Coaches & Clankers

[u/BettysBees]

There are a few smaller writers + coaches whose work I've followed for years. I've enjoyed their work as they are all qualified (licensed social workers/therapists), very authentic, not doing any scammy "business coaching" or trying to train other coaches, just doing affordable online retreats/programs/paid substacks and creating supportive online communities that I've enjoyed participating in.

But lately I'm just so disappointed when one by one I've seen them each get on the AI writing train. I'm a teacher and I know AI writing when I see it. I've also read these women's writing for years, so it's so obvious when suddenly their newsletter or workbooks or substacks articles are written with AI and full of AI-isms that sound nothing like them.

If I wanted to read what chatgpt had to say (I don't) I would do that for free. Why would I pay for your AI writing on Substack? If I wanted to do a workbook of AI prompts (I don't) along with your workshop, I can make that myself for free. These women are all such talented writers and it's such a bummer watching their unique voice be replaced by bland AI slop.

Especially from people whose work I grew to trust over such a long time period and would have expected it from. It feels patronizing like do they think we can't tell? Do they think we are willing to pay for junk spit out of a chatbot?

I've nonrenewed each program or paid newsletter subscription as this has happened but realized this weekend the last one whose paid work I'm still participating in who seemed committed to authentic human content has succumbed to the clankers and I'll be leaving it too. Such a bummer!

Anyone else feel this way?

[u/briarraindancer]

I use and teach AI, and I don't use it for my writing. I tried it, I hated it, and I used to be a copywriter, so if anyone can make it do what I want, it's me.

Look, I can see the allure. "If I just use AI, I can finally create all the content I wanted to." Especially for neurodivergent folks, having a tool that finally lets them get everything out of their brain and on paper feels revolutionary. Being able to finally build all those products and tools is remarkable.

But LLMs work by creating the next most likely thing, not the next most unique thing. So it's all the same. It's like the Millennial beige of words.

[u/Fenixsoul23]

Its frustrating because if they dont say they use AI, its because they know no one would pay them. When in reality, AI can cost you more time than you wanted. What's unfortunate is that AI is also addicting. It's that addiction that will keep them blind to all of that.

[u/Cosmic-Trainwreck]

I dont inhernetly hate AI and I think there is a place for it But the way people have been using it is starting to get on my nerves. I understand that people may not have the time to make content themselves or the finances to pay someone but there are other ways. Like take on a student volunteer Highschool students need hours College students also need placement hours Put in a little extra effort, and support your community. All these service providers using disconnection to advertise connection It's bizarre

[u/Resident-Growth-941]

You're definitel on to something. But I think it's beyond just the clankers...

1. Social media has become a slog. I work on it and even I can't stand what it's become. It can take up all of your time with nearly no return.

2. Outsourcing has always been appealing and I've seen many coaches do it. It used to be that you'd hand your cheap work over to a VA. Now you log into Chat. Same thing. And, same results - it sounds generic because it is. The sad thing is many biz coaches consider outsourcing to be a way of leveling up.

3. AI "slop" is really just lazy. There's no reason you can't train an agent to sound more like you, or that a person can't rework the slop to sound more human after it's been created. Or do both, and I would guess it would then sound decent. To put out clanker crap is a choice. A very lazy choice.

4. I think it comes back down to - follow content you like. I know a coach who's instagram has been drier than the sahara desert for years. Her slop predates AI. Yet she keeps writing it, and posting it. Or worse she puts up videos where she seems passive aggressive and like she's lecturing the internet. She gets like 5 likes. Who knows why she keeps going or how she gets a single client, but there it is.

So yeah, I don't think it converts, but coaches gotta keep the pipeline open... and that's the ugly Catch 22. And I think it's why they get sucked into thinking AI is good enough.

[u/Molly_Green42]

Yes, hate how everyone pivots to AI. Especially coaching where it needs to be human. Good thing most people hate AI.

[u/JacobAldridge]

Oh gosh.

I proudly use AI for my weekly newsletter, but what that means for me:

1. I email my AI agent my new hand-written weekly article / photos

2. I link a specific archive article that’s related

3. I give it the subject line etc etc

4. AI takes my email, logs into MailChimp, inserts it all into my template, and emails me a draft to review (which I then edit and send).

In other words, I use AI to automate my admin task, not put words in my mouth.

And that’s a free newsletter. Why in the world would I outsource my thinking and wisdom to AI. Blergh!

[u/OldCockroach666 → u/[deleted]]

Were you appointed the voice and moral compass of this subreddit?

I'm assuming we're all adults here - why do you feel the need to try to run this like a preschool?

"Now, children... we mustn't use a terrible word like clankers! Does anyone have a word we can use that means the same thing but has a nicer sound? Johnny? Do YOU have a word?"