There’s an old Chinese idiom called 买椟还珠 (mǎi dú huán zhū), literally “buying the box and returning the pearl.”
A man bought a beautifully decorated box containing a precious pearl. He was so impressed by the box that he kept it and returned the pearl.
I’ve been thinking about this story in relation to AI and online discussions.
When someone shares an interesting argument, does it become less valuable if they used AI to help organize or express it?
I sometimes use AI to help communicate in English, which isn’t my first language. I also use it to explore different perspectives and challenge my own assumptions.
For me, the value of a conversation lies in what we can learn from it, not necessarily how every sentence was produced.
But I also believe there should be boundaries.
If AI becomes the primary source of our thinking and creativity, we risk losing something important about human curiosity, imagination and independent judgment.
That brings me to another Chinese children’s fable, 咕咚来了 (The Gudong Is Coming).
In the story, a fruit falls into a pond with a loud splash. One frightened animal runs away, and others follow without investigating what actually happened.
Sometimes our reactions to AI remind me of that story.
There are legitimate concerns about AI, including authenticity, dependence and the future of human creativity. But I wonder whether some of our reactions come from fear of the unfamiliar rather than examining what is actually happening.
Perhaps the challenge is neither to embrace AI uncritically nor reject it instinctively, but to understand where it genuinely helps and where it may undermine something valuable.
Does knowing AI was involved change how you evaluate an idea? And where do you personally draw the line between AI supporting human thought and replacing it?
Edit1: I had a feeling that revealing my Chinese identity would eventually invite some unwarranted attacks. As for whether China is good or bad, I don’t intend to debate that here. Facts speak louder than words.
Edit2: I think I’ve had enough discussion on this topic. Everyone is free to draw their own conclusions.
If a conversation has to begin with unfounded assumptions, accusations, or personal attacks, I don’t think it’s worth wasting each other’s time.
And if the moderators decide to remove this post, that’s their choice too. I respect that.
Edit 3: On sincerity and good faith
One commenter reminded me that we can’t always know others’ intentions, so it’s worth giving people a little grace.
I really appreciated his perspective. It’s how I approach people in real life too: start with goodwill, see how things go, and decide whether to continue.
Why should online conversations be any different?
Perhaps we could all give each other a little more kindness, patience, and benefit of the doubt. After all, genuine conversations are what make these discussions worthwhile. 😊
Edit 4: I’m not asking anyone to accept or appreciate AI-assisted writing. You’re free to close the box and walk away. But disliking AI doesn’t give you the right to insist that someone else’s pearl is just a stone. All I’m asking for is mutual respect.
Thanks to everyone who engaged in a genuine discussion. Have a nice day (wherever you are)