Just a few musings, as I’m starting to build a following on Bluesky (a new launch is always a bit scary), but I find the current use of bots a bit odd. All the advice is to interact with others (a bit difficult when you’re naturally shy like me), but there is such a proliferation of automation at the minute, following accounts often prompts a series of DMs that are clearly AI and programmed. I replied to a few before I realised but its quite strange to interact with a computer to raise your profile and build followers. Unless Skynet starts buying books I’m uncertain of the benefits.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not anti technology, and I’ve tried some very interesting conversations with AI, and asked it for an opinion. The last answer was “AI chatbots and algorithms can simulate conversation, answer questions, and engage with your audience 24/7. This can keep your account active and responsive, boosting visibility”. But to follow that train of thought, we all have chatbots talking to other chatbots, which negates any actual interactions. And it risks people thinking the style of conversation from the AI is my own writing style, which might be counter productive. I asked if it could impersonate me, and it answered “No, I cannot impersonate you or anyone else”, but the experiences on some of the social media accounts seen to differ. Its proved useful in identifying sites and accounts that might interest me, but I’m still quite wary of just how much it should be used, and am a bit uncomfortable even asking for recommendations. It feels a bit like ‘cheating’. I know it is a shortcut and to some extent no different from googling, scouring magazines and websites, but something about it feels wrong. I don’t know if I’m being over sensitive or naïve, but perhaps the way the online world is going, there will be little choice but to engage this way in the future. Not sure how other authors cope with that dilemma.
Stay safe,
Kit xxx