Promptly Speaking How Great Writers Stay Ahead of AI with Simone Stolzoff
Nov 25, 2025
Simone Stolzoff, an author and journalist focusing on work and identity, explores the evolving landscape of creativity in the age of AI. He discusses how to maintain a unique voice amid AI-generated content and the importance of differentiating human judgment in writing. Simone emphasizes using AI strategically, treating it as a developmental tool rather than a replacement. He advocates for embracing uncertainty as a pathway to meaning and encourages listeners to cultivate taste and agency as essential skills for navigating the future.
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The New York Times Wakeup Call
- Simone describes an "AI awakening" when he used a model to rewrite metaphors for a New York Times op-ed and got published quickly.
- That moment shifted him from resistance to exploring AI as a helpful part of his workflow.
Write First, Edit With AI
- Keep your first drafts human-made so the original voice and ideas stay yours.
- Use AI as a developmental editor to spot blind spots, echoes, and high-level synthesis.
Taste Beats AI Averaging
- Large language models are probabilistic averagers and tend toward milquetoast outputs.
- A writer's competitive edge becomes taste: the ability to reject AI's bland suggestions.
