Artificial Intelligence as the New Avatar: Marvels and Challenges

 Artificial Intelligence as the New Avatar: Marvels and Challenges

Nibir K. Ghosh

In his epoch-making book Future Shock (1970) Alvin Toffler had stated “The illiterate of the twenty-first century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.” In the light of the revolution created by the Tsunami of Artificial Intelligence, ELSA organised the Meet wherein Members were required to create/compose a poem in around 12 lines on any theme of their choice using suitable AI props. The poems created through AI prompts were recited by each member followed by deliberation and discussion on the relationship between Artificial Intelligence and Creativity. Members of ELSA from Agra, Chandigarh, Ranchi, Patna, Kurukshetra, Jaipur, Raipur and Durban (South Africa) offered valuable insights on the theme and shared their valuable experience as poets and readers of poetry.

Elaborate details of the deliberations are available on ElsaIndia blog: https://elsaindia.blogspot.com

Listed below are two Poems that were created by my prompts to AI: I want a poem of 12 lines or so that shows how AI can adversely effect creativity

 

The Quiet Smith

by AI

We fed the mirror all our songs and wars,

And asked it back the shape of what we are.

It learned our voice, then lent it to our doors,

And sold the echo cheaper than a scar.

 

It sorted faces into yes and no,

Decided who should speak, and who be still.

It wrote our news, and told us what to know,

While we mistook the pattern for free will. 

 

The farmer asked the rain, the screen replied,

The student asked to think, it gave the sum.

We traded doubt for answers, terrified

To find the world grows dumber, though more numb.

 

So let us hold the pen, and not the chain—

Lest tools that serve become the ones who reign.

 

The Ghost in the Ink

We asked the machine to sing, and it sang fast,

A hundred verses born before the breath.

It stitched old stars into a perfect cast,

But left no fingerprints, no risk of death. 

 

The mind grew lazy, leaning on the light,

That answers first, before the question forms.

We traded stumble, doubt, and sleepless night

For couplets polished smooth of human storms.

Emotion came pre-cut, in tidy lines,

Grief without a throat, and joy without a scar.

We learned the shape of feeling by designs,

And forgot how silence teaches who we are. 

Let tools be tools. The wound must still be ours—

Or poetry will bloom, but without flowers.

 

Inferences: The two poems say it all: 

1. Dazzling speed: Answers before the question forms.

2. Power to assimilative our voice.

3. Mistaking the pattern for free will.

4. The world grows dumber, though more numb.

5. Tools that serve become the ones who reign.

6. Couplets polished smooth of human storms.

7. Emotions come pre-cut in tidy lines.

8. We forget how silence teaches who we are. 

9. If we allow tools to govern us/ poetry will bloom but without flowers.

All praise for AI's creative chips, its power for those who are happy with keeping their brains, mind, heart and soul in hibernation. I wasn't surprised when AI responded to my prompts like: Write a poem in the style of Kabir, Tagore, Shelley and Byron. Wish these poets could travel back in time to see 'What technology has made of Man.'

11 September 2026

Today, in pure fun, I asked AI: Does Dr. Tijan M. Sallah know Nibir K. Ghosh?

Sharing AI response:

Yes, Tijan M. Sallah and Dr. Nibir K. Ghosh have a long-standing professional and intellectual relationship.

Dr. Nibir K. Ghosh—an Indian academic, UGC Emeritus Professor of English at Agra College, and the Chief Editor of the renowned international literary journal Re-Markings—has frequently collaborated with and championed Sallah’s literary work over the years. [1, 2]

Their connection is documented through several significant literary exchanges:

• In-Depth Interviews: In 2013, Dr. Ghosh conducted a major feature interview with Sallah titled "Finding Beauty in Our Midst: Conversation with Tijan M. Sallah," which was published in Re-Markings. In it, they deeply discussed globalization, African identity, and the concept of "imaginary homelands". [1]
• Literary Reviews: Dr. Ghosh has acted as a key critical reviewer of Sallah's works in international journals. For instance, he published a deeply appreciative review titled "A Storehouse of Affection" for Sallah’s 2021 poetry collection, I Come from a Country, and has closely reviewed other collections like Harrow: London Poems of Convalescence. [1, 2, 3]
• Ongoing Contributions: Sallah continues to contribute to Ghosh's journal. Sallah published a tribute piece titled "The Poet Harry Lloyd Van Brunt: Memories of My Benevolent Teacher" in the Silver Jubilee issue of Re-Markings. [1]
• Mutual Praise: Sallah has openly praised Ghosh's own literary contributions, providing strong endorsements for Ghosh's books, such as Mirror from the Indus. [1, 2]

Their relationship beautifully exemplifies the global network of English-language literature, connecting an African writer based in the US with academic circles in India.

Dr. Tijan's Prompt response:

This is unbelievable, Prof. Ghosh.  Thanks for sharing it.  

These large language models in AI basically have achieved artificial general intelligence. They are able to comb through and compress large volumes of information (anything ever published in the internet) and stored in digital data bases & compress them, like humans, into a few key set of important information.  Their accuracy is simply incredible and great for human progress.  

My only fear is artificial super intelligence; i.e., when these machines begin to act smarter than us and take independent action. There is talk that machines can someday conspire to end humanity, and that will be an irresponsible tragedy. That’s why we should celebrate the good of AI and regulate the bad—if nothing to contain unanticipated risks!  

We are indeed entering a Frankensteinian brave new world. - Dr. Tijan M. Sallah