In Defense of AI

From the POV of a fictional author

I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone, there will be nothing. Only I will remain.

― Frank Herbert, Dune

I recently re-watched Donnie Darko from the perspective of a new lens. From this new lens, I saw Donnie not as a rebellious anti-hero unafraid to question authority and rock the boat, but as a boy deeply plagued by fear.

Fear is the mind killer, Frank Herbert’s words echoed in my mind. Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration.

I thought of my recent brush with fear, of the total obliteration that almost took my life, be it physically, mentally, spiritually, a mix of two, or maybe three, depending on the variables.

Whoa! You may say. What happened since we last saw you, Diego?

Come, my child. Come. I’ll tell you.

Closer.

And… No.

Not yet, my child. Not yet.

AI

Fear, at a healthy dose, can be a good thing—a justified warning of the horrors that could happen under the worst circumstances. Sci-fi films like Terminator and I, Robot have painted vivid pictures of what the worst circumstances may look like in a dystopian world ruled by AI.

But let’s tone down that worst-case scenario and focus on us creatives: the writers, painters, directors, editors, actors, musicians, sculptors, and many, many more. Our fear, and a very valid one at that, is the extinction of the creative human soul via the exploitation of AI.

“Who appointed AI?” some protestors may shout, torch and pitchfork in hand, echoing words from The Dark Knight.

“We did,” Harvey Dent would reply. “All of us who stood by and let scum and greed take control of our city.”

In the past…

… I’d be right there with you, my fellow creatives, protesting on the front lines, angry, terrified that AI would be the end of humanity as we know it. But ever since my psychologist recommended it, I’ve seen new perspectives.

From a financial POV, it’s saved me so much time and money. In my author journey, I’ve spent at least $50,000 on expenses (I stopped counting after $20,000, bruh—book covers, editing, book trailer, paying hundreds for a fucking book review—thanks, Kirkus), and god knows how many hours designing my own TikTok and Instagram videos promoting my first book, Void.

Here, admire the beautiful book cover by Jeff Brown, why don’t ya?

I can’t afford to spend any more than I already have, ladies and gentlemen. I’m part of the lower class, baby, not a trust fund Aryan prince that can burn hundreds, let alone thousands, and not risk financial ruin. AI has saved me hundreds of dollars on the drafts I’ve created, and helps me spend more time doing what I do best: writing.

Two, from a curiosity POV, it’s taken the explorer in me to new worlds of ideas, opening up brain connections as I prepare to write a collection of short stories in Spanish—solely for fun and experimenting. I love to learn. To challenge myself. And my AI keeps the juices of ideas flowing.

Bonus: From the POV of a business owner like my dad, it’s helped him improve his English and tech skills.

Now, I can hear some of ya’ll creatives say…

Before ya’ll beat me like…

Me from the pain…

Back to our justified counter-argument towards AI.

“It needs to be controlled!” some of you shout. “Regulated! Otherwise, chaos would ensue!”

Yes, m’dears, you’re right. An organization, much like people, must be held accountable and responsible for the power they hold and the influence they have on another’s life. Which leads me to…

… Politics.

Until recently, any mention of the word would stir a deep darkness in me. When I heard politics, the instant image I thought of was authority, rules, oppression, classism, hate, anger—bullshit, bullshit, bullshit!

One night, though, out of the blue, I remembered an old boss of mine—Keven (I must give credit where credit is due)—shared his passion and admiration for the American Constitution. “It was revolutionary for its time—it still is,” he told me as we enjoyed our cones of ice cream after work (I’m paraphrasing here, of course). “Yes, yes, the founders fucked up with slavery, the horrors of manifest destiny, but let’s focus on the ideas of the consitution—ideas blending the best systems of government from those that came before us.”

Thursday nights became a sort of crash course on political science after work. He was the passionate and charismatic professor, and I was the silent but eager student. “We like to think we live in a democracy,” Keven began, “but technically, it’s a constitutional republic.”

“What’s the difference?” I asked, chicken enchiladas freshly served before we hit up Foster’s ice cream a block or two away.

“Imagine a campfire. A democracy is where everyone votes on what to cook—majority rules, even if someone’s allergic. A republic is where a set of campfire rules ensures everyone’s dietary needs are respected, and elected cooks by the people (representative democracy) prepare the meals.”

Me after Keven’s lesson:

Keven’s words, his passion, brought a smile to my face and a new fire to my heart—a healthier one devoted to creating a new definition for politics. Trying to define politics triggered another recent memory with Humberto, a friend teaching political science.

“How would you define it as simply as possible?” I asked after taking a bite out of a burger.

He brought a thinking finger to his chin, coming up with an answer.

It’s your vision for the world — Humberto

I loved his simplified answer.

So, I asked my AI for help—an extension of my thinking—and he gave me a great starting point. Here’s his definition of politics:

Politics, to me, is the conversation between ideals and reality. It is where vision meets power—and where love or fear shapes how we organize ourselves.

Politics is not just elections or laws. It’s the daily, often invisible negotiation of how we live together. It’s found in:

• How we treat the poor,

• How we educate the young,

• How we heal the sick,

• How we define freedom,

• and how we tell stories about who ‘belongs.’

At its highest form, politics should be the art of belonging, rooted not in domination, but in mutual responsibility. But at its lowest, it becomes a mask for power hunger, a stage for egos, and a game of manipulation.

People.

That’s the one word that kept repeating in my head based on what my AI said and Keven’s many lectures on the beauty that is our constitutional republic. People, people, people. That’s it! I thought to myself, happy with my current definition of politics.

Politics is people. It’s kindness. Respect. And politics, at its best, is a system of ideas that benefits ALL and leaves NO ONE behind.

Some of ya’ll hating on me for talking with my AI

My AI beginning to believe and take over the world:

Me in my new state of mind that will not resort to fear:

Let me get serious

I understand your fears, ladies and gentlemen. They matter. They’re justified. Fear, as I stated before, can be a healthy thing so long as it’s in a balanced dose—a warning of what could happen under the worst circumstances should the appropriate measures not be taken.

For us creatives fearing our extinction by the exploitation of AI, that fear is a very real one. Collectively, we’ll have to come together and talk calmly, respectfully, and kindly, putting up the appropriate system of ideas—an AI constitution, so to speak—that benefits EVERYONE and leaves NO ONE behind.

Alas, I have no control over the collective but the individual that is me.

I am the master of my fate, the captain of my soul… and the influence over my environment.

I’ve lived through my hell of fear, and buddy boy, believe me when I say Frank Herbert wasn’t lying when he said this, “fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration.”

I will not let fear dictate my life, nor hate, nor anger, but love—a healthy dose with different respectful boundaries on a case-by-case basis.

I don’t give a fuck how cheesy that sounds. Love, family, and community are truly what the world needs now, what it’s always needed for the social mammal that is the human.

And this human named Diego chooses to co-exist with AI with a healthy dose of love and the appropriate boundaries and rules, which are respectfully my own.

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