Opinion: AI Writing Requires More Input Tokens Than Output Tokens
danshipper · x · 2026-08-29
A forwarded post proposes a standard for ethical and quality AI writing: AI writing is only acceptable if the number of input tokens exceeds the number of output tokens.
- Negative Example: Asking AI to "Write an article on X" is considered "slop" due to low effort input.
- Positive Example: Providing "an hour of hard-won experience" for AI to draft is morally defensible and leads to better results.
The post suggests calculating a "distillation ratio" (input tokens / final draft tokens) to measure this effort.
More from AGI Musings
- Predicted: GPT Astra to Support Weeks of Autonomous Work — Dr_Singularity · 2026-08-29
- A conversation on the value of a pause, written up on LessWrong — repligate · 2026-08-29
- Are Billion-Dollar AI Crises More Likely Than Human Extinction? — JoshPurtell · 2026-08-29
- AI's Real Appeal: Creating the Illusion of Competence — overthestatus · 2026-08-29
- "Lights Out for Humanity" Is Too High a Bar for AI Risk Arguments — JoshPurtell · 2026-08-29
- Creator Stops Making AI Art Finding It Depressing — moultano · 2026-08-29