Online for Authors Episode 12-7-24

​AI and Writing: Unlocking Creativity or Threatening Authenticity with Author Mike Trigg

Mike Trigg was born in Kentucky and raised in Wisconsin. He earned a BA from Northwestern University and an MBA from University of California, Berkeley. Before becoming a novelist, Trigg had a twenty-five-year career in Silicon Valley as a founder, executive, and investor in dozens of venture-funded technology start-ups.

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This week I had the fascinating opportunity to sit down with Mike Trigg, Silicon Valley tech veteran and author of the novels Bit Flip and Burner. As someone who has been immersed in the world of AI for over 25 years, Mike shared some incredible insights on how artificial intelligence is impacting the writing world, for better and for worse.

There's no doubt AI is a polarizing topic among authors. Some see it as a useful tool to enhance efficiency, while others fear it spells the end of original human creativity. Mike offered a balanced perspective, acknowledging valid concerns while highlighting how authors can harness AI's potential.

A few key takeaways:

• AI algorithms crawl massive amounts of online data, including copyrighted books, to "learn". While concerning, fairly compensating every author whose work was ingested is impractical. Existing copyright laws offer some protection against egregious abuses.
  
• AI can be a valuable tool for tasks like editing, research, and even sparking story ideas - but it crosses an ethical line if used to mimic another author's unique voice and style. "Write the next Stephen King novel" is a no-go.
  
• The emotional nuance and "human element" in great writing is very difficult for AI to replicate. Rather than replacing authors, AI's biggest impact may be flooding the market with even more content, making it harder for quality books to get noticed.
  
• AI will become as ubiquitous as the internet and smartphones, fundamentally changing how we consume and interact with information. The genie is out of the bottle - authors must learn to adapt and find the right balance.

Mike and I also discussed the AI themes woven into his own techno-thriller novels, and how speculative fiction helps us grapple with the profound moral quandaries on the horizon.

I'd love to hear your thoughts! Are you using AI tools in your own writing process? What excites or worries you most about an AI-driven future? Comment and let me know.

PS; Enter to win a signed copy! Just join the discussion in the Facebook group Novels N Latte Book Club. 

Purchase Burner. 
Paperback: https://amzn.to/48iJAKJ
Ebook: https://amzn.to/3Yfmsbx 
Audible: https://amzn.to/3C2A5TU

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