Got it. For transparency, all of my writing is my own but I do use LLM editing to improve the clarity of it and read every output carefully (and fully) before publishing.
On my own it often takes me 5-10 minutes just to figure out how to phrase something simple clearly. Like for example I don't how how to say that the amount of my own words I put into the LLM exceed (sometimes double or triple) the output that I end up posting online.
I'm afraid you're getting a bit piled on in the replies because readers feel strongly about this. But I want to add one thing re this:
I do use LLM editing
What we're seeing is that LLM editing leaves nearly as many imprints on a text as outright generation, leading to two things: (1) it ends up sounding like AI, which most readers (at least on HN) don't want read, and (2) it ends up getting classified by the classifiers as genai anyhow.
What we're telling people (especially non-native English speakers) is to do their own writing and editing in their own voice and not to worry too much about minor mistakes - they are rapidly becoming signs of authenticity anyhow! Just worry about major mistakes, i.e. whether your main points are true.
While I appreciate your enthusiasm (truly), after two decades of writing I think I need to consider diminishing returns. I'd rather spend the time on thinking about what to say rather than how to phrase it.
how do I know which part is made up by the LLM or it's own interpretation or it's own opinion etc?
how can there be any value if I have to scrutinize every single word and decide whether it's truly what you intended to write or if it's mangling things, or if it's all just made up for engagement?
I've made this exact argument to other people, so I fully understand what you're saying here and agree with it.
I use the model in the same way a non-native writer would, for clarity. So it's critically important to me that there is no model interpretation or opinion added to my own.
I agree that whether it still counts as "my own" is up for debate. Made more complicated by the fact that I'm mostly using voice-to-text these days, so I'm dictating more than writing.
Comments
Got it. For transparency, all of my writing is my own but I do use LLM editing to improve the clarity of it and read every output carefully (and fully) before publishing.
On my own it often takes me 5-10 minutes just to figure out how to phrase something simple clearly. Like for example I don't how how to say that the amount of my own words I put into the LLM exceed (sometimes double or triple) the output that I end up posting online.
I'm afraid you're getting a bit piled on in the replies because readers feel strongly about this. But I want to add one thing re this:
What we're seeing is that LLM editing leaves nearly as many imprints on a text as outright generation, leading to two things: (1) it ends up sounding like AI, which most readers (at least on HN) don't want read, and (2) it ends up getting classified by the classifiers as genai anyhow.
What we're telling people (especially non-native English speakers) is to do their own writing and editing in their own voice and not to worry too much about minor mistakes - they are rapidly becoming signs of authenticity anyhow! Just worry about major mistakes, i.e. whether your main points are true.
That's part of writing, and it gets faster and easier the more you do it.
While I appreciate your enthusiasm (truly), after two decades of writing I think I need to consider diminishing returns. I'd rather spend the time on thinking about what to say rather than how to phrase it.
it's not your own if you pass it onto an LLM
then it's just LLM writings prompted by you
how do I know which part is made up by the LLM or it's own interpretation or it's own opinion etc?
how can there be any value if I have to scrutinize every single word and decide whether it's truly what you intended to write or if it's mangling things, or if it's all just made up for engagement?
I've made this exact argument to other people, so I fully understand what you're saying here and agree with it.
I use the model in the same way a non-native writer would, for clarity. So it's critically important to me that there is no model interpretation or opinion added to my own.
I agree that whether it still counts as "my own" is up for debate. Made more complicated by the fact that I'm mostly using voice-to-text these days, so I'm dictating more than writing.
You need more practice doing it (with your brain, not the model).