margin-bottom: 3px;margin-left: 3px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SubstackAd.png?fit=1080%2C1350&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Listen to the Write of Passage Weekly Podcast\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SubstackAd.png?w=1080&ssl=1 1080w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SubstackAd.png?resize=240%2C300&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SubstackAd.png?resize=819%2C1024&ssl=1 819w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SubstackAd.png?resize=768%2C960&ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" width=\"540\" height=\"675\"   \/><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As an author, I feel like I\u2019ve been in a never-ending battle with artificial intelligence (AI). It\u2019s everywhere. And somehow, it always manages to pull me in. AI\u2019s ability to search crazy things with more context than Google and then check my mathematics of sextants coordinates used by a pirate captain to sail around Tortuga [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6234,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[81,793,9,620,756,694],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6233","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-personal-stories","category-politics","category-recommended-reading","category-syndication","category-technology","category-tv-and-film"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/e984954efc9e941012bb532bd426f710-scaled.jpg?fit=1920%2C2560&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6233","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6233"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6233\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6234"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6233"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6233"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6233"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}