Idea of Writing

Why Write?

Often people wonder, what is the point of writing. It does not add much value to your understanding. I tend to feel the opposite. For me it helps get the rough ideas down for future thinking. Also, as I write, it forces me to pause and question my own understanding. This might compel me to search and experiment further, which eventually help shape my understanding.

Why write in the age of AI?

With the proliferation of AI in every facet of our lives, it is tempting to give all our tasks, and increasingly tasks that we used to think of as uniquely human tools like critical thinking, to AI instead of us playing a central role in the process. Every day, web is flooded with fears and promises of AI. It can be argued either way, in favor of AI with the perceived benefit of allowing us to solve even bigger problems, or against it for AI will take away not only our jobs but pose an existential threat to humanity. Intriguing thougts indeed and some slivers of both schools are likely going to shape our future. For now I just want to argue in favor of writing, and perhaps following a less extreme view where one may actually write better due to AI.

Does AI know what I am thinking?

Not yet. Maybe someday. Even when that happens, it will be interesting to think how we can still partner with it. Until that day, there is enough thinking that the brain does, in a much non-linear fashion, and some of that thinking, I feel, is interesting enought to jot it down. Ideas are rarely concrete, even when they are written down. Having an amorphous blob of thoughts in our heads is of no use, I beieve. So I write.