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Wednesday, August 7, 2024

IWSG August 2024

 

 

Welcome readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!

We're glad you're here! It's the First Wednesday of the month; when we celebrate IWSG Day in the form of a blog hop featuring members and guests of the Insecure Writer's Support GroupFounded by author Alex Cavanaugh (Thank you, Captain!) and fostered by like-minded associates, IWSG is a comfortable place to share views and literary news as we record our journeys. Check out the May newsletter here.

The awesome co-hosts for this month’s posting of the IWSG are: Feather Stone, Kim Lajevardi, myself (diedre Knight), C. Lee McKenzie, and Sarah - The Faux Fountain Pen!

 Today’s entirely optional question: Do you use AI in your writing and if so how? Do you use it for your posts? Incorporate it into your stories? Use it for research? Audio?

Is it just me, or is absolutely everybody taking the leap to AI?  Without ever having “walked” it first, I’m just not at all sure what lies ahead; around the bend, under the bed… I won’t soon forget thinking I was smarter than the average prisoner of the notorious Coronavirus lockdown. It was just as embarrassing as the commercial (they probably wrote for me) depicted, where I ask Siri how far is the nearest hamburger joint, and she replies “Why? Where do you think you’re going?”

That’s why (getting back to the question) even inadvertent toe-dips into AI leave my heart racing, my senses honed for any bells or sirens suggesting I’ll soon be nabbed for my latest Intellectual Property Heist – when it wasn’t even my intention…exactly. Perhaps I just need to know more about it.

While we’re on the subject of perplexing things, what happens to all the stuff you placed in the “Cloud” when your computer crashes? For instance, has anyone seen a basket of Fairy Pickles floating around?

No, I can’t say I’ve ever used AI intentionally—not for posts, letters, or works in progress. But I think I’d like to try it once.

Can’t wait to come around and see what you all have to say on the subject!

Happy writing ;-)

 


42 comments:

  1. And what happens when the cloud gets full?
    Thanks for co-hosting today!

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    1. Haha! Good question, Captain ;-)
      My pleasure, sir.

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  2. Hi, I have asked myself what happens to the documents that I have on dropbox and Box. Are they really safe? I don't know. Shalom shalom,
    Thank you for co-hosting.
    Shalom shalom

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    1. Hi, Pat!
      The only reason I don't panic is that I use dropbox to send to others who let me know they got it. Now, what happens in between? I try not to dwell ;-)

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  3. Thanks for co-hosting this month. I think you should try Al for some basic tasks. I have for work, though I'm not using it right now.

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    1. Hi Natalie!
      You're welcome ;-)
      I agree, starting small would be the way to go.
      As Grammarly rearranged a sentence for me (as I wrote this post) and I thought that wasn't how I would express myself, it occurred to me how far-reaching this could really be. Might someone read a line and think "That doesn't sound like dee" ?
      Guess I'll find out ;-)

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  4. Thanks for co-hosting this month. I like using my cloud, but I also have an external TB drive. I hope my documents are secure.

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    1. I'm glad you brought up the external drive, Toi! I practically guard mine with my life ;-)
      Happy to co-host this month!
      Happy August!

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  5. There are some creepy AI commercials out there! Do we so quickly give up our rights (rephrasing a quote from one of our SC justices). I love your first sentence--"Is it just me, or is absolutely everybody taking the leap to AI? Without ever having “walked” it first, " As a teacher, I am constantly stunned that the main reaction to it too often is about the time it will save them.

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    1. I learned a lot about rushing your thoughts when I tangled up the typebars of a vintage Royal typewriter ;-)

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  6. Well, that was fun. Thanks for starting my day with a good laugh...and thanks for co-hosting today.

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    1. Hi, Lee! Glad you enjoyed. And, you're welcome!

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  7. LOL on the Cloud! I, too, am nervous about it. How do those floaty things file away all our important data? Thanks for co-hosting!

