You're Killing Us

So here's my rant for the day, and this is my last post. I get so many messages from potential clients that say "I need you to write this for me. I've been using [popular AI chatbot], but it really doesn't sound like me." <br><br>The first time I got a message like that, I was shocked. How could a machine not have captured the essence of a person? And then I realized it was about delivery and voice. These machines are not capable of connection, of understanding the really fine nuances of language; they're machines. <br><br>I am very pro-tech. I use a ton of really cool tools that make my life easier, but when I first encountered this, it really shook me. I started digging into other industries in the creative space and learned that so many were going through this same thing. Photographers are losing decades-shaping businesses because some clients want to pay $10 per image for AI. Graphic designers are being asked to do work for pennies on the dollar, and as long as the AI image does a shallow representation of what they want, the client is happy enough to save money.<br><br>I started doing this work on chambers almost 2 years ago. I've met some really incredible people and have some really great collaborations going. I'm also one of the only people I know that does this work who has not seen some sort of career damage on chambers alone. <br><br>I've had a steady decline in income over the last 6 months and it is not feasible for me to continue here. I have seen almost all of my chambers colleagues struggle, some have retired because they cannot afford to make a living doing this work anymore. I know a few who have transitioned to offering AI-generated content and services, but that is not something I am interested in doing.<br><br>So, I appreciate chambers for giving me this platform, but I need to go. If you're still here, I hope you can find the help you need, but I genuinely worry for anyone who is supporting AI over human beings. <br><br>I have received some really lovely messages. I really appreciate them. I'm not being dramatic, I just cannot afford to keep doing this work. Not only do I get fewer messages every month, but the ones I get are mostly looking for AI or cheap AI work. I am not a charity and I need to make a living. I joke about chambers being my office, but it's really a job that I do on reddit. I'm being hourly paid for the work I do and I have to treat this just like I would any job. I need to pay bills and eat.<br><br>If you're interested in collaborating, I'd be happy to discuss something with you! [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])