Ancient Authors Define Writing Beyond AI’s Reach

Why this is here: Enheduanna’s poem “The Exaltation of Inanna” merged the Sumerian goddess Inanna with the Akkadian goddess Ishtar, creating a unified “Queen of Heaven” and contributing to political unity in her empire.

Ryan Leack, an assistant professor at USC, explores how ancient definitions of writing challenge whether AI can truly “write.” Leack notes that Enheduanna, a princess-priestess from ancient Iraq around 2300 B.C.E., saw writing as a powerful medium that could praise deities and even alter fate. Her poem “The Exaltation of Inanna” describes writing as actively shaping the future through pleas and praise.

Two millennia later, Plato and Aristotle viewed writing as a copy of speech, itself a representation of thought. Both philosophers emphasized writing’s power to transform readers and influence the world, evidenced by the enduring legacy of Plato’s “Academy.” However, Leack argues that current AI text lacks the human emotions and experiences that give writing its power.

A recent study led by Natasha Jaques suggests AI use risks “blandification” of writing, potentially homogenizing thought. Leack proposes the term “generwrite” to differentiate AI-generated text from human writing, acknowledging its distinct nature. The professor believes that elements of writing—rooted in embodied experience—may remain uniquely human.