Brainrot in the Age of AI

This month, 'brain rot' was named Oxford’s Word of the Year, with its usage increasing by 230% between 2023 and 2024. This article is my personal opinion on content overdose caused by AI.

In today’s rundown:

• Brainrot in the Age of AI

• The AI Echo Chamber

• Why Imperfection Matters

• My Take on AI in Writing

• What You Should Be Mindful Of

Read time: 4 minutes.

Brainrot in the Age of AI

While researching for an article on financial innovation trends, I found many articles online. These pieces were polished, free of grammatical errors, and felt perfectly... safe. Yet, something about these articles felt off. Their perfection seemed artificial, devoid of the rawness and imperfection that often make human thought relatable.

Let’s be real: 90% of these articles were likely written by AI.

The AI Echo Chamber

AI tools have made content creation effortless. With just a few clicks, you can generate essays, code, or even philosophical arguments. But this convenience comes at a cost: the risk of brainrot, a term gaining traction to describe the mental stagnation caused by over-reliance on AI-generated content.

Here’s the alarming truth: AI isn’t just creating content—it’s repurposing it. One AI generates an article, another rephrases it, and the cycle continues. This creates an echo chamber of recycled ideas, where content feels repetitive and devoid of originality.

This echo chamber is leading to troubling trends:

• Homogeneity: Everything starts to sound the same

• as if written by a single invisible hand.

• Lazy Consumption: Polished AI content discourages critical thinking, brainstorming, or questioning.

• Decline in Originality: The quirks and imperfections of human creativity are slowly disappearing.

Even more concerning is the illusion of confidence in AI-generated content. Research shows that AI often produces writing that sounds authoritative but lacks depth, accuracy, or authenticity. Over time, consuming this hollow yet polished content can erode our ability to think critically and creatively.

The danger isn’t AI itself—it’s how we use it. If we let AI dictate our thinking process, we risk becoming passive consumers, trusting what it produces at face value instead of engaging with it thoughtfully.

Why Imperfection Matters

Sometimes, the value of human-created content lies in its flaws. Like the rough strokes in a sketch or the occasional typo in a heartfelt note, imperfection adds personality and emotion. It reminds us there’s a human behind the words—a person with unique experiences and emotions.

AI can help polish and refine our work, but the soul of a piece must come from us. It’s the quirks, the gaps, and even the awkward phrasing that breathe life into writing.

My Take on AI in Writing

I’m not against using AI to enhance writing—in fact, I use it daily. As someone who isn’t a native English speaker and who has always felt that my writing skills are mediocre at best, AI has become an essential tool for me. It helps tighten my ideas, improve readability, and turn my thoughts into something coherent and polished.

But even with its assistance, I firmly believe that the user's intelligence matters more than the tool's.

If we blindly rely on AI, we risk becoming lazy thinkers, outsourcing not just the mechanics of writing but the process of critical thought itself. AI should be seen as a collaborator, not a replacement. Let it handle the grunt work—grammar, structure, and flow—but let your unique voice and perspective shine through.

For me, the magic of AI lies in how it amplifies my ideas, not in how it replaces them.

What You Should Be Mindful Of

1. Don’t sacrifice authenticity: Use AI to assist, not replace your ideas.

2. Embrace imperfection: Your flaws are part of what makes your work human and relatable.

3. Stay engaged: Think critically about the content AI generates, and always add your personal touch.

That’s a wrap! 🌯

In this AI-driven era, creativity isn’t about how well we use tools—it’s about how much of ourselves we’re willing to put into our work. AI is here to stay, but the choice is ours: Will we let it guide us or replace us?

The content of this article is my sole opinion and is not advice. Let me know your thoughts, or reach out at hello@aisomething.com.

Stay intellectually active. Stay smart. 🧠