ReThinking Margaret Atwood on what AI can’t replace
In this engaging discussion, renowned author Margaret Atwood shares her insights on the limitations of AI in creative writing, asserting that true originality demands more than mere imitation. She reflects on her personal journey through childhood challenges and the transformative power of memoir, unveiling her motivations for writing The Book of Lives. Atwood also delves into the value of banned books in fostering civic engagement and debates the complexities of heroism—exploring the essential role of monsters in shaping narratives.
42:41
Prepare For AI To Replace Formulaic Writing
- Recognize AI transforms tasks like student essays and factual copywriting.
- Atwood notes formulaic outputs mean some writing jobs may vanish while personal voices remain valued.
AI Copies Formulas, Not Original Voices
- AI can mimic formulaic writing well but struggles to create truly original voices.
- Margaret Atwood argues originality and inner life remain beyond current AI capabilities.
Learning By Writing In Others' Styles
- Margaret practiced writing in other authors' styles as training and taught students to identify authorship.
- She used playful pastiches to illustrate style but kept originality as her primary aim.
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Intro
00:00 • 3min
Atwood on AI's current limits
02:43 • 3min
Imitating authors vs true originality
06:00 • 4min
AI errors, tests, and hallucinations
10:07 • 3min
Atwood's stance on using AI
12:57 • 4min
Which writing jobs AI threatens
16:50 • 1min
Ad break
17:54 • 3min
Why Atwood wrote a memoir
20:30 • 1min
Bullying, Cat's Eye and resilience
21:55 • 3min
Enemies, revenge, and forgiveness
24:54 • 3min
Heroes need monsters, not vice versa
28:03 • 3min
Book bans and reading forbidden books
30:43 • 5min
Personal reading memories shape writers
35:48 • 1min
Ad break
36:51 • 2min
Lightning round: writing advice
39:05 • 3min
Retaining creativity and staying curious
41:43 • 3min
Are people good or bad by default?
44:54 • 4min
Outro
49:23 • 3min
#10702
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
Book of Lives
A Memoir of Sorts
Margaret Atwood
In 'Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts', Margaret Atwood recounts her life from her nomadic childhood in northern Quebec to her experiences as a writer, weaving together personal stories with the influences that have shaped her literary works.
The memoir explores her relationships, political activism, and the intersection of life and art.
#698
• Mentioned in 40 episodes
Madame Bovary
Gustave Flaubert
Published in 1857, 'Madame Bovary' is a seminal work of literary realism that tells the story of Emma Bovary, a beautiful and intelligent young woman who marries Charles Bovary, a dull and unambitious doctor.
Emma's life is marked by boredom, romantic fantasies, and a series of ill-fated love affairs with men like Rodolphe and Léon.
Her inability to distinguish between her romantic ideals and the harsh realities of her life leads to financial ruin, public scandal, and ultimately, her tragic demise.
The novel is renowned for its masterful writing, detailed psychological insights, and its critique of bourgeois provincial life.
#187
• Mentioned in 101 episodes
The Handmaid's Tale
Margaret Atwood
The novel is set in a near-future New England in the Republic of Gilead, a patriarchal, totalitarian state that has overthrown the United States government.
Offred, the narrator, is one of the 'Handmaids', women who are forcibly assigned to produce children for the ruling class, known as 'Commanders'.
The story explores themes of powerless women, loss of female agency and individuality, and the suppression of women's reproductive rights.
Offred's life is marked by her restrictive routine, her memories of her past life, and her interactions with the Commander, his wife Serena Joy, and other Handmaids, including her friend Ofglen who is part of an underground resistance movement.
The novel is a scathing satire, an ominous warning, and a tour de force of narrative suspense.
#204
• Mentioned in 95 episodes
Ulysses
James Joyce
Ulysses is a groundbreaking and complex modernist novel that chronicles the experiences of three Dubliners over a single day.
The novel is loosely based on Homer's epic poem 'The Odyssey', with Leopold Bloom paralleling Odysseus, Stephen Dedalus paralleling Telemachus, and Molly Bloom paralleling Penelope.
It explores themes such as antisemitism, human sexuality, British rule in Ireland, Catholicism, and Irish nationalism.
The novel is known for its innovative use of language and narrative techniques, including stream-of-consciousness and multiple literary styles.
It captures the essence of early 20th-century Dublin, providing a detailed snapshot of the city's social, political, and cultural landscape.
