AI would have saved me then. I won’t let it save me now.

I was graduating from college, looking for a job in as many places as I could. One interview still stands out two decades later. I was applying for a technical role and they asked for a paper I’d written as part of my senio-level work. I obliged.

In the interview, they brought up the paper and pointed out - rather scoffingly - that I’d mis-spelled my own name on it. Brain. Not Brian.

I didn’t get the job.

I still think back on that experience from time to time. AI would have caught the embarrassing typo.

We have many AI-powered tools within easy writing reach. Unfortunately, in addition to catching typos or suggesting alternative phrasing they’re also watering down quality writing into a flowing fountain of sameness. I sense it in my own writing at times. It lacks creativity. Lacks difference.

And so I’ve decided that this site will be free from AI intrusion. No posts, edits, ideas, or final name-spelling-grammar-saving-reviews will be AI-ified. It’ll all be straight from my brian.