Who Wrote This?

More about the book

Would you read this book if a computer wrote it? Would you even know? Today's advanced AI writing tools present a crucial challenge: should we embrace their time-saving benefits, or consider what we gain and lose in the process? Linguist and educator Naomi Baron explores how AI is reshaping writing and thinking, connecting human literacy with modern technology. She traces the evolution of literacy from 19th-century composition lessons to Alan Turing's wartime machine, and to contemporary tools like ChatGPT. Baron offers an engaging overview of literacy and AI's emergence, along with insights into their potential future. As AI becomes more sophisticated, the temptation to let it handle our writing grows. However, Baron warns that this efficiency may come at a cost. Relying on AI for suggestions or complete texts risks diminishing our technical skills and the power of writing as a means of personal reflection and expression. Informative and conversational, this work encourages individuals and communities to make thoughtful decisions about their collaboration with AI. With technology here to stay, Baron guides us on how to work alongside AI while safeguarding the cognitive and social benefits of literacy.