A Psychology Today column by Richard Gunderman argues that artificial intelligence should not replace human writing, because writing is far more than just producing text — it’s a fundamental process of thought, reflection, and self-discovery. Gunderman observes that many students increasingly treat writing assignments as chores to be fulfilled rather than opportunities to think deeply and explore ideas, a shift that AI-generated text only accelerates. He emphasizes that writing isn’t merely a technical skill but an act of engaging with the world and one’s own understanding of it.
The article draws on the philosophical tradition of essayists like Michel de Montaigne, highlighting that written language has historically been a way for humans to explore, question, and unfold their inner lives. Montaigne viewed writing as a form of conversation — not just with others, but with oneself — and Gunderman suggests that outsourcing this process to machines risks bypassing the intellectual adventure that comes from wrestling with words and ideas firsthand.
Gunderman goes further to argue that writing is tied to the essence of being human: we use language not just to communicate, but to bear witness, participate, and marvel at our own experiences. If machines do our writing, we “abrogate our most essential responsibility” to think, feel, and discover for ourselves. In his view, no technology, however advanced, can live for us — and doing so diminishes our capacity to be truly present in our own lives.
While AI might one day generate technically polished text — even something like a love letter — Gunderman warns that letting machines take over activities deeply tied to human consciousness risks eroding what makes human expression unique. Writing isn’t just about the output; it’s about the process of shaping thought, learning to question, and constructing meaning — experiences that AI can’t live on our behalf.
