I’ve published a first draft of an AI Use Policy to define how, where, and – more to the point – where we won’t use AI.
This is a first attempt at putting my thoughts into words, and I will probably revise this over time as my own feelings about AI keep evolving. But I wanted to get something out there now, because everywhere else seems to be sprinting in the opposite direction.
A few weeks ago I saw a post in a blogger group on Facebook that has just … stuck with me. It fucking haunts me. It represents a version of the internet I want to run away from screaming, a version that scares me, and one that moves even further away from the internet I grew up loving.
I already feel like I’ve lost so much to social networks that divide us, sell us, and try to keep us rage-engaged until we’re little more than scrolling-hating-bullshit-consuming machines. And now it feels like the last parts of the internet I still care deeply about: writing, human connection, emotion, art, music, are being ripped through in the same manner. In the same way I saw social networks and the algorithmic feeds kill blogging, kill the idea of a bookmarked website, I feel like I’m watching so much of the web turn into a factory that churns out slop. Fake, inauthentic, soulless slop.
And I hate it.
I can try and protect my little corner of the internet. To try and keep the humanity, be intentional, be messy, and be, above all, real and honest. That’s what I’m going to try to do. My line in the sand is here.