Recently, my manager asked me if I was afraid of the moves AI was making in my field as a front-end developer. Without hesitation, I said yes.

Why? Because the frontend development landscape is already in a constant state of flux - even without AI in the picture. Frameworks evolve rapidly, updates roll out frequently, and competition is already fierce. Adding AI to the equation only intensifies the challenge.

Curious about others' perspectives, I asked a senior colleague the same question. His response?

"Worrying won't change anything. It just means you have to be better. Change will take some jobs and create new ones."

Then he concluded with, "But that's me just being optimistic though."

Shortly after that conversation, I came across an article by the VP of Content at Medium, where he outlined how Medium is approaching AI-generated writing. The decision, he explained, came after gathering feedback from writers and readers on whether fully AI-generated content should be allowed on the platform.

The responses were mixed.

Some users strongly believed that Medium should remain a platform for human knowledge and experiences - not AI-generated content. Others suggested a clear disclosure: If your content is AI-generated, identify it as such. And then there was the group that stood by their strong no-no: If you're just going to copy and paste AI-generated content, don't even bother publishing.

Medium, like many other platforms, welcomes the responsible use of AI tools to enhance writing. However, as AI capabilities evolve, I am certain that platforms like Medium are struggling to strike a balance between innovation and authenticity. Policies around AI-generated content are constantly being revisited, as there's no one-size-fits-all answer - at least, not yet.

AI: A Powerful Tool or a Threat to Creativity?

The debate over AI replacing traditionally human-centric jobs is a table-shaker, and it may never really reach a universally accepted conclusion. AI has undoubtedly been a productivity booster, helping professionals across industries work faster and more efficiently.

I'll admit - even as I write this article, I might use an AI-powered tool to refine my grammar and structure. 😉

But then, there's the other side of the coin - over-reliance or abuse of AI. Some people use AI not as a tool but as their primary brainpower, copying, and pasting content without adding originality or effort. So, I completely understand the frustration of spending hours researching, writing, editing, and optimizing a piece with a unique voice, only for someone else to generate similar content in seconds and potentially receive the same (or even more) credit. Even ChatGPT gives a disclaimer that it can make mistakes; hence users must fact-check important information.

What's worse? The skepticism around well-written content.

I recently saw a TikTok video where a lady ranted about how a beautifully crafted post was dismissed with the comment:

"This is definitely AI." or "na ChatGPT"

Why? Simply because it was grammatically correct, had proper punctuation, and flowed logically.

Since childhood, we've been taught grammar, punctuation, and effective reading, writing, and speaking. And yet, with the rise of AI-generated content, we now have to defend our own intelligence - as if writing well is no longer a human skill but an AI-generated trick.

At the same time, I kinda understand the counterargument:
"AI is a tool - if you can prompt it correctly to generate quality content, that's a skill in itself. Why spend hours writing when AI can do it in minutes?"

It's a fair point. Knowing how to structure AI prompts for optimal output is a skill. But does that mean AI-generated content should be treated the same as human-written content?

The Desperate Need for Clear AI Guidelines

Now more than ever, we need a centralized, objective standard defining the responsible and acceptable use of AI in content creation.

• Should AI-generated content be clearly labeled?
• Should platforms like Medium ban fully AI-written content?
• Or is using AI to generate content just another form of smart work?

What do you think? Are you in the "AI should always be disclosed" camp, or do you believe that good content is good content, no matter how it's created?