"AI is a very poor writer," says celebrated author, hip-hop historian, and Bruce Lee biographer Jeff Chang.

While large language models can mirror sentence structures or copy paragraphs, Chang argues that the raw output is garbage.

He also shares insights from his interview with legendary hip-hop producer DJ Shadow on his KALW radio show, Notes from the Edge.

Shadow calls generative AI music "corny" and warns that those hyping artificial intelligence tools are usually the ones profiting from them.

This leads to the ultimate question for modern creators: If you rely on AI for ideation, are you actually being creative?

In this episode, we cover:

• Why Jeff Chang writes every word himself and limits AI to research
• The craft of revision: Why great non-fiction requires four drafts
• Insights from Karen Hao, DJ Shadow, and the commercial hype around AI tools
• How analog constraints, turntables, and four-track recording built modern sampling culture
• The difference between machine-generated ideas and human artistic judgment
• Could an 18-year-old produce the next Endtroducing..... using generative AI models?

Please enjoy the show.

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Chapters

(00:00) Does Jeff Chang Use AI to Write?
(01:33) The Revision Process: Why Great Writing Takes Four Drafts
(04:51) Karen Hao, DJ Shadow, and Why AI Music Feels "Corny"
(07:18) What Analog Sampling Culture Teaches Us About AI
(11:32) Ideation vs. Artistry: Can You Be Creative If AI Does the Thinking?
(13:20) Could an 18-Year-Old Make the Next Endtroducing..... with Generative AI?

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