It seems we (the grand we) have decided that using proper punctuation is a red flag for AI-generated content.
As someone who has strong feelings about the Oxford comma, a longstanding affection for the em dash, and an appreciation for a well-placed semicolon, I find this fascinating. Not because I have a strong aversion to people using AI to write their emails. Quite the opposite. I'm interested in how we use these tools. But I do think we're asking the wrong questions.
The debate around AI-generated writing tends to focus on how something was written rather than what was actually said. We look for telltale phrases, perfectly structured paragraphs, and punctuation patterns that might suggest a machine had a hand in it. As if those conventions weren't established by people in the first place.
But none of these things tells us whether the thinking behind the words is original at any point.
For decades, executives relied on assistants and secretaries to draft correspondence, refine their messaging, and turn half-formed thoughts into polished communication. The person whose name appeared at the bottom of the letter didn't necessarily write every word. We understood that there was a difference between having an idea and putting it into words.
AI changes the mechanics of that process. It doesn't fundamentally change the principle.
You can write every word yourself and still have nothing meaningful to say. You can use AI to organize your thoughts, sharpen an argument, or find a clearer way to express something you genuinely believe. Neither approach guarantees quality, originality, or insight. What matters is the thinking behind the work.
A distinctive voice comes from experience, perspective, and the opinions you develop by doing the work, making mistakes, and occasionally discovering that you were spectacularly wrong. It comes from knowing what you believe, why you believe it, and when you're willing to challenge your own assumptions.
AI can help communicate that perspective. It’s not a substitute for having one. That's where I think the conversation needs to go. Instead of trying to identify whether a human or a machine helped write something, we should spend more time evaluating whether the ideas are worth our attention.
Is there a point of view? Is there substance behind the language? Does the person standing behind the words understand what they mean and have the experience to defend them? Those are much more useful questions than whether someone used an em dash.
For the record, I'll keep using mine. The Oxford comma, too. Good punctuation isn't evidence of artificial intelligence. Sometimes it's just evidence that we care about the details. Many of us spent years of school having those details drilled into us.
And don't get me started on the drop to one space from two after a period; it's insanity.
— AB