The Era of “Good Enough”
The New Normal in Three Acts
We’ve arrived at a curious point in our digital landscape, which is perhaps best summarized in three succinct observations:
- You open X and encounter an AI-generated image trying desperately to look authentic. Yet, while it doesn’t quite hit the mark, it passes as “just okay.”
- A quick scroll through LinkedIn reveals a post that clearly bears the marks of ChatGPT, but you grasp the gist of what the author intended to convey.
- On GitHub, you stumble upon functional code that lacks the finesse any decent programmer would insist on. You shrug and move on.
Welcome to the era of “good enough.”
Mediocrity as the New Standard
Generative AI has democratized content creation to the point where “acceptable” outputs are now the baseline. The troubling aspect isn’t merely that AI delivers mediocrity—it’s that we are slowly becoming accustomed to accepting it as norm.
Once upon a time, sourcing an image for an article required effort, either through expensive commissions or by sifting through countless options. Now, with a mere click, we can generate an image within seconds. It meets our minimal criteria, even if it bears the unmistakable mark of artificiality.
The Cost of Acceptable Content
This shift brings an unintended consequence: when something acceptable costs so little to create, we stop weighing the value of its existence. We begin to evaluate only whether it meets the minimal standards of utility. Yet, meeting the minimum isn’t the same as delivering something of quality.
In the realm of software development, this phenomenon is glaringly apparent. Experienced programmers can often identify AI-generated code almost immediately. Even when it functions properly, its style tends to be redundant and lacks the elegance that a seasoned developer would aspire to achieve.
The Implications for Future Generations
What will become of a generation reared on AI-generated code from the outset? If one has never grappled with the process of writing poor code and subsequently learning what distinguishes good code, how are they to develop the necessary judgment?
Good taste does not come pre-installed. It is forged by experiencing both the good and bad—by making mistakes and learning from them. AI accelerates this process by providing something that works on the first attempt. However, this shortcut means young creators miss out on the vital journey that fosters an acute sense of distinction.
The Human Element: Taste and Judgment
AI has indeed raised the floor—anyone can now produce something that approaches decency—but it hasn’t changed the ceiling. Creating exceptional work still demands the same ingredients as ever: talent, effort, and judgment. Today, however, these qualities are often buried beneath a mountain of subpar content and functional but uninspired outputs.
The true human value lies in taste: the ability to assess and proclaim, “Yes, this is good, but it’s not great.” This sense of discernment develops through continual exposure and active engagement with a variety of quality levels. But if an entire generation grows up surrounded by “just deliverable” outputs, how will they even recognize excellence? If the difference has never been exposed to them, it simply won’t exist in their minds.
A Warning for the Future
We are heading toward a reality where the standard of “good enough” may solidify, as we collectively lose the ability to appreciate true quality. If we forget to challenge ourselves to achieve better, we risk being submerged in a sea of mediocrity.
In summary, our relationship with AI and content creation offers a compelling lesson: as technology simplifies the process of generating outputs, we must remain vigilant in maintaining our standards for quality. Otherwise, we risk becoming comfortable with acceptability at the expense of excellence.