The Imposter and the Algorithm: My Writing Transformation in the Age of LLMs

As a writer, having imposter syndrome is so cliche I’m almost afraid to admit it, but the rise of large language models (LLMs) has thrown me into a whole new arena of self-doubt.?

In his recent book "Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI" Wharton professor Ethan Mollick says that "really getting to know AI requires 3 sleepless nights." As someone who wasn't a great sleeper prior to the advent of generative AI, I've had far more than the prerequisite nights of staring upwards at the ceiling and wondering how much my professional role was changing before my very eyes.

While B2B copywriting may not be seen as poetry (though we strive to infuse creativity wherever possible), nor do many marvel at the intricacies of a meticulously crafted marketing strategy, the crux of our work has always been rooted in human choice—every sentence, email subject, and call to action reflecting a deliberate decision. Yet, as we venture into the algorithmic age, the way we generate content is undergoing a profound transformation. This shift challenges our traditional views of creativity and professional identity, especially as it has reshaped my own sense of self-worth in just the past 18 months.

None of these new skills...dampen the feelings of fear and anxiousness with everything I generate. Is the cost/benefit ratio of blog posts created to TUMS swallowed worth it? Will I ever not feel guilty handing in a blog post that only contains twenty percent of my original words?

Amplified Apprehensions: LLMs and the Imposter Within?

My imposter syndrome, a constant companion whispering doubts in my ear, thrives in the fertile ground of societal expectations and the curated perfection of social media. For years, I found solace in the act of writing itself. Each sentence, each story, was a testament to my creativity, hard work and effort, and a small victory against the nagging voice.?

Then came the LLMs, algorithms trained on vast datasets of human language, capable of generating text that mirrors human writing with uncanny precision. The very act that once brought me comfort became a potent source of anxiety and existentialist dread. The first time I used an LLM to generate content, a wave of conflicting emotions washed over me. There was the undeniable awe at the technology's capabilities, the thrill of seeing a coherent piece of writing materialize in seconds. But there was also a pang of guilt, followed by a creeping sense of angst and fear.??

Beyond Replacement: Embracing Transformation?

The initial shock gave way to introspection. I realized that the "replacement" narrative, while tempting in its simplicity, fails to capture the true impact of LLMs on the writing profession. This isn't about machines taking over; it's about a fundamental shift in the creative process, an evolution that demands adaptation, growth, and education.?

Instead of viewing LLMs as competition, I began exploring their potential as collaborators, and soon these tools were enhancing my writing, helping me overcome writer's block, generating new ideas, and refining my language.

While the output was the same, production (with generative AI) involves significantly different skills, methods of communication, and brain hemispheres..yet the end result remains a satisfied client.

Anxiety Amongst the Algorithms?

The acceleration in productivity does more than produce more words, sentences, or paragraphs, it adds self-doubt to every moment saved. The time I’d have spent writing, editing, and finessing every page is now spent learning more about these models, and how they’re changing all aspects of life. But none of these new skills, abilities, and learnings dampen the feelings of fear and anxiousness with everything I generate. Is the cost/benefit ratio of blog posts created to TUMS swallowed worth it? Will I ever not feel guilty handing in a blog post that only contains twenty percent of my original words? These are all questions I’m still trying to figure out as I settle into the new workflow of creating with generative AI.???

Just this past week, I wrote a blog post in less than two hours using only a source document uploaded to Gemini 1.5 Pro. While the output was the same, production involves significantly different skills, methods of communication, and brain hemispheres. The end result remains a satisfied client, pleased that I’d not only met but beaten the deadline I’d promised the few days before. Every second of creating the blog post was different from the countless content I'd written sans generative AI. I was no longer writing a piece in a tone of voice but instead negotiating and explaining to a large model why to adjust certain words, phrases, or points of view.

The journey with LLMs is a continuous whirlwind of emotions, a constant push and pull between anxiety and exhilaration. It amplifies my imposter syndrome, forcing me to confront those nagging doubts and fears of inadequacy that whisper in the back of my mind. The speed at which these models generate content, the sheer volume of words they produce, can leave me feeling like a fraud, questioning the value of my own human contribution.

Refocusing on the story?

For me, the answer lies in shifting my focus from output to impact. It's about using LLMs as tools to tell more meaningful stories, reach wider audiences, and explore new creative avenues. It's about embracing the collaborative spirit, learning from these models, and evolving alongside them.

The future of writing is undoubtedly intertwined with AI. It's a future that demands a shift in mindset, a willingness to embrace vulnerability and growth, to step outside our comfort zones and redefine our roles as creators. It's a future where the human touch, the emotional intelligence, the empathy and understanding that we bring to the table, will be more valuable than ever.

The anxieties will always linger, the imposter syndrome will still whisper its doubts, but I am no longer alone. We are a community of writers, navigating this new landscape together, learning from each other, and embracing the transformative power of technology. And in that shared journey, in the stories we tell and the connections we forge, lies the true essence of our craft, the enduring power of the human spirit that no machine can replicate.