The growing presence of AI in creative spaces has sparked a significant wave of skepticism, especially when it comes to writing. When people encounter a piece of content they suspect has been generated by AI, I’ve noiced their first instinct is often to criticise it, dismissing it as inauthentic or lacking the human touch. I’m wondering if this skepticism is really justified, or should we shift our perspective and recognise how AI can actually enhance the human experience in ways that were previously unattainable?
Having become familiar over the past year or so with various generative AI applications, I firmly believe AI has the potential to be more than just a tool for producing content. It’s an enabler. It allows us to vocalise thoughts that have been sitting dormant in our heads, ideas that many of us struggle to articulate. For many, especially those who are neurodivergent, AI can bridge a fundemental gap between imagination and expression.
Take people with ADHD, for example. One of the key struggles we often face is related to executive function. This can mean difficulty in getting the brilliant, creative ideas swirling around in our minds out onto paper in a coherent manner. The thoughts are there, but translating them into structured, tangible content can feel like an impossible task. AI offers a way to streamline this process, helping to bypass the mental blocks and facilitating clearer expression. For someone with ADHD, this is not just a time-saver, it’s an empowerment tool, a means of creating when our minds are otherwise fighting against us.
This is not to say that the skepticism surrounding AI writing is entirely unfounded. I think we’ve all encountered poorly crafted content that has clearly been generated with a handful of keywords and no real thought behind it. But let’s be honest: this isn’t a new problem. The internet has been flooded with low-quality, keyword-stuffed SEO content for years, long before AI entered the picture. Blaming AI for this ignores a larger issue within content creation itself. The real question isn’t whether AI is responsible for poor writing, but rather how we, as creators, choose to use it.
When AI is used thoughtfully and intentionally, it can serve as a powerful aid in crafting more complex, thought-provoking narratives that many of us may have struggled to write on our own. AI isn’t here to replace the writer, but to augment the creative process—whether that means helping someone organise their ideas, find the right words, or explore new perspectives they might not have considered. It’s a collaboration between human and machine, with the potential to bring ideas to life in ways that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise.
In fact, the true strength of AI lies in its ability to remove barriers to creation. Before, if someone had a brilliant idea but struggled with grammar, structure, or simply organising their thoughts, they might never have had the confidence to share their ideas with the world. AI levels the playing field, giving more people the opportunity to contribute to discussions, create meaningful content, and express their unique perspectives.
I really believe that rather than viewing AI as a threat to (human) creativity, we should start seeing it for what it truly is: a tool that enhances our potential. It’s not about letting a machine take over the act of writing for us. It’s about using AI as an assistant that can help us unlock the creativity and ideas we’ve always had, but perhaps struggled to communicate. Yes, there will be misuses and bad articles, just as there are poorly written human-generated pieces today. But the real opportunity lies in learning how to use AI effectively—to create richer, more insightful content that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise.
I would go so far as to say, as we continue to navigate the evolving role of AI in creative spaces, those who can move beyond the knee-jerk skepticism and see the bigger picture are likely to get ahead of the game. AI has the power to enhance, not replace, human expression, and when used well, it can unlock creativity in ways we’ve only begun to explore. It’s not the end of human creativity—it’s a new beginning.