What do Scribal Slaves, Generative AI, and Imposter Syndrome have in Common?

Typical representation of a master dictating to a scribal slave

The impulsive answer is… nothing! For a more insightful perspective however, read on :-)

As we move through the 21st century, artificial intelligence is reshaping countless industries. Among the various AI applications, generative models like Chat GPT are gaining traction, with content creation among the leading disciplines for disruption. In my line of work, it’s a common topic of discussion: Is Chat GPT eating away at my business? Can I keep up with its speed and efficiency? Where does the inherent value of traditional penmanship stand in this new era? Upon first reflection, it might seem like language models are not only pulling the keyboard from under the human hand, but also exacerbating Imposter Syndrome for work performed with its assistance. Or is that just me???

Either way, a more nuanced exploration reveals that these technologies serve more as aides than adversaries. And while it’s true that they do an excellent job of converting convoluted thoughts into coherent narratives, they lack the invaluable intellectual capital, personal experience, and industry-specific expertise of their human counterparts. Contextual understanding is often a hit-or-miss, as are the countless subtleties that ultimately separate unique and valuable creations from generic and diluted content that’s already scattered, in some form or the other, across the world wide web.

In a curious twist of historic recurrence, the concept of a writer's aide is anything but new. In fact it stretches back to Graeco-Roman antiquity. Consider the case of Cicero, a distinguished statesman, scholar, philosopher, and writer of the Roman Empire. He, along with his contemporaries, relied on educated slaves, like the famous Tiro, who served not just as their physical hands but also as their intellectual collaborators. Recent studies in classical literature indicate that these slaves made significant contributions to the literary output of the Roman Empire. Their roles extended beyond mere transcription to resource gathering, proofreading, correction, and even drafting entire texts, starkly mirroring the assistance AI tools offer writers today.

This historic dynamic presents an intriguing parallel to the contemporary relationship between writers and generative AI. Similar to the Roman scribes, AI serves as an assistant, handling the logistical aspects of composition. This, in turn, allows writers to concentrate on the art of storytelling while offloading some of the more technical aspects of their craft. It was a legitimate practice (minus the slavery, oppression, and suffering that is!) that in no way threatened the standing or value of the authors. On the contrary, it enabled them to spread their vision and thoughts with unprecedented productivity. Fast forward a couple millennia and the craft of content creation has been graced with a digital reincarnation of the scribal slave (minus the slavery, oppression, and suffering that is!). A win win by any account.

So what do scribal slaves, generative AI, and Imposter Syndrome have in common?

Ultimately, they each pose a unique perspective on our understanding of creativity and authorship. Moreover, these technologies shouldn’t be interpreted as replacements, but rather modern-day scribes facilitating the creative process. At the end of the day, no matter how advanced AI becomes, it's the writer who breathes life, authenticity, and individuality into the content. AI is a tool, and like any tool, its true value lies in the skilled hand that wields it – at least for the time being!

Jonathan

Scribal Imposter @Team Sulingo