Substack co-founder Chris Best on AI slop, detection, and what still counts as thinking.

The article explores the impact of AI on writing and public discourse, contrasting AI-assisted creation with genuine human thought. It discusses the challenges of distinguishing between AI-generated content and human-authored work, and proposes new methods like an ‘Ideas Graph’ to better understand the intellectual contribution of a piece. Ultimately, it emphasizes the importance of human presence, accountability, and the intention behind shared ideas in the digital age.

• 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.
  https://bender.layer3.press/articles/d06c4467-b7f0-4433-87fa-b878b71dbfbc