RECENTLY ON WOWI
Tom has departed from WOWI because he’s a busy guy …
The podcast has become mine, and I intend to continue the show after a brief hiatus (because I too am a busy guy) …
and …

I prayed to The Podcast Gods
and they have shared their grace!

After Tom took his leave, I thought about who might make good new co-hosts.  Long story short, 3 of my favourite former WOWI guests have gotten on board with the show.  Just in the past 2 months, there’s excitement in our emails — and I’m thrilled about what’s to come!  As we spoke, it seemed that we should meet face-to-face and record a ‘trial podcast session’ — also since a hot topic in the writing scene came up between us.

So …

!!!SURPRISE!!!

Lauren Flake, Sarah McCarthy, and I met this past Saturday  at the Coupeville Library.  First, I talked about where WOWI is at and what’s to come.   Then, after introducing each of them, we dove head-long into our topic — the use of Artificial Intelligence in writing and the creative process … is it good, bad, or outright evil!!!

If you are not already familiar, Lauren is a writers group founder and fantasy novelist.  Sarah has authored several physics and fantasy books.  And long-time listeners of course know me as a WOWI podcast founder, along with being a recipe and music history book author.

Interestingly, I went into this session understanding that we each had different levels of understanding as to where this technology is currently at in development.  I though I had a decent level of awareness — and I am comfortable in admitting that I knew considerably less than I thought.  Similarly, I knew that we had 3 different positions about the acceptability of A.I. in commercial arts — making the prospects for this conversation nothing short of dynamic.  In the process of the discussion, and upon learning where my perspective falls within the spectrum of opinion, I am potentially more in support of A.I.’s use than I thought!

Our conversation about authors’ use of A.I. ranged from ‘Is this legitimate creativity?’, to ‘Who holds what amount of the copyright?’, dipped into ‘How will this put people out of jobs?’, and even into ‘Where is this at now and what possibly could the future hold?’  It was a charged conversation, also full of laughter — it was the sort of thing I had hoped for in working with WOWI’s new co-hosts.  YES — I prayed to The Podcast Gods, and the initial results look … GOOD!

And there were no fist-fights!

This first meeting with Lauren and Sarah was nothing short of GREAT!  Hands down, it has me thoroughly excited for WOWI going forward.  When Writing On Whidbey Island gets back into full swing around Fall 2023, I will be pleased to reintroduce poet Daniel Edward Moore as the 3rd new WOWI co-host (he’s also a busy guy).

As for our conversation on A.I. — the podcast should be posted in the coming week.  As for now and the until-Fall WOWI-hiatus … maybe there will be other ‘surprise’ podcast sessions — so keep your eyes & ears here!

~ Don

PS — Thank you to Sarah for producing the preceding images using A.I. along with the “podcast gods” prompt.  Here are the others she and it created…

Friends don’t let friends
let A.I. write obituaries …

Following the recording session, the three of us continued to talk.  Among other Artificial Intelligence produced graphics, Lauren shared with us this A.I. generated obituary.  Look closely at the photo and writing, and you will see where AI seems to presently imitate what we do but doesn’t yet seem to quite get things right.