Hello Reader,
When I started this newsletter around March 2024, I did it because it sounded like a good idea. The plan was to copy my LinkedIn posts into the newsletter so that busy executives could access everything I've written over the weekend.
As I crafted my first newsletter, I wrote a short note as it seemed rude to skip that. Over several months, this introductory note grew with each newsletter sent until I eventually decided to call it a "commentary" because of its length.
And oh, the stories linked in the newsletter had to be hosted somewhere. For that, I decided to set up the techstories.co blog under a standalone domain. And since I now had a blog, why not try to write a full-length feature once a week?
I'm not sure what got into me, but for around 15 weeks - almost four months - I woke early every Sunday morning and pounded out an 800 to 1,000-word article like this, this, and this. Most Sundays, I even managed to hit publish before I took my family out to church.
Storytellers in the age of AI
What's my point in sharing this? You see, between my daily LinkedIn posts, my newsletter commentaries, and the features I wrote, I've unwittingly set myself up to write more than I've ever done in my life as an editor and copywriter.
This week, I finally came to realise just how fortuitous I've been in accidentally putting in the practice.
As the world turns to AI to write pretty much everything, it turns out big brands, and even OpenAI, are now on the prowl to hire human storytellers. Because there's a spark that AI can't replicate.
In a report on The Free Press this week, Elizabeth Wilner, who leads OpenAI's editorial team, said: "I can tell you that we won't be producing any content on our team that people are not involved in before it goes out the door."
Why? Because using AI-generated content is "the fastest way to tell people that you don't respect their time." According to Wilner, while her team uses ChatGPT for brainstorming and research, the "actual writing is always done by humans."
When even OpenAI insists on human writers, that tells you something.
Write for yourself
As the year winds to a close, I would encourage you to spend some time writing. Be it a blog post, a private journal entry, or your plans for the year ahead, pen it down. Because writing is thinking.
To be clear, I'm not saying you shouldn't use AI. I use it a lot in my daily work, but almost always as a tool that I guide. Because it is absolutely vital that we don't outsource our thinking.
Personally, I've found many benefits to writing more:
- I write significantly faster than when I started.
- Insights surface that I never thought of before.
- Story angles come to mind unbidden.
Give it a try. And let me know what it unlocks for you.
What's next for 2026
For 2026, I plan to write a lot more on my Clearly Tech Substack. Some of the content there will be behind a paywall as part of my continuing experiment with paid content. It means a lot if you became a paying subscriber.
I'll still be posting on LinkedIn and sending this newsletter. Because storytelling matters. Thank you for being part of this journey.
As usual, I'd love to hear from you. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Regards,
Paul Mah
Content collaboration
Love the way I write? I'm opening up for more content collaborations. If you are looking for event coverage, brand storytelling, or a way to share your unique perspectives with a broader audience, fill in the form
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