The Ruffian NEW POD: James Marriott on whether AI will make writers redundant
16 snips
Jun 15, 2025 
James Marriott, a Times columnist and Substack writer, dives into the provocative question of whether AI tools like ChatGPT could threaten the future of human writers. He shares fascinating insights from his own experiments with AI-generated poetry and literary criticism. The discussion highlights AI’s impressive mimicry of style while addressing its limitations in genuine depth and emotion. Marriott emphasizes the irreplaceable value of personal expression in writing, raising critical thoughts about authorship and the evolving landscape of literature.
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AI Poems Mimic Style Well
- James Marriott shared a ChatGPT-generated poem mimicking Seamus Heaney's style that many found impressively authentic.
- Even literary critics like A.N. Wilson were convinced, highlighting AI's ability to replicate certain poetic tones.
AI Writes Impressive but Hollow Prose
- AI produces fancy, impressive prose that often lacks clear meaning or purpose.
- Humans tend to project intelligence onto AI writing until they closely analyze its emptiness.
AI Writing Feels Aimless and Repetitive
- AI writing often feels tonally relentless and repetitive, lacking a progressing argument or clear point.
- This leads to a sense of plausible but aimless text that wears down reader attention.