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  8. Great read! I enjoyed every word. As I've explored AI, I've come to understand AI can assist or AI can generate. I've used AI to assist and it's been a big help.
    If you have time to read my IWSG answer to this question, you can see how I tell AI how it can assist my writing.
    Thank you for co-hosting today.
    Lynn
    https://la-vita.us/insecure-writers-support-group/

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    1. Absolutely, Lynn! I was so happy to receive your email. Just the kind of info I could use - once I kick this summer cold (or whatever it turns out to be). You make AI seem a lot less terrifying ;-)

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    2. AI has been a handy assistant. Happy to answer any questions I can. Oh, the AI doesn't get the sniffles, either (LOL)

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  9. Thanks for cohosting today and great question about the cloud! I guard my Dropbox like Fort Knox, but you’re right my life is on there. Not fun to think about. I took my time dipping my toe into AI but I am seeing the merits for helping my research process and other mundane tasks for writing.

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    1. Hi Joyana!
      I think with knowledge comes confidence, both in the product and in myself. At least, I hope so ;-)

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  10. Mahalo for co-hosting today. I keep getting email stating my photo bucket is full but I've never used it so I'm not sure whose photos will be deleted at the end of the week.

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    1. Hi, Gail!
      You're welcome, my dear. This is a really fun "job"
      Photo bucket? I'm still looking for a small basket of Fairy Pickles ;-) I'm not even sure I have a Photo bucket.

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  11. I like your thoughtful and spunky-worded post! Thanks for co-hosting today.

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  12. Thanks for co-hosting today, Diedre! I hope that you have lots of fun. I think I'm likely using some AI without realizing it ~ as in editing photos and researching. My writing has to be my writing, otherwise why write? https://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com/2024/08/iwsg-wednesday-august-7-2024-traveling.html

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    1. Hi Fundy Blue!
      An annoying cold or something notwithstanding, I'm having a blast! I knew you all would be full of useful information on the subject of AI! I should be thanking all of you ;-)

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  13. I agree. I want to try an AI and see what happens (RE: my writing). I haven't yet, but I did use AI-created images for my pre-made book covers. It was fun.

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    1. Hi, Olga!
      I've seen some fantastic AI generated book covers.

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  14. I'm not generally hesitant to try new technologies, but I don't want to get stuck in the moral quagmire of AI ethics, so I think I'll leave it alone for a while yet. @samanthabwriter from
    Balancing Act

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  15. It's certainly getting hard to avoid it, but I keep trying. When places like Meta stick it in their search bar on instagram when all I want to do is an old search but now I'm freely training ai on how people locate videos on hobbit tea drinking.... sigh.

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    1. Hi Kristina,
      Yes. Or watch an entire sentence be changed or rearranged and wonder what was wrong with MY version? Errors aside, of course.

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  16. I'm still sitting back, watching. I'm not sure exactly how I feel about it, either. Thanks for co-hosting!

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    1. You're welcome, Melissa. It's been a fun and highly informative day ;-)

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  17. I agree. I've always thought of AI as cheating. It tells the universe that you don't trust your instinct. Course, I've been known to be archaic .

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    1. Exactly. I don't even mind being called pre-historic if it preserves my confidence ;-)

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  18. I haven't used AI yet. I fear my writing will appear redundant and repetitive. After all, AI has limitations, my mind not so much. Thank you for co-hosting.

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    1. Hi Sonia,
      You're welcome ;-)
      Oh, I hope AI has limitations. I'm fairly certain one big difference is the human heart and soul, the ability to be inspired.

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  19. I'm not big on AI (yet) but I'm a huge fan of cloud storage. No more backups! And when I buy a new computer, just install Dropbox and wait for the magic to happen. Love it!

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    1. Hi, Janet!
      I view the 'Cloud' as the suitcase that invariably doesn't make it to the same destination as I do ;-)

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  20. What a fun, delightful post! I giggled at the "where do you think you're going" answer. Love your sense of humor. Thanks for co-hosting!

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  21. Hi Diedre!
    Yes, I worry about where that "Cloud" information will burst and shower down all my information.
    I love your line: "be nabbed for my latest Intellectual Property Heist – when it wasn’t even my intention."
    That's the problem we all need to worry about. Thanks for co-hosting this month's question. All best to you!

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    1. Thanks, Victoria! Whereas I tend to 'overthink' once in awhile, this AI stuff warrants a bit of serious consideration.
      You are most welcome ;-)

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Any thoughts? Join the conversation, comments welcome here!