Slate Money Plus Slate Money Plus

Bonus: The Big A.I. Writing Debate

Aug 29, 2026 · 12m

Summary

Slate Money Plus hosts debate the controversy surrounding Stanley Druckenmiller’s AI-assisted Wall Street Journal op-ed criticizing Scott Bessent. They discuss whether using AI for writing constitutes outsourcing critical thinking, leading to mediocre, cliché-ridden content. The conversation contrasts strict newsroom bans on AI with its potential utility for data organization, questioning if transparency or outright prohibition is the better path forward for journalism standards.

Topics discussed

Stanley Druckenmiller's AI-written op-ed controversy Druckenmiller admits AI use; media reactions vary Why AI writing is inferior: thinking vs. output Do we give billionaires a pass for using AI? Using AI as an editor vs. outsourcing thought The bond market's indifference and NYT contract rules Future norms: finding a middle ground for AI Disclosure labels and the thesaurus analogy Garbage in, garbage out: the risk of bad inputs Context matters: LinkedIn posts vs. WSJ op-eds Outro and listener email guidelines
Listen ad-free on Castria