Hello there Rachel, I published my first story in the series last year. Back then the composite novel was just a vague idea in my head and I was still figuring out my Substack. ;P You can have a read here: https://elizabethtai.substack.com/p/the-appointment
Thank you so much for your kind words :) I'm glad I could inspire you a little bit. Let's inspire each other to keep on writing, because there are days I do wonder why I write ;)
I almost responded to the poll but I felt it was missing a more nuanced option, such as “apprehensive but not entirely pessimistic the possibilities”. I don’t think it’ll be possible to put the genie back into the bottle, but I don’t feel as pessimistic about AI as others, because I just don’t think AI end products are that engaging. To me reading the works of AI remind me of passing through a labyrinth in an interactive online roleplaying game. Sure, I may be presented with a goblin sitting at a table with a riddle I must solve before advancing to the next room. But AI would never come up with say.... an inter-dimensional portal opening up beneath the same goblin and transporting the participant into Medieval Scandinavia to find the “real” solution to the same riddle. Also, real-life experiences don’t feel like they’re as easily translatable into machine prompts. But then, I’m still not sure what to think of it at this time, since I’m not technically savvy enough comprehend how it works. So I may be like the dinosaurs admiring that pretty star falling toward the Earth and just blissfully unaware of the coming Armageddon, but so far I’m not all that impressed with the stuff I’ve seen coming out of AI.
I guess I'm more pessimistic because I literally see it affecting the industry I was in. Freelancers have lost clients who are now using AI, a friend was told to produce 10x more now that there's ChatGPT etc. Also, I saw what social media and the Internet did to my former industry - print journalism. All this feels terribly familiar.
I'm not terribly impressed with AI stuff either, but the problem is the corporate big wigs are excited and terribly impressed by the potential of reducing human capital.
I honestly hope the ripple effects would be tamed somewhat. The WGA outcome will tell us what's going to happen, I suppose.
It's one of the better arguments for unionization I've come across, that's for sure. Good luck in your own battles. Hopefully whatever the WGA (and ultimately SAG) accomplish here bleeds over into your work!
I hope so too, but in Malaysia, the employers will do what they want ;) I really hope the WGA will get a good outcome nevertheless. I think it's pretty crucial at this point!
2nd drop of Distant Stars?? Did I miss the first?!?! Hayulp :)
Hello there Rachel, I published my first story in the series last year. Back then the composite novel was just a vague idea in my head and I was still figuring out my Substack. ;P You can have a read here: https://elizabethtai.substack.com/p/the-appointment
Marvelous thank you for the link!!
This was so moving ❤️
Thank you for sharing it.
You are a great writer and inspired me to keep practicing (my writing). I couldn’t stop reading it.
Thank you so much for your kind words :) I'm glad I could inspire you a little bit. Let's inspire each other to keep on writing, because there are days I do wonder why I write ;)
I almost responded to the poll but I felt it was missing a more nuanced option, such as “apprehensive but not entirely pessimistic the possibilities”. I don’t think it’ll be possible to put the genie back into the bottle, but I don’t feel as pessimistic about AI as others, because I just don’t think AI end products are that engaging. To me reading the works of AI remind me of passing through a labyrinth in an interactive online roleplaying game. Sure, I may be presented with a goblin sitting at a table with a riddle I must solve before advancing to the next room. But AI would never come up with say.... an inter-dimensional portal opening up beneath the same goblin and transporting the participant into Medieval Scandinavia to find the “real” solution to the same riddle. Also, real-life experiences don’t feel like they’re as easily translatable into machine prompts. But then, I’m still not sure what to think of it at this time, since I’m not technically savvy enough comprehend how it works. So I may be like the dinosaurs admiring that pretty star falling toward the Earth and just blissfully unaware of the coming Armageddon, but so far I’m not all that impressed with the stuff I’ve seen coming out of AI.
I guess I'm more pessimistic because I literally see it affecting the industry I was in. Freelancers have lost clients who are now using AI, a friend was told to produce 10x more now that there's ChatGPT etc. Also, I saw what social media and the Internet did to my former industry - print journalism. All this feels terribly familiar.
I'm not terribly impressed with AI stuff either, but the problem is the corporate big wigs are excited and terribly impressed by the potential of reducing human capital.
I honestly hope the ripple effects would be tamed somewhat. The WGA outcome will tell us what's going to happen, I suppose.
Thank you for sharing my newsletter in your Good Reads. Generative AI is terrifying for so many reasons!
It is! Am already seeing the effects in the content marketing sphere. I honestly wish that we have a WGA to fight for us.
It's one of the better arguments for unionization I've come across, that's for sure. Good luck in your own battles. Hopefully whatever the WGA (and ultimately SAG) accomplish here bleeds over into your work!
I hope so too, but in Malaysia, the employers will do what they want ;) I really hope the WGA will get a good outcome nevertheless. I think it's pretty crucial at this point!