#1
• Mentioned in 1,459 episodes
1984
George Orwell
Published in 1949, '1984' is a cautionary tale by George Orwell that explores the dangers of totalitarianism.
The novel is set in a dystopian future where the world is divided into three super-states, with the protagonist Winston Smith living in Oceania, ruled by the mysterious and omnipotent leader Big Brother.
Winston works at the Ministry of Truth, where he rewrites historical records to conform to the Party's ever-changing narrative.
He begins an illicit love affair with Julia and starts to rebel against the Party, but they are eventually caught and subjected to brutal torture and indoctrination.
The novel highlights themes of government surveillance, manipulation of language and history, and the suppression of individual freedom and independent thought.
#124
• Mentioned in 130 episodes
Anna Karenina
Leo Tolstoy
Published in 1878, 'Anna Karenina' is a novel by Leo Tolstoy that delves into the complexities of Russian society in the late 19th century.
The story centers around the extramarital affair between Anna Karenina, a married socialite, and Count Alexei Kirillovich Vronsky, which scandalizes the social circles of Saint Petersburg.
The novel also follows the parallel story of Konstantin Levin, a wealthy landowner, and his struggles with marriage, faith, and managing his estate.
Tolstoy explores a wide range of themes including love, loyalty, betrayal, hypocrisy, and the differences between rural and urban life.
The novel is known for its detailed character development and its profound commentary on the human condition.
#70
• Mentioned in 186 episodes
War and Peace
Leo Tolstoy
Set during the Napoleonic Wars, 'War and Peace' follows the lives of several Russian aristocratic families, including the Bezukhovs, the Rostovs, and the Bolkonskys.
The novel spans from 1805 to 1820 and is known for its realistic detail and psychological analysis.
It explores the impact of Napoleon's invasion of Russia on the characters and society, delving into themes of love, family, war, and personal growth.
The novel includes historical events such as the Battle of Austerlitz, the Treaties of Tilsit, and the French invasion of Russia, intertwining historical and fictional elements.
#352
• Mentioned in 65 episodes
Alice in Wonderland
Lewis Carroll
#7029
• Mentioned in 6 episodes
Cat's Eye
Margaret Atwood
In 'Cat's Eye', Margaret Atwood tells the story of Elaine Risley, a successful painter who returns to Toronto for a retrospective of her artwork.
The narrative alternates between Elaine's middle-aged years and her childhood, where she was subjected to intense bullying by her friends, particularly the charismatic and manipulative Cordelia.
Elaine develops various coping strategies, including self-harm and escapism through art, as she navigates the complexities of her relationships and the impact of her childhood experiences on her adult life.
The book explores themes of bullying, parental handling of such situations, and the long-term effects of childhood trauma on personal development and empathy.
#8201
• Mentioned in 5 episodes
Peyton Place
Grace Metalious
Published in 1956, 'Peyton Place' by Grace Metalious is a vivid portrait of life in a small, conservative New England town.
The story revolves around three central characters: Constance MacKenzie, her daughter Allison, and their friend Selena Cross.
Each woman harbors significant secrets, and their lives intertwine in unexpected ways, revealing themes of hypocrisy, social inequities, class privilege, and the darker aspects of human nature.
The novel explores issues such as incest, abortion, adultery, and murder, challenging the social norms of the era and providing a stark look at the lives of the town's residents.
Margaret Atwood is best known as the author of The Handmaid’s Tale, and she’s won a slew of awards for her novels, poetry collections, and children’s books. Now, at the age of 86, she’s written her first memoir, The Book of Lives. In this episode, Adam and Margaret break down her perspective on what creative jobs AI will and won’t threaten and discuss the evidence on the benefits of reading banned books. They also muse about why heroes need monsters and what it means to be delightfully disagreeable.
Host & Guest
Adam Grant (Instagram: @adamgrant | LinkedIn: @adammgrant | Website: https://adamgrant.net/)
Margaret Atwood (Instagram: @therealmargaretatwood | Website: https://margaretatwood.ca/)
Links
https://margaretatwood.substack.com/
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For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/rethinking-with-adam-grant-transcripts
ReThinking is produced by Cosmic Standard. Our Senior Producer is Jessica Glazer, our Engineer is Aja Simpson, our Technical Director is Jacob Winik, and our Executive Producer is Eliza Smith.
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