Writing is a human quality that is poised to shift from conveying thoughts and emotions to becoming neglected symbols generated by prompted LLMs (Large Language Models). Appearing approximately 3400 BCE, writing has been valued as one of the highest forms of intellectualism, mental growth, progressiveness, and identity creation.
Since the early medieval times in Arabia, writing has been viewed as a means of discourse generation. Texts were thus perused for the detection of patterns that encompass underlying layers, varying from social to physiological and ideological conditions. These can reveal one's personal standpoint, milieu, and the power relations to which s/he may adhere.
From a pattern that echoes raison d'être, writing is increasingly transforming into a mere static and stagnant automatic pattern. The widening thought of every content being possibly generated by a machine reduces the readers' consideration and evaluation. A reader is impressed by creativity and uniqueness, which is no longer granted when every text is, to a high degree, fully or partially generated by AI.
Another consideration is based on the perspective of cognitive offloading, which represents people's reliance on machines. This is also termed outsourcing, as one refers their tasks to machines for them to handle more complex tasks.
Nonetheless, with AI differing from traditional machines, being able to reason and do problem-solving, what is left for humans?
Writing as a part of the thinking process is being outsourced to AI. This is done from both parties, i.e. the writer and the reader. The former is referring their production process to AI based on a short sentence, while the latter is referring their reception process to AI, by asking for summaries.
Writers are still primarily interested in writing and expressing their findings, opinions and insights. Yet, audiences' reliance on AI summaries is ever-increasing.
''Publishers provide the accurate, timely, trustworthy content that fuels Google... Now with its [AI] Overviews, it's reducing the need for somebody to click through to us... It's another example of the distributor of information not being the creator of information but taking all the financial reward for it, said David Higgerson, chief digital publisher at Reach, to the BBC.
This current relative persistence from writers is to be influenced by audiences who increase their use of AI summaries. It is because writers (or publishers) need financial support to devote to writing quality content. Without such a reward, due to AI's exploitation of publishers' content, writing as a genuine human activity may be on the verge of its end.
Hence, the future of writing and human intelligence in the age of artificial intelligence grows darker, triggering questions about LLMs' bias and their potential to shape people's thoughts.