Oleksandr Kuzmenko, EditorPublished 6 min readAI-assisted · editor-reviewed
TL;DR
- Avoid using LLMs to write initial drafts, as expelling LLM-voice during later editing is very hard.
- Writing serves as a vital thinking tool; delegating drafting risks delegating comprehension.
- Fowler limits his own AI use to search, always verifying facts with original sources.
- Declare AI assistance openly in document acknowledgments for transparency.
Key facts
- Fowler's AI Writing Tool Usage
- Search tool with manual primary-source verification
- Documented Risk
- LLM-voice triggers uncanny valley reaction and reduces desire to read on
The Uncanny Valley of Machine Prose
Martin Fowler notes that reading text with a recognizable LLM-voice often triggers an uncanny valley reaction, causing the desire to read on to atrophy and sometimes prompting revulsion. Because it is very difficult to expel this voice once a model writes the initial draft, Fowler advises authors not to fall into the trap of using LLMs for first drafts. Even accepting suggestions for rephrasing carries risks.
Writing as an Essential Tool for Thinking
For many authors, wrestling with words is essential for bringing thoughts into coherence and resolving internal confusions about complex topics. Fowler warns that as more people delegate writing to LLMs, they also delegate thinking and comprehension. Exceptions where machine generation may make sense include interacting with cybernetic administrative processes, preparing documents no one will read, assisting individuals facing medical challenges such as Parkinson's disease, or aiding cross-language translation.
Fowler's Writing and Attribution Policy
On his own site, Fowler adheres to clear guidelines regarding AI tools:
- Prohibited Delegation: AI is not used for generating prose or structuring pieces; authors should write the prose themselves.
- Permitted Use: LLMs may serve as search tools, provided all information is verified by checking primary sources.
- Attribution: Contributors who use AI to assist their writing must declare how it was used, usually in the acknowledgments, promoting transparency and shared learning.
When to use
- When writing form letters to officials, reports unlikely to be read, or assisting authors overcoming physical disabilities.
When NOT to use
- When communicating directly with human colleagues and readers who value clear personal thought.
What to do today
- Write initial drafts manually to maintain authentic voice and clarify your thinking.
- Restrict LLM usage to research, and always verify returned facts against primary sources.
- Add explicit acknowledgments detailing how AI assisted during the writing process.
Step names are taken from What to do today.
Step names are taken from What to do today. Write initial drafts manually to maintain authentic voice and clarify your thinking.. Restrict LLM usage to research, and always verify returned facts against primary sources.. Add explicit acknowledgments detailing how AI assisted during the writing process.
- Write initial drafts manually to maintain authentic voice and clarify your thinking.
- Restrict LLM usage to research, and always verify returned facts against primary sources.
- Add explicit acknowledgments detailing how AI assisted during the writing process.