IS THERE ANYTHING GOOD ABOUT AI?

by Kerri Jesmer

Please welcome Kerri Jesmer to the Writer's Journey Blog this week with her take on Artificial Intelligence.

Is There Anything Good About AI?

by Kerri Jesmer

I have to be honest, A.I. scares me. Yes, I am a sci-fi fan, and that may have a lot to do with it. If you know, you know.

But I’ve also been following along by reading articles that explain the positives and the negatives of the process. And I know a few amazing people who are capable of bringing AI into full reality.

Sadly, we are already seeing some authors use it to assist, or even completely author, a story or novel. That’s cheating, in my book. If you can’t write, get out of the business. We all have our talents, and if something isn’t one of yours, don’t cheat at it. Find something in which you truly do well. But don’t steal the joy true writers get from putting pen to paper – or more realistically, tapping out on a keyboard. We love what we do. We desire it, need it, and find it cathartic.

Writing, to many writers, is as necessary as breathing. Even when I’m having trouble putting the words down, I’ll blog or journal to keep at it. The feeling of release is real. The tensions drain away. The sadness or joy falls onto the page (computer or otherwise) as I purge my heart of whatever is overflowing. It makes life better.

I understand the amazing medical applications of AI. As an…older person…I find that remarkable and know it can be helpful. Recently, a nurse at a hospital I visited informed me they are on the cusp of finalizing a “Star Trek” type medical tricorder scanner. I think that would be amazing! No more invasive testing, no removal of clothing for an exam. A simple handheld piece of equipment would run the length of your body and provide the doctors with all they need to know. Childbirth would mean the same as it always has, but most everything else would be a breeze. That will be a great advancement!

I also understand the fear of job losses as AI is created to take over many types of jobs. That could pose a problem. What if manufacturers are fully automated? Possibly, they may need a foreman to watch over the operations. Maybe they’ll have a security team. Or perhaps all of those jobs will be done with AI, too. How would those people who previously held such jobs make a living?

I’m not saying AI is going to be all bad. I certainly don’t think it will be good in every aspect, as many of us who write have sadly realized. It could greatly change our lives in ways both positive and negative.

Aside from the medical tricorder scanner, I would like them to come up with a nice bot that will clean and cook around here!

Maybe even do my laundry.

Yeah, I’m retired. Does that mean I shouldn’t want more free time to read, visit places when we travel, and enjoy NOT having to clean or cook?

My parents had five. Five kids to do the house and yard work. Sure, they helped, but not as much as a service bot would. And without procrastination or complaint.

Plus, what if it can learn to provide me with chiropractic care and massages? I’m just sayin’...

Okay, okay. I’ve clearly spent way too much time thinking about having a service bot. It seems like a nice dream, though it might crowd up our RV all the more. I’m not sure where we could keep it, but I’m going to daydream about that next, I think...

I hope you’ll add your opinions and feelings about AI in the comments of this post. And thanks for reading!

Thank you, Elaine, for the opportunity to write something serious and fun!

Until next time.

Kerri Jesmer

Kerri was born in Germany, raised on the Eastern plains of Colorado and travels full-time in a 5th wheel RV with her husband and dog. She is an author and mentor, working with middle, high school, and university writing clubs. Kerri's characters portray warmth, heart, and wit, giving readers lives to identify with. She writes multi-genre but focuses mainly on speculative fiction. At age fifty-eight, she published her first short story in Dastaan World Magazine, followed by short stories in other ezines, Fifty-Word Stories, and the prestigious Inner Circle Writers' Magazine. She has published short stories, poetry, and drabbles in many anthologies published by Clarendon House Publications, Stone Pony Publishing, Black Ink Fiction, Black Hare Press, ZombieWorks Publications, Linden House, SweetyCat Press, Writers Unite!, Starry Eyed Press, and others. She has a short story in "Unity," a charity anthology for Doctors Without Borders, "Alpha One: A Christian Cornucopia," which includes a true Christian experience, and "Window in the Heart," a Christian Testimony. She also was accepted into the "Who's Who of Emerging Writers 2020 and 2021". She has an essay in "I, the Writer". All three were published by Sweetycat Press. She has an essay and a poem in "To Be Or Not To Be A Writer," also by Sweetycat Press, on which she was an editor. She was the editor for "The Wordsmith Chronicles" by Sweetycat Press and the "Journeys" series published by Stone Pony Press, as well as publishing short stories in those volumes. She participated in a unique anthology in which 80 authors from around the world wrote individual episodes to bring together "The Whole Wide World: An Episodic International Criminal Manhunt Anthology," published by Sweetycat Press. Her episode was number 39. In addition, three drabbles and a short story have been published in "Discordia: Stories of a World in Chaos," an anthology published by Dastaan World, of which she was also an editor. She wrote a story for "Bodies in Movement: Our Bodies in Action," a tribute to the love between her parents. She has been a blogger since 2004 and currently has one blog about writing and one about full-time RV travel, which can be found on WordPress. As an editor, you may find her website on Wix.

"We authors pour our souls into our writing. Read our books. Leave a good review. Let us know you appreciate what we try to do in bringing you the joy of reading."