Author here: I dictated this article into my phone and got a model to transcribe and clean up / reword.
I'd argue that counts as using AI as a tool for conveying my original thoughts.
I'd argue that counts as using AI as a tool for conveying my original thoughts.
I believe there is a societal problem here, not specific to your particular actions. The expectation that communications should be “cleaned up” and “professional” in the first place comes from a bygone era. In the 2010s and earlier removing all typos, fixing wording, formatting the text and adding images were all signals that someone put extra care into sending their message. But in the present that just indicates use of AI.
You mentioned in another comment that your hand-drawn images would be “far worse”. Leaving aside whether any images were needed at all, a hand-drawn scribble in the 2010s might be unprofessional but in the present day there’s an AI generated image on every visible surface. A hand-drawn image, even a bad one, would actually make you stand out.
Even if you want to present the cleaned up version, you could also provide the original audio.
I do think it's interesting that some people are immediately turned off of something because of the whiff of AI even if they like the actual idea or content.
Will likely experiment with different ways of writing in the future!
Even if the ideas are of your own merit, you can't expect readers to always do the literary surgery it will take to identify that.That's extra investigative work and assessment that was never a part of anyones reportoire before all this took off. But at this point i don't think you should be surprised that AI writing isn't met with open arms, AI writing has become a pain point for a lot of people in their personal lives and their work lives, a lot of organizations are wounding themselves as people throw their ideas around curated in AI and everyone's eyes are glazing over. It's become synonymous with "this guy does not understand the claude proposal he just sent me". And the choice is yours if you still want to use it knowing that, I just don't think you should be surprised if it doesn't get the reception you hoped for.
Plus, you should lean into whatever your monologue is to write. Even if you're afraid it's not pro enough, like. That's writing. It's a journey it has crossover with your ability to communicate it defines you as a person. Keep sharpening that tool and you have untold ways to convey ideas exactly the way you want people to experience them for the first time.