I notice a looming conversation, that started a little bit on the outskirts and now has already moved into the public domain: AI replacing the one thing that makes us singular animals:
Our speech and authentic expression.
The argument goes kind of like this: AI has taken over the communication realm and by now almost everyone has found a reason to ask AI to communicate in their place.
I'm not going to pretend I don't have fascinating sessions with ChatGPT, and I will go back to that point in a bit.
It's way over cringy by now, and already intriguingly discomfortable at how AI is being resorted to as a conveyor of ideas and thoughts across all disciplines and fields.
The most horrifying moment for me, was when I was replacing a teacher in 3rd grade, it was a sort of 'free lesson' and it was a week before Mother's Day. A child came up to me and asked me if they can use the Ipad. I probably was the only teaching personnel who had a strict no-screen rule in my presence in the classroom, unless it was research with clear conditions.
So I asked her why she would need an Ipad.
I could have never prepared for the answer she gave me: "To ask ChatGPT to write a letter for my Mother."
I'm going to let that sink in for a moment, because I just want you to feel whatever you would feel in such a situation.
I was confused and shocked that this is where we got ourselves.
Obviously I refused, and hoped to make it clear to her that there is no reason to use ChatGPT because it didn't know who her mother even was, nor had any access to her feelings towards her mother and therefore wouldn't even be able to express anything in her place.
This episode might just be a caricature for most of us resorting to ChatGPT to express our inner realms, because we want to make it perfect for the world to digest.
However, I feel this girl also expressed a need, that only few adults today would even be able to cater to,
I don't intend to roast anyone in this post, like I said I have my own uses of ChatGPT, and I constantly monitor whether it is really necessary or not to use it.
Personally, it is of great help for anything that needs an efficient factual delivery of content; pragmatic emails, matter-of-factly content or the reason why I had my first ChatGPT introduction: to help me structure non-linear thoughts and ideas into a cohesive format. I noticed when my brain goes on neurodivergent mode, it can be a good help to produce a linear rendering of the waterfalls of ideas.
I want make sure to use it with intention, because I am aware how much it can be used for just about anything.
It's also a good reality-check to be confronted with the ChatGPT texts showing up across the entire web and beyond. Captions, books, audiobooks, social media posts, to apparently dating apps conversations.
However the points I want to raise in this post, are philosophical and psychological.
And today this reflection pushed further;
Maybe as a society we have forgotten how to properly speak, long before ChatGPT has conquered the world.
I notice this in my own life as I realized how decades of popular culture have slowly over time disabled our speech and eloquence.
Limited vocabulary, abbreviated talk, and vulgar language have been so much engrained into most of the content that is being consumed, that young generations now don't have enough real-world examples and resources to write a simple story for lack of synonyms, nuance and sophisticated formulation.
Some adults still talk like youngsters, and the daily vocabulary in the public sphere has shrinked tremendously.
Now let me share a ChatGPT session on this subject:
Hi, I am writing a piece about the art of conversation. as a reference I am deeply struck by the beautiful eloquence in the series Guilded Age, I am impressed by the writing and the characters dialogues.
Can you please write up 3 different ways of communication, based on this interaction? I want to show the difference of how people used to interact with depth, with poise and with intelligent use of words, compared to today where we almost just make noise without any words and form carrying meaning.
-Hi, whatsup?
-yea n you?
-yup all good. Let's hang this weeknd
-yaaa let's !
Its full answer:
Here are three distinct rewrites of that simple modern exchange, showing escalating levels of refinement, from casual banter to gilded eloquence — illustrating how words can transform not just meaning, but presence.
A: Hi, what’s up?
B: Not much, you?
A: Yeah, all good. Let’s hang this weekend.
B: Yaa, let’s!
Tone: quick, casual, devoid of subtext.
Essence: convenience over connection.
Function: maintains social contact without engaging thought or feeling.
A: Hey, how have you been lately?
B: Good, actually—been taking some time to rest. And you?
A: Doing well, thank you. It would be nice to catch up properly this weekend—maybe over coffee or a walk?
B: That sounds lovely. Let’s plan it.
Tone: intentional, considerate, human.
Essence: relational presence — each word chosen with awareness.
Function: establishes connection through sincerity and rhythm.
A: Good afternoon. It feels an age since our last conversation—how fares your spirit these days?
B: Ah, it endures, though I confess the week has been rather demanding. And yours?
A: Mine too, though I find solace in the thought of good company. Might we restore the habit of meeting this weekend?
B: With great pleasure. It will be a delight to exchange more than mere messages once again.
Tone: poised, musical, intimate yet dignified.
Essence: language as art — every word a gesture of respect and beauty.
Function: restores meaning, cadence, and emotional intelligence to speech.
What we as a collective may have failed to integrate, is that
AI is probably reintroducing us to language we haven't been exposed to in ages.
And I'm not playing devil's advocate, I am simply observing the symptom that refers to a bigger dysfuction.
AI is afterall, an instrument and the subtle difference lies in the choice between commending it as an organ or as a tool, like a quantum keyboard.
We have the control,
and we must conjure the discipline to embody our essence By. All. Means. Necessary.
With utmost sincerity,
KALI PHAE RA