AI-generated writing: it’s still bad

I saw this going viral, “AI;DR (AI; Didn’t Read):” I’ve been thinking about it ever since. Why? Because there is growing grumbling among everyone about AI writing. And it’s not just others; it’s me! I am getting to the point where I physically flinch (sometimes dropping my shoulders and hunching, or having a slight eye twitch) when someone I respect sends me unfiltered and unedited AI output. Yes, there are certain situations in which we should expect 100% AI-generated copy. Customer support would be a perfect example. We’re not looking for artisanal “did you make sure to reset your phone” style dialogue. It’s remarkable how in the 3 years since the widespread adoption of LLMs, AI-generated writing is still bad despite huge progress elsewhere, such as math, short video, or coding. AI writing ranges from overly wordy, to torturous, or too formal. It cannot reproduce the clear, effortless prose of professional, human-produced writing. Even for writing styles that are less concise or…