Every time I start to share one of my blogs on social media, I receive a message such as:

• “Start a post, try writing with AI.” That “sentence” contains a grammatical error called a “comma splice,” joining what should be two sentences with a comma. This does not inspire confidence in the offered AI.

• “Rewrite with AI.”

• “Enhance your posts with AI. Posts can receive up to 35% more distribution and 30% more engagement.” 35% more than what?

In essence, the website is offering to improve my writing using Artificial Intelligence, a computer program. Even worse, the website expects me to pay for this assistance.

As a writer, I am insulted. The website is essentially insulting my writing ability without even having read what I have written. It is saying that I don’t write two good. Even worse, the website is saying that I, who have devoted my life to perfecting my writing skills, can be replaced by a machine.

I am especially insulted because whenever I am writing something, the various computer programs I am using keep suggesting changes that usually degrade the writing and introduce grammatical errors. Why would I pay to make my writing worse? I write far better than any machine.

In case, you doubt what I am saying, I typed the following paragraph and accepted every suggestion a certain program (which I will refrain from naming) made:

I have, myself, full confidence that it will all work out, if nothing else is needed, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being discussed, we will be out of town once again this year to defend the interests of our community, to ensure the safety of our workers, and to outline the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary alone. At any time, please think about what you are doing. That is the resolution of His Message Government—especially man of them. That is the will of Parliament and the nation. The British Empire and the French Republic, linked together with their current address and information, Williams defend to the death their native soil, aiding each other like good friends to the utmost of the world. Even though last year of Europe and manufacturing old and new States have been fallen or missing into the ground of the Gestapo and all the oddities appear to occur in Nazi rule, we shall not flag or remove. We shall go ahead and to the end, we shall fight for France, we shall fight for the separation and occupancy of, we shall fight for growth and confidence and growing strength in the future, we shall defend our interests, whatever they may be, we shall fight for the beauty of, we shall fight for the landing grounds, we shall fight for the fields and in the fields, we shall fight for the hills; we will be needing surround sound, and even if, which I believe for a moment, this island is originally a large island of islands were surrounded by and surrounded, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guided by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God’s goodness, the New World, with all its wonderful and memorable stories forthcoming to share with you and your family the wonderful stories of the old world.

Does that strike you as a wonderful piece of writing? Is it clear? Or do you think it a confusing compendium of pedestrian phrases? Do you think it could be an improvement on the original?

The original is the concluding paragraph of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s speech to the House of Commons on June 4, 1940, near the start of the Second World War. That speech is one of the most stirring and inspiring speeches every made, a masterful example of oratory:

I have, myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once again able to defend our Island home, to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary alone. At any rate, that is what we are going to try to do. That is the resolve of His Majesty’s Government-every man of them. That is the will of Parliament and the nation. The British Empire and the French Republic, linked together in their cause and in their need, will defend to the death their native soil, aiding each other like good comrades to the utmost of their strength. Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous States have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God’s good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.

If Winston Churchill had accepted help from Artificial Intelligence, we would all likely be speaking German.