Ideas Weave Every Narrative with AI.
AI tools don’t just make things easier—they optimize for the statistical average of human output, flattening the very idiosyncrasies that make your work personal. This article argues that the real threat isn’t job loss, but the quiet erosion of individual taste, and offers a way to use AI without losing your voice.
You don’t actually want quality — at least not when it costs you social friction. Kakonomics, a concept from philosopher Gloria Origgi, explains why we systematically choose mediocrity: it’s cooperative, painless, and keeps everyone comfortable. Every time you accept ‘good enough’ to avoid confrontation, you’re signing a silent pact to lower standards. The real cost of excellence isn’t effort — it’s the social isolation of being the one who cares.
The harder you try to be unique, the more the algorithm pulls you back to the mean. This article reveals how the systems designed to help you stand out are actually making you average—and what you can do to break free.