Artificial Intelligence as a Creative Catalyst
Many individuals, especially those who don’t identify as professional writers, often struggle with what is known as Blank Page Syndrome (BPS)—the anxiety that comes from staring at an empty screen with too many scattered thoughts and no clear entry point. One such individual, at the age of 70, found an unexpected creative partner in artificial intelligence.
Rather than replacing the writing process, AI served as a springboard for ideation. By interacting with a chatbot, the writer was able to articulate thoughts, explore structure, and find more concise ways to express ideas. The AI didn’t generate the content; it simply acted as a reflective tool that sharpened the writer’s voice.
The Collaborative Potential of AI
While concerns abound over students using AI to evade the complexities of learning and writing, this example shows that AI can enhance rather than diminish the intellectual effort. The chatbot functioned like an editor or mentor, prompting deeper engagement, not less. The writer found themselves moving forward creatively, not because the challenge disappeared—but because it was shared.
When used ethically, AI can help individuals develop their unique perspectives and refine their communication. It doesn’t have to be a crutch; it can be a collaborator.
AI in Government and Surveillance
Questions arise when AI is used for more invasive purposes. For instance, Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence, has proposed using AI to scan internal communications in search of potential “weaponization” within intelligence agencies. But what does that mean in practice?
Consider a hypothetical email between an FBI agent and her supervisor discussing deportation practices that contradict presidential promises. Would AI interpret this as patriotic oversight or as subversive behavior? The subjectivity of interpretation becomes dangerous when filtered through AI-driven surveillance, especially when political motives are involved.
AI and the Future of Entry-Level Jobs
An editorial recently warned that entry-level jobs are most vulnerable to AI displacement. The logic is simple: these roles require skills that are easiest to replicate. But if AI saves companies money, what incentive exists to create replacement roles for displaced workers?
Without thoughtful intervention from educators, CEOs, and policymakers, the result could be a zero-sum game where AI wins and entry-level workers lose. The consequence is not just economic but cognitive—robbing young professionals of opportunities to learn through real-world problem-solving.
The Cognitive Divide
AI is not just automating tasks—it’s redefining who gets to think. A growing divide is emerging: those who design and refine AI systems retain access to ambiguity, creativity, and judgment, while others see their roles flattened and reduced to mere prompting.
In education, AI tutors and writing assistants offer personalization but may also deprive students of the messy, nonlinear process of learning. Similarly, in workplaces, AI increasingly performs cognitive tasks—replacing paralegals with bots and consultants with auto-generated slides.
This subtle shift threatens critical thinking, structured argumentation, and original analysis—skills long seen as essential to democracy and social mobility.
Content Scraping and Ethical AI Training
AI systems often rely on vast quantities of data scraped from the internet to train their models. Platforms like Wikipedia—built painstakingly through volunteer contributions and donations—are being mined without compensation. News organizations lose engagement as their content is repackaged and delivered by AI systems for free.
Many AI companies operate under business models that assume free access to information. Critics argue that if companies can’t afford to pay for training data, they should not exist. Legislation to limit state-level regulation nearly passed but was halted. Still, attempts to deregulate data access are expected to continue.
The Threat of Disinformation
A report by the American Sunlight Project highlights how Russian disinformation networks use AI to flood the internet with misleading content, some of which ends up in outputs from services like ChatGPT and Gemini. The concern is that soon, distinguishing real from fake information may become impossible—even for fact-checkers.
One suggested solution is to rely solely on credible news sources. As Edward R. Murrow once said, “To be persuasive, we must be believable; to be believable, we must be credible; to be credible, we must be truthful.”
In a world overwhelmed by AI-generated content, trustworthy journalism becomes more vital than ever. Democracies depend on access to facts and truth.
Technological Promises and Unintended Consequences
Historically, labor-saving devices like vacuum cleaners and office computers often ended up increasing workloads due to heightened expectations. AI may follow a similar path. The famous Parkinson’s Law might need an update: “Work expands to fill the intelligence available, human or artificial.”
Rather than replacing entry-level jobs, AI may increase expectations on human workers, pressuring them to perform faster, better, and more.
This article is inspired by content from Original Source. It has been rephrased for originality. Images are credited to the original source.