JFK’s AI Voice
From Kennedy’s 1961 inaugural: “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.” “Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.” “United, there is little we cannot do… Divided, there is little we can do.” “If a free society cannot help the […] The post JFK’s AI Voice appeared first on Marginal REVOLUTION .
The line "United, there is little we cannot do… Divided, there is little we can do" from John F. Kennedy's inaugural address echoes the rhetorical style of the speech writer Ted Sorensen. This device, known as antithesis, juxtaposes contrasting states to emphasize a point. Sorensen, renowned for his stylistic prowess, utilized symmetry, parallelism, and reversal in crafting memorable phrases.
Kennedy himself told his countrymen, "Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate" and "We choose to do these things not because they are easy but because they are hard." These lines demonstrate Kennedy's belief that America must move forward, a sentiment echoed in Lyndon Johnson's inaugural address. Despite any speculation, these speeches were not penned by AI, but rather, they reflect the techniques Sorensen employed, which AI trained on could mimic.
The concern is the overuse of such rhetorical devices, as they can become clichéd when applied to mundane topics like a trip to a convenience store. The post "JFK’s AI Voice" on Marginal REVOLUTION notes that the AI voice phenomenon should not be dismissed solely due to its rhetorical techniques.
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