I have published many pieces with James over the years.
asserted
I → publish → years
He is a tough editor who ensures the Journal has the highest quality pages.
asserted
Journal → ensure → pages
The process is not always fun, but at the end, I am confident that the best material is published.
asserted
material → publish → end
In a new commentary, Taranto explains in some detail how he does his job, and what role AI plays.
asserted
AI → explain → role
I learned a lot, even as someone who publishes Op-Eds in leading papers.
asserted
who → learn → papers
Taranto explains how he uses AI:
asserted
he → explain → AI
I use artificial intelligence when I write articles, including this one.
asserted
I → use → one
I run partial or complete drafts through a chatbot and ask what it thinks.
asserted
it → run → what
It spits out copious suggestions, some of which inspire me to make revisions and improvements.
asserted
some → spit → revisions
I ensure the integrity of my own work with a simple rule: I never paste AI output into a piece I'm writing (except when AI transcribes text from an image or recording, and then I check the quote against the source).
asserted
I → ensure → source
That has been my practice since I started using AI, and it is consistent with the Journal editorial page's policy for staff, which my boss, Paul Gigot, announced last month: "No letting AI draft a column or editorial."
asserted
AI → start → column
Taranto rejects calls to include any sort of disclaimer about his AI usage.
asserted
Taranto → reject → usage
He is quite right that readers would become tired with the same statement in every essay.
asserted
readers → become → essay
Taranto explains that during his early career, he would ghostwrite op-eds for the late Ed Feulner at Heritage.
asserted
he → explain → Heritage
I have also ghostwritten op-eds.
asserted
I → ghostwrite → eds
My first full-time job was in the PR department of the Heritage Foundation, a Washington think tank, which I joined two months after Mr. Posner's article appeared in 1988.
asserted
article → join → 1988
Among my duties was to produce one op-ed column a week for the foundation's president, Ed Feulner.
asserted
produce → produce → president
I would select a topic, draft a formulaic piece about it, and send it upstairs, where Feulner would edit it (in most cases minimally), approve it, and send it back.
asserted
Feulner → select → it
It was then printed and sent by mail to newspapers across the U.S., which could publish it free of charge.
uncertain
which → print → charge
I was somewhat uncomfortable with this practice, and Heritage found it embarrassing enough that my boss there once told me I was forbidden to mention "ghostwriting" on my résumé.
asserted
I → find → résumé
But in retrospect I don't think it was all that bad.
asserted
it → think → retrospect
Feulner was known more as an advocate than a scholar, and Heritage scholars generally wrote their own material, which I sometimes compressed to op-ed length.
asserted
I → know → length
I found it distasteful mostly because it was drudge work, as were other tasks such as writing press releases.
asserted
tasks → find → releases
I suppose there are differences.
asserted
I → suppose → ?
Most authors do not have stables of interns and associates standing by to write things.
asserted
authors → have → things
That works at a large institution like Heritage.
asserted
That → work → Heritage
In a sense, Claude gives everyone the resources of a large think tank.
asserted
Claude → give → tank
AI democratizes things.
asserted
AI → democratize → things
And if a leader like Feulner is find delegating all of the work to an intern, what's the problem with delegating the same work to AI.
asserted
problem → find → AI
Virtually every politician uses ghostwriters.
asserted
politician → use → ghostwriters
Does anyone believe a book by a politician was actually written by that politician?
asserted
book → believe → politician
Long before ChatGPT, how often did a judge write all opinions in their entirely?
asserted
judge → write → entirely
With the exception of Judges like Posner or Easterbrook, I would wager the number is very low.
asserted
number → wager → Posner
Indeed, when judges write books, they too use ghostwriters.
asserted
they → write → ghostwriters
Consider this passage from Justice Sotomayor's book, My Beloved World:
Given the demands of my day job, this book would not have been possible without the collaboration of Zara Houshmand.
asserted
book → consider → Houshmand
Zara, a most talented writer herself, listened to my endless stories and those of my families and friends, and helped choose those that in retelling would paint the most authentic picture of my life experiences.
asserted
that → listen → experiences
Zara, you are an incredible person with a special ability to help others understand and express themselves better; I am deeply indebted to your assistance.
asserted
I → help → assistance
One of the most profound treasures of this process has been the gift of your friendship, which will last a lifetime.
asserted
which → last → friendship
Justice Gorsuch, to his credit, lists his co-author.
asserted
Gorsuch → list → author
I still do not wish to use AI.
asserted
I → wish → AI
…and 3 more, not listed.
The Aporia
