This episode explores the impact of AI on the writing world, specifically nonfiction writing. Against the backdrop of the speaker's experience running a writing school and his personal journey into AI adoption, he argues that while AI is transforming the landscape, it doesn't signal the end of human writers. More significantly, the speaker posits that the future of successful nonfiction writing lies in leveraging personal experience and expertise—the "two E's"—to create content that AI cannot easily replicate. For instance, he highlights personal narratives, deeply researched niche topics, and up-to-date insights as areas where human writers will continue to thrive. The speaker then details his personal workflow, emphasizing the use of AI as a collaborative tool for brainstorming, outlining, editing, and research, rather than a replacement for human creativity and critical thinking. He concludes by predicting that the future will see a shift towards valuing the objective quality of writing above the method of creation, similar to the acceptance of sampling in music, and that writers who cultivate strong taste and unique perspectives will continue to excel. What this means for the future of writing is a move away from quantity and consistency towards higher quality, more personalized content.
