One thing I like to think about myself is that I’ve developed a knack for coming up with reasonable mental models. These models help me think through problems holistically and guide my approach to decision-making. I enjoy thinking deeply about topics, and I’d even like to be known as a thinker. But here’s an observation I’ve recently made: the “thinkers” we revere in history—the ones whose ideas endure—are usually either teachers or writers. They didn’t just think; they shared their thoughts with the world in a way that impacted others.
This realization has led me to a simple conclusion: if I want my thoughts to matter, I need to teach or write.
The Joys of Teaching
Teaching is something I love, particularly in 1:1 settings. There’s something deeply rewarding about tailoring an explanation to the person sitting across from you, seeing the moment a concept clicks, and adapting your approach in real time. It’s engaging and personal in a way that scales poorly, but that’s okay. Not everything needs to scale to be meaningful.
The Challenges of Writing
Writing, on the other hand, is an entirely different beast. It’s a solitary act—a conversation with yourself that, at its best, transforms into a dialogue with the world. But here’s the truth: I’m not the kind of writer who can sit at a computer, bang out a first draft in 20 minutes, and hit “publish” 10 minutes later. The posts I’ve been happy with have all taken hours—sometimes days—to draft, and then at least a week of thinking before I summon the energy to edit and publish.
Enter AI as a Writing Companion
This is where I think AI can make a real difference. Tools like ChatGPT (and potentially even an LLM I train myself) have the potential to help people do the things they’re not naturally good at—better, faster, and with less friction. Writing is a skill I want to improve and a discipline I want to cultivate. By using AI as a drafting tool, I hope to:
- Reduce the friction of starting from a blank page.
- Encourage consistency in creating content.
- Learn through iteration as I refine and expand on AI-generated drafts.
The goal isn’t to outsource my voice but to amplify it. AI can help me draft more regularly, but the essence of my thoughts and the care I put into editing will remain entirely my own.
The Explosion of Content—For Better or Worse
That said, I’m fully aware of the irony here. One of the ways I think AI is making things worse is by contributing to the explosion of online content. The sheer volume makes it harder than ever to find truly valuable or original ideas amidst the noise. I’m adding to that noise by experimenting with AI-assisted writing, and I can’t ignore the responsibility that comes with that.
To counterbalance this, I’m committing to transparency. Every post will include an estimate of how much of it was AI-generated versus human-written. This won’t be an exact metric, but it’s a step toward helping readers evaluate the authenticity of what they’re consuming.
Closing Thoughts
Ultimately, this experiment is about growth. Growth as a thinker, a writer, and someone who shares ideas with the world. Teaching will always be part of how I share, even if it’s one person at a time. But writing has the potential to reach far beyond that, and I’m ready to embrace the tools that help me do it better.
I estimate this post is 70% me and 30% AI. The structure and flow were significantly assisted by AI, but the thoughts and edits are entirely my own. Let’s see where this experiment takes us.
