Substack co-founder Chris Best on AI slop, detection, and what still counts as thinking.
A special conversation with Chris Best. In the age of AI, what do our tools help us bring into the public square?
TL;DR
- The article uses the enduring relevance of Homer's Odyssey and Christopher Nolan's film as a metaphor for how stories and ideas evolve through public conversation.
- AI tools can aid in the writing process by helping to articulate thoughts, explore ideas, and identify gaps in arguments, acting as a conversational partner.
- Concerns exist about 'AI slop'—content generated at scale without human intention or accountability, which can overwhelm the public square.
- Substack's Pangram integration can detect AI-assisted writing but doesn't reveal the author's intention or understanding of the content.
- An 'Ideas Graph' is proposed as a potential signal to assess the conceptual structure and unique relationships within a piece, distinguishing human thought from default AI patterns.
- The author argues that meaningful publishing requires knowing why a thought is being shared and being willing to stand behind it, regardless of AI assistance in its creation.
- The ultimate goal is to use AI to enhance human thinking and creativity, fostering deeper understanding and more meaningful public conversations, rather than diluting them.
- Parents are encouraged to teach children how to spend their attention wisely, engaging with difficult thoughts and valuing human connection, even with advanced AI tools.