Monocle editor warns against AI's 'Botox' effect on writing

Andrew Tuck, editor of Monocle, recounts receiving a pitch from a respected writer that an AI checker flagged as 70% AI-generated. He describes the telltale signs: hollow sentences, odd spelling and punctuation. Tuck contrasts this with his own creative process, waking at 5:30 AM on Fridays to write his column, often struggling but trusting his thoughts will come. He reveals that a fellow editor at a well-known magazine uses AI to organize initial thoughts, likening it to Viagra for writers. Tuck emphasizes the value of human editing, comparing it to a dental hygienist that polishes without removing teeth. He argues that journalists must resist AI's allure and trust the messy, non-linear process of writing, concluding with a call to show 'writerly wrinkles' rather than reach for 'AI Botox.' The column appears in Monocle's Weekend Opener series.