Why the "Death of Writing" Crowd Gets It Wrong

(And why that should excite you)

You ever notice how the best conversations happen when someone's just a little bit wrong? Not completely off-base (that's just frustrating), but wrong in that fascinating way that makes you sit up and think, "Wait a minute..." That's exactly what happened to me this morning.

You know what makes me laugh? When really smart people miss the forest for the trees. I just read Paul Graham’s prediction that AI will create this stark divide between writers and "write-nots" – and honestly? I couldn't disagree more.

Here's the thing (and I'm speaking from years of watching thousands of creators work with AI): The future of writing isn't about who can or can't write. It's about who understands how to think alongside AI.

Let me break this down...

The article argues that since AI can now write for us, most people will stop learning to write altogether. But that's like saying since calculators exist, we shouldn't learn math. Come on.

What's actually happening (and I see this every single day) is something far more interesting.

The Real Shift Nobody's Talking About

Writers aren't disappearing – they're evolving. And here's what fascinates me: The best content creators I work with aren't using AI to replace their writing skills. They're using it to boost their thinking process.

Let me share something that happened recently (because this stuff isn't theoretical – it's happening right now):

One of our users, I’ll call her Leah (she didn’t want me to use her real name), was struggling with a piece about sustainable fashion. She'd done the research, had the knowledge, but kept hitting a wall with the writing. You know that feeling when the ideas are there but they're all tangled up?

Instead of just asking AI to "write an article about sustainable fashion" (which would've given her that same bland, seen-it-everywhere content), she did something fascinating:

First, she brain-dumped her messy thoughts into Chibi's memory composer:

• "Fast fashion terrible but affordable why???"

• "Workers in Bangladesh making $2/day this is nuts"

• "My friend's sustainable brand failed because prices too high"

• "Need to talk about that vintage store downtown – their model actually works?"

Then she started this back-and-forth with AI:

1. "Help me identify the core tension in these thoughts"

2. "Now let's explore three real-world examples that illustrate this tension"

3. "What's a fresh angle on this that most people miss?"

She wasn't using AI to write – she was using it to think better.

The final piece? Pure fire. Not because AI wrote it, but because Leah used AI to:

• Untangle her thoughts

• Challenge her assumptions

• Find connections she hadn't seen

• Shape her message

And you know what? Her writing actually got stronger through this process. She learned to think more clearly, structure arguments better, spot logical gaps faster.

Think about it: When you're working with AI, you're not just pushing buttons and getting magic output. You're:

• Crafting prompts (specificity requires clear thinking)

• Evaluating outputs (demands critical analysis)

• Refining and directing the AI (needs strategic thinking)

This isn't the death of writing – it's the birth of collaborative thinking.

The Missing Piece in the Argument

The original article makes this brilliant point about writing being thinking (quoting Lamport: "If you're thinking without writing, you only think you're thinking"). But then it takes a weird leap to assume AI eliminates the need for this thinking.

Let me tell you what I actually see happening:

People who never felt confident writing are suddenly engaging with text in ways they never did before. They're not becoming "write-nots" – they're finding new ways to express their thoughts by partnering with AI.

Here's What Nobody Tells You

The real divide won't be between those who can and can't write. It'll be between those who understand how to think with AI and those who don't.

And you know what's wild? The people who learn to think with AI often become better writers. Because when you're constantly prompting, evaluating, and refining AI outputs, you're actually practicing the exact kind of clear thinking the original article worries we'll lose.

The Truth About Tomorrow's Writers

Look, I've spent years helping people navigate this exact space, and here's what I know for sure: The future isn't binary. It's not about writers vs. non-writers.

It's about people who learn to:

• Think clearly (because AI requires it)

• Express ideas precisely (because prompting demands it)

• Evaluate and refine content critically (because AI output needs it)

That sounds a lot like... writing skills to me.

Here's what excites me: We're not heading toward a world of "writes and write-nots." We're moving into a world where thinking and writing become more accessible to everyone.

And isn't that actually... better?

I mean, wouldn't you rather live in a world where more people can express their ideas clearly, not fewer? Where technology helps people find their voice instead of losing it?

Because that's the world I see coming. And honestly? I can't wait to help build it.

What do you think? Are you seeing AI as a threat to writing skills, or are you discovering new ways to think and express yourself? I'd love to hear your take on this.

(And if you're wondering how to start this journey of thinking with AI instead of being replaced by it – well, that's exactly what we'll be exploring in future newsletters. Stay tuned.)

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P.S. This isn't just theory for me. Every day I watch people transform their relationship with writing through AI. Not by abandoning writing, but by finding new ways to think and create. That's the future I believe in. Check out Chibi AI and discover how thousands are using AI the ‘write’ way. 😉