Confronting the CEO of the AI company that impersonated me

Grammarly’s recent "Expert Review" feature, which utilized the names and likenesses of journalists and authors without consent, highlights the growing friction between AI development and the creator economy. This controversy underscores a broader industry tension regarding the extractive nature of AI models that ingest human work without compensation. While Superhuman CEO Shishir Mehrotra acknowledges the feature’s failure and the necessity of better attribution, the conversation shifts to the existential pressure creators face as AI tools potentially devalue their output. The discussion explores whether creators must pivot from traditional ad-supported models toward building direct, subscription-based connections with audiences. Ultimately, the debate centers on whether AI platforms can genuinely enhance human productivity or if they fundamentally threaten the economic viability of the creative labor they rely upon to function.