If I was still a teen in high school, I would love AI. I could have my writing assignments for English done in a flash and be out the door. And have a lot better grades to show my parents than I did years ago.

And later on, with those gnarly issues at work when I became an adult? “No problem, boss. I’ll just let my trusty friend who lives somewhere out there in NeverNeverLand figure it all out for me. I’ll get back to you on that in a little while.”

But for the professional writer to use AI? Mostly, no way. For research? Great. Technique? Oh sure, there’d be great technique, “Hey Gemini, I need this column on ‘kids having cellphones’ written from a sarcastic humorous viewpoint. And, oh yeah, it needs to be no longer than 520 words, please.” And presto, print it out and I would have a masterpiece worthy of my own puny plastic Pulitzer.

But for creativity? There’s the real issue. There is no way you could really know how I feel about that subject. The real me would be absent from that column on kids and cellphones. It’s not going to reflect the individual spark within that causes me to have my own feelings and thoughts.

And after a few months of that kind of writing, the real me would be dealing with guilt, resentment, and very likely a stomach that keeps asking for more Pepto Bismol.

Why guilt? Simply put, because I think it’s cheating to claim something as your own, when it’s not. Why resentment? There would be no outlet for the God-gifted creativeness that lies within. No doubt it would be great stuff, but just not my stuff. And great stuff is a poor substitution for personal satisfaction.

Just like in any other field. The carpenter who loves the feel of wood in his hands and takes great pride in his final product knows the satisfaction of creativity. A person born with a love of music and has a beautiful God-given voice would shrivel up inside if denied the satisfaction of singing. The naturally-gifted athlete feels compelled to move, and God help the people around him if he doesn’t get to use that gift.

People denied the opportunity to use their natural gifts can get a mite testy.

Now, if you’re a meteorologist with the safety of thousands at stake? By all means, use AI to your heart’s content. A construction engineer working on building plans for skyscrapers that will house thousands? The banker dealing daily with millions of dollars? Definitely. You people should use every tool available to you to do those types of jobs that affects the safety and wellbeing of so many.

But writers? Unless your book, magazine article or column is vital to the safety of the human race, I believe AI has no business taking your place. Your own thoughts, research, tears of frustration, and hours spent pecking away at your keyboard should be the only contributors to your work.

— Podcasts are available at Coffeetimecolumn.com. Send any responses to andybowman839@gmail.com.