I’m begging you: Never write with AI
Australian Financial Review
ENRICHED
Details
- Date Published
- 10 Aug 2026
- Priority Score
- 1
- Australian
- Yes
- Created
- 15 Aug 2026, 12:02 pm
Description
People who can read and write for themselves have, historically, been good at choosing for themselves. What happens when the process goes into reverse?
Summary
This opinion piece argues that delegating writing to AI compromises human cognitive autonomy and the ability to make independent choices. The author contends that the process of writing is inseparable from the process of thinking, warning that reliance on Large Language Models for communication leads to intellectual atrophy. While it touches on the societal implications of AI adoption, it focuses on individual agency and cultural shifts rather than technical safety, catastrophic risks, or formal governance frameworks. The article serves as a critique of the widespread integration of frontier AI capabilities into daily human cognition.
Body
TechnologyAIPrint articleAug 10, 2026 – 12.40pmThis column isn’t so much an argument as it is a plea: don’t use artificial intelligence to help you write. Never let AI do your writing for you.Don’t use it for school papers, work briefs, letters to your in-laws, speeches at your company gathering or emails (however perfunctory) to your colleagues or friends. Don’t let it organise your notes. Don’t let it suggest an opening sentence, segue or closing paragraph. Don’t ask it to write a first draft and pretend that editing that draft somehow makes it your own. It doesn’t.Loading...SaveLog in or Subscribe to save articleShareCopy linkCopiedEmailLinkedInTwitterFacebookCopy linkCopiedShare via...Gift this articleSubscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? LoginLicense articleRead MoreAIOpinionTrump's AmericaUniversityFetching latest articles