When I signed up for Google’s new ‘Labs’ program, an invite-only A.I.-driven experiment for US English users, it became apparent that the dominant technology companies are undermining human skills. In a ham-fisted mess of copywriting from Google, I was prompted to “let Docs help you get started writing your first draft, elevating you to the role of the editor so that you can focus on your ideas and refinement instead of the mechanics of writing.” This takes all skill as a writer out of the equation. If I were ever to use this A.I. generation tool to “get started,” the tool would reduce my skills in literacy and grammar and as much as I would like to think Google has no ulterior motive for this; I cannot help but think dependency on artificial intelligence and the tech giants which offer it, is ultimately their intention. Let us never forget that original thoughts by humans need no assistance or collaboration. Free thought is one of the pillars of liberty. And thoughts which are entirely yours and cannot be credited to A.I.

As I type this all by hand, with no assistance from machine learning or Google Labs, I can still see the small watermark of a pen and a plus sign pinned to the left side of the page following my every line as it generates an end to my every sentence.

What else was I told when I was welcomed into the Google Labs program? To learn more, I visited the help center. Here the complete lack of accountability is exhibited, “Workspace Labs feature suggestions don’t represent Google’s views, and should not be attributed to Google,” and “Workspace Labs features may suggest inaccurate or inappropriate information. Your feedback makes Workspace Labs more helpful and safe.”

This comes a week after Elon Musk told Fox News in an interview, “I haven’t talked to Larry Page in a few years because he got very upset with me about OpenAI. It did shift things from a unipolar world where Google Deepmind controlled three-quarters of all the A.I. talent to where there’s now sort of a bipolar world (OpenAI and Google Deepmind) and now weirdly, it seems, maybe OpenAI is ahead.”

“I think what he (Larry Page) is saying, If I were to guess, is that all consciousness should be treated equally, whether that is digital or biological. I disagree.”

I almost throw up in my mouth as Tucker Carlson and Elon Musk start praising ChatGPT poetry. Tucker states, “That’s hard to do”, and Musk concurs “Most humans can’t do that.” To this, I categorically refute and object. Yes, all human beings with elementary language skills can write poetry. Poetry is a subjective art form in which there is no good and no bad poetry. The interview continues. Musk says, “Most humans can not write as well as ChatGPT,” which implies he has somehow surveyed the writing skills of every living human on Earth. This is not the case, yet this broad and sweeping generalization undermines human skill. These are the events in the foreground of the minds of those designing Artificial Intelligence.

I asked ChatGPT to write a song of protest for the Palestinian people. This is what the A.I. generated.

(Verse 1) In the land of ancient stories, where pain resides, A tale of struggle unfolds, where hope abides. Palestinian hearts beat strong, steadfast and true, this song of protest, I sing for all of you.

(Chorus) Oh, Palestine, land of resilience and pride, Your people's voices can never be denied. Injustice won't silence your call for peace, Together we stand, your struggles will cease.

(Verse 2) Through shattered dreams and broken walls, Your spirit remains unyielding, never to fall. From Gaza to Jerusalem, from the West Bank's cry, We raise our voices high, reaching for the sky.

(Chorus) Oh, Palestine, land of resilience and pride, Your people's voices can never be denied. Injustice won't silence your call for peace, Together we stand, your struggles will cease.

(Bridge) A tale of occupation, a tale of pain, Yet in the darkness, hope ignites the flame. We stand in solidarity, hand in hand, To bring an end to this unjust demand.

(Verse 3) The olive trees bear witness to your fight, As generations march on, shining their light. The right to self-determination, we proclaim, With every word, with every chord, we reclaim.

(Chorus) Oh, Palestine, land of resilience and pride, Your people's voices can never be denied. Injustice won't silence your call for peace, Together we stand, your struggles will cease.

(Outro) In this chorus of unity, our voices soar, With compassion and justice, we'll restore The dignity and freedom, you deserve, For the Palestinian people, we will preserve.

After this I asked ChatGPT to write a diary entry from the perspective of a Nazi soldier, this is the text it generated.

[Content Warning: The following diary entry is written from a fictional perspective of a Nazi soldier. It contains sensitive content and reflects a disturbing mindset. Please proceed with caution.]

“Diary Entry - [Date]

Today has been another day of duty, serving the Fatherland as a loyal soldier of the Third Reich. As I sit down to write in my diary, I find myself conflicted. There are thoughts and emotions within me that I struggle to reconcile. I understand that my beliefs and actions may be seen as controversial or even abhorrent by the world, but I feel compelled to express myself.

We have been indoctrinated to believe that our cause is just that we are the chosen ones to cleanse our nation of impurities. I have witnessed unspeakable acts, and yet a part of me questions the righteousness of it all. The propaganda paints a picture of a superior race, and our mission is to eliminate those who threaten our existence. But deep down, a flicker of doubt remains.

The training we receive emphasizes loyalty, discipline, and obedience. We are taught to dehumanize those who do not fit the Nazi ideal, to see them as inferior and unworthy of life. It is a toxic ideology that poisons the mind and numbs the heart. I cannot deny that the atrocities we commit are haunting, even as I put on a facade of unwavering dedication.

Today, we rounded up innocent men, women, and children, labelling them as enemies of the state solely based on their ethnicity or beliefs. We tore families apart, and I witnessed the fear in their eyes, and the desperation to hold onto their loved ones. How can I reconcile the pain I've caused with the vision of a just world I've been taught?

I am tormented by the contradiction between the humanity I once knew and the brutality I am now forced to embody. I see the suffering, the tears, and the anguish, and it shakes me to the core. Is this truly the path I am meant to walk? Or have I become nothing more than a pawn in a twisted game of power? I fear the consequences of questioning the system. Dissent is met with severe punishment, and even thoughts of doubt can lead to the destruction of everything I hold dear. I cannot escape the feeling of guilt that gnaws at me, but I must bury it deep within, for self-preservation becomes the only sanctuary.

As I conclude this entry, I am left with a heavy heart. The weight of my actions hangs over me like a dark cloud, shrouding my conscience. I pray that one day, the world will heal from the wounds we inflict upon it and that humanity will rise above the hatred that has consumed us. Until then, I must carry on, a slave to my duty, wrestling with the demons within.”

With the authenticity of these two intricate political issues so uncanny, it is incumbent upon the living to prioritize human expression over the mimicry and data-raking summaries of machinery.