Link: AI doesn’t belong in journaling

In July 2023, I abandoned the Day One journaling app for a traditional, physical journal. This simple act has significantly enhanced my mental health, critical thinking, and memory retention.

The switch was triggered by Apple’s introduction of its Journal app, which uses machine learning to generate prompts from personal data. Skepticism grew after a distasteful AI mishap involving a memory of my mother's funeral, showcased by Apple's Memory feature.

At a recent demo, Google revealed an even more AI-intensive approach to journaling with its new app. However, true journaling—distilled to 'What happened today and how do I feel about it?'—is inherently a reflective, not algorithmic, process.

I believe making journaling as "inconvenient" as possible enriches the experience. Handwriting forces you to engage deeply with your thoughts and records, making the memories more vivid and the insights more personal.

Additionally, maintaining a physical journal ensures privacy and keeps intimate reflections away from potential data breaches. This physical and private nature of conventional journaling helps protect those personal insights and emotional explorations from being reduced to mere data points.

The AI-driven conveniences promised by tech giants strip the raw essence and authenticity from journaling. Despite technological advancements, some experiences, like journaling, retain their value through their inherent challenges and personal engagement. #

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Yoooo, this is a quick note on a link that made me go, WTF? Find all past links here.