Could AI write this column? In a world full of slop-inion, I certify to myself that I am human | Peter Lewis

I never thought I would have to write these words, but here I am: My name is Peter and I am human.

What seems like a self-evident statement must be made now, because the misuse of AI turns thoughtful comments like this into “slop-inion” that infects the editorial pages of reputable media companies.

In recent weeks, Crikey had to remove a series on leadership, while Capital Brief’s features editor complained on LinkedIn that 80-90% of submissions appeared to be AI-generated.

Of course, plagiarism has always been a journalistic sin, and to view ChatGPT’s work as your own is clearly to cross a fundamental ethical line. But it’s not enough to subject the final copy to an AI check for telltale bot language: the TEDx-style false negatives; the rhetorical questions, the inspirational pivot point, the dash. There are a lot of gray areas in between. What if AI took over nuclear research? Suggests the angle? Recognizes a logical